Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1895-11-01
A GREAT CALAMITY.
Virginia's Famous University
Building in Ashes.
A Third of a Million Loss
HUNDREDS OFLADIRS JOIN IN THE EFFORT
TO SAVE THE HISTORIC CONTENTS OF
THE HISTORIC BUILDING-THE
SCHOOL OF ATHENS AMONG
THE LOST WORKS OF ART.
JEFFERSON'S FIGURE
SAVED.

| The greatest calamity WhlCh
has befallen the University of
Virginia, located at Charlottes-
vile, Va, since its foundation
occurred Sunday last in the de-
struction by fire of the Univer-
sity buildings which have been
standing since 1925, comprising
the rotunda, the annex, the read
ing rooms and old chapel. These
buildings were completely gut
ted, despite the heroic efforts of
the students and fremen, aided
by engines from both Staunton
and Lynchburg.
Among the valuables destroy
ed are the physical apparatus, the
81 900 painting by Balze, copied
from Raphael's School of Athens,
most Of the library of rare vol
umes beneath the dome of the TO-
tunda, and part of the law library.
The statue of Thomas Jefferson,
presented to the University by
Congress, and the Minor bust
! u7are saved as we'll as the adla>
cent dornitorics.
The origin. Of the fire is a rnys-
terv. There had been no fire
in the building since Friday
night, and it is not thought 1t
could have caught from the tur>
mace. The theory that it took
fire from electric wires has many
advocates. There can be no
doubt that It first developed It
self in the engineering room over
the public hall. Yet there was
no electric wires i'll that room.
Another theory is that it caught
during Friday night, as the walls
when first discovered were found
to be very hot, as though the
fire had been burning there for
many hours.
The work of rebuilding will
be begun at once, contributions
to this object having been already
begun among the alumni.
The saddest thing about the
fire is that while the buildings
may be replaced they can never
be reproduced. The peculiar
style of architecture was of a
past age, and was done by work,
men imported to this country
from Europe for the purpose.
That the casualties were sc
few during the fire is indeed re-
markable, since dynamite wa:
freely used, and heavy portions
of the buildings were falling OF
all sides.
Professor w. H. Echols, whC
headed the forces, was braye t.
rashness, and while upon tn
reading-room, endeavoring t
arrange the dynamite cartridges
to blow it up, he fell to tn
ground, a distance of abou
twelve feet, and broke thre
fingers on his left hand. In hi
efforts he also lost $50 and hi
! gold watch.
Lloyd Williams, a Norfolk boy
was dangerously injured in hi
efforts to check the flames.
A fireman named Smith, bt
? longing to the Staunton FIJI
Company, also sustained Pairt'
! injuries by falling from the rafte
ofthe old chapel after the inter
:. or had been blown out. H
, head struck the sharp edges
! some bricks upon the floor, AT
- his forehead and cheek we
:, deeply gashed.
. A little son of Mr.. c. K. Mu
ray, while running tc reach
place of safety before an expl
sion of dynamite, tripped, al
fell heavily to the ground, brea
ing his arm.
There were no accidents of
serious nature except the aboN
ce til ough several persons we
overcome by the heat and s1nol
y, Not only did the m en- and be
re put forth every effort to save
e. loved and venerated buildir
re hut the ladies of Charlottesvi