The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-12-25
Burning of Woman's Dormitory of
Walden University Attended by
Frightful Fatalities.
VICTIMS HURL THEMSELVES FROM
The WINDOWS and ARE KILLED
Seventeen Seriously Hurt While Sew
eraI Others Receive Minor Injuries
The UnfOrtunates Were All Negro
Girls Attending the InstitutiOn-NO
Help Said to Be Needed.

Nashville, Tenn, Dec. 21.-Seven are
dead and II seriously injured as the re-
suit of a fire that broke out Friday night
in the woman's dormitory of Walden
university.
The dead are: Stella Addison, Port
Gibson, Miss; Adele Christian, Green's
boro, Ala; Sallie Dade, Hattiesburg,
Miss; Matte Lee Moore, Hunts
vile, Ala; Lulu A. Terry, McMinnville,
Tenn; Mamie G. Johnson, Hattiesburg,
Miss.
Cora Bryant, of Cleveland, Miss, who
was sick in bed on the fourth floor, is
missing. 1t is supposed she persisted, as
all efforts to find her have been inef-
fectual.
The seriously injured: Miss Eleanor
Moore, of Chicago, whose injuries are
not definitely ascertained, but she will
die; Bertha Morford, Chicago. fracture
of back and internal injuries; will die:
Victoria Miller, Anchorage, KY, inter-
nally injured; probably fatal; Jane
Douglass, Huntsville, Ala, leg broken
and possibly internally injured; Mamie
Harris, Maysville, KY, leg broken and
internally injured; Ernestine McCleary,
Fernando, Fla, critical condition; Min
ME Booze, Clarksdale, Miss; Annie
Hall, Birmingham, Ala; Leonie Miller,
st. Louis, Mo-, internal injuries; will
die; Grille Walker, address unknown,
will probably die; Minnie Aston, Cow
ington, Tenn, probably fatal; Ladie B.
Knoz, Greenville, Miss; Susie Cavell,
Macon, Miss, very serious.
Several others were less seriously in
jured.
Victims Jump from Windows.
President Hamilton was the first men,
Der of the faculty of the university, which
is an institution for the education of
colored people, apprised of the conf1agra-
tion. He heard the screams of the wom-
en-, and, rushing to his window, which
is just across the street from the dormi-
tory, saw the flames bursting from the
eastern end of the building. DR.. Hamil-
ton FASTENED to force an entrance into
the building, but when he reached the
door the frightened inmates had begun
to hurl themselves from the windows.
Several of them were killed in jumping
or crushed to death by those who fol-
lowed.
The dormitory was four-story build
ing of brick and the only means of exit
was down the main stairway, which was
shortly cut off after the fire broke out,
and the inmates rushed, panic stricken,
through the smoke and heat seeking an
avenue of escape Baff1ed in this they
sought the windows and hurled them
selves headlong to the ground.
Most of the women had retired and
only had time to escape in their night
garments.
No Assistance Needed.
Walden university was named after
Bishop J. M. Walden, of Cincinnati. DR..
W. p Thirkield, secretary of the Freed
mans Aid and Southern Educational So
ciety, with headquarters at Cincinnati,
Saturday telegraphed offering assist
ance.
"The institution is in very capable
hands" he declared, land hardly think
it necessary to go down there. The COL
lege is one of the Oldest we have, being
erected in 1866 with money raised by
the Tennessee jubilee singers. The cost
of the dormitory destroyed by fire was
about $4,000, and 1 presume the local
board, whose property it was, had it in
sured. 1t is only controlled by the
Freedmans Aaid society.
'In the institution, including the med
ical department, there are about 700
students. Almost all the branches of
study are taught there, including an in
dustrial course"