The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-28
GREAT SHOCK TO RICHMOND.
How Tho News Of lho University Fks
Was ReceiYed Here.
Many EXPRESSIONS OF SORROW.
One OF the Greatest Calainities That Gould
Possibly Befali the State Military
Promptness of the Fire Depart
ment and the &. & d. Halfway.
A Meeting of the Alumni to
BE Held This Afternoon
to Take Action.


to Take Action.
The news of the big fire at the Univer-
sity OF Virginia was received in this city
yesterday about noon, when Governor
Charles T. OFerrall was notified by
telegram from Professor William NJ.
Thornton. chairman of the faculty, ask
ing for assistance. The message stated
that the rotunda and annex were in
flames and asked that the Governor send
aid from the fire department Governor
OFerrall Immediately ordered First As
sistant Chief Shaw to repair 70 the Chesa-
poake and Ohio depot with steamer
and hose wagon. The Chief in turn
promptly ordered steamer No. and the
hose wagons from the Broad-Street en-
gine house. now quartered at the armory,
TO get themselves in readiness TO leave.
Mr.. G.. w. Stevens. general manager of
the Chesapeake and Ohio, was notified at
II 80 o'clock of the fire, and requested
to furnish a special train 10 carry the
steamer and hose wagon TO Charlottes-
Vile. Fifteen minutes after the message
had been received the train had been
maze up anu WAS ltduy " Stetit. ~ IL
steamed into the depot. Assistant Chief
Shaw. i'm command of the steamer, hose
wagon. and a detail OF men, were in readi-
ness.
THE ENGINE TURNED BacK.
The steamer and hose wagon were hur-
rledly gotten aboard, and IN less thaa
half an hour after the news had been
received tho train was on its way to the
University. II was, however, turned back
at Gorionsyille by a telegram announcing
that the flames had been gotten under
control
Returning, the train arrived In this city
about o'clock. and the detail returned TO
their quarters.
when the news OF the fire reached this
city IL spread with great rapidity, and
was soon the only topic Of conversation.
Men gathered on the streets In groups
and discussed IL. In the clubs IL formed
the subject OF conversation. II was al
luded TO in some OF the pulpits last night;
in fact, the whole city talked and thought
OF nothing else
News OF the details were eagerly sought
after. There appeared to be but one feel
ing-namely. that the State or Virginia
and the entire South had sustained an
irreparable loss.
In short. the news OF the disaster cast
a pail over the entire city.
GOVERNOR o'TERRALEs VIEWS.
Governor OFerrall said last night
when interviewed about the probable loss
the fire would entail:
II consider It national calamity and
blow that is OF the severest nature Inc
lectures Will, however, 20 on to-day as III
nothing had happened. or this fact Pro-
fessor Thornton has already assured ME
by wire"
The Governor thought that the loss OF
the library could not be estimated. as
many Of the books could not be replaced
and were therefore of incalcuiabie Naiuer
II have wired Professor Thornton ne
said. ito send me fun particulars, ana
will hear from him tomorrow.
when asked about the rebuilding or the
rotunda, the Governor replied;
"Sneaking without reflection, | would
advocate rebuilding on the present site,
and also that the building De repiaceu
lust as It was before 1t was destroyed.
The individuality OF the University should
not be destroyed"
MR. MIR DITH's TELEGRAM
As soon as the news was received Mr..
Wvndbam n Meredith, president OF the
Alumni Association OF the University,
sent the following telegram To Professor
ThorntOn
Professor William NJ. Thornton; Uni
Versitv of Virginia. thari0ttesVllie'
In the name OF the Richmond Chapter
send This message OF sympathy for the
loss which higher education IN tnls Sta.e
and the South has sustained; but orc
feeling here, that the University must pe
at once rebuilt by private subscription,
as well as State aid You can count ON
fhe Richmond Chapter OF Alumni.
WYNDHAM II. MEREDITH
President.
Mr. Meredith appeared to feel the loss
as "A personal one lie san. c.a.o Gould
have sustained. 1t Is not possible 10 re-
place the library, portraits, ana the
statue OF jefferson, and as ior re
School OF Athens II alone - loss tn.' tna'
cannot be too deeply deplored Inc ciu-
zens OF the State should at once by prl-
yate and public subscription replace, ~
far as possible. what has been desitoyv,l.
I for one am not willing that Nhe.hs
Drestge as an educationai centre shOuii
depart from her This IS great DloW
TO the entire South. In TACT, u VIII p'
felt over the entire country. IL VIII pe
felt as a personal loss by every man man
who has stood IN the shadow OF that
historic dome Within the academic
shades OF the University as an alma
mater the greatest minds OF this country
have been reared. a..
received the news he had been approached
bv a numoer OF prominent gentlemen ana
asked TO Immediately start supscrip-
tiOn.
The Richmond Chapter OF the Alumni
Will take immediate action, ana Tor that
purpose they viii be called together TINS
afternoon at : o'clock in the assembly
han OF the Chamber OF Commerce.
fxpnrs-IuNs or SORROW.
Mr. James W. Pegram. the secretary OF
the Life Insurance Company OF virginia
said: The University has been the Mecca
of culture and refinement for years, ana
its loss is one that cannot be estimated.
Judge Il. c. Minor. Of the Law and
Equity Court OF this city, graduate os
the University. while he loudly deplored
The loss the institution had sustained.
ala not think II would affect Virginia as
an educational centre. He thought the
loss OF the library could not be estimated.
Major &. r. Skinker graduate OF the
University, expressed himself az consid-
ering II the greatest loss the state and
south could possibly have suffered.
gHE LIBRARY Loss.
Mr.. Edward Valentine. the sculptor.
thought that the greatest loss sustained
was In the library. Many OF the books.
ne said, were collected by Jefferson him
self and the earlier professors, who were
mostly foreigners. They cannot be re-
placed. and their value is not to he es-