Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-03-11

may seem, more Of the pupils escaped
from this part of the schoolhouse than
from any other. The children were
under good discipline, they had been
practiced frequently in the fire drill,
their teachers without exception re-
tanned their selfpossession, showing
great courage in the face of imminent
death, and yet more than half of these
little ones died horribly because of
faulty building arrangements.
The schoolhouse was two stories
and half in height, the walls being
OF brick and concrete. Inside it was
q she'll which burned with almost in
conceivable rapidity. The entire in
terror was mass of smoking ruins
lying In the cellar within 30 minutes
after the alarm of fire was sounded.
Contributions Pouring In.
In response to the call for finan-
cial assistance for the afflicted and
needy people of Collinwood, as a result
Of the calamity, cash contributions are
pouring in at rapid rate. The
Cleveland newspapers have started
subscription funds, and a large sum
will doubtless become available with
but little delay. In many families
there are three or four caskets to be
provided for their dead. The village
council of Collinwood has appropriated
$4,000 for those needing financial aid.
while the Collinwood board of trade
pledged similar amount.
Rigid Investigation Promised.
A rigid investigation is promised
into the cause of the fire. Gov. Har-
ris has announced that the state au-
thorfttes would look into the matter
In most minute manner. He issued
instructions to the department of
workshop and factory inspection to
commence an investigation at once.
Fire marshals are earnestly seeking
ito establish the cause and place the
responsibility for the fire. The off,
Gals of the coroner's office are also
working to the same end The school
board of Collinwood has taken up
the matter and will look into it care
fully. So far, however, no clews of
value and no definite information have
been obtained.
Fire Drill Saves 1900 Pupils.
Grand Rapids, Mich, Mar. 6.-Grand
Rapids Thursday was threatened with
repetition of Cleveland's disaster of
Wednesday on an even larger scale.
Fire broke out in the laboratory of
the Central high school while 1000
pupils were in the midst of the morn
ing work. The signal for the fire drill
was given and the children marched
out In perfect order. The building
was emptied in 21z minutes.
The Central high school is over
crowded and stairways inadequate, and
fears of a possible panic have long
been felt, but the fire drill Thursday
proved effective. The fire did COM
paratively little damage.
That there was no panic in the
school was probably due to the fact
that a photographer had been TAX
ing hashlight pictures in the cor
ridor few minutes before the fire
broke out and the children had been
warned not to be alarmed. When the
firemen came and drill began, they
thought, therefore, that it was for an
other picture, and all of them marched
out quietly.
The fire started below the floor of
the chemical laboratory on the first
floor and only quick action by the fire
department prevented serious blaze.
Illinois Schools to Be Safe.
Springfield, ILL.,, Mar. 5.-As the re-
suit of the disaster at Collinwood. O..
DR.. James A. Egan, secretary Of the
state board of health, has addressed
an open letter to the mayors of cities.
presidents of boards Of village trustees.
township supervisors and boards of
county commissioners of Illinois urg-
ing the necessity of making sure that
doors open outward, and that noncom-
bustible fire escapes for school build
ings be installed.
He directs the local authorities to
visit and inspect all schoolhouses and
see that provisions for the safety of
school children be made at once. He
ordered that all school buildings be
equipped with fire-alarm systems.
The state board of health, under the
powers conferred upon it by statute,
authorizes all the officers named to
close all school buildings not so pro-
vided with safe exits, both private and
public, until such provisions for the
protection of the lives of children
are made.
Nebraska Democrats for Bryan.