The San Francisco call., 1905-01-25
ALARM OF FIRE
STIRS PUPILS
One Thousand Youngsters
Calmly March Through
Smoke at Lincoln School
DRILL PROVES SUCCESS
Not a Child Hurt in Empty
ing the Building, Show
ing Benefit of Drilling
Oakland once San Francisco Call.

Oakland Office San Francisco Cali.
1915 Broadway. Jan. "a.
One thousand pupils of the Lincoln
School at Tenth and Alice streets, en-
dangered by fire that broke out in the
big frame building, marched out OF the
structure this morning under per1ect
control of their teachers, in response
to the school alarm of fire that re-
sounded through the edifice at u:SO
o'clock. The building was emptied In
less than two minutes. Not a cniid
was hurt and the splendid efficacy OF
the fire drill' in time of actual tron-
Bile was proven. -
Though class rooms and Railways In
the rambling schoolhouse were sud
denly filled with smoke and the crack
ling of flames added to the terror OF
the situation. order was maintained
while the children marched in steady
ranks, quickly but quietly, to street
and yard with the discipline of trained
soldiers. Before the firemen arrived
responsive to an alarm sounded by Or.
fire from the outside, the building was
cleared of every occupant. -
The fire started from a defective fiue
connecting with stoves in the primary.
class rooms Of Miss Rosa Kottinger
and Miss Mary Jewett. There was
sudden burst of smoke and flame
through the walls that for an instant
caused a commotioH among the chill
dren. With precision the teachers
gave the command that started their
wards out of the rooms, while hurried
word was sent to Principal j. p. Gar
lick He sounded the school alarm of
fire that warned every teacher In the
building. In a few seconds the pupils
We're in line tramping steadily out ac-
sraer - Il. lot 1nxuy In 4fr6,
fire drill'' regulations. At exits and
on platforms and in Railways the
teachers stood at their posts, directing
the rapid outpouring of children.
The firemen speedily attacked the
fire which burned its way through the
walls into the roof of the primary de-
partment building, which is on the
Eleventh street side of the school lot.
The flames were quenched after walls
and ceilings had been cut away. 1t
was found that the fiue had broken be-
tween the two class rooms, the stove
in each room connecting at the top
with the chimney outside.
The primary building is separate
from the main structure, but is con-
nected by Railways through which
smoke poured into the larger part of
the school. At the time of the out
break, Principal Garlick was in the
basement attending to classes there.
He was warned by the cry of fire and
speedily sent in the school alarm be-
fore danger from possible panic had
been aroused. So quickly was the diff
ficulty handled that many pupils in
rooms remote from the scene of the
fire knew of its existence only when
they saw the Fire Department appara-
tus- arrive
superintendent of Schools j. W. Nc
Clymonds was summoned to the school
at once. He made careful investiga-
ton of the cause of the fire and he
handling of the pupils. Commenting
on the episode. Superintendent Nc
Clymonds said:
This experience demonstrates first the ex-
cellent discipline under which the thousand
under such good control to a place Of safety.
The feature of the fire drill is the absence Of
any warning whatever as to the time of sound
ing the alarm. The children never know
whether the alarm is a genuine OF mere
drill call. For that reason they are never
frightened when the bells sound Much credit
is reflected upon Principal Garlick ana his
morning. We are all glad that the fire re-
suited no more seriously than IL did
This experience demonstrates the Importance
of fireproof materials in our school buildings
I am glad that the new, ones will be built as
far as possible of brick and stone There
cannot be too many safeguards against FIRE in
school building. That of course goes with
out saying.
Principal Garlick also gave much
praise to his teachers for their sery-
ices in the emergency.