Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-10

them at the institute. They will probably
be removed TO the city today.
Superintendent Rothert. as soon as pos
sible, placed himself in communication
with the State Board OF Control. but up to
a late hour had received no instructions
from that body. II IA expected, however,
that the work Of rebuilding will be COM
menced without delay. II is possible that
the school msy be closed during the re-
building and steps taken to send the chill
dren to their homes as soon as possible.
Estimate of Loss.
superintendent Rothert estimated the loss
lest night between t250.OOO and 100000.
The loss on the buildings he estimated at
5000, 900 and that on the furniture and con-
tents at between $780, 900 and 500, 900.
Mr.. Rothert stated that he had no idea
how the fire started and that no one else
in the institution seemed to have. He
said: II was sitting, writing, in my ONCE
about s o'clock, when the noise made by
one OF the boys in the hall attracted my
attention and l started to investigate. As
soon as I opened the door Of my ONCE I
smelled smoke and at once realized that
there was FIRE in the building somewhere.
The little fellow whose actions had FIRST
attracted my attention pointed to where
the flames we're coming through the roof
Of the chapel building. at once directed
my efforts to get my charges out OF the
building. and after that to fight the names.
I am thankful to say that no one Is hurt.
The few children we had in the hospital
were safely taken down the first thing and
placed in neighboring houses. The FIRE
spread with fearful rapidity and we were
able to save but little except the bedding.
which we succeeded In throwing from the
windows. As to what the state board will
decide upon l cannot say at this time. l
notified the members OF the board by telee
gram as soon as possible Of the terrible
disaster I suppose, however, that the work
Of rebuilding will be begun as soon as
possible"
The library Of the institute, containing
5000 volumes, and with the museum, was
completely destroyed, being In the chapel
wing, where the are FIRST started. The
records Of the institute are in a safe in
Superintendent Roberts ONCE and he was
hopeful last night that they had been pre-
served.
Not the First Fire.
Last evening was not the FIRST time the
Iowa School for the Deaf has been visited
By Gre. In 1866 the general assembly passed
an act removing the institution, then In its
infancy, from Iowa City to Council Bluffs.
but It was December, 1870, before the main
building and one wing were completed.
February 25. 1877, Just after the legisla-
ture had appropriated sufficient money to
build the other wing, the building was
destroyed by FIRE. The work Of rebuilding
was commenced at once, but in August or
the same year the place was visited by a
tornado, which nearly demolished all OF
the work hat had been done during the
summer. In June. 1886, a windstorm tore
on the roof Of the center building and in
1899 the west wing was completely de-
stroyed by Are.
The Main BuiIdins.
The main building was composed Of q
center Ave stories high, with an east and
west wing Of four stories each. The en-
tire length was 32o feet and width sixty
feet. The east wing, or girls side, was oc-
eupied In third and fourth floors by the
girls dormitories. The second floor was
used for guest chambers. girls sitting
rooms, girls study rooms and sewing de-
partment. The basement floor contained
girls bath and clothes rooms, female do
mestics' sleeping apartments, storeroom
and gymnasium. The west wing, or boys
side. had on the third floor the smaller
boys dormitories, while the fourth hoor
was occupied by the larger boys. The sec
ond floor contained boys study rooms and
boys reading room. In the basement were
boys bath and clothes rooms, sleeping
rooms for male help and the flower depart
ment, with a conservatory attached on the
outside In the rear OF the building. The
fifth floor Of the central building was used
for the hospital. The fourth story Of the
central building was formerly occupied for
chapel purposes, but had been divided into
rooms for large boys dormitories The
third floor was occupied by the rooms Of
resident male and female teachers. The
second, or once. floor contained the par
lors, two guest chambers, public and pri-
vate once OF superintendent and the liv-
ing rooms OF the superintendent and ma
tron. The basement, or hrst story, was
divided into two large rooms designed and
used as play rooms. one for the boys, the
other for the girls.
The center structure was built In 1878 and
the two wings q few years later.
wing In which Fire Started.
The wing containing the pupils dining
rooms and chapel. in which the blaze
started, was situated Immediately in the