Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-03-13
DISASTER OF YEARS
AGO TIE SUBJECT OF
MEMORIAL SERVICE
25th Anniversary Of Burning of
Dormitory Of Dakota
Wesleyan.


Mitchell, S. d.. March 10.-President
". G. Seaman, of the Dakota Wes-
seyan university held short services
Sunday to commemorate the 25th an
niversary of the burning of the old coll
lege building, or university proper. IN
which two students lost their lives
on March 9. 1888. A clipping from
historical bulletin Of the school gives
the following account of the fire in
which several prominent Dakotans
We're participants:
A memorable incident fraught with
awful tragedy to the university was
the burning of the building on the
morning Of March 3. 1885. NO one
knows. or at least noone has ever told,
how the fire started. About o'clock
in the morning some of the men room
ing on the third floor We're awakened
by the fire.. There were six of them
on that floor and the fire seemed To
have started under the only stairway
leading to that story. Thus they were
caught in regular firetralp. ARA
James opened the door and tried to es-
cape through the hall, but was driven
back by the fiery flames and his room
mate was so frightened that he rushed
to the window and jumped. without
thinking and planning how he might
alight: and with his back broken, poor
Horton Pitcher. after a few hours OF
frighrful suffering. was forever re-
leased from pain. MIR James made his
way along the window sill, reached the
scistern pipe in the ell of the building
and started to descend. but fell to the
frozen ground below,sseemingly Il mass
of burned and bleeding flesh. Though
seriously injured, his recovery was
quite complete and he has done his
part in the work of the world. being at
the present time one OF the ministers
of the Dakota conference. Giles w.
Barker, popular and big hearted
young Englishman, who was studying
for the ministry, also jumped to his
death. Will Smith and O. FL. Taylor
We're among the injured. the former
now living at Bridgewater, still suffer
ing from the result of that awful ex
perience. the latter died several years
ago in Pennsylvania, where he had
gone to live.
Professor Duncan made his way to
the roof of the burning building, where
he was about to Jump, and then re-
membered that there was a clothesline
In one Of the unfinished rooms, in the
west wing: he hurried back, secured the
rope and made his escape without in
Jury except severe burning of his
hands.
NEW COMMISSIONER
RAPID CITY YOUTH
Rapid City, s. D.. March 10.--John Fl.
Marble. whom President Wilson has
appointed a member of the Interstate
Commerce commission to succeed
Franklin *. Lane. now secretary Of the
interior. is Soath Dakota man and
was a Black Hills boy.
He came to this city about so years
ago with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. An
drew Marble. and his early training
began in the Rapid City. public schools.
For a time he assisted his father i'm
one of the first telephone exchanges in
this city. and later did newspaper work
IN Hermosa. For a time he was as
sistant editor of the Independent. "A
democratic newspaper published by the
late Freeman knowles at Deadwood
Going to San. Francisco he was city
editor of the Star. and during his news
paper career he studied law was adj
mitted to the California bar and prac-
ticed his profession with Franklin X.
Lane. When the latter was appointed
to the Interstate Commerce commission
by President Roosevelt he made Mar
bic his private secretary, and later the
commission made him it's secretary
His promotion is deserved, for Marble
is said by friends. who know him and
have watched his course. to be ple-
nomenally developed mentally. Among
those who spoke in high praise of the
young man and expressed pleasure at
his promotion is Judge Levi McC:ee. of
the circuit court. Judge MCGEE affirns
that he was instrumental in making a
single taxer' out of Marble. but that
he did not ADOPT the theory of the sim
gle tax until he had scientifically sat
cd of taxation. Marble was in the Hills .
last winter. spending day in Rapid
City and visiting his father, who re-
sides in Keystone.