The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-19
Seven Perished and II Were
Seriously Injured.
THEY FELL IN A HEAP
AS They Leaped from Windows
of Fourth Story.
Flames EnveIOped the Entire
Building When Discovered
At IL O'clock at Night When
All We're in Bed.

Nashville, Tenn, Dec. 19-Seven per-
sons are known to have been killed and
perhaps thirty others injured, II of
them seriously, in a fire here
last night which consumed the
Central Tennessee college for
young negro women, a department of
Walden university. 1t is possible that
the ruins may contain the bodies of
other victims. The property loss is es-
timated at $4,000.
THE KNOWN DEAD.
STELLA ADDISON. Port Gibson.
MATTE LEE MOORE. Huntsville.
SALLIE DADE, Hopkinsville. KY.
MAMIE JOHNSON, Hattiesburg,
Miss.
FATALLY HURT.
Annie Ham. Birmingham, Ala.
Ellen Vaughn, Columbus, KY.
Blanche U. Burr, Chicago.
jamie Douglas, Huntsville, Ala.
Bessie Elliver, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Frank C. Walker. Huntsville, Ala.
Lulu Cavotte, Macon, Miss.
One student not identified.
SEVERELY INJURED.
Eleanor Moore (white), preceptress,
Chicago.
Lady B. Knox, Greenville, Miss.
Minnie Aston, Covington, Tenn.
Bertha MOn1OrQ. GhicaRO.
Lulu Terry, NcAIinnville. Tenn.
Lulu Millen, Covington, Tenn.
Ernestine McCleary, Fernandina, Fla
Leona Miller, St. Louis.
Mamie Harris. Clarksdale, Miss.
Mamie Booze. Maysville, KY.
Victoria Miller, Anchorage, KY.
Fire broke out about IL o'clock in
the top of the building, which was four
stories high and without fire escapes
1t was occupied by about 90 students,
who were aSlean WHAu the alarm WA &
given. The wildese panic ensued, wo-
men and girls rushing screaming to the
windows, from which they jumped in
droVes, the dead and injured living in
heaps where they fell, to be fallen
upon by those following them from the
flaming windows. Every ambulance in
the city was soon on the scene, and the
injured were hurried to hospitals When
the flames were first discovered they
seemed to entirely envelop the build
ing, and it is considered almost certain
that some of the 'terrorized occupants
were overcome by smoke before reach
ing the windows.
President Hamilton was the first
member of the faculty of the university,
which is an institution for the educa-
tion of coiored people, to be apprised
Of the fire. He heard the screams of
the women, and rushing to his window
which is just across the street from the
dormitory, saw the flames bursting
from the building. When he reached
the door the frightened inmates had
begun to hurl themselves from the win
dOws. Several were killed in jumping
or crushed to death by those who fol-
lowed. The dormitory was four story
building of brick and the only means
of exit was down the main stairway,
which was soon 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 themselves headlong to the
ground.
Cora Bryant who was sick in bed on
the fourth floor, is missing and is be-
lieved to have been burned to death.
All the dead and injured with few
exceptions are negroes from southern
states Among the injured are Miss
Eleanor Myer white, of Chicago. a pre-
ceptress who was fatally hurt, and
Bertha Morford, of Chicago, who also
will die