Amador ledger., 1904-04-01
THE PRESTON SCHOOL FIRE
Official Report of the Trustees Thereon.
How Fire Started Unknown.

The trustees OF the Preston School
met in lone last week, and after full in
vestigation issued the following report:
To His Excellency, George G. Pardee,
Governor of the State of California.
We have investigated the circum-
stances of the fire which occurred at
the Preston School of Industry on the
night of March %, 1904, and accom-
panying this report is a transcript of
the testimony taken.
Upon our Investigations we have
based the following conclusions:
The beginning of the fire was in the
attic OF the Trades building, and it was
discovered by the outside night watch
man at about S:45 p. m. There was
stored in this part of the Trades build
ing lot of material more or less in
hammable, consisting of pine lumber,
old furniture, some cocoa mating, eli
cetera. Two of the windows of the at
tic were opened toward a smoke stack,
outside the building and four or five
feet from the wall, the top of which
was some ten or fifteen feet above these
open windows. The windows were
open to admit the guy ropes of the
smoke stack, and this arrangement
had been in force since the boiler for
the laundry had been set, about four
years ago.
We lind that the electric wires which
entered the attic were dead wires, not
being in use. Therefore it would not
have been possible for the fire to origi-
nate from the electric wires in the attic.
Should fire have originated from the
electric wires in any part of the build
Ing where such wires were in use, the
fuses would have blown cut in that part
OF the building and the lights have been
extlnguished. AS the evidence shows
that the lights were burning after the
fire had started, no short circuit could
have occurred.
We can only conclude that the fire
originated by spontaneous combustion.
or that a spark blown from the smoke
stack into the open window of the at
tic, or through the ventilators in the
roof, ignited the combustible material
stored there.
knowing that the ordinary mind is
likely at once to jump to the conclusion
that the fire was incendiary, we in
vestlgated this phase of the matter
most thoroughly. The evidence shows
that the attic, where we suppose the
fire originated, was kept securely lock-
ed, and the key held in the possession
OF but one officer, the carpenter. The
| last time the attic had been visited by
any one was some six weeks ago, when
the blacksmith had occasion to go there
| after piece of furniture. And from
| that day until the time of the fire no
person, to our knowledge, had entered
the attic
Within few minutes of the time il
started, the fire was discovered by the
night watchman, who promptly gave
the alarm. The superintendent was
the first to arrive at the building after
the alarm had been given. He was
followed Immediately by all the officers
not on duty with the boys, who were
all in bed asleep and knew nothing of
the fire. Many of the citizens of the
town came quickly to the help of the
school, and with the officers rendered
such efficient service that q portion of
the laundry machinery was saved by
| checking the fire in that part of the
building
The walls of the building remain in
tact. and, so far as we can tell from our
investigation, are not damaged to any
extent. The entire inside of the build
| ing from the foundation to the roof,
with the exception above mentioned,
was completely consumed, together
with its contents, comprising the stock
and equipment of the carpenter shop,
laundry, photographers printing
shop, shoe shop and tailor shop. We
estimate the total loss to the state at
from S12, 600 to S15,000