Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-03-30

had been thrown against them when
they were heated to an almost white
heat they would have cracked and
warped. AS it is they were allowed to
cool slowly and the general opinion
here is that they are not ruined.
Blame for the misfortune last night
cannot be attached either to any of
the people connected with the insti-
tuition or to the people of the town.
Neither negligence, or inactivity on the
part Of any person can at this time
be said to be responsible for the fact
that the flames secured so firm a hold
on the building. putting it beyond the
hope of rescue.
Story Of the Fire.
The first alarm was sounded at 2:15
a. m. The janitor who was sleeping
in the building was awakened by the
smoke. There was no noise at the
time, but the smoke was so thick that
he was stified, and the unpleasant sem
sation awakened him. For a moment
he did not know what had happened,
but soon realized the import of the
situation, and clothing himself quickly
he rushed out to discover II possible
the source Of the smoke. He saw at
q glance that the flames had gone far
beyond the control OF one man or an
army of men for that matter and has
tened to spread the general alarm. At
that time the fire was in the room be-
low the students rest room where a
large amount Of fixtures had been
stored
Alarm Spreads Rapidly.
The janitor's first move was to
and then the fire department. AS soon
as the alarm was once sounded it
rapidly spread through the city that
that the handsome university, the
pride of Moscow, was burning. The
sound called citizens and students
alike to the rescue. and crowd of
eager earnest fire fighters soon gath
cred. In fact, the whole Moscow pop
ulation turned out to fight the flames.
The students were organized under
the direction Of President Mclean. and
the citizens worked in harmony with
the fire department. and the students
From the rest room into which the
fire had eaten before the people ar
rived 1t rapidly spread toward the
large stairway. Once within the
draught of this opening the eager
| flames climbed almost in an instant to
the very top of the building.
Draught Whips Flames. to Fury.
. The large stairway acted as the
chimney of an immense furnace. The
| fire in the rooms below had a firn
hold on the wood work, and the DIR,
| fixtures and other combustable ma.
tterial furnished fuel for its fury. TIL,
| strong draught up the stairway whip.
ped it into greater frenzy ana without
the eager fire fighters were powerlesl
to stay its awful destruction.
| They soon saw that their case wal
hopeless. and devoted their efforts t.
| saving all Of value they could fSon
the building. Many valuable fixtures
| were carried out to a place of safety
by the students and citizens, all. o.
whom worked with a will and deter
mination.
/ Enough of the laboratory equipmen
was saved to allow students to FIX VI
q laboratory in a small way and con
tinue their regular work.
Building Cost $26o,0oo.
The extent of the loss can hardly b.
estimated at this time or until an en-
| gineer can determine the value of tn
walls left standing. The building an,
/ fixtures are said to represent valu
OF $250.0OO. On this an insurance wa
carried of about 100000. 1t is not be
lieved that the building will be tota
loss, and future developments onl!
will tell how much the state has los
In last nights fire. The front wall !
hardly smoked. A strong wind wa
blowing. which whipped the flame
toward the rear Of the building. wher
the heat was the most intense.