Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-30
FIRE AFTERMATH.
Books md Portraits savcd-As 10
RestOratiOn-Water supply.

CHARLOTTESVILLE. VA, OCTOBER
o-(SpeciaI 1.-THE university fire Is still
the all-absorbing topic OF conversation
here. About one seventh OF the volumes
and manuscripts in the library were
saved among them the Richard H. Lee
papers. Old faculty records and many
other valuable papers were lost. Nearly
all the portraits including the ones most
highly priced, were saved; but at this
writing they have not been examined,
and 1t Is, therefore, impossible TO say
which ones. Many OF the smaller por-
traits. which were hung very high, were
burned. Among the portraits saved, II IS
thought are those of Lee, Stuart, Nc
Cormick, Corcoran. Cabell, Bonnycastle'
Joseph c. Cabell. DR.. Cabell, Colonel RAN
doph, Gessner Harrison. William IS.
Rogers. Courtney; Professors DAVIS
Minor, Gilmore. Mallet, and others.
AS TO RESTORATION. :
It is known that a majority OF the
faculty do not desire that the annex
should be restored. but rather that the
walls be torn down and two or more
buildings erected in its stead. 1t IL also
the cherished wish of the faculty. officers,
and local alumni that the rotunda
and wings be replaced as nearly as
possible as Mr.. jefferson left them; but
that they be made iireproof. All thls
and several other changes VIII be recon-
mended to the Board OF Visitors by the
faculty.
LIBERALITY OF MEDICAL CLASS.
The medical class held meeting this
afternoon and adopted a resolution pledg-
ing the class TO contribute N,vo TO-
wards the work of restoring or replacing
the copy of 1.-THE School OF Athens IN
the public hall. The class will leave us
work as a heritage to coming classes. with
the hope that they Will continue II untii
the necessary amount is secured. me
committee appointed to raise funds were:
Messrs. s. T. Barnett. w. Il. Grove.
James A. Petit. w. NJ. Dabney. A. ].
Finch. w. T.. Huger. and Il. l.. woodward.
What caused the fire is still mystery.
hut the opinion prevails among many
that the electric-wires wrought the work
of destruction.
MIR. Case, superintendent Of the Char
lottesvllle and University Electric
Light Company, which supplies
light for the institution. was seen
this morning. He felt confident that
the confagration was not started by cleo
tricity. He says that there were no
wires in the room In which the fire was
first seen, and that the dynamos that
make light for the university were not
running Sunday. In the public hall were
two cut-offs, and, even If the dynamos
had been running, the current could not
have entered the building without some
one having turned the switches, the
boxes to which are locked
SOME POSSIBILITIES
II Is possible for a trolly-wire TO have
crossed the university wires, which would
have carried current to the building.
1t is also possible for wire in the build
ing to have been grounded" which
could have made current. The fire
could also have started under the room
in which it was seen.
The idea of the fire having been the
work of an incendiary Is not credited at
all.
A student who does not smoke was the
last person in the drawing-room where
the fire started. No fire has been In this
room since last winter. Some say the
destruction may have been caused by the
noted rat and his lucifer, or by combus-
ton.
A committee will make thorough in
vestisation and use every means to dis
cover the origin Of the fire.
A sketch of the buildings. showing how
they were fitted with electric wires. has
been prepared for the use of the commit
fee. There will be no difficulty about the
insurance, and the full amount will be
paid. The adjusters are expected here
tomorrow.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Mr.. f.. f. Harris. Superintendent of the
Water Works, Gays that the supply OF
water at the University Of Virginia at
the time of the fire was as good, and the
pressure as great as IL ever was. and
that the repairs to the mains in NO way
Affected the supply. When IL Is remem-
bered that the university is many feet
higher than Charlottesville. 1t can be
readily seen that the pressure there at
all times is much less than In this city.
The writer was shown yesterday water
nine I'm the annex that had burst during
the fire, with water running out OF IL.
The pine reached the third story of the
building, the highest point the water
would flow. Therefore 1t is not surpris-
ing that water from the firemen's hose,
when they carried 1t to the third story
where the fire originated. could not be
forced even few feet beyond the brave
fire-fghters.
Judge William j. Robertson. president
Of the Alumni Association OF Albemarle,
has called a meeting Of the alumni Of
the city and county for next Friday eve
ming TO initiate a movement to help the
university in this time OF great need.
The gravest result Is feared In the
case OF Mr.. Lloyd Williams. the medical
student, of Norfolk, who was overcome
by heat during the fire.