The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-12-18
WHAT CAUSED FIRE
REPORT MADE ON BURNING AT
STATE coLoRED COLLEGE.


Inspector Wharton and Chief of
Fire Department Dibble, Claim
Fire Was Caused by Bad Flue.
Insurance Commissioner McMas-
ter is Of the opinion that the fire
Waich destroyed the dormitory and
dining room OF the State Colored
5Enllege at Orangeburg several weeks
ago was caused by defective flue
ia that the Aue, according to reports
made by the inspector, show that the
fiue in the building was only one
brick thick. A report has been
fled with the commissioner by B.
a. Wharton. inspector Of the insur-
ance department, and T. o. Dibble,
chief Of the fire department Of Or
aAgeburg.
In his report Mr.. Dibble says:
81 beg to recommend that you re-
Valest the trustees of this institu-
aon that they insist that equipment
aad hydrants placed on this campus
For fire protection be used for no
ether purpose, and that regular
lire squad be organized and drilled
In the use Of all appliances; that a
regular fire drill be required in or
der to empty buildings promptly
and without panic In case OF fire and
sufficient FIRE escapes be provided to
all buildings; that hereafter all
buildings to be erected be Of brick
and in accordance with the standard
or the s. E. U. A."
BY the report OF Inspector Whar-
eod1 it Is shown that thorough in
Felstigation Of the fire has been made,
The cause Is fixed as being defec-
tive flue. Inspector Wharton says.
II feel it my duty to call atten-
tion to the fact that most, If not
ali the public buildings in South
Carolina, are more or less improp-
erly constructed, either as to con-
struction or heating arrangements or
fire escapes or fire extinguishers. and
] would for this reason suggest that
tho time Is now ripe for the State
OF South Carolina to adopt build
lag; code at least for all puG.ic build
ings, and still better. for the entire
State at large, but certainly for the
public buildings erected in the
State. The loss Of money to the
State Of South Carolina this year
seom fire caused from improper con-
struction should be presented to
every law-maker in such manner rs
TO convince them of the great need
Of a building code, at least for all
public buildings, IL not for the en-
tire State at large. The benefit de-
rived from a reduction in insur-
ance rates in South Carolina from
the adoption of building code
would be the saving of thousands of
dollars annually. best les giving bet
ter protection from fire causes to the
property owners ali over the State
In his annual report to the Leg
islature, Commissioner, ,McMaster will
recommend a law to govern the con-
seructior of chimneys to prevent such
conflagrations.
Inspector Wharton says in his re-
port in part: you will appreciate
the fact that in most cases to at.
tempt to esta blish the origin or cause
OF fire after total destruction
OF building by fire is q difficult
problem. However, in this case
sufficient evidence could be had from
the five fues yet stan ling to deter
mine and establish the cause Of the
Gre beyond any and all reasonable
doubt. After going over the situa-
tion most carefully and making dill
gent inquiry of those about the
building on the night Of the fire as
TO what the conditions were in the.
Suilfing prior to the fire, with the
result that the mystery was no near
or solved than when first went to
the burned building. / was deter
mined to locate the cause If posi-
hle. I discovered directly in the
vicinity where all parties agree that
the fire started, what l thought and
was satified was a defective flue.
This was at a point in the fue be-
9Ween the ceiling Of the first floor
and the flooring of the second floor.
The next point was to satisfy my
self as to whether or not it was
defective flue.'
Continuing, the inspector says,
after telling of the difficulty in
reaching the standing chimney. AMI
Of calling upon Chief Dibble for as
sistance, that he found the follow
ing condition: 1.-The accumulation
of SCOT, the appearance of fire hav-
ing passed through from the in
size of the fiue to the outside OF
Eae hue and in ami between the
wall Of the ceiling and flooring OF
sne first and second floor"
When the point of the flue was
Gnally reached by knocking one
brick off at time, the bricks show
cd that there was no mortar be-
tween them, according to the in
spector, and continuing, he says:
"But it was plainly shown that fire