The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-07

Ithaca, N. Y, Dec. Fire today
practically destroyed the beautiful Chi
Psi fraternity house at Cornell uni
versity. Before the fire departments
over, Pa, had jumped from a third
story window and was so severely in
jured that he died shortly afterwards.
Three of Ithaca's volunteer fremen,
all prominent men, were killed while
fighting the flames. Four students lie
in the infrmary at the point of death,
and it is not known how many are in
the ruins.
Mansion Now Heap of Ruins.
& The chapter house, which was a man.
sion built by Mrs. Jennie McGraw
Fiske on the campus, overlooking
Cayuga lake, but never occupied by
her because of her premature death,
was beautiful structure of sandstone,
and regarded as the finest fraternity
house in the United, States. It was
handsomely decorated within with mar
BILE and mahogany. It is now a heap
OF ruins. > The walls, which were OF
rnbble masonry, collapsed under the
flames and high wind 80 -
Buried as Wall Falls =
: The fremen killed were A. S. Robin
son, a. lawyer and graduate Of Cor
nell; Esty LandOn and John Rumsey.
They were manipulating hose on the
north side of the building when the
wall collapsed on them and pinned them
slowly to roast under the burning
debris. ~ .
When the fire department arrived.
the screams Of two men appearing in
the windows of the southwest tower,
oyer the main entrance, were heard.
For some reason the men hesitated to
jump, and before they could be reached
buried beneath the ruins. One Of them
is supposed to be w. II. Nichols Of
Chicago.
Bleeding Injured Rescued.
The chapter house burned rapidly.
The fremens made hard fight, but
the walls were SO hot that any attempt
at rescue was impossible.
Among those who were taken from
the ruins was J. M. McCutcheon of
Pittsburg, the football fullback substi-
tute. Those taken out were in pitt.
able condition. They were bleeding
from cuts caused by falling bricks and
timbers and blackened by smoke. Sew
eral Of those who had been thus caught
were badly burned. McCutcheon, who
jumped, died late this afternoon. His
W. d. K a
freshman member Of the fraternity. is
missing.
Six Probable Death List.
The fire continued to blaze fierceN
and it was several hours before the
ruins were cool enough to undertake
any rescue work. Many Of the stu
dents at first: supposed to be missing
are being cared for at other fraternity
houses in the vicinity.
This is the most serious disaster that
has ever occurred at Cornell. tho at
years ago several lives were lost.
O.. L. Schmuck Of Hanover. who
jumped, died in the fnfirmary.
+: W. Grelle Of Orange, N. J.. a
freshman, is supposed to be among the
dead.
Fire Started in Kitchen.
The fire started in the kitchen Of the
basement of the chapter house. The
flames had gained considerable headway
before the students in the chapter
house were awakened.
The fire burned its way from the
kitchen into the lower hall where the
stairs leading to the floor above were
soon burning. The halls thruont the
house were Immediately filled with
dense smoke. In the rooms on the up-
per floor s1ere twenty-seven students.
all Of whom were taken unawares.
Several Injured Leaping.
It was not possible for the students
TO get out by way Of the halls and all
went to the windows. AS the fire ap-
preached the rear Of the building the
students were forced to Jump and sew.
era al, were seriously injured in this way.