Evening journal., 1896-09-28
A COLLEGE IN FLAMES.
a Destructive ConAagration at
Mount Holyoke.
IT'S PRINCIPAL BUILDING IN ASHES.


roncy Islands Historic Elephant Goes Up |
In smoke-An Old Landmark Familiar
TO visitors to the Famous ocean Resort. |
Supposed IneendIary Fire at worcester.
SOUTH HADLEy. Mass, Sept 2s.-
Mount Holyoke college, the pioneer insti-
tuition for the higher education Of women,
received a severe blow In the burning OF
the main building, with probable loss OF
over sl60,O00 The buildings have cost
over $500, 600 and could not be replaced
today short of that sum.
Fortunately none Of the 400 students or
members of the faculty was injured, there
being ample time for their escape with
part Of their personal effects.
The fire was first discovered Ia the
laundry in the gymnasium wing, Tho
college fire apparatus was put TO work,
but ie WAS soon seen that they could not
control IT, and help was sent for from
South Hadley Falls and HolyoiSe. Fire ap-
paratus were sent from these places COM
prislng n steamer and hose wagon, but
owing TO the distance and delays, were too
late TO be effective. The fire slowly worked
through the doorways in the FIRE wall
into tho south wing of the building and
thonce into tho large building fronting on
the street. At the same time It burned
through the gymnasium into the north
wing, and the entire structure was soon
seothing mass Of flames. The walls began
to toppie over, and an hour later about all
that reinainod of the structure was por-
tions OF the wall looming up through the
smoke.
The library building, adjoining the
main structure on the north ard contain
a. ~ Ffrro
work on the part Of the fremen.
Tho burned building was IN the form Of
a quadrangle, all of brick. Facing the
street was a four story structure with
IRbout $50 feet frontage, and In the base
1nent was the large dining hall. Extend
ING TO the eastward from this building
wore two wings about 100 feet deep and
nominally four stories high.
These three sactions of the building
were occupied for doTmitory purposes, the
first floor of the front being devoted to
the chapel reception and music rooms and
Offices. Across the rear Of the rectanglo
formed by these three sections of the
building was 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.
tt Is supposed that the fire originated In
the laundry from an overheated steam
pipe as no one had been IN the laundry
during the day, nor had had there beer
fire there. The building and its contents
were insured for Sl54, 600 through tn,
Pierce agency OF Northampton.
Supposed Inoondiary Fire In Worcester.
WORCESTER, Mass, Sept. 2s.-Consider
able excitement has been caused in thi
oity BY the fire IN tho underwear factor,
% William II. Burns g Co. of Salen
square Burns is tho man who displayeI
tho rod flag OF anarchy on the front Of hi
building with Bryan portrait on 1t whei
the presidential candidate visited the cit
last Friday, this action of his causing
great deal of talk and unfaVorablo com
Inent. It has beon reported TO the polio
that men in the crowd around Bryan wor
beard to say that tho building would b
burned inside Of a week, and the investi
gation that was made hV State Fire Mar
aBal N6it and Chief EnglneOr Vaugn O
the fire. departmons convinces them thu
the FIRE Is OF an incendiary origin, as evl
dence Of kerosene having been sprinklol
around the room Is very manifest
Whether the FIRE was set by anybody as
result Of the flag episode Is q matter O
conjecture. The-polic0 are slso saislo
that the FIRE was set, but they are not sat
isfed that Is was set by an outsider. Tn
blaze stayted in room on the sccon
story, and when the Gre department n
rived everything was found locked nm
none Of the windows was broken. tn
watchman said that tho place had bee
securely locked since Saturday noon, whe
the factory shut until this morning. an
il that Is the case the police think that ii
Ere was set by a man who had koys 20 tt
building Mr.. Burns was intarviewe
about the Gre, but no refused to sa
whether he thought tho blaze was sot /
political opponent saying that the ii
vestigation would decide that question
One interesting episode OF the fire ",
tho following telegram sent within ha
N an hour after the fire was discovered
Mr.. Bryan Ia care Of Bir Sewall at Bat
sIe, by Dell ID. Mosgan. ox-ohairman
the Democratic city committee: Than
God, justice receives her just dues. Burn
underwear factory, which displayed u
red ilag IN your honor Friday Afternoon
Is in flames. "
rr...o.-s-