Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-03-11
NE UNIVERSITY Loss
Medical College Building and
South Hall Gutted by the
Flames.
One Of the Most Valuable Medi.
cal Museums in the West
Destroyed.
The Loss. Aside From the Mu.
scum. Will Reach About
100000.
Special to Times Republican.


Special to Times Republican.
Iowa City. March 11.-At 3 o'clock
Sunday morning the medical building OF
the University of Iowa was discovered
to be on fire and within an hour only
portions of the walls of that building
and of South Hail. standing next to it,
were all that was left of the two build
jngs that We're used for the college of
medicine and the college of liberal arts.
The loss is estimated at over 100000,
while the medical museum can hardly
be replaced at any price.
The origin of the fire is unknown. One
theory is that 1t resulted from spontu-
neous combustion in the chemical room
OF the college of medicine This is the
theory held by several professors who
We're burned out by the fire. Another
Is that 1t resulted from cigar or cigar
g stump being carelessly thrown into
some heap of rubbish. Persons were at
work In the building at late as 5 o'clock
OF the previous evening and it is said
that the rules of the board of regents in
regard to smoking on the university
premises may not have been carefully
observed in this case. The flames spread
quickly up the stairways and elevator
shafts, wrapping the building in hot
flames within few minutes of the dis
covery of the fire. strong wind
famed the flames to fury When the
firemen got to the building the flames
We're pouring out of the windows and
coors, making it hard to approach near
er than 200 feet of the building. The
building was doomed and the efforts of
the firemen and volunteers, from the
students and citizens, saved the furni-
ture and equipments OF the old South
Hall, but the building itself went to
satisfy the same god of flames that left
standing only the four corners of the
medical building.
Nearly the whole town was awakened
by the explosion in the medical build
ing as the chemicals caught fire Every
cne turned out to help save what was
possible from the buildings. The wind
blowing SO hercely threatened when the
fire was at its height to set fire to the
store buildings across the street and
thus sacrifice the entire business DIS
trict.
The fire was finally brought under
control after heroic efforts by firennen
ard citizens with only the loss of the
medical and South Hail buildings and
some $500 damage TO the glass in the
windows of the new hall of liberal arts.
which is now being constructed two
lods east OF these two buildings.
The medical building in which the fire
originated was completed Iii 1882 at a
cost of $4,000. The building was not
satisfactory for the use TO which it was
Eut, It's going up in flames as magnifi-
cent hre-trap being the most success
ful event OF its history. 1t had been
remodeled several times, has been
struck by lightning, had it's roof blown
Off and had narrowly escaped a fire
several years ago. One of the finest
medical museums in the United States
was stored in it, many OF the specimens
OF morbid anatomy representing pri-
Sate collections of friends of the school
all over the world which it will be all
most impossible to replace. The collec-
ton represented years of labor on the
part Of those who had gotten it togeth-
er, having been started when the college
was first founded. One OF the best med
ical libraries In the west was destroyed,
together with $4,000 worth of micro
scopes alone. The board of regents had
recently allowed the college liberal ap-
preparation for the purchase of new
books ard magazines shipment of
these was destroyed. Twenty cadayers
for dissecting purposes were burned.
The school year of the college of medi-
cine closes. however, on the I'd of April.
Arrangements were made Sunday after
classes OF the college in the dental and
homeopathic medical buildings and the
class work will go on as usual
The old South Hall was completed in
1854 at cost of $4,000 and was the
first building used for university pur-
poses. AT the time the location of the
new hall of liberal arts was discussed.
the proposition to tear down this build
ing and erect the new building in its
place was defeated largely because of
the affection Of the alumni for the old
building. 1t was built first for Gormi-
tory and was used for that purpose for
five years. When the dormitory system
was abolished, the building was remod-
eled for recitation purposes. AS the un-
iversity grew In size, all of the depart
ments OF 1t were at one time housed in
the old south hall. Ever since 1866 1t
has been the home OF the literary socie-
ties. The interior has been remodeled
many times, the last change being made
about ten years ago when the basement
and first floor we're given over to the
engineering department. Much money
was spent by the state in fitting the
building for the purpose of this school
and at the last meeting of the board of
regents still greater improvements were
planned for the department. The fire
was disaster for the department be-
sause OF the fact that 1t Will be harder
10 ind home where this years work
ran be finished than is the case with
any other department. The department
has always been in need of larger quar-
ters however. and the fire will be the
means of attracting the attention Of the
university to the department which is
one OF the best in the university, con-
sidering the advantages that 1t has had.
BY the help OF the students In the en-
yineering department, the firemen were
able to save all the apparatus and IL
brary except some very heavy ma
chinery In the basement, which may not
be injured beyond recovery. The 100000