The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-15
-Four Blazas Within One Year
Alarm tha Faculty.
STUDENTS NOW PREPARED.
An Excellent Fire Department Has Been
Organized AMI Smoking in Rooms Pro-
hIbIisd- FiIsprouf Library 10 Be Built

Notre Dame University. two miles from
South Bend. Ind. is plagued by fire -Four
times this year buildings on the univer-
sity campus have burned Two OF the fires
have occurred within the last 20 days.
| Two OF the fires, which wiped out thou
sands of dollars worth of property. have
been of undoubted incendiary origin.
What caused the other two is mystery.
A fear that the university will some day
suffer from an immense confiagration
has been present in the minds of the au-
thoritles for twenty years. Each year af-
ter the students gather the president has
devoted much OF his welcoming address
TO warnings against carelessness con-
corning fire
Strict orders against smoking out Of
bounds have been issued. A fire depart
ment composed OF members OF the Order
OF the Holy Cross the religious congrega-
tion in charge OF the institution, was or
ganized some time ago, and much money
has been spent I'm equipping the buildings
with ire-fighting apparatus.
a regulation engine-house has been es-
thblshed on the grounds and two trucks
bought In Chicago have been taken to the
college where a corps OF students and
instructors have been taught TO use them.
For the last three years there have
been weekly fire drills. At these drills lad
ders are run up to windows I'm the dormi-
tories and recitation halls and water
thrown upon imaginary blazes.
The outfits worn by the amateur fire.
II.
the drill is so good that distinguished
guests at the university have been treat
ed TO exhibition runs and exercises
PRIDE OF THE COLLEGE
Among those who have witnessed the
work of the firemen are: Monseignor Mar
tinelli. apostolic delegate TO the United
States; Archbishop Ireland. and Arch
bishop Riordan OF San Francisco. The fire
department Is the pride of the college
and Is prominent in all university func-
tons.
sorin hall. in which 200 upper classmen
live has been the special object of the
solicitude OF the faculty. Orders were
printed and nailed TO the doors of stu
dents rooms announcing that any occu-
pant found smoking in his room would be
given Is demerits
When 200 demerits are marked against
any man he loses his room. Yet the
smoking continued Then more stringent
measures were taken and the number OF
dement's for each infraction OF the
smoking rule was increased TO fifty.
This had a little more effect. but stlll
the habit OF using cigars, pipes, and ci-
garettes I'm rooms went on.
Last spring the icehouse on the shore of
the lake burned and the responsibility
was fixed on tramps. Then the college
granaries, which were almost filed with
wheat and corn, were destroyed, and
again tramps were blamed
Then within the last 15 days the new
siO.JvO gymnasium and the sacristy OF the
university church burned. No cause has
as yet been found for either fire. and the
authorities are more puzzled than ever.
The sacristy adjoined the church, which
is considered TO be the finest In the coun-
try outside of Stpatricks cathedral, New
York city.
Thousands OF dollars worth of rare
pictures and statues In the edifce have
made extra care of IL rule OF the col
lege. A watchman stays In the church
all night.
Thieves as well as fire have threatened
the safety OF the contents. Several years
ago burglars broke In and carried of a
crown of Jewels presented 10 the college
by Napoleon III OF France.
ATTEMPT TO STEAL GEMS.
At another time an effort was made to
steal precious stones from a relic on the
wall The thieves I'm the first robbery
were caught No arrests were ever made
in the second case.
The watchman who now stays in the
church 10 guard il against fire and bur
glars sleeps near the tombs I'm the base
ment. In one OF these Brownson the phil
osopher, bs buried
The church. which Is now better pro-
teoted than any part OF the university
property, was the one building that re-
sisted the flames which in 1879 DESTROYED
the rest OF the college and began to make
the faculty feel frightened about FIRE
Timers working on the new dome
when is covered with gold leaf started
the FIRE of 20 as IL Is called Besides
that and the four fires of this year there
have been numerous smaller blazes which
have been put out without doing serious
damage.
The recent fires have awakened among
the students and faculty all the old
fears about the safety OF the historical
collections. TO preserve these a freproof
library will be built. The collections are
valued at 5000 O0O.
At present they occupy the upper floor
of the main college building. in exactly
the spot whore the fire of 20" began. IN
the collections are all the Catholic ex-
bits which were shown at the Chicago
Worlds fair. relics OF early missionary
days I'm America. and pictures of every
Catholic bishop who has ever occupled
AN American see.
Professor James L. Edwards. the lbra-
rian OF the university, has asked several
times that nreproof buildings be erected
Tor the treasures. and the latest fires ara
being used as an argument that the
structures he erected without delay.
Or. H0EPFneR A FEVER VICTIM.