The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-22
GIRLS SCHOOL ,AFIRE.
Thought 10 Have Been the Work OF an Ing
mate-some Narrow Escapes.

Inate-~OInb
WASHINGTON, ID. c., July IL
The laundry In the basement OK lne
Girls Reform School, Oh the Conduit
Road. near Washington, yesterday, says
the Post. was med 10y one OF the inmates
late Yesterday afternoon, and loss OF IRE
WAS probably aVerted by "a little Slil, the
Youngest inmate of the school, discover
ing the flames before they burst through
the floor OF the building. The nre was tA-
tingushed with but Slight damage, anu
although all of the girls were out OF the
building, they readily returned AFTER tH9
fire had been eXtingushed. FIVE OF lHti"'
including the suspected incendiary, after
wards escaped and are still al lar8e.
The fire was discovered about 90 IN the
afternoon, Just after the bell mad been
.ung for supper and the girls were Iolm-
cd in line ready 20 march into the dining
room. Stella Johnson. cOlOred girl, ten
years old. who Is known as the tdby OK
the school was sent TO the Laundry upon
some errand. ana just as the march 10
the dining-rOOm began She rushed up
stairs from the basement where the RUN
dry Is situated. in the south wing & the
building, screaming with lusAt. Inc
flames burst from the door 5n6 had LETT
open, and all OF the girls broke line and
ran out OF the open back door OF the
building, out through the lack yard INTO
what Is known as The fort, Ised rs d
chicken yard. After they had reached IL
and watched the burning building.
Mrs. Hue. the superintendent Of the
school, was absent on trip down tho
river and Mrs. Miller. the matrJn, had
charge OF the girls and mad .uSl come
from the kitchen where she add SUI erin
tended the preparation Dt supper. she
hastily rang the alarm bell Tor the men
VINO work at the school, nut Trey ere
already on their way TO the building 10
get supper. only three Of me -FOUR men
employed at the school were on the
grounds, the Oyerseer. Mr.. Shaner Il
Waterman and the engineer The engi-
neer was coming through The gate out Of
which the girls made tneir hds'y est,
and was knocked down by Them in their
Wgnt. he nastened 10 me DIlldlng. ~ ere
he was joined By the other TWO men, and
with a small hose began 20 Sight the uie.
1t seemed TO be gaining Roadway end Mir.
Smaller thought that ,ne bI. dins Nas
doomed.
A teacher vas sent for the girls and
without an exception ,ney came back
readily and were gathered .ogerher on the
lawn in front OF the Duilding. When they
heard that IL was doomed they made ia
attempt 10 night the hce. bIt began TO
move everything OF value from the rooms
of the woman officers OF the school. and
soon had the rooms stripped of everything
movable and all the goods piled upon the
lawn in front. Then they stood and calm
~ watched the apparently futile attempts
Of the three men 10 conquer the names.
After hard night OF half an hour. how
ever the flames were exunguished with
out haying spread from the room I'm the
basement IN which the laundry is located.
The girls We're then told TO return 10 the
school building, and II was thought that
all had done 50. but when the roll was
called il was found that Alberta Gibson,
the girl who Is suspected of setting Ire
10 the building; Kate Iillman. Susie Ross
Ella Kennedy and Mamie GOings were
absent. A search in the back yard re-
Voaled an opening which mad .een made
in the fence. carefully concealed by lcs,
through which the quintet escaped.
The fire had gained considerable head
way when IL was discovered. lnd the
moment the draft from the Ogeu uctr
struck IL flames burst from ,he c0Ors and
windows OF the room. The girls dtn;i g
room is located directly over tie lauu-
dry, and IL the flames had not been dis
covered in time a calamity would NEST
likely have resulted. The laundry Is not
often visited after IL is closed in the otter
noon. and II is regarded as almost m.rac-
ulOus by the officers Of the school that
the flames should have been discovered
when they were and prevented from doing
perhaps fatal damage. Mr Shl Ter. tie
oyerseer, roughly estimates the damage
at 800 The laundry Is total wreck
and all OF the girls clothing tnlt WAS IN
the laundry at the time was consumed
There are now twenty-seven C.rls In the
school. all colored. Alberta Gibson had
been In the school for several months,
and had given the officers OF the school
a rood deal OF trouble. She was admit
ted on the statement OF her parents that
she was sixteen years old, but II is gen.
erally believed by the matron and teach
ers that she Is fully twenty. II not older