The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-12-04
STUDENTS DIE IN
A DORkITORY FIRE
Two Lose Lives in Early Morn
ing Blaze at Jewell Luth.
eran College.
Thirty IN THE BUILDING
None Was Seriously Injured Among
Those Who Eseaped-suildins a
Total Loss-lnsurance $4,000,
While Loss of $4,000.

Jewell, Ia, Dec. 1.-Two students
We're burned to death and twenty more
were fortunate in escaping with their
Jewell Lutheran college, which burned
this morning. The dead:
BERTEN MELANG, son of Ole
Melang of Rose Grove, this county.
- PETERSON, of Red Wing, MINI.
The body Of young Melang was found
in the ruins. That of Peterson has not
been found, but there is no doubt that
he was lost in the fire.
The flames are supposed to have
started in the basement, though their
origin n the earlier incidents are
mysteries. The building was used
Chiefly for dormitory purposes, and
about thirty young men were occupy
ing rooms there. There was a separate
dornitory for the young
Fire Discovered at Sis a. m.
The fire was discovered at SIS this
morning, Inc in a few minutes the en-
fire building was in flames. They
spread very fast, as practically nothing
could be done to stop them, the build
ings being SO far out OF own that the
water service was of no use.
The first students who were awak-
ened by the flames and smoke rushed
through the halls shouting and pound
ing on the door to arouse the others.
Some of them who were sleeping, up
posing that they being awakened by
rioting students for amusement, paid
no at first, and many narrow
escapes resulted. The flames spread
very fast, and the wonde is that there
We're no more fatalities.
A considerable number Of students
got outside in their night clothes, not
daring, when they first awoke, to wait
for anything, for the building was filled
with dense mok n they could not
tell how much of it was burned. Reach
ing the outside, they were deceived by
appearances. and several, thinking the
fire was not yet dangerous, r~e-entered
to save their clothes, etc.
Had Marrow Escapes.
Among these a dozen had narrow
escapes, the flames reaching out so
fast that their means of egress We're
nearly cut off. All, however, got out
side except Peterson and Melang, who
are believed to have persisted in their
rooms without ever getting outside at
ali. Nobody recollects seeing them
leave and then ~re-enter the building.
AS soon as it was certain the build
ing was doomed the ~scantily clad stu
tents were cared for in nearby houses.
There were some startling scenes on
the campus for the young women APP
RSNANo N"AiS @AS&a tAiS2A w 11lESc why
to be frightened back TO quarters by
the spectacle of a half score or more Of
young men dancing about the burning
structure in very scanty apparel.
Nothing Saved From Building.
Nothing was saved from the build
ing. 1t was some time before a census
could be taken to discover whether
anybody was missing. Then it was
first supposed hat Melang alone was
lost. Later his body was found. Then
it developed that Peterson also was not
to be found, and that he was unques-
tionably dead.
The college was established in 1892
by the Norwegian Lutherans and has
about 100 students. The loss on the
building is $4,000. and on furniture,
ETC.. $4,000. Insurance, 81, 1000.
Jewell is in the southwest corner of
Hamilton county, about twenty miles
from Webster City. and is at the juno
ton Of the Sioux C~ity-Tama and Des
MoineS-M Minneapolis lines of the North