El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-10-30
SCHOOL Of
MINES is BURNED
Main Building Completely
Destroyed; School Is not
Discontinued.

one person was injured and property
/ valued a. approximately $4,000 was
destroyed IN a fire OF unknown origin
that zutted the administration building
Of the Texas School OF Mines or the
mesa East OF Fort Bliss. early sunday
morning Originating on the second
floor. the flames spread rapidly. and it
vas only matter OF a short time UNI
I'll the roof was enveloped I'm flames
Students sleeping in the dormitorv Of
the school. AIDED nv several hundred
soldiers from Fort Bliss and the South
Carolina camp near the mesa pumping
plant fought for two hours to save the
dormitorr building which caught fire
three times from sparks from the
burning building. The dormitorv is
about 10 feet from the administration
building
Private Roy 7. Peel. Of troop 7. eighth
cavalry. who was one OF the first men
on the ground following the discovery Z
or the fire. sustained a broken hip I
when he fell from a ladder on the !
Gcrmitcry after helping q comrade :
Gown Pvt Peel was removed 10 the /.
hsSe hospital by comrades After the ;
injury Of Pvt Peel when Il was seen
that II was Impossible to gain the roof 4
Of the dormitory by ladders. students /
and soldiers ran into the building. and. /
cllmbinE 70 the second floor, punched !
holes in the roof. and. and climbing
cut. extinsuished the blaze
Soldiers save DOrmitOry. /
When IL was seen that the fire was I
ieyond control. a call was sent 10 the .
local IRE department for an engine.
hut. as there are no large maines At (
the school 10 which hose could be laid. !
fire chief John ". Wrav replied that
he was pOweriess 10 aid them. as the /
chemical tank contains but 80 gallons
soldiers rushing in the building during
= ell
Of the physical apparatus. but valuable |
draWinS instruments. chemical APP
paratus- surveying Instruments. and
laboratory supplies were completely /
consumed by the flames one of the
finest mineral exhibits i'm the south
west was also DESTROYED. but n Is hoped
that the school records were saved Is
The safe remained intact iu the middle Z
Of tn flames.
Origin Of Fire Mystery.
Prof Frank n. Seamon. who began
an Investigation Of the fire in the alb /
sence OF dean \. r. Worre1. who was
IN arizona stated SUNDAY afternoon
that from statements made 70 him by
Een who discovered the fire. II origin
ated in the northwest corner of the
second floor This part of the building
IS unoccupied-" said Prof. Seamon. The
nemicalS are on the second floor bur
they are away from this corner. and
10 not believe that IL was caused by
ply of the school. which Is generated
IN the grounds and found that IL had
been cut off saturday. so 10 could not I
ave originated from that
school Goes On
The ASSAY building. the dormitory and
PHI were saved. but nothing remains / J
u the administration building except
.lackened and burned walls. Prof Sea
non stated that school Will he con- ,
lnued. however. despite the fire and !
hat the students would so right on I
through their studies. as classes viii {
e held regularly. q
The dormitory has eight unoccupled
edrooms, which can be used for study :
nd classrooms. by the aid Of a little ]
a rpenter work The basement, where
he engines are located and coal is
tored. viii afford room for q labOra- [
DIV. IL is believed.
That the building vas well construct 4
d was evidenced by the fact that hard %
? any Of the walls fell as a result Of L
he fire. .
Carried Insurance. e
II Is known that the building ear c!
ed insurance but how much is not
nown, in the absence OF dean WorreI. -
was constructed OF brick with a ,
'ating or pebble dash while concrete n
liars and stone steps contributed to- I :
ard waking an imposing entrance I l.
wo years ago the building was pur- I q
lased by popular subscription on the I a
art of citizens Of the city and the . y
lamber OF commerce and donated 10 B
re- state The building was about l.
sht years old, having originally been 3 a.
instructed IS the study hall OF the y
PasO Military Institute After its =
lrchase by Fl Pasoans for $50 600 il e
as given TO the state as a school Of ! h
ines. n
Members OF the faculty of the school :
no witnessed the fire were loud DO -
cir praise OF The work Of the soldiers ~
no prevented the dormitOry from IL
IrninG. II
The safe Of the school has not VET 81
.eu opened. being rcntereI ir Tho n
iIdle ~ the flames huf 20 iV fhouehr 49,
af ths records are infafr