Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-02-28
High School Building Burned.

ing, consisting Of desks. charts, black
boards and large number of school
books, was also consumed 10y the
flames.
The fire was discovered by
Mr.. WIN. Lane, "a saloon proprietor
here. at about quarter to one o'clyck.
When he first saw the fire, flames aud
smoke we're issuing from small
window IN the basement of the build
ing, where the furnace is located.
He quickly gave the alarm, and a
number of persons residing in the
neighborhood responded promptly.
Upon reaching the scene they found
the basement to be in "a full blaze.
Strenuous efforts were made to arrest
the flames, aud water was thrown in
To the cellar and on the floor Just ov er
same, but the quantity of water was
not large enough to extinguish the
fire. In d short time the interior Of
the building WAS raging furnace,
aud the flames soon ate their WAY to
the outside, when they were famed
by the hurricane wind then blowing.
putting the building beyond the pow
Il of man 10 save from destruction.
The roof fell in at about 2:3O o'clock.
y large crowd gathered, aud find
lug the Schoolhouse doomed, they IN
recttd their efforts towards saving
the property IN the swath of the
gale. Sparks aud burning embrrs
were carried high into the heavens.
lighting up the sky aud presenting "a
SCENE similar 10 "a meteO-ic display.
For distance Of quarter Of mi e.
over the town these pieces of burning
shingle and wood were showered upon
houses and other buildings, and \
fearful CONFEDERATION was only ayertrd
by a sheet of SNOW aud slevt. which
covered the builiing- aul ground and
acted as a shield of protection against
the dying fragments OF fire.
The origin of the ire is q MYSTERY.
Some contend that il was the work
of an iucendiary. while others hluk
IL originated from the furnace or "a
defect in the pipes that carried the
heat To the several rooms iu the
building. Mr.. Ab. jackson. j.uitor
of the school, saws he WAS lu he base
ment Saturday evening at aboni :
O'Clock. aud that h. then cleaned the
ciudrrs out IF tn, furnace with hi,
hands. the fire having died the even
ing before after school adjourned.
IL Is probable that the wood work
near the heat conductors became ov-
erheated. aud smouldrring for some
time burst INTO flames, while it Is al
- possible for some Que To have brok
ell one of the windows of the base
ment and dropped IN fire. brand.
This large school building was
erected > years ago by MrSsrs.
Thompson Y O5lcn, aud was brick
structure, containing eight roonS.
II was equipped with all the modern
improvements of a high grade school
The entire loss wall reach nearly =.
900. The building aud contents
were insured for $1,000, the insur
ance being equally devIjed between
the Continental and Virginia Fire
and Marine Insurance Companirs.
On Tuesday night, February 81.
1894, the school building Stanliug
ON the same spot, was burned The
origin of the tire. like this, is uu
! known.
The destruction of the building
dad not interrupt the school session.
the several departments of the school
being located in different places of
/ the town.
Prof }. p. Nrif handed Us the
the following card:
We regret the loss to the communi-
~ 10y the lire of Saturday night. We
are sorry that 50 many pupils have
lost their books. While We shall be
deprived of many convenleuces, We
assure you that everything possible
Will be done for the comfort aud the
progress of the school. Ii will not
be interrupted by tins misfortune
Within ii few DAYS We hope 10 Sc
cure "a suitable place for accommo
dating all of the departments. Black.
boards, desks. etc, will be pro, ided
within week or ten DAYS. In the
meantime the schools are being con
Quoted as follows: Mr. x Mrs Netf'
rooms at Veterans Hall over Mr.