The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-28
None of the 400 Girl Students or Fac
uIty Injured. hut All Rendered
Temporarily Homeless.
TOTAL LOSS NEARLY 100000
THE YOUNG WOMEN HOUSED IN
HOTELS AND CHURCHES.
steps to Be Taken at Once Towards
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Islands
Wooden Elephant Destroyed.

SOUTH HADLEY. Mass Sept 27.-Mt.
Holyoke College the pioneer institution for
the higher education of women. received a
severe blow this morning in the burning OF
the main building. with n probable loss OF
over S25O,0C0. The buildings have cost over
$500, coo and could not be replaced to-day for
less than .0c0. Fortunately none of the
four hundred students or faculty was in
Jured, there being ample time for their es-
cape with part of their personal effects.
The fire was first discovered in the laun-
dry, in the gymnasium wing about 4.3o
o'clock The college fire apparatus was put
to work but ii was soon seen that they
could not control the fire and help was asked
for from South Hadley Falls and Holyoke.
steamer and hose wagon were sent but.
owing TO the distance and delays were too
late to be effective. The fire slowly worked
through the doorways in the fire wall then
into the south wing of the building and
thence into the large building fronting on
the street. At the same time II burner
through the gymnasium into the north wing
and at I:30 the entire structure was a mass
OF names About o'clock the walls began
TO topple over, and an hour later all that
remained of the structure were sections Of
the wall looming up through the smoke.
The library building. adjoining the main
structure on the north and containing l6.-
QUO volumes, was saved by active work ON
the part of the firemen
The burned building was in the form of
a quadrangle. all of brick. Facing the
street was a four-story structure with
about 100 feet frontage. In the basement
Aas the large dining hall Extending TO
the eastward from the building were two
wings about $50 feet deep and four stories
high These three sections of the building
first floor of the front being devoted To
chapel reception and music rooms and
lces. Across the rear of the rectangle
Srmed by these three sections of the
building was a three-story structure the
first story of which contained the engine
room, electric plant. workshops etc. and
the rest of the building was occupied by
the gymnasium. laundry and storerooms
1t is supposed that the fire originated in
the laundry from an overheated steam
pipe one had been in the laundry
during the day, nor had there been a fire
there. The building and it's contents were
insured for $154O00.
A. Ls Wiliston. of Northampton. treas
urer of the institution, says that steps will
be taken towards rebuilding. Instead of
having one large structure it is probable
that the modern style of cottage dormito-
ries will be adopted, each cottage costing
about $25.00) to sS5. 600 and accommodating
fifty students. new gymnasium will
probably be built somewhat after the plan
of the one at Mortified Seminary, which
cost about $4,000. and there will also have
to be chapel building, which may cost
almost any amount up to 100000.
Tonight most cf the students are scat
tered about in the houses of the town peo-
pie the hotels and the churches. whls
others have gone to Holyoke, Northampton
and other nearby points. AT o'clock to-
morrow morning the faculty and students
will meet in the church to consider plans
for continuing the college work. Large
numbers of the students called on the
president, Mrs. Mead this evening and ex-
pressed themselves as willing to undergo
almost any hardship rather than go to
their homes. AS nearly all of the apparatus
of the institution was i'm Wiliiston and
Scientific Halls, it will be possible to con-
tinue the sessions after arrangements are
made for lodging the 400 students and
members of the faculties.