The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-09-16
COLUMBIA COLLEGE BURNS
METHODIST SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
LOSES PLANT BY FIRE.

Institution at Columbia Destroyed,
Entailing a Loss Of Over One
Hundred Thousand Dollars.
Columbia, Sept. 9.-All that is
left of Columbia College to-day is
the bare, fire burnt walls, fire having
gutted all of the buildings with the
exception of the power house at an
early hour to-day. The loss is over
100000, and the insurance SIS, 500.
The fire was caused by defective
electric wire, it is stated, in the west
wing of the group of buildings, and
spread rapidly to the others. AL
though no definite plans for the fu-
ture have been announced, it is as
sured that the College will open on
September %, and all students are
expected to be present.
DR. w. w. Daniel, the president of
the school, is at the Colonia, suffering
from several severe burns received
while trying to extinguish the fire.
DR.. S. C. Mitchell, president of the
University of South Carolina, after a
conference with Governor Ansel, the
chairman of the board of trustees of
the University, called upon DR..
Daniel, president of the College, at
the Colonia to-day, and offered him
the use of the new recitation hall at
the University, which has just been
completed, and also the use of the
laboratories and library, and assured
him that the University would CO.
operate with the Columbia College in
every way. This offer will very
probably be accepted by the Colum-
bia College board of trustees, and no
doubt will be concurred in by the
board of trustees of the University.
The flames were discovered by DR..
Daniel at 2:45 o'clock this morning
in the west wing Of the group OF
buildings. He secured several chem
ical fire extinguishers and extin-
guished the fire on the outside of the
wall. The flames were running along
a joist on the second floor, and then
leaped to the ceiling where it was
impossible to reach them.
Everything had recently been
painted and vanished, and the oil
carried the flames at rapid pace,
spreading to the main administra-
ton building, which was three stories
high, science hall, dining room, music
room, art studios, gymnasium and
kitchen, sweeping everything before
it. All of the bed rooms, over one
hundred and fifty in number, were
destroyed.
The Loss.
The cost of all of the buildings de-
stroyed will approximate 100000,
with S85,500 insurance. The new
pipe organ in the auditorium, which
had lust been installed at cost of
over $4,000 was completely destroy
ed. Only one piano out of about
thirty-five was saved from the music
room. The power house, which cost
about $4,000, was not injured, also
several cottages near the buildings.
The papers of the College were Sc
cured by DR.. Daniel before leaving
his office. All of the furniture of the
school was lost.
DIR. Daniels Statement.
DR.. Daniel, when seen to-day at
his room at the Colonia, where he is
confined with several severe burns
received in applying the chemical
sprays to the fire, said: 81 was
awakened about 2:45 O'Clock this
morning by something which sound
ed like the closing Of window or
slamming Of a door. My apartments
are on the first floor of the west wing
of the schol. I went to the door and
looked down the hall and saw a light.
I thought that someone was in the
hall building and proceeded down
the hall. I soon learned that it was
fire and that the noise that I heard
was the falling of the plaster from
the ceiling. 1 went Immediately back
to my room and told Mrs. Daniel
that the building was on fire, and
then proceeded to secure several
chemical fire extinguishers. The
flames were bursting through
the walls and I applied the chemical
spray and extinguished the fire on
the outside, but it was burning on
the inside. 1 then went to the Sec
ond floor of the building and found
the flames running along one Of the
joists. They then leaped to the cell
ing and knew then it was useless to
try to fight any longer. went to my
once anu ID CnS QdTh SuCCSSUSu LII
getting the papers out of my safe"
When asked how the fire started
he said: ''It must have been caused
by defective electric wiring. The
current was cut off in the other parts
of the building
The Buildings.
Columbia College is located about
three miles from the city of Colum-
bia and is one of the foremost col
leges for girls in the South. Last
year two hundred and fifty girls
were in attendance and arrange
ments had been made for the accom-
modation of over three hundred dur
ing the coming session. 1t is a
Methodist institution. Young ladies
were expected this year from nine
States. The groups of buildings To-
Gated in College Place were very
handsome and commodious.
The burning of the College is a
great loss, yet the school will be
opened on schedule time, on Septem-
Der 23. Expressions of regret were