Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-03-17
COLLEGE HALL IS
DESTROYED BY FIRE
Continued from First rage.
faculty and fifty maids employed by
the faculty and students.
Aroused nv Flames

faculty and fifty maids employed by
the faculty and students.
Aroused by Flames
Miss Charlotte Donnell, of Wiscas-
set, Maine, and Miss Virginia Moffat,
of Orange, n. j., both seniors, were
the heroines of the fire. They occu-
pied rooms on the third floor, under
the laboratory where the fire originat-
ed, supposedly from spontaneous COM
bustion. Their rooms faced on the
court around which the building was
constructed, and the glare of the
flames aroused them. Miss Moffat saw
bright light reflected on the transom
over her door, and springing from her
bed, rushed into the hall, where she
met Miss Donnell.
There is q fire." she cried.
Miss Donnell replied: "Ill ring the
| fire alarm, while you call the girls"
Miss Donnell ran down a flight of
stairs and started the fire gong on the
second floor. Miss Moffat hurried
along the halls pounding on every
door. She did not yell fire" but COM
manded Put on your wraps quickly"
Halls Soon Filled
Miss Donnel then joined the other
and together they reused all those who
had not already responded to the gong.
Soon the halls were filld 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 filed with
smoke as the girls formed in line and
marched from the building. The col
lege volunteer fire brigade was early
in action and made sure that none of
the sleepers was left to the flames.
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,
secretary to the dean, made bold
dash into the deans office on the first
floor and with the aid of Edward c.
Monahan, an employe, saved most of
the deans records.
Founders Widow Sees Fire
Mrs. Henry Durant, widow of the
founder of the college, who is 80 years
of age, witnessed the fire, being taken
to the scene in a wheel chair.
Fire companies from Newton, Nat
ick and Needham responded to an
alarm, but were unable to stay the
flames, which were burning them
selves out when the students assembled
at chapel at o'clock.
President Ellen s. 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 27. The
President asked all who could to make
arrangements to leave Wellesley to-
day. 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 arrange
ments to provide funds for any who
were In immediate need, and citizens
threw open their homes to the stu
dents.
The college telephone switchboard
was located in the burned building
and telephone connection with the
outside world was cut off soon after
the fire started. Miss Rachel Free
man made her way to the nearest long
distance line and, calling up Boston,
gave the first news to the press.
Miss Anna Margaret Miller, Miss
Clarissa Claster, Miss Kathryn An
drews and Miss Hermione Barker, the
four Harrisburg girls at Wellesley,
We're not in the burned building. Their
rooms were in either other buildings
on the grounds or in the town. The
girls will arrive in this city tonight.