Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-08
EXPLOSION AND RESULTANT
BLAZE WRECKS coNsERvA-
TORY At MoRNlNeslDE.
,..oux CITY AUTHORITIES
INACCURATE INQUIRY
Evidence Found That Some One Broke
Open Doors Of Building Just Before
Terrific Explosion Blew Glass From
Windows-Loss Will Total $1,000
Many Musical Instruments Burned.


lions that the fire which destroyed the
conservatory building at Morningside
+ College early Sunday morning was OF
incendiary origin, have developed since
the investigation began Sunday.
While reluctant to mako any state
ment as to the cause Of the fire, DR.. A
E. Craig. president Of tho college,
stated that the tncendiary theory was
limited at. when he reached the scene
" the fire. The fact that a terrific ex-
Llosion was heard when the blaze was
first discovered, strengthens the belief
that firebug was responsible for the
fire. 1t is the opinion Of many that
some person harboring q. grudge
against the school, had set the fire.
When the janitor- Of the building
visited the heating plant on his morn
ing rounds Sunday, the door of the
building was broken. and evidence
pointed that some one had broken into
the plant the night before. This CO.
incidence has been explained by some,
that in search Of a telephone to turn in
an alarm, the building was. entered.
The loudness Of the explosion awoke
citizens sleeping within three and four
blocks of the campus. In several in
stances the walls Of the residences
were shaken.
Windows Blown Out.
Captain Gus Berg. Of the Morning
side hose company, which was the
first fire company on the ground,
stated that all the windows on the
south and east sides Of the building
were blown out. Window shades and
pieces Of glass were found forty feet
south of the building. The alarm was
turned in at 1888. Captain Berg stated.
Residents in the neighborhood state
that the fire was seen at 2:25. That the
blaze had been burning for some time
before being discovered, was the opin-
ion of the Morningside f1remen.
The inadequacy of the water supply
was not the fault Of the fire depart
ment. Chief George NJ. Kellogg said.
Chief Kellogg declared that every cons
pany in the department with one ex-
ception, was ordered out. The only
notice that the tender In the hosting
station at Alice and Dodge streets re-
ceives is the automatic indicator which
operates when water Is drawn from the
MIGRANTS. Chief Kellogg asserted. The
2 tDu1lQ1n8 was doomed WQen the Depart
ment arrived, the chief said.
v. The loss to the building is estimated
at $4,000. The insurance carried
totaled $21,700 on the building and
contents. It is not known whether the
wallis Of the building we're seriously
damaged by the force Of the explosion.
Small cracks at the base Of the walls
were noticed yesterday.
A strange coincidence which has
strengthened the theory of a irebug.
Is that the fire which destroyed the
chemistry hall last summer occurred
at the same time Of night, and also
on Sunday morning. The origin Of the
chemistry blaze was attributed to
chemicals exploding in a closet.
The reconstruction OF the conserv-
atory will not be begun before spring.
A meeting Of the executive commit
tee will be held to arrange permanent
quarters for the music department.
Classes will continue In the main hall
sand at the downtown studio.
Sixteen pianos were destroyed, nine
OF which were the property Of the
Davidson Bros Company, and were
rented to the college. A pipe organ
valued at $1,000 was also burned.