The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-05
PURDUE is ALL RIGHT
HER NEW MECHANICAL LABORATO-
RY DEDICATED YESTERDAY.
Gen. Harrison Spoke for the Trustees
STORY of the Destruction Of the
building Two Years Ago.
,ecisl to the Indianapolis journal.

rejoicing, particularly to President Smart
and the able faculty, who have done so
much to give Purdue reputation far and
near. 1t is nearly two years since the mag
nifcent Heavilon Hall was opened only to
be destroyed by fire within a few hours of
its dedication to the cause of education. 1t
has been a long struggle to rebuild the
hall. The panic and the many demands for
money were drawbacks, but President Smart
| and his lieutenants have never lost faith
| or heart, however dark and gloomy the out
| look was at times. 1t required greater time
TO replace the building than was expected,
but the night of the fire, while the blaze
| still illuminated the horizon, causing sad
ness everywhere. President Smart said to
the indianapolis Journal reporter, who
| called at his home. You can say for me
that Heavilon Hall will be rebuilt. on a
larger and grander scale, if anything, than
1t stood this morning. IL live" There was
sadness IN the presidents voice, for he was
well nigh discouraged at that time. to thus
| see IN few moments time, swept away
the labor of years and the value of hum
| dreds OF thousands. To-day was set apart
| for the rededication Of the building. Friends
| were present from far and near and ii was
| day OF happiness to the faculty, who have
| sstriven quite as hard as the energetic pres
| ident 10 see that the hall was replaced
with the tower at least one brick higher
| =
OBLIGATORY EXERCISES.
When President Smart and the people
who were to occupy the platform with him
entered the chapel some sharp-eyed stu
| dent caught sight of ex-President Harri-
sons form and cried: Mine 'rahs for Har-
risonT' They were given with a will, AMI
then the whole audience broke into cheers
for the illustrious trustee of Purdue Uni
| persity. Rev. w. H. Wise of the Ninth
street NJ. Il. Church, delivered the opening
prayer, and then President Smart arose anG
| stated the position as ii now exists, going
into the past to describe the fire, the efforts
| or those In connection with the rebuilding,
| passing into the future TO illustrate what
| is TO be done in the reconstructed building
| He then introduced Mrs. Emma Mont Nc
| Rae, whose appearance was greeted with
applause she was announced as the mar
| graphic manner she detailed the scenes of
| that night of terror, that night Of woe,
| that crushing night in January nearly two
| years ago, when the hopes of Purdue and
| all her friends were dashed so ruth.essly
into the path OF adversity's Juggernaut. She
| paid a very high compliment TO President
! Smart, designating him as a man OF Won
| derful strength OF purpose, determination
| and undying fidelity TO the university over
which he presides. Mrs. McRae gave praise
unstinted to the friends OF the college, all
of whom SO nobly rallied round trail
| ing flag, lifting IL up with the hopes OF the
school itself. standing by the colors until
4
DR.. Stanley VI. Coulter read few of the
hundreds of letters received from the
| friends OF the university just after the
great calamity. The letters were touching
| ly sympathetic wjts the condition that con-
| fronted Purdue in January. 1894. DR.: Coul-
| leges in the United states, congratuating
Purdue on the reopening of the new labor
4 atory.
Prof w. F. NJ. Goss then came forward
| and gave a careful and interesting talk on
| the new building. its requirements and ITS
| duties toward the student body. He oe-
| tailed the struggle and growth of the en-
| gineering department at Purdue, closing
/ with a description of the present scnOoi Of
| engineering and the great building in which
| 1t is conducted. His address illustrated bet
| ter than anything else the great advance
| ment made at Purdue University since the
| present active faculty assumed cnarge of
AFFAIRS. DIR. John Campbell. of Wabash
| College, expressed the congratulation of his
| institution in behalf of Purdue. his remarks
| being greeted with thankful applause.
| President Draper, of Champaign, was in
! troduced, his appearance being greeted
| with friendly cheers by the students, DR..
| Smarts allusion to the recent football game
| placing the Illinois president and the Pur
| due students on quite intimate terms. The
| Illinois president humorousy alluded 10 the
| relationship between the two universities,
| but took occasion 10 earnestly express his
| good wishes toward the Indiana college,
| His remarks were highly complimentary to
| Purdue and to the State claiming that his
| college and Purdue are sister institutions
! in the upward growth of education. They
| will grow together and will admire mutual
| ly the progress made. His address was a
| happy one and was greeted with applause
| by the students Purdue's old rival in ath-
etic sports was so we'll represented by its
| president that all thought of rivalry
| destroyed and feeling of utmost friendli-
| ness existed. Miss Mary Z. Bruce, of this
| city, sang La Belle Sorentina'' in her
| usual artistic manner. meriting the applause
| of her hearers. Miss Putnam was her ac-
| companist.
| Smith. who was the head of the transpor-
| tation department at the Worlds Column
| bian exposition, who delivered the address
| of the morning. He spoke eloquently and
| forcefully on the genius of education, his
| address being of some length and full of
| most excellent advice and information for
| the students. Mr.. Smith is rare scholar,
! man possessed of the full power of dis
cernment and OF the ability to present his
| views plainly and In manner calculated to
| enlighten the minds of the seekers after
| knowledge is 10 be found in the mechan-
| ical schools of the land. Superintendent of
Schools Geeting made few congratulatory
| remarks and then ex-president Harrison
| was called for. DR.. Smart announced that
| the ex-President would speak for the trus-
| tees and as the great statesman stood up
he greeted with vociferous cheers.
GENERAL .IiARRISON'S SPEECH.
| He said that he did not feel that he would
| have much chance i'm talking to the students
| in competition with a dinner bell, which
| might be expected to ring at any moment
| His remarks were timely and were full of
| pith. nearly every utterance being received
| with applause and appreciation by the
crowd before him. He said that Purdue
| students have every reason to feel
| proud Of their alma mater. He
himself, felt bonored by the posi-
! ton he occupied trustee over the
/ destinies of the great institution and con-
| graduated himself on the fact that he had
| il in his power to assist nateriaily in the
| development OF the school While he had
| but little TO do in his capacity as trustee
| as yet. he felt that his whole heart would
| act for the benefit OF the school in the f,I-
| ture. The ex-President allowed consider
| able humor to stray into his remarks. gar
| nishing his earnest advocacy OF learning
! AS Ii is TO be and should be- with many
| happy remarks Of lighter nature. He closed
| with And now, God speed Purdue" Rev
j. II. w. Blake, of St Johns Episconal
| Church. pronounced the benediction and
| the services were over.
At o'clock this afternoon the recention
| in the new building was begun Hundreds
| or people were present during the hours
| or reception and the new building was
| thronged with friends of the university. ALI
| with words OF congratulation on their lips
| all with hearty good will in their handclasp.
| President Smart and Mrs Smart were as
sisted in receiving by c. r. Stuart and wife.
| ex-President Harrison. Prof. W. F. Nj. Goss
| and wife, G. c. Hit and wife of Ind:anapo>
| lis, and Mrs Emma Mont McRea The re.
| ception was held in the big recitation room
on the second floor OF the laboratory, and
| the walls were decorated with a profusion
Il Of r.Id COL and d. all