The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-07
WARD SCHOOL BURNS
Cleveland Ave. Building Total
Iy Destroyed Last Night
WAS OLD BURTON BUILDING
With New Wing in Course of
Construction.
WAS OLD BURTON Bull DING

The new Cleveland avenue school build
ing at the corner of Ninth and Cleveland
was destroyed by fire last night about
O'clock
When the alarm was turned in Chief
Walden saw at once that water would
not be in reasonable reach, so he sent
the chemical wagon. The chemical made
a good run and reached the fire before it
had gained much Roadway, but the fire
had first started in the garnet and it was
very hard to get at. A hole was chopped
in the roof, the chemicals were thrown
upon the blaze and the fire was prsc-
tically under control when the chemical
gave out. The fire soon spread again and
burst through the roof.
When the hose cart arrived there was
not enough hose, for the nearest plug
was so feet away. When Chief Walden
learned that it was a public building he
sent the whole department to the scene
but by this time the fire was beyond
control Although the engine was used
It was impossible to get water enough
through nearly one-half mile Of hose to
save the building.
The fire was very slow In starting and
II the chemicals had not been exhausted
too soon the property could have been
saved Or If the alarm had been given
that it was the school building all the
department would have been sent at
once, and in all probability most of the
structure saved. But as it was the de-
partment did well in saving the adjon-
ing buildings for there was considerable
wind and the sparks were blown for
blocks.
1t was unfortunate that the building
was located so far from water. Circum-
stances would have to be very favorable
IN order to handle a fire so far away.
Chief Walden said last night that since
he had been in this city he had not be-
fore laid such long stretch Of hose. It
took about all the hose the fire depart
ment had to reach the building.
The most mysterious thing is how the
building caught fire The place it started
was up in the garnet. Men were working
in the building all day yesterday and
they say there was no fire about the
building at any time during the day. It
IS remarkably strange that fire should
suddenly spring up Of its own accord.
There seems to be but one explanation
that the building was set aire by some
person or persons. The situation must
have been carefully studied, for had the
seat of confagration been anywhere else
but in the attic the chemical engine
would have put it out. If it was the
work Of an incendiary he planned to have
the building entirely destroyed.
when the fire was discovered a man
had to 60 to Goodin's drug store, nearly
half a mile away. to give the alarm All
of these Disadvantages combined made
the destruction of the building almost in
evltable
The building was formerly the school
house for the Burton car works. It used
II stand UP by the Santa Fe tracks. and
every stranger would ask what building
II was. The people all moved away I'M
I'll finally there were only about a dozen
pupils to attend school
The city was in need Of a building at
Cleveland and Ninth streets 10 accommo-
date the greatly increased number of
scholars in that part Of town. So the
building was moved down some weeks
ago and the work Of fitting it UP for
school purposes was in progress. The city
was building an additional wing. all of
which was destroyed by the fire.
The building was insured. SO il will not
b. an entire loss to the city But il will
greatly disarrange the plans Of the school
management. The old building is not
large enough to accommodate all pupils
who win desire to attend there this win
-.