Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-21
Discovered by Boy.

About / o'clock this morning the
young son of James Turner, one of the
janitors of the building who resides
about $50 yards away, was awakened
by bright light shining in the win
dow Of his room. The boy at once
gave the alarm and the fire department
was notified. The blaze had its incep-
ton in the second story of Ankeny
Hall and by the time the firemen ar
rived 1t had gained such Roadway that
their efforts to extinguish the fire were
futile. Attention was then turned to
the residence of the president, DR..
Hinitt, formerly pastor of the First
Presbyterian church, Ottumwa. This
building is situated about eighty feet
away and was menaced by a tall chin
ney near the burning college building,
which 1t was feared would fall and
crush the presidents dwelling. Fortu.
nately however, the chimney fell into
the cellar.
Ruin Complete.
Meanwhile crash after crash in the
seetning furnace inside the walls of
the college, building warned the peo-
pie that the educational institution in
which Fairfield people have taken SO
much pride for over a quarter of cen
fury was being rapidly reduced to
ruins. There was nothing to do but
stand by and witness the utter de-
struction of the structure. For four
hours the blaze ragged. At the end of
that time there was nothing left of the
building in which last year $50 stud
ents received instruction and for
which the prospects for the ensuing
school year were so bright, but the
outside walls and a fierce fire in the
cellar.
Origin a Mystery.
There was no fire in the building
last night when the janitors left They
are at loss to account for the blaze
and can give no reason for it unless
that of spontaneous combustion would
account for it. 1t was rumored that
the fire was started by an explosion OF
chemicals but the fact that the pro-
fessors who had charge of the labra'
tory had moved their effects from the
room where the fire was first seen
several days ago, puts a quietus on
This theory. Incendiarism has also
been whispered but the belief is strong
that it has absolutely no foundation
"a motive for firebugs to fire the build
Is utterly wanting.
Built in 1875.
Parsons college was founded in 1875
md the building then constructed
served as the main building until 1883
when it was enlarged by the addition
of a handsome wing followed in 1896
by another wing.
1t was a Presbyterian institution
and welded great influence in Iowa
h educational circles. Two years age
DR.. F. w. Hinitt, then pastor of the
First Presbyterian church, Ottumwa
was selected as president of the insti
tuition. He has met with marked sue
cess in its management in every way
financially as well and has contribut
ed in a large degree to it's success
Ehe prospects for the coming schoo
year were very bright.
Hon. T. D. Foster, of Ottumwa, is
vice president of the board of trustees
and chairman of the executive com
mittee. He was and Is greatly inter
psted in the success of the college ant
udu HULL III d ludHCld
way as well as in the management o.
It's affairs.
One hundred and fifty students were
enrolled at the last term. 1t was as
cured this year that the enrollmen
would have been much more had tn,
building not been destroyed. Thu
outlook was most encouraging and thu
faculty felt that Parsons was forgins
ahead at rate that promised much
DR.. Hinitt. president of the college
together with his family are not a
home They went east several days
seo and are now presumably in Chi
~Axo.