Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1902-03-27

me main uuliGln2S OF the Deaf and
Dumb Institution at Jackson This in
stitution. under the splendid masaze-
ment OF Mr.. Dobyns and his fine corps
OF teachers and assistants. has long
been a source OF pride to the State. but
IL Is far beyond the power Of mal
TO estimate the great and far-re2ching
good that has been done in their work
OF taking the hundreds Of deaf mutcs
Of Mississippi and leading them
gently. step by step. from the world OF
outer darkness wherein they dwell.
with their affection. into the clear.
bright light Of knowledge and conse-
quent happiness II would be hard
to imagine a 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 tofttimes
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 ald all
the teachers were busy at their tasks.
and about dozen children were in the
hospital. The usual serenity pervaded
the scene. when a paSser hurried in 70
say that the roof was ablaze. And in
almost as short time as it takes 10
write these words the alarm went
through the buildings. and the per
fectly 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 500, as the buildings were
emptied the teachers began the strug-
gle to save the childrea's clothes and
such other things as came first u
hand In this work they we're nodly
aided by the larger dumb boys Of
the institution and by the eolored
servants In a few minutes the citi-
zens began to arrive. and the firsmen.
and every possible effort vas made 20
save the buildings and their contents.
but the frame structure the hand
some old Prince Ed Yerser homel
was doomed. and soon crashed % earth
4 mass OF burning debris Quite \
good deal OF furniture was removed
or less damaged and much OF it ruined.
In an Incredibly brief time the mouse.
with its beautiful interior fmuch OF i
the boys handiworkI. was gone. and
with il 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
Iections. 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 vas a great loss. as
many of the pupils are very poor. and
their parents cannot duplicate the COM
Portable clothing furnished b. the
State Jaekson'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 aremen- Mr..
DobyEs was severely Injured while
trying 10 rescue the States valuable
papers. his hand being crushed and an
artery cut. but IL he stopped long
enough TO bind il up nobody knew it
He was everywhere. directing. helping.
cheering and planning all at once. and
with the splendid cooperation OF his
faculty. the ready sympathy OF the cit
izenS and the excellent training Of
the pupils. he soon 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
comfortable clothing 20 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 IL IS not known
at this writing what viii be done reIa-
tive 10 rebuilding. but il seems 10 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 affection
indeed They more than any other
class of children must be taught, and
taught well. every line in the Book Of
knowledge
Sparks from this fire. driven by a
strong north wind. set fire 10 half a
dozen houses some five or six blocks
distant from the institution. but all
were put out except the residence Oc-
cupied by Mr.. Johnston of Johnston.
Taylor & Co., and owned by Mrs R.
H. Winter, now Of Philadelphia This
was destroyed. and it was only by the
hereulean efforts OF the fremen and
citizens that Bishop GallOway's home.
next door, was saved
The following day three handsome
homes in West Jackson were burned
The Capital City's waterworks we're
not in evidence to any great degree
When the writer was engaged IN
newspaper work five or six years ago
il was great thing to find mention
in the exchanges of new factory. ice
PLAN, oil mill or any mandatory.
and We therefore made a great spread