The Oskaloosa herald., 1907-10-10
SCHOOL HOUSfBURNS
LARGE AND coMMopIoUs BUILD
ING is MASS OF RUINS WITH
IN AN HouR--LosS $4,000. {,

Y
49,
Buxton, Oct. S.--The most spectac-
ular fire ever seen in Monroe county
occurred at this place Sunday even
ing in the burning of the large school
building on top of the hill. The fire
was well advanced when discovered
and the entire building was soon a
great mass of roaring fame. Nothing
could be done to save the property
and it burned to the ground. The
fire broke out about five O'Clock and
one hour later the entire building
was a heap of smoldering ashes. The
building was a frame structure with
large rooms, but well built full two
stories and basement.
The fire was caused by the testing
out of the new heating apparatus in
stalled in the building only last week.
and completed Saturday. A fire was
built in the furnaces Saturday and
this remained Saturday night and
Sunday. 1t is said that the fire caught
in the ventilators and these quickly
carried it to all parts of the build
ing. The ventilators connected the
several floors, as they extended from
basement to garnet. and the flames
had free sweep. No one was in or
near the building when the fire start
ed. The first alarm was given by
people at some distance and then the
whistles took it up and alarmed the
fln nh IF Inv
ton was gathered at a. safe distance
on, the hillside. All they could do was
to watch the destruction of the big
building. And yet many. were busy.
entering the building to save whatever
was possible. This rescue party was
well organized under voluntary. lead
er and did excellent work. saving
hundreds of dollars worth of equip
ment. They saved the school library
reference books, charts, tables, desks,
chairs and whatever else of loose
property could be reached. They
could not get to some of the rooms,
however, to clear them and the proper
ty loss aside from the building is Sc
we're.
The loss of the building will amount
to between ten and twelve thousand
dollars. Some insurance on the build
ing and the contained property was
written short time ago. Other poll
cies have expired. The total insur-
ance win amount to about five thous-
and dollars.
School at Y. M. C. A.
The school building accommodated
over half thousand pupils, who were
in charge of ten teachers and princi-
pal AS soon as the school building
was destroyed the citizens got together
and were soon organized to do some
thing to provide new accommodations.
The Y. NJ. C. A. building was turned
over to the teachers and school was
assembled Monday IN the auditorium
room of the building. Little incon-
venience was noted and less confus-
ion. The work of the teachers under
the circumstances is regarded as
nothing short of marvellous.
VIII Rebuild.
The school house will be rebuilt as
soon as possible. Plans are to be
considered looking to increased ac-
commodations. The old building,
though large, was too small to ac-
commodate the demands of the town,
and the new building may be made
more extensive. In the meantime the
school children will be provided for
at the Association building or some
other suitable quarters to be arranged
for later.
Was Big Blaze.
The school building stood on the
top of an elevation and could be seen
for miles around. The flames mount
ed hundreds of feet from the building
into the sky and the fire could be seen
at distance of many miles. The ev-
ening was still with no wind except
ing that naturally created by the big
blaze. Surrounding property was in
danger for a time, but no other fires
occurred. The saving of this part of
Buxton from a general conflagration is
due to the fact that no wind prevailed.
The heat of the fire was intense,
When the roof and the walls fell in
the sparks and live embers rose far
above the fire and burning brands were
carried a distance of several miles.
The loss will exceed $4,000 on the
building alone, with an insurance of