The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-25
Fireman Hurt by Falling
 Walls. BLAZE THOUGHT TO BE OF LEGENDARY ORIGIN
 - Hammer Hall Entirely Gutted by
 Flames. Extensive Improvements Preparatsry te Opening of Methodist sehoeF He'd Just Been cempietsa --severe Biew <e
 Churoh.

Supposedly of inoendiary origin. frs at o'clock last night completely de- stroyed Hammer Hall. the temporary home of the Methodist woman's Col Iese which was to open its halls for the first time on esptsmber 90. Tho Ire was discovered by c pedestrian on his way home. but the Ire apparatus reached the scene too late for effective work.
 Five carloads of furniture had just been placed in tho building. valued at approximately 5000. and all of Pres- ident Martins furniture and private library had been stored in the ssuth- east wing. None of the new equipment had been received. No insurance was carried on the property of the college. although the trustees of the building carried insurance upon ths building it- self to . small extent.
 When first discovered the Are was confined to one room on the southeast corner of the second floor of the two story brick building. but spreading with remarkable rapidity. the flames made the second floor roaring furnace by the time the 6remen reached the scene The fresh breese which was blowing from the southeast. aided by the fact that the painters and deccra- tors had Just completed the finishsng touches. famed the flames. and added to the theory that the fire was incen- diary.
 Spreading to the ground floor. the fire was completely out Of ths control of the firemen. and making the six streams of water poured into the ssruc- ture practically useless. Falling bricks and heavy roof trusses added to the peril of the fremsn lighting from the southeast door and the main ent- rance.
 l Martin Goes to Fire. President Martin was one of the first | to reach the blazing building His residence is across the street from the campus. and he made an erfort to save some of his furniture which was stored in the Hall together with some of the i've car loads of furniture he was unable to save more than few books gathered through long period. President Martin stated last night that | the college was to have been opened | in September with an enrollment or | 140 students. and that every provision l had been made for their entrances l Every room of the big hall had been | re- -papered and repainted at cost of | S1 .000. and all of the furniture frena 1 the Tuskegee Institute had been stored in the building. The new equipment ordered from New York had not been received nor had the extra furnish ings.
 T don't know what effect this Are will have upon the opening of tne college" said President Martin last night. "our Board of Directors is in town, having held a meeting this morning to let e contract for the eree- ton of the permanent home st Clover dale. They are still in the city. and I don't like to make statement until the Board has considered" 1 Conna ssion Called to Meet. 1 When appraised of the burning of | Hammer Hall this morning. Judge W. | ,I, Thomas of the Women's College Commission. was unable, because of the 1 sudden bIoSv to the college plans. to tell of any probable plans which may | be substituted.
 berH of winch are in Montgomery. was called for this morning by Jud8e Thomas, after he had been notified ok | inc fire by The Advertiser. At the meetinE, pians for the college. to. take | the place of Hammer Hall. will DC un-H | dertaken.
 With Judge Thomas in his home wac Ray. J. M. Dannelly. Secretary of the commission; W. H. Sanford of Troy. A W smith and J. D, Moore of bir- minRham, all members of the Commis-
 It ,s likely that some other available | huildinR about Montgomery VIII De chosen. and the probability of . total suspension is not feared by the friende of the college. xr.t,. ,,arks the most serious of the chain ov unnprtuuate events which have
 
 marked the college from the inception of the plan for Its ereotion. Death or | inc leaders in the movement-Dr. J. M Mason and W. F. Vandfver--and ananclal strin gency have both worked to delay the opening. and now coanss ths nnal il-luck of the destrucsion ox inc college building within one mentn os the day on which the session was to have been opened.
 Ftremsn Hurt.
 The nremen succeeded in placing the | aames under control at about 2's0 n'oiooI. after the fire had ragged ovor an hour. The building was compleee- iy Tuttod. and only . the rAsssd Of'eA
 p~ngineer Lee DanieiS of Steamer company No. {. west End. was stun ned by falling section of the wal. whion struck him in the head as no was aRhtinR the Are inside the main Entrance of the building. Re stag
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