The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-01-05
WASHINGTON duke BUI[DlNC
DESTROYED BY FIRE WEDNESDAY

pdhhiiuSS anu ItSolu5 SohbdiiiSu ~
the Office, faculty rooms. and the two
society halls. The loss OF the two
literary society halls and all their
furniture representing the accumularl
lions Of years Is severe blow to the
students. and one that will be feltI
for long time to come. All Of the
important college documents are safe
in the library vault and In the big
fire proof safe which has not as yet
been disinterred from the ruins.
Much OF the correspondence, class
records. etc.. is gone beyond recovery. |
Spectacular Scene.
As display OF pyrotechnics the
fire was most spectacular. The whole
building. some 200 feet long, and
three stories high, was roaring
mass OF flames within one hour after
the fire was discovered A strong
wind, blowing toward the railroad,
famed the flames and carried
streams OF sparks as far as half
mile to the south. The position OF
the wind was the only thing that
saved the "Inn," the home of over
( 100 boys, from total destruction, for
the old wooden structure, once atire,
would have been flaming torch In
less than a half hour. The fire de-
partment experienced delay in get
ting the hose in play. caused partly
( By the distance from the stations and
By the delay in getting up the recui-
site pressure. The engine rendered
good service. maintaining good
pressure for the five streams of water
that we're poured into the building
for three hours. Only the saturated
! condition OF the nearby roofs, due to
the recent continuous rainfall, pre-
vented a general coniiagratioR OF the
college settlement The whole near
BY section OF the city was lighted up
by the leaping flames and the large
campus flooded with light almost as
bright as day. The incoming early
morning trains brought crowds Of
students. many OF whom roomed In
the doomed building. These shiy'
ering In the alternate furnace heat Of
the confiagTation and the icy cold
ness OF the cutting north wind, form
ed a melancholy picture grouped II
little knots on the soggy campus will
their bags and suitcases at theil
feet. All OF these together witt
those who had been driven from IN,
burning building soon found shelte
with the students In the other dormi
, tories where many single bed 4
doing double duty.
Plans for This Week.
, The most serious problem con
/, fronting the college authorities jus
!. at present Is the absence OF adeqnat
heating facilities for the students
THE college buildings are heated b
a central heating plant Operates
! from the crowell Science building
The burned building was part of th
}, leirculatory heating system which ha
been put out OF commission b
wrecking OF the radiators and pipe
In the destroyed structure. A larg
! force OF hands are nj work today 1
an effort to cut OF the destroye
building from the system and max
the proper connections so that th
steam can be turned on again 10 hea
the dormitories and library. INT
= this is done class work will be At
: standstill. At present the only w
buildings Of the entire college plan
which are heated are the Scienc
: building and the new academic build
y .ng both of shich have independer
< heating systems. In his address {
> welcome TO the students this morn
= Ing. at the chapel. President Fc'
= spoke encouragingly OF the outloo
7 and expressed the opinion that elias
I work In a limited way will be n
! sumed tomorrow. Temporary Office
= have been opened up in the pres
q dents suite In the new dormltor.
Z where the work OF providing for N
', homeless students Is being carrie
I on. An officer OF the college state
e this morning that no difficulty will b
. for the students, many offers ,
Q rooms In nearby residences havin
j. already beon made TO the colleg
= An effort will be made tomorrow
=. resume class work In the Scicn,
J. building. In the rooms OF the faeull
u houses. and In the various clai
al rooms OF the Park school. With Il
Ie repair Of The heating plant the 9th,
q buildings Of the college group viii
.. utilized and IN addition TO this woI
IN on the new academic building Is b
J ing rushed SO that Il will probab
10 be ready for occupancy by next MOI
q day All classes for the day are 81
pended awaiting the repair OF Il
4 heating system. None OF BIO!
30 are suffering for the lack OF hoa
~ however, ample room having be,
he provided In the three story scIen,
NJ building which Ia Independently hea
Is ed. for all the students until repai
be are made. Work on this IL bcir
he rushed forward under the supervise
AZ % the engineering department. nj
We Il Ii expected that the proper co
ke nections will be made some time {
d. night. Bulletins are being posted
be the temporary Office regarding class
be rooms and shelter us fast as arrang
Il ments,are completed for them by Il
N faculty which has been In scssl,
O. all day.
g. The origin OF the are Is unknow
10. Various theories have been advance