Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-02-20
Burning Of Charlotte Hall School.
(C6rrespndence Of the Beacon. ,

tN"sceP'tNe"Ccy VIC 0cuCOH.
A disastrous fire occurred at Charlotte
Hall School on Tuesday, the 11ih instant,
resulting in the total loss OF the building
used for study and recitaii ms 1t was in>r
'o"ut the h"ur for closing school, $50 :,
IN, when the officer Of the Day informed
the Principal tina; the building w4s ON fire
The students were dismissed by sections, as
is the daily pr'ctice. each boy taking his
books and observing proper RIDER Their
coolness, obedience and earnes, efforts 10
save their schonl from the Ire fiend deserve
the highest commendation From the out
side, fire and smoke were SEN breaking
"u' just under the caves IF the North east
wing. Some oi the students quickly
mounted 10 the roof, but finding the flames
T. burst through wherever break was
made, aud tie Tin Covering I o hot T. stand
ON. they were directed To cumr down. An
efforts were made L. stop the fire and save
the property. but il was truiiless eff ri fir m
the first, rs the IRE was located bet ween
the ceiling and the roof, difficult place To
reach strcng North west wind was
blowing il the direction OF the Principals
house, and some apprehension was felt for
its safety although situated SIN. 200 yards
distant close watch Was kept ON this
building aud by way of precau,ion ladder,
and r"pes were provided. Present., smoke
was seen pouring from the roof-,he house
is quite high and the roof is steep. 50 il was
seemingly imp 'ssible feat u reach the
threatened place In short order, however.
twn of the students and cnlored man sue
ceeded in reaching the fire which they
promptly extinguished by tearing Of the
shingles and applying water, thus averting
second catastrophe. II was an exceed
ingly narrow escape for the Principals
house, and great credit is due those who
saved IT, The GOODNESS. courage, and ac-
tivity they displayed did not fall far short
of the heroic.
1t is impossible to conjecture the cause
OF the fire in the sch"nl building All the
movables were saved, desks, chairs, appar-
atGs. military equipments, the school library
~hich comprises upwards 1000 old and
Curious volumes
The building destroyed is covered b,
$1,000 insurance in the Montgomery Mo.
theal. The Board of Trustees have been
contemplating fT some time extensive i'm.
prnvements and the public may now con-
idently expect the old building uo be soon
replaced by q much more modern and
suitable structure In the mean time. the
school will be conducted very satisfactorily
in the white House." which is a comfor
table building with four large rooms This
was originally designed for the sch,,ol. and
was built in IVA. udies and recitations
will not be interrupted for more than a
day; the usual routine of work will then ne
taken mp and carried on with no loss or
disadvantage to the students
Hundreds will read with regret the di.
'rueiion of the scbool hall, ass. ,ci4ted as il
Is with % many fond memories, not only
the Alumni, but many others who have
annually assembled there for half century
10 enjoy the Exhibition and the s,oden,s'
Ball The blackened ruins are a sad
spectacle, forming - strong and painful
cusfrs~a wfsh sue th1eh. rrsuss mat hsvs