Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-11-30
COLLEGE FIRE SWEPT
Loss at Maryland Agricultural
School Over $780, 900.
TWO BUILDINGS LEvELED
Volunteer Fire Fighters Save Other
Structures.
OFFICIALS AVERT PANIC
Cadets and Guests at Supper When
Alarm Is Sounded-Aid
Sent From Capital.
PANIC
AVERT
OFFICIALS

Alarm Is Sounded-Aid
Sent From Capital.
Fire, which is supposed to have started
as the result of defective electric wiring.
last night destroyed the original college
building erected in 1856 and the new adj
ministration building at the Maryland
agricultural College at College Park,
Md, causing a loss estimated to be be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000.
That the entire group of college build
ings was not destroyed was due to the
diligent efforts Of the Hyattsvil!e fire COM
pany, scores of the college cadets and
officials and residents of College Park.
Two engine companies from this city
were rushed on a special train to the
scene, but arrived too late to save the
doomed buildings. The loss caused by
the fire is said to be practically covered
by insurance.
Discovered in Attic.
The fire was discovered about 1890
o'clock in the attic Of the administration
building The Thanksgiving dance of the
Rossberg Club, composed Of cadets of
the college, was in progress in the old
college building adjoining at the time.
The cadets and their guests We're in the
mess hall in the basement of the building
at supper when the flames were dis
covered.
AT the cry of Fire." a rush was made
for the doors and a panic was averted by
the assurance from the officials of the
college that there was no danger As
GnnV Of h~I fn1 40
guests from the old building they dashed
into the administration building adjoining
and began fighting the flames. Only about
forty of the 80 students of the college
were on hand. the majority of them hav-
ing returned to their homes during the
Thanksgiving holiday, which lasts until
Monday.
Valuable Records Saved.
1t was soon seen that it would be i'm
possible to get control Of the flames, and
the cadets accordingly turned their atten-
ton to saving the contents of the rooms
In the other portions of the buildings.
Most Of the valuable records of the COL
lege in the offices of President r. w. Sill
vester and Treasurer Ford were saved,
as well as many articles of furniture
The students remaining at the college
during the holiday saved most of their
clothing and other personal property. but
the contents of most Of the dormitory
rooms were lost.
While the cadets were fighting the
names with hand apparatus and single
hose from hydrant in the basement OF
the building the volunteer fire department
of Hyattsville of about twenty members
reached the college. The run from Hy-
attsville to the college was made in rec
ord time. the apparatus having been at
tached to the rear OF the automobile Of
j. Frank Rushe.
BY the time the volunteer fire,nen ar
rived at the scene the administration
building was mass OF flames and the old
college building adjoining was afire. With
an inadequate water supply the saving
OF the shistOric structure was impossible.
IT suff1ced, however, to save Science Hall
located about 100 feet from the new build
Ing. which was in imminent danger sew
erA times.
Special Train Ordered.
When the news of the fire reached
washington fire headquarters Immediate
ly made arrangements with the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad for the transportation
of the two engines The order delegating
engines Nos. and IL came in at 1880
o'clock. and the engines loaded on two
gondolas. with an extra box car for
equipment. left at 11:45 o'clock.
The men who left with No. 5 engine
were Capt. Reynolds. Lieut.. Lysby, En-
gineer Sullivan. Assistant Engineer DEM
ming. Driver Kinsinger. Assistant Driver
Gates and Privates Hollidge. Hanback,,
Wissman. Harper and Trainor.
Those with No II were Oapt. McCon-
nell. Lieut. Barker, Assistant Engineer
Dixon. Driver O'Brien. Assistant Driver
Fought and Privates Carroll and Moore.
The Washington firemen did not arrive
a INIT
The old building and the administration
building were wrecked by that time.
When they felt certain that there was no
danger Of the fire spreading to the other
college buildings the local fire fighters
returned to this city.
A few minutes after 10 o'clock this
morning the walls of the original college
building collapsed and with a crash that
was heard long distance of, fell into a
heap. There was no wind blowing at the
time and just what caused the walls to
fall is not known. Fortunately no one
was close to the ruins at the time
Occupants of Buildings.
The new administration building was
erected in 1905 under an act Of the
Maryland legislature. and cost approx
| mately $4,000, including equipment and
furniture. In this building was located
the Offices of the president and treasurer
and the room Sor the meetings of the
| trustees of the institution. and assembly
hall, in which commencement exercises
and social functions were held was In
| this building.
The upper floor was devoted to dormi-
tories. In the old building was lOeated
l the commandments quarters, mess hall
and study rooms, as well as quarters fol
few of the professors and their fami-
lies. The latter lost most of their furni-
| ture and other effects.
Recess May Be Declared.
1t is probable that a recess will be de-
clared at the college until after the
Christmas holidays. President Sylvester