The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1916-01-06
UNLIKELY THAT SULLINS
WILL BE REBUILT

Bristol, Tenn, Jan. Judge J. l.
Kelly, of the board of trustees OF
Sullins college, and H. G. Peters
also a member of the board, stated
yesterday that it is extremely un-
likely that an immediate effort will
be made to rebuild Sullins college
the big Southern Methodist girls
college in Bristol, which was des-
,rOyed by fire Friday, entailing loss
| gariously estimated at from S125,00C
10 Sl50,00O. The property was in
5ured for only $4,000, which is little
more than sufficient to pay off the
nortgaged debt and floating obliga
ions of the institution.
The college was founded in 1876
oy Rev. David Sullins, now of Cen
enary college, Cleveland Tenn, and
las for many years been one of the
leading girls schools of the South
ern Methodist church, drawing it,
patronage largely from Tennessee
Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. The
school reached the zenith of its sue
cess under DR.. W. f. Martin, now
president of Ward Belmont. at Nash
yille but continued on a profitable
basis under DR.. w. S. Neighbors, who
resigned last year to become presi-
lent OF Centenary college at Cleve
and Tenn. DR.. Neighbors' popular
ity with the girls drew heavily from
had lost about $4,000 this year. Dr.
J. C. Orr. the new president, had
however, laid the foundation for .
larger and better school, and the
trustees felt confident that next year
would seq Sullins overlooking.
The origin of the fire is still mys-
terry. 1t started probably at the fur
mace.
Owing to the holidays the large
majority of the girls were at their
homes, but there were about 40 peo-
pie in the building when the fire oc-
Cured, including Mrs. j. C. Orr, wife
of the president, who was critically
i'll. But for the timely discovery Oi
the fire by Miss Rebecca Louder, Il
teacher, some of the sleeping occu,
pants might have lost their lives.
Miss Louder, who was returning
from a holiday social affair, saw the
flames and rushed into the college
and sounded the fire gong. Howev
er, the fire had gained such headway
that the occupants of the buildings
had to escape in their night clothes.
One of the teachers found her es-
cape cut off by gas and smoke and
was rescued by the firemen and car
ried down a ladder. The spectators
at once set to work carrying out
furniture, and many pianos were
saved, but owing to the great danger
The police stopped any one except
frGmen from entering the buildings,
Early in the progress of the fire it
was believed that the north wing
might be saved. The firemen gave
up their efforts to save any other
part of the building, and concentra-
ted their fight to keep the flames
from the north wing. A steady
wind made their efforts futili and
soon the flames burst into the big
wing, and it was destroyed with the
remainder of the property.
The only hope for the rebuilding
of the property is that some one may
make donation of $4,000 or $780,
600 to start the fund. This is
thought impossible. The Methodists
of the Holston conference have been
heavily taxed for college purposes.
The conference gave $15O,00O for
new building at Emory and Henry
and also erected large new struc-
ture at Martha Washington, at Alb
ingdon. 1t has another college-Cen'
tenary, at .ClcveIand-under it's care.
10 Il ton % fln lyNa
school marks the passing of one of
the best-known Methodist girls
schools in the south. 1t has scores
of graduates in almost every south
ern state.