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

Inspector Wharton and Chief of
Fire Department Dlbble, Claim
Fire Was Caused by Bad Flue.
Insurance Commissioner McMas-
tar is of the opinion that the fire
which destroyed the dormitory and
dining room of the State Colored
College ct Orangeburg several weeks
ago was caused by defective fue
I II that the fue. according to reports
made by the inspector, show that the
Aue in the building was only one
brick thick. A report has been
filed with the commissioner by B.
a Wharton, Inspector Of the insur-
ance department, and T. o.. Dibble,
chief OF the fire department Of Or
angeburg.
In his report Mr.. Dibble says:
'sE beg to recommend that you re-
Qaest the trustees Of this institu-
sipn that they insist that equipment
and hydrants placed on this campus
Tor fire protection be used for no
ether purpose, and that regular
FIRE squad be organized and drilled
ia 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
OF the s. E. U. A."
BY the report of Inspector Whar-
ton it is shown that a thorough in
vestigation Of the fire, has been made,
The cause is fixed as being defec-
tive flue. Inspector Wharton says.
II feel 1t my duty to call atten-
eion to the fact that most, II not
all 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
the time is now ripe for the State
OF South Carolina to adopt build
lag code at least for all public 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
from fire caused from improper con-
struction should be presented to
every law-maker in such manner as
TO convince them of the great need
Of building code, at least for all
public buildings, il not for the en-
tire State at large. The benefit de-
rived from reduction in insur-
ance rates in South Carolina from
the adoption of a building code
would be the saving of thousands of
dollars annually. besi7es giving bet
ter protection from fire causes to the
property owners ali over the State
In his annual report to the Leg
Sslature, Commissi ioner; McMaster will
recommend a law to govern the con-
seruction of chimneys to prevent such
confiagrations.
Inspector Wharton says in his re-
nort in part: You will appreciate
the fact that in most cases to at.
tempt to esta blish the origin or cause
of a fire after q total destruction
OF building by fire is difficult
problem. However, in this case
sufficient evidence could be had from
the five hues 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
10 what the conditions were in the
bull ling prior to the fire, with the
result that the mystery was no near
or solved than when first went to
the burned building. I was deter
mined to locate the cause If posi-
BILE. I discovered directly in the
vicinity where all parties agree that
the fire started, what l thought and
was satified was defective lue.
This was at a poip' in the flue be-
tween the ceiling of the first floor
and the flooring of the second floor.
The rCxt point was to satisfy N.Y.
self as to whether or not it was
Eefective flue.''
Continuing, the inspector says,
after telling Of the difficulty in
reaching the standing chimney, and
of calling upon Chief Dibble for as
distance. that he found the follow
Ing condition: The accumulation
of SCOT, the appearance of fire hav-
ing passed through from the in
oi'e of the fue to the outside Of
&ae fue and in and between the |
wall of the ceiling and flooring OF
she first and second floor
When the point of the fue was
finally 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
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