The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-11-25
EATEN UP BY FLAMES
BEsTRUCTIVE FIRE WIPES OUT
TWO BUILDINGS ON THE
Carnpus Of the State Colored Coz

Campus Of the State Colored Col
lego and Endangers Several Other
Buildings.
The alarm Of FIRE last night. that
gas sent in from Box 80. was caused
by the burning OF large three-story
wooden building on the campus OF
the colored State College, used as
q girls dormitory and Offices and q
smaller building in the rear Of the
one mentioned above, used as e din
ing room. The alarm was sent in
tea minutes after six o'clock, and
bv the time the FIRE department
reached the scene. nearly the whole
os the upper portion Of the larger
building was In flames, 50 rapidly
did the fire spread. When the fire
started the girls we're all at supper,
except one. and she discovered the
Sire, which originated between the
ceiling of the second story and the
@oor of the third story.
The girl that discovered the hre'
gave the alarm immediatly, and Pres
sdens Miller and some of the male
students manned the fire hose kept
at the college. and, after connecting
with hydrant, took it to the sec
ond story where the fire was then
burning, and attempted to extin-
guish the flames, but on account OF q
lack of pressure on the mains the
water could not reach the fire. AN
attempt was then made to put the
Gre out with buckets, but the neat
and smoke became SO great that the
brave fire fighters were driven from
their posts and the fire then rapidly
spread and soon the entire upper
part of the large building was enVe-
ioped In flames, which lit up the sur
rounding country with lurid glare.
The fire department was soon on
the ground, but the fire had made
such progress. that all attempts to
save the building in which it origi-
mated proved futile and the depart
ment turned It's attention to saving
those buildings that were exposed.
The large four-story building on the
State campus, that is used as DOR
mftory for the boys and as class
rooms, caught several times. but the
aauaes were extinguished and that
building was saved. The main build
ing OF Clafiin University, which was
lust across the dividing fence from
the building in which the fire origi-
mated, was In some danger at first,
but being built of brick, and with
hard work it was soon made safe.
One hundred and eighty girls'
besides several female teachers,
had their sleeping apartments in the
large building that burned, and they
were naturally very much excited
but all of them escaped without In
Jury. Nearly all of them lost their
trunks and wearing apparel. One
teacher is reported to have lost $500
and several others lost smaller
amounts. Many Of the girls also
lost smaller amounts Of money, and
most Of them were made almost des-
aitute for the time being by the hre,
but President Miller and the other
teachers by their GOODNESS and cheer
ing words Quilted them down, and
they soon became as cheerful and
hopeful as before.
THE loss, including buildings and
e6ects OF the teachers and students,
is estimated at about $4,000. with
an insurance OF some $4,000. We
shudder when We think of what the
consequence might have been had
she Are occurred after those who
slept in the large building had re-
tired So, let US be thankful that
nothing more valuable than material
things were lost. How the FIRE orig
mated we suppose will never be
known. It may have been caused
by rats and matches or a defective
aue. But it is useless to speculate.
President Miller and the teachers
we're cool throughout and did much
to auay the excitement caused by
sne FIRE among the student body.
The fire burned very rapidly and IN
about two hours the handsome girls
dormitory of the State Ccfored Col
lege was In ashes with most Of the
worldly possessions Of those who
found shelter under it's roof.