The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-04-15
.SCHOUL HOUSE
BURNS DOWN,
Handsome Building Wiped Out
by Merciless Flames.
LOSS ESTIMATED AT 100000.
Temporary Quarters Secured and
School Was Resumed Monday
Without Interruption.
LOSS ESTIMATED AT 100000

Shortly before two O'Clock Satur-
day morning the usual quietude of our
little city was disturbed by an alarm
of fire. The entire populace awoke
only to find that the public school
building, one of Welsh's cherished
fixtures, was mass of flames, and
that if prompt and effective service
was not rendered the whole OF the
southeastern portion of town was i'm
periled.
Shortly after the discovery scores
of fre-fighters were on the scene with
buckets and ladders for the purpose
of combining the flames to the school
house and if possible to save some OF
the equipment from the burning build
ing. The fire had gained such head
way, however, that no attempt was
made to enter. all efforts having been
directed to the saving of adjoining
buildings. A strong breeze blew
from the northwest and for an hour
flying sparks and burning embers
com bined to make veritable pyro-
technical display in the heavens and
threatened disaster to residences and
other buildings in that section.
Time and again flames burst from
the roof of the M. e. church, South,
the first building east OF the school
house, but the heroic work of gallant
fire-fghters extinguished the flames,
thus preventing serious conhagra-
ton. The Congregational church
caught time or two but was quickly
put out.
The school building cost originally
nearly $4,000 and was insured for
$4,000, $500 on building and $500 on
fixtures. In addition to the building
there we're burned all the fixtures and
equipment, many school books ana
supplies and most of the instruments
belonging to the Welsh cornet band.
Policies are held as follows: North
British and Mercantile Insurance
Company, $1,000 on building, $3.50 on
fixtures: Continental Insurance Com
any, $1,000 on building, $3.50 on fix
lures: Home Insurance Company,
$3.50 on building; London Assurance
Corporation, $3.50 on building.
| The school house had six class
rooms, q large assembly room with a
seating capacity of 300 and two spa
cious halls besides other conveniences.
The first four rooms were built in the
fall of 1883 at a cost OF something
over $4,000. The old building having
been inadequate for the demands of
the town an addition of equal dimen-
sions was built last fall. The new
building, including furniture, desks
end brick foundation for the old
portion, cost about $4,000. Counting
the furniture and fixtures in the old
:! building the loss will aggregate to-
tai of between 1880 and $4,000.
! Just how the fire originated will
probably never be known.
Early Saturday morning the city
council convened in special session
in the town hall for the purpose o
arranging for the continuation o
school. After a brief deliberatior
temporary quarters were procured
and carpenters were at once engaged
l to convert them into improviset
school rooms. L NC GOWu u6lL "d
given over to Prof. Hooper and hi
, pupils, Miss Cora Miller and the pu
S pills of the seventh and eighth grade
Q are cozily installed in the M. Z
s church, South, and divided into tire
d distinct departments in the ware hous
south of the First National Bank al
2 domiciled Misses Mary Buchanan
l. Lenore Anderson and Nettie Sha
i and the pupils under their jurisdiction
d School opened Monday in the Meth
n odist church for distribution, but az
iourned for lack of books. 1t hs
since resumed, however, and ever.
thing is working smoothly despite IL
conditions with which both teacht
II and pupil had to contend.
% Members of the town board are a
10 ready considering plans for a ne
d building and soon q meeting will
y held to perfect arrangements and d
y termine on plans. Mayor Robiust
20 informs the Journal that Jnode
AS temple of education, thoroughly equi
ae ped, will sdorn the old site in ami
d. time for the opening of school ne
September.