The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-10-19
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THE MAKAWAO FIRE WORKS
GREAT HAVOC.
Pupils Being Cared for by Friends
Trustees will Rebuild at Once-Loss
Greatly Exceeds Insurance.

MAUI, October 17-The East Maui
Female Seminary lies a mass of ash
es, with nothing but the fire place and
brick chimney standing. a little af-
ter 6 o'clock on Saturday evening last,
the Island was startled by the news
flashing over the telephone that the
seminary was on fire, and in less than
two hours the large building was en-
tirely destroyed. 1t made grand
sight from all parts of central Maui,
and lighted up the whole side of Ha-
leakala.
The fire started in the large attic
in the northeastern corner of the big
building and spread with such rapid
ity that the teachers had their hands
full getting the girls all out.
Some seventy girls were in the
building, and as they realized that it
was on fire, most of them grew fran
tic, rushing hither and thither, and
screaming and crying, pandemonium
reigning supreme for a time. The
teachers finally got them all out and
quieted. The fire had spread so fast
that the ladies did not dare venture to
the second story again, and practical
ly nothing was saved from there. Here
were situated the dormitories of the
girls, and the rooms of the teachers,
containing all their effects, and the
consequence is that they are left alb
solutely destitute, getting out with
little more than just what they had
on. Neighbors began to arrive very
quickly, and strong hands soon re-
moved about all the furniture on the
first floor. The new piano, just lately
purchased, was safely gotten out, as
was the safe, and other things of val
lie below. Miss Alexander, the prin-
cipal, Jared very well, as her room adj
joined the parlor, and about every
thing from it was saved. Miss Alex
ander was in Wailullu at the time, but
started for Makawao Immediately in
a hack, reaching there after all was
over. Miss Ward was at Paia, but
also went up as quickly as possible to
find all her worldly possessions in
| ashes.
The teachers who bore the trials of
the event were Miss Simpson, Mrs.
Watson, Miss Watson and Miss Steele,
all of whom lost everything.
The little girls were taken by Miss
| Awana to her house, and the balance
| spent the night with the teachers in
! the old church close by, the teachers
refusing to leave the girls. Parents
and relatives took their girls home as
soon as possible, so that now but fif-
teen are left, and they are being car
| ed for by Mr.. and Mrs. Pogue at Ha-
| leakala ranch.
The cause of the calamity is yet un-
| known, but it is most generally laid
| to the rats, with which the seminary
| abounded. \ rat and some matches
| is supposed to have done it. In the
attic were kept the trunks of the
| girls, and the same was locked, the
girls being allowed there only under
the supervision of teacher.
| Someone had been in the attic
about half an hour before the blaze
was discovered, and all was well then.
When discovered it had already
| burst out on the roof, and was burn
ing fiercely. The carriage house was
also destroyed, but the vehicles were
saved.
This morning at 10 o'clock the
trustees of the seminary met at the
| Haiku Sugar Company's office. to talk
over and decide upon the future. 1t
was definitely determined to rebuild
on a more convenient and a larger
scale, and that the school should be
changed into a more industrial char
acter. The question of moving the
school to site lower down in the vi.
cinity of Grove Ranch was brought
up, and strongly advocated, and the
chances are that such will be done
| hn g,
$1,000, but this does not half cover
the loss. For the present the trustees
will endeavor to secure quarters where
the school may be carried on tempora
rily, so that the work may not be i'm
peded. Another meeting will be call
ed again soon, when something more
definite will be known.
Tn the meantime there are many
destitute people to be provided for
and the Makawao people are alread,
at it. Contributions of clothes. mon
ey and necessaries have been flowing
in, and the ladies of the district ar,
today assembled at Mrs. F. w. Har
dy's. Makawao, to sew. They NEE
at Mrs. Lindsay's, Paia. tomorrow fo
the same purpose. There Is mucl
needed, and many to be provided for
so should any kind friends in Honolu
In or elsewhere wish to aid in tn,
good work, contributions of wearin!
apparel or money will be welcomed
Such contributions should be sent t.
| Mrs. c. Fl. Dicley, president of tn,
Ladies Aid Society, Haiku.
This is the biggest calamity Mau
: has experienced for many years. bu
it is fortunate it did not occur n
: midnight wlen the seventy pupil
were asleep, for then loss of lif
= would have been most certain.