Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-17
Marched Out in Line.

Miss Donnell then joined the other.
and together they aroused those who
had not already responded to the gong.
Soon the halls were filed with startled
Young women. Some carried personal
effects in their arms, but the greater
number had not waited to save their
belongings. The halls were already
filled with smoke, and the girls formed
in line and marched from the Dulldlng
earIy in action, and made sure that
none Of the sleepers was lert TO the
flames.
once outside several Of the girls
sought to re-enter the building to save
valuable papers in the offlces. MISS
Mary Smith Of West Chester. Pa, sec
retary to the dean. made bold dasn
into the deans office on the hrst noor,
and with the aid Of Edward G. Mona
nan. an employe. saved most OF the
records Mrs Henry Durant. widow OF
the founder of the college, who ls
ninety years Of age, witnessed the hre.
being taken to the scene IN a "heei
chair.
Fire companies from Newton. NaticS
and Needham. responded to an alarm.
Leaving for Their Homes.
President Ellen S. Pendleton announced
that the college would be closed to the
end of the usual spring vacation. April Z.
Sessions We're to have continued until
March 81 The president asked all who
could to make arrangements to leave
| Wellesley today. so that accommodations
| could be had for those who would be
| Obliged to remain Scores of kilograms
| asking that money and clothing be sent
| from their homes were dispatched by the
! students. officials of the college made
arrangements to provide funds for any
who were in immediate need, and citizens
| threw open their homes to the students.
I The college telephone switchboard was
| located in the burned building, and tele-
phone connection with the outside world
| was cut off soon after the fire started.
| Miss Rachael Freeman made her way
to the nearest long distance line and. call
I fng up Boston, gave the first news 10 the
press.
The first alarm was given at am:
| nv one of the girls, who awoke to hnd
| her room filled with smoke. Her
1 screams aroused other students and at
tracted the attention of the watchman.
| william Mortimer. Mortimer sounded
1 the fire escapes and stairways were
| swarming with young women.
Later. borrowing cloths from occu-
pants Of other dormi1ories. rniun n,s the girls
| succeeded in saving many valuable
| books from the library on the lower
| floor before the names reached 1t. Mrs.
1 Mary Calkins, professor of psychology,
| who roomed in the building, assisted in
4 the work.
The hall contained many valuable
/ paintings and works Of art. The cause
| of the fire is not known.
Girls Fire Brigade Praised.
The college officials declared that the
girls fire brigade deserved all the credit
| for the escape of those in the building.
The leader of the brigade was Miss
| Muriel Arthur of Detroit whose room
| was on the fourth floor. Working under
| her were leaders of squads who round
| ed up details of twenty girls each when
the gong was sounded. They paused only
| long enough to call the roll and then
| marched their charges in fine order to
! the campus. On the upper floor sparks
1 fell fast about the girls while they de-
| layed to make certain that every stu
| dent had left her room.
| Inside of four minutes after the gong
| every girl was on her way to the cam.
| pus.
| were saved in the administration build
I ing" said Miss Mary Caswen. secre-
| fary to the president, were the record q
| in the office of Miss Waite the dear.
These included the records of attend
| ance and grading. without which the
| college would be greatly handicapped.
I'VE are hopeful of starting academic
| work before waiting for new buil,j-
ing There are about fourteen other
dormitories, and many of these contain
lecture rooms, where the work former
ly done in the main building can be
! carried on temporarily"