Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-07
HELP CLEAR RUINS
Deaf and Dumb Students Busy
at GaIIaudet.
FIRE LOSS Is $4,000
Upper Stories of West Building
Wrecked by Flames and Water.
BLAZE WAS STUBBORN ONE
Adjoining College Structures Saved
by Hard Work-Congress to Be
Asked for Help.


condition of the roof and top floor Of
the big west building and the activity OF
the corps of deaf and dumb students, led
by their professors, in removing the
debris. Gallaudet College. which was
visited by fire yesterday afternoon, has
today its usual appearance. and is pursu-
ing the even tenor of its way. The thirty
odd boy students. whose rooms in the up
per floors of the west building were
wrecked by fire and water. have doubled
up with students in other quarters. or
have been taken into the homes of the
professors at Kendall Green. Recitations
and studies were conducted as usual to-
day at the institution for the girl
students. though the boys, after their
first study hour. were allowed to leave
the classrooms to aid in the work Of
clearing up the wreck.
1t is estimated that the loss by fire and
water will amount to about $4,000. Con-
Sress, ii is expected, will be asked to ap-
propriate Immediately to pay for the re-
building of the structure. Gallaudet Col
lcge was built by government appro-
pration and Congress annually appro-
PIRATES for its maintenance: Like all
government buildings, Gallaudet College
carries no insurance. and the loss sus-
tained yesterday is therefore total. The
students lost considerable personal prop
erty, too.
DR.. E. A. Fay. vice resident Of the col
lege, was acting president today In the
absence of DR.. Z. NJ. Gallaudet, president
of the institution. DR.. Gallaudet. who
has been in Atlantic City on account of
ilI-health, will return to Washington this
afternoon. DR.. Fay said today that the
boys and professors had gone to work
away the wreckage. and that as soon as
they had finished a temporary covering
would be constructed, so that the build
ing might be used again. The first floor
was not damaged to any extent by the
fire and water and is today in use.
Started in a Flue.
The fire broke out in a fue. or chute.
which is used to get rid of dirt and
trash, and which runs from the top floor
to the basement. 1t is supposed that
matches or some other combustible ma
terial was swept into this flue and caused
the fire.
When the fire broke out about o'clock
the boys were in an adjoining building at
dinner. Those who were in the building
escaped without injury.
Two men were injured. however, during
the fire fighting, Private Richard Kane
Golson of truck No. 1. and P. j. Healy.
The roof of the building is covered with
slate and there was shower OF this
slate as the building burned, pieces Strlk-
ing the two men in the head and cutting
them badly, though not fatally. Golson
was taken to the Providence Hospital,
where his cuts were sewed up.
When the fire was discovered students
ran for the fire extinguishers, but they
loon saw from the cloud of smoke issuing
from the top story that the fire was
beyond their control An alarm was
sounded from box Ga. which is on the
first floor of the college building. Engine
company No. IL was the first on the
Gene Engine companies, No. 10 and No.
: and truck company A quickly fol-
lowed.
At this time the whole building seemed
doomed, owing to strong west wind
which was blowing. In fact, the college
authorities had fears for the entire group
of buildings. But the firemen worked adj
mirably and prevented the spread of the
flames. A second alarm was turned in
by Second Assistant Chief Kelliher and
companies s. 8 and IA responded.
Chief Wagner, Assistant Chief Proctor
and several inspectors, came on this Sec
ond call. Chief Wagner has been i'll for
several days, but he hurried TO the scene
OF the fire and ordered a third alarm
turned in when he reached Kendall Green
To this call three engine companies, a
truck company and the water tower re-
sronded
Fought Flames From Inside.