Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-09-15
COLUMBIA COLLEGE BURNED.
Other Accommodations to BE Pro-
vided--Story of the Fire.
columbia State, Sept. 1OD

that meant so much to the Metho-
dists of South Carolina. The de-
structive fire yesterday morning, as
mentioned in the State, wiped away
one of the most prominent educa-
tional institutions in the South and
makes 1T necessary for the Metho-
dists of South Carolina to again
work for the fund which few years
ago constructed the buildings for 800
girls of the State and was considered
the standard for that denomination
and others In the South. The loss
Is heavy one, estimated at about
| S2OO,OOO with insurance amounting
| to about SS5, 500, and it will be nee
essary for the board Of trustees, at
the meeting to be held to-day, to
provide accommodations for the
many pupils. Despite the many
drawbacks there will be no inter-
ruptions in the regular sessions.
The fire was discovered early yes
terday morning by DR.. w. w. Daniel,
president Of the institution. At that
time 1T was tiny flame in the west
| wing Of the building. DR.. Daniel
was awakened by the sound of fall
ing plastering, and as soon as he
discovered the blaze he used the fire
extinguishers at hand. The rooms,
however, had just been repainted,
| and the oil carried the fire along rap
idly, spreading from wing to wing
until the large auditorium was
reached. In between the ceilings
there was no way to control the fire,
and despite the efforts Of DR.. Daniel
and those who assisted him it was
soon found that the entire college
would be destroyed.
Chief May Of the Columbia fire de-
partment was called up and respond
ed at once with the chemical engine
and five members of the department.
The firemen assisted in saving con-
siderable furniture and some of the
| fixtures and saved the power house,
valued at about $4,000, and a num-
Der of cottages on the grounds. With
the limited water supply, however,
1T was impossible to fight the flames
with the equipment at hand. al
though Chief May said yesterday
| that he would have been glad to rem
der any assistance possible.
DR.. Daniel In his work to save the
college was badly burned on the
| feet and legs, but he continued to
| work until taken away by friends,
and yesterday me was given medical
attention at the Colonia Hotel
The flames destroyed the west
wing, the main administration build
ing, which was three stories high,
science hall, dining room, music
rooms, art studios, gymnasium and
Kitchen, sweeping everything before
1t. All OF the bed rooms, over $50
in number, were destroyed.
The loss.
The cost of all the buildings de-
stroyed will approximate 100000,
with $S5, 900 insurance The new
pipe organ in the auditorium, which
had just been installed at a cost of
over So 1000, was completely destroy
ed. Only one piano out of 40 was
saved from the music room. The
power house, which cost about $15,-
900. was not injured. also several
cottages near the buildings. The
papers OF the college were secured
by DR.. Daniel before leaving his Of
fice. All of the furniture of the
school was lost.
DR.. Daniel when seen said:
II was awakened about 2.45
O'Clock this morning by something
which sounded like the closing of a
| WINDOW or the slamming of a door,
| My apartments are on the first floor
OF the west wing of the school. /
went to the door and looked down
the hall and saw a light. | thought
mat some one was in the building
and proceeded down the hall. soon
learned that 1t was fire and that the
noise that ] heard was the falling of
the plastering from the ceiling.
went Immediately back to- my room
and told Mrs. Daniel that the build
ing was on fire and then proceeded
to secure several chemical fire ex-
| hn flo,
Ing through the walls, and | applied
the chemical spray and extinguished
the fire on the outside. then went
to the second floor of the building
and found the flames running along
one OF the joist They then leaned
to the ceiling and | knew that 1t
| was useless to try to fight any
longer | went to the Office and in
the dark succeeded in getting the
papers out of my safe.'
Origin of the Fire.
1t is the theory Of Dr.. Daniel and
others that the fire was caused by
detective wiring.
Columbia College is located about
three miles from the city and is
one OF the foremost colleges for girls
| in the South. Last year over $50
girls were in attendance and ar
rangements had been made for the
| accommodation of over 300 during
the coming session.
Fund H. Started.
fund for the college was launch
ed in columbia for the rebuilding Of
the school. The following letter was
received from w. ID. Lever by DR..
| Daniel:
81 regret to learn Of the loss of
the Columbia Female College by fire