Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1902-03-29
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS
By KATE MARKHAM POWER.

NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.


The State suffered a great calamity
last week in the destruction by fire Of
the main buildings Of the Deaf and
Dumb Institution at jackson. This in
stitution, under the splendid manage
ment of Mr.. Dobyns and his fine corps
of teachers and assistants, has long
been source of pride to the State, but
1t is far beyond the power of man
to estimate the great and far-reaching
good that has been done in their work
of taking the hundreds of deaf mutes
Of Mississippi and leading them
gently, step by step, from the world of
outer darkness wherein they dwell,
with their affiiction, into the clear,
bright light of knowledge and conse-
quent happiness. 1t would be hard
to imagine greater change than
takes place In many OF these afflicted
children during the first years of their
life at the institution, when the pa
tient, wise instructors discover, bring
forth and train the talent (ofttimes
the brain itself) that has lain dormant
behind the silent lips, and teach the
child how to find pleasure in the beau
ty of life and the world, despite the
ears that know no sound. Last Mon
day, just before noon, the varied work
of the institution was going on as
usual. One hundred pupils and all
the teachers were busy at their tasks,
and about dozen children were in the
hospital. The usual serenity pervaded
the scene, when passer hurried in to
say that the roof was ablaze! And in
almost as short time as 1t takes to
write these words the alarm went
through the buildings, and the per
fsctly trained children, all IGNORANT of
the cause, were marched from them
across the yards and to safe places in
the neighboring yards. The sick chill
dren were lifted by willing arms and
carried to beds in the nearby homes,
and as soon as the buildings were
emptied the teachers began the strug-
gle to save the children's clothes and
such other things as came first to
hand. In this work they were nobly
aided by the larger dumb boys of
the institution and by the colored
servants. In a few minutes the citi-
zens began to arrive, and the firemen,
and every possible effort was made to
save the buildings and their contents,
but the frame structure (the hand
some old prince Ed Yerger home)
was doomed, and soon crashed to earth
mass of burning debris. Quite a
good deal of furniture was removed
from the buildings, but all was more
or less damaged and much of it ruined.
In an incredibly brief time the house,
with its beautiful interior (much of it
the boys handiwork), was gone, and
with it the private apartments of Prof.
Dobyns'. family, with all their furnish
ings, the splendid library of the insti-
tuition, the art rooms, with their col
lections, which time and money can
not duplicate; the hospital, the dormi-
tories, some class rooms, teachers
rooms kitchens, laundry, ETC., and al
most all of the wearing apparel of the
girls. Their trunks were stored in the
attic and they, with their contents,
went first. This was a great loss, as
many of the pupils are very poor, and
their parents cannot duplicate the com
Portable clothing furnished by the
State. Jackson's volunteer fire depart
ment worked nobly at this terrible fire.
and their efforts saved the chapel
building and the surrounding resi-
dences. Many splendid feats of hero
ism and personal bravery were wit
messed among the pupils and teachers,
as well as among the firemen. Mr..
Dobyns was severely injured while |
trying to rescue the States valuable
papers, his hand being crushed and an
artery cut, but If he stopped long
enough to bind it up nobody knew 1t.
He was everywhere, directing, helping, |
and planning all at once, and
with the splendid cooperation of his
faculty, the ready 2 mpathy of the cit
liens and the e. client training of |
the pupils, he sos had arrangements
made for their comfort. Hundreds of
the best homes in Jackson were thrown
open and the pupils were welcomed,
and in many instances supplied with
clothing to replace their
own. By Thursday, however, most of
the children had gone on their home
ward ways and their school days are
ended for the present. 1t is not known
at this writing what will be done rela-
tive to rebuilding, but it seems to be
the prevailing idea that the insurance
money should be used to build neat
cottages on the back of the lot, which
may be used for dormitories, and after
ward sold for residences when the
State builds her new d. and d. in
stitute Whatever the trustees may
decide, we hope it will not be very
long before these children can come
back to renew their studies. Other
wise, the fire will prove an affiiction
indeed. They more than any other
class of children must be taught, and
.aught well, every line in the Book of
knowledge.
Sparks from this fire, driven by
strong north wind, set fire to half a
iozen houses some five OF six blocks
Instant from the institution, but all
we're put out except the residence oc-
,upied by Mr.. Johnston of Johnston,
Taylor & Co., and owned by Mrs. R.
/. Winter, now of Philadelphia. This