The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-12-06

Fire of uncertain origin at an early
hour this morning gutted the original
unit OF the Central school building
The loss is estimated at around $15,-
600 and is covered by insurance.
II was few minutes until
o'clock when Victor Tuttle, who had
been attending to the heating plant,
and was sleeping in the basement,
was awakened by the cracking
caused by the fire. He walked out
side the building and found tiny
flame issuing from the roof, just wost
of the belfry.
Partially owing to delay expert
enced in opening a hydrant at the
corner of Egan avenue and Fifth
street il was about twenty minuteS
after the alarm was given by Mr.. Tut
tie before a stream of water was
thrown onto the building Even then
the pressure was inadequate. and 1t
was considerably later when the
pump at the waterworks was brought
into play. lending effective force to
the streams Three lines of hose
were used at first, and later hose was
brought from the Normal school,
making four.
Gets Away from Men.
While ii appeared at first that with
sufficient water pressure and the
could have been confined to the attic
and roof, it appeared half an hour
after the fire was discovered that the
whole structure was doomed 1t was
then that the big bell dropped
through the roof and upper floor.
About an hour after the firemen ar
rived the roof and part of the top
floor gave way.
The fire bell, which was rung for
close onto half an hour, brought hun
dreds OF men, women and children
from their beds. The walks on the
south and west of the building were
crowded with people. many of whom
had not fully dressed A wind from
the south sent sparks considerable
distance, and fear was expressed that
there would be other outbreaks of
fire. The new $4,000 addition to
the school, which is nearing compile
ton, was not at any time in danger
of burning.
Walls Are Standing.
The walls of the burned structure
are practically intact, and the opinion
was expressed today by A. Il. Fuller,
city building inspector. that the heat.
which was not intensely penetrating
except near the top of the building,
had not weakened the walls.
There are three theories as to the
cause of the fire. The one most gen
orally expressed is that it resulted
from a defect in the chimney. while
some are of the opinion that it may
have started from chemicals in the
school laboratory. which was located
in a part of what was formerly the
garret of the building. 1t is said that
Ii could not have very well been
caused by defective light wire. The
electric lights were burning after the
fire started, and it is pointed out that
had there been short circuit the
lights would have gone out.
Prof S. t. May. superintendent of
him led him to believe that the fire
started from the chimney.
Books Are Burned.
The amount of damage done to
equipment in the building will prob
ably run close to $4,000. Most of
the school desks were destroyed. and
very few of the pupils books were
saved, although it is said that books
belonging to the faculty. in the prin-
cipal's office. were not materially
damaged.
1t is thought that ii will be week
or ten days before a sufficient num-
ber of new books to supply the pupils
can be shipped from the east.
For the purpose of discussing plans
for resuming classes the board of ed
ucation met this forenoon in the Of
flee of H. II Holdridge. secretary Of
the board. Where classes will be
held will probably be decided at a
meeting of the board being held late
this afternoon. =
1t is said to be the idea of the
board members to adjourn school for
week now and have only one in
stead of two weeks holiday for the
pupils at Christmas time. 1t is prob
able that if permission is given by the
county commissioners. classes will be
held on the top floor of the county
courthouse There are three small
jury rooms on the upper floor which
could be used for study, and the large
courtroom could be converted into a
classroom. Other places mentioned
are the Carnegie library and the up
per floor In the fire station.
DIR. J. W.. Heston, president of the
Nnrvrc1 cchoo1 iuf0rmcd thu h0a ri