Evening journal., 1916-01-17
WASHINGTON RELICS
lost IN COLLEGE FIRE
Valuable Documents in
Handwriting Of First Pres
ident Among Burned
Articles
ALL COLLEGE
ARCHIVES LOST

CHESTERTOWN Md, Jan. H.
william Smith Hal, the administra-
ton building of Washington College.
was destroyed by fire, which started
about o'clock yesterday morning and
swept through the structure with such
rapidity that nothing could be saved
All the archives Of the college, in
cluding many historic documents, sew
eral Of which were in the handwriting
OF George Washington, the college Ii
brary and laboratory fixtures were
burned IL is impossible TO estimate
the loss as many Of the books and
manuscripts, as well as the records OF
the college since its founding in 1893,
cannot be replaced. The building it.
self cost $4,000 when erected in 1905
and the insurance was about $4,000.
The FIRE was discovered by student
who was sitting up with his room
mate. who was III in the dormitory
near the hall He aroused the stu
dents and faculty and the locomotive
at the old station aroused the town
4 by its whistle A snowstOrm was rag
ing and the townspeople we're slow to
| respond.
Portrait Of First President Saved.
Led by President James W. Cain.
the faculty and students rushed to
the blazing building ana several at
tempts were made to enter 1t to save
some of the contents. President Cain
/ tried to get in by the front door. while
! Professor J. S. t. Jones went to the
rear. They found the interior o rag
/ ing furnace and were forced to re-
! treat. Professor Jones succeeded In
saving the portrait OF DR.. William
! Smith, the first president OF the col
lege and in whose honor the building
was named That was tho only thing
rescued from the building.
So rapid was the sweep OF flames
from room 10 room ana moor TO floor
that within two hours arter the fire
was discovered the entire structure
was In ruins
The heating plant for the entire col
lego was located in William Smith Hall
The furnaces had been unusually wei
fired ON account of the snow storm an,
the cold night, and the watchman ha,
gone home about two hours before thu
fire was discovered.
Water Supply Cut Off,
The lack of water made fighting th
fire almost impossible. The water scrv
ice pipes OF the college passed throug
the burning huildng and the supply wa
cui off, After the arrival of the Che-
tcrtown Fire Company, connection wa
made ny hose with the town supply an
this enabled the hrcmcn TO save III
, new gymnasium nearby.
] Tho building occupied a commandin
site on tho campus and as the flame
shot mp into the sky the reflection coul
be seen for miles The structure wa
of hricl, with stone trimmings, thc col
ncr stone being laid ia nos. and -tl
: building dedicated in the following yea
{ The front building was - by 100 fee
aud contained class rooms, laboratory
library. Offices and the auditorium, 40 b
go, with large stage and seating ca
pacitv of 10l An engine and pump !
the basement was rendered useless b
the intense heat.
College Founded in 1854
All the dormitorics were heated frol
= the burned building. from which al.
water was supplied. So that since ii
fire no heat or water has been Obtain
~ NOlc. No Nt'l-lNN Nun N'fN iNdN li'A q
p To Keeping the college open, for Wit
heat aud.watcr cut or 1t viii be diaicu
TO use the other buildings W. $. an
: 4. NJ. Culp, the contractors when d
building was erected, viii begin raziI
the building today, aud it i, hoped Il
furnaces will he found i'm good conditio
Washington College was founded
1883. succeeding the cid Kent Count
School. George Washington was
member of its first board of visito
and the college conferred the degree
doctor of laws upon him in 1850. T
g. college has had am eventful histor
j., many Of Its graduates becoming prom
oi ncnt in Maryland history. It was hun
e ed iu 1927. hut Immediately rebuilt.