The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-17
College Hall Burns Involving .
Loss Of &1,5OO, 900.
EVERY ONE GOT OUT UNIIIJURED
Three Hundred Students Were
Sleeping In Building.
One Girl Rings Gong While
Other Arouses Inmates.

WeileSley, Mass. March 17.-COllege
hall. one Of the oldest and largest Of
the Wellesley college buildings. was
destroyed by fire today.
Although about 500 students and
several members Of the faculty were
asleep ON the upper floors Of the five
story brick structure when the flames
were discovered. all escaped unin-
jured.
The fire gong was sounded and the
young women marched out in good or
der. There was no time to- save per-
sonal belongings. The girls found
shelter in the other college buildings.
The fire started in the chemical
laboratory on the fourth floor of the
left wing. 1t is thought it was due to
spontaneous combustion.
The loss is estimated at $500, 900.
College sessions were suspended this
morning and the students will be sent
home.
Heroines Of the Fire.
Miss Charlotte DonneN of Wiscas-
set, Me-. and Miss Virginia Mofat of
Orange. N. j., both seniors, were the
heroines of the fire. They occupied
rooms on the third floor. under the
laboratory, where the fire originated.
supposedly from spontaneous COM
bustion. Their rooms. faced on the
constructed and the glare of tho
flames aroused them. Miss Moffatt
saw a bright light reflected on the
transom over her door and, springing
from her bed. rushed into the hall,
where she met Miss Donneu.
There Is a fire." she cried.
Miss DOnnell replied: -
''I'll ring the fire alarm while you
call the girls
Suiting action to word, Miss Donnell
ran down flight Of stairs and started
the fire gong on the second floor.
Miss Moffatt hurried along the halls.
pounding on every. door. She did not
yell "fire," but commanded: Put on
your wraps quickly" Miss DonnelI
then 5c16ed the other girl and tlpeu.
aroused nM tho& who had not AZ
ready resppn044 % the gong. 6eQR
'fhe Halls were fi1ted with startled
Young women. Some carried personal
effects in their arms, but the greater
number had not waited to save their
belongings.
Halls Filled with Smoke.
The halls were already filled with
smoke, rs the girls formed in line and
marched from the building. The coli
lege volunteer fire brigade was early
in action and made sure that none OF
Once outside, several of the girls
sought to re-enter the building to save
valuable papers in the offices. Miss
Mary Smith Of West Chester, Pa, Sec
retary to the dean, made q bold dash
into the deans office on the first floor
and with the aid of Edward C. Mona
han. an employee. saved most Of the
deans records.
Mrs. Henry F. Durant, widow Of tho
founder of the college, who Is 80 years
of age, witnessed the fire. being taken
to the scene in a wheel chair.
Nipo n N0n-
tick and Needham responded to an
alarm, but were unable to stay the
flames, which were burning them
selves out when the students assem-
bled at chapel at 9 o'clock.
President Ellen 8. Pendleton an
nounced that the college would be
closed until the end of the usual
spring vacation, April z. Sessions
were to have continued until March
81.
Roll call and bravery of the girls
saved at least eight lives. Miss Olive
Davis, director Of the hall and resi-
dences said:
Roll call developed that five stu
dents and three members of the fac
ulty were missing. The floor monitors
ran back through the smoke and
aroused the missing eight and all
escaped" said Miss Davis. when the
head Of the line Of students marching
from the building reached the ground
floor the main entrance was wrapped
in flames. The line was turned and
passed out the west exit. 1t was the
last to leave the building"