Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-12-08
Valuable Botanical Collections Des.
trsyed and Students Lose Their
Personal Effects
No Lives We're Lost, But There
We're Many Narrow Escapes
No Insurance.
College Work Severely Crippled But
Will Be Continued Origin
Of the Fire.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Ames. Dec. s.This morning about
1880 O'clock the main building of the
Iowa State College was discovered to be
on fire. Paul Morn, fireman of the heat
ing plant. which is situated between the
wingssof the building and connecting.
with the basement, was awakened by
the smell of smoke. He Immediately
arose and upon investigation found that
fire had started in pile OF kinGling
wood which was lying near an old uiss
used boiler. and was just spreading 10
the roof. He rushed to the tower whicn8
contains the warning bell used for cal
ing students to meals and soon tae
alarm was spread over the campus
The alarm was telephoned to Morris.
lieyryS stable down town and the steam
whistle of the electric light plant
aroused a large crowd of people in
Ames.
The flames quickly spread from the
heating plant to the north stairway and.
running up the stairway set fire. 10 the
roof of the north wing. There was a stiff
breeze from the south. which Fortunate
~ confined the fire to this part of the
building until the Aines fire department
reached it.
Immediately upon receipt of the alarm
the Boone and Marshalltown fire deA
partments we're called on fer help. and
at 5:45 the Boone fire laddies arrived on
a special train and were hurried out to
the college ground, over the motor line.
The fire now enveloped the entire norte,
wing and it seemed that the whole
building was doomed. But the rein
forced fire fighters of both the college
and Ames We're successful in keeping the 4
fire within bounds aided by the wind,
until it burned itself out
The library of the bontanical depart
ment, which Is located just north Of the
insin entrance on the first floor was
badly burned and nearly destroyed. but
the Parry botanical collection, valued at
$500, was saved.
The origin OF the fire is a mystery.
The nres in the heating plant were
banked at $50 O'clock last night as
usual. and as electric lights are ussdI
exclusively, 1t could not have started
from lamp. The main building was
built in 1866 and the north and south
wings added in 1872 and cost in am
about $l75.000. twas five stories high.
including the basement, l5S feer long
by ! ~ feet wide. 1t has been used
nearly exclusively as dormitory for
the. boys. with the exception OF the
botanical department and a few class
rooms. 1T is not known definitely al
this time whether the building viii be
rebuilt. There is no fund available for
rebuilding, tho the state has provi-
Dental fund which might be used in
this emergency, amounting to 100000.
to be used according to the direction OF
the governor.
IT being only a short time until the
end of the term, December 90 the. fac
ulty will make provision for the large
number OF students who lost theirI
books and other supplies and school
will be continued until the end of the
term A ror,,,i "a ,,rne,.4;.e-
fessors Cessna, Pammel and Lincoln.
OF the college, and Messrs. Smith. Shell
don and Tilden. OF Ames, were an
pointed at meeting of the faculty TO
solicit rooms and board for the 500 s,u- |
dents who are now looking for accom-
1nodations. AT a mass meeting of the |
students held this morning at 10 o'clock
IN the chapel, at which Professor
Stanton presided, roll call was taken
and every student was accounted for.
Professor Stanton announced that the
college would continue undisturbed;
that those who had lost books and ma
terial would be provided for and rooms /
secured.
Sukesdorf, a student roomine, at one
of the cottages. had his room entered |
while the fire was in progress and was
robbed Of sls and gold watch, while
his roommate lost $43
President w. NJ. Beardshear was alb
sent from the college. having delivered
lecture at Danville. in the southwestern
part Of the state. last evening and is not
expected back till this evening.
The building was magnificent. one
and has stood in the center Of the cam
pus for slmost forty years. The old