The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-13
ShOrey School House Burns to
Ground.
Damage About S4,O0O-JanitOr
Nearly SuffOcates.
FIRE STARTED FROM FURNACE
Only Teachers and Few Pupils
We're in Building.
Blaze Found When First Bell
Was Being Rung.

The Shorey school house, District No.
AZ, about one and one-half miles north
west of Topeka. built twenty-five years
ago was destroyed by five about $50
o'clock this morning. The damage Is
said to be between $1,000 and $4,000
The building was frame, one story with
three rooms. There was some insur-
ance. The organ. some books and a few
desks were saved. Shingles catching
fire from the basement furnace Is
thought the cause.
Harrison Robinson, who has been
1anitor for fourteen years, was nearly
suffocated by smoke while attempting
to put out the fire. He was rescued by
F. c. Migliario, the principal. Mr.. Mig
liario, just as the janitor was ringing
the first bell, noticed smoke coming up
through the floor, and called Mr.. Rob
dnsons attention to it. The janitor
went down in the basement which he
found full of fire and smoke. He dashed
a couple of buckets of water on the
blaze, and worked until he fell and was
carried out by the principal
Only the two men and teachers aud
q few pupils were in the building at
the time The enrolment is about 12O.
Bonds for new school were defeated
by only a few votes last fall.
The other teachers are: Miss Frankie
Ward. intermediates and Miss Elizabeth
Altman, primary.
The trustees are Frank Rude, Ralph
Skinner and Albert Tomilson.
The Shorey people were much dissat-
isfied with the result of the recent bond
election when bonds for a new school
house were defeated. The election was
held on rainy day. Many think that
the bad weather was responsible for
the loss of the bonds, as comparatively
few of the taxpayers voted.
The chemical engine from station No.
I came to the call but arrived too late
to save the building. The run was
more than a mile.
The wind was blowing from the
southwest toward several vacant lots
Just east of the school grounds. Had
It been in the north or east other build
ings would have likely caught. AS it
was the George Shultz house, just
north, was threatened. hole was
burned in the roof of barn northeast
from a flying spark.
All that is left of the school are two
white pIastered chimneys. No arrange
ments have yet been made for the use
of another building for a school until
q new one is built.
Mr. Robinson says that he let the
fire die out as usual last night.
Notes and Personals.
The North Topeka Baptist church
choir will hold a rehearsal of the
Christmas music at the church this
evening w. NJ. Van Ness requests all
the members of the choir to attend.
Ralph Skinner will build a new house
northwest of Topeka. He has sold his
old home to Mrs. Fensom, who was
made a widow when her husband was
killed when the Davis Mercantile Co.
wholesale house burned about three
years ago. Mr.. Eensom, employed by
the gas company started to turn off
the gas from the burning building. The
walls fell on him and killed him
A special feature picture will be
shown at the Princess moving picture
house tonight.-Adv.
Mr.. and Mrs. G. W. Lukens have re-
turned from a short visit in Colorado.
Today's program at the Indian Creek
grange, where the Indian creek farm
ers' institute is being held, included
talks by w. ]. Rickenbacher, George
o. Greene, W. 8. Gearhart, John F
Eby and others. The meeting will
close today. T. A. Borman and Mr..
Green spoke last night. Mr.. Green and
Mrs. Gearhart are from K. 8. A. c.,
Manhattan.
A farewell party was given wednes-
day night for 2. z. Miller, who leaves
soon for his new home in Washington,
ID. c., by the A. o. U. W., Star lodge,
No. 20. The program included talks by
F. r. Conwell, DR.. O. P. Davis, H. L.
Sherburne and I. z. McGrew
Mrs. z. NJ. Richards, of Thompson