The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-03-25
.f0RTy-SIX INJURED IN FIRE
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SUE.
FER IN LEAPING FROM
BURNING DORNiITORY.
Sleeping Quarters OF Girls of State
COlDred College at Orangeburg
Burned, Causing Big LOss-More
Than Three Hundred COlored Wo.
men Have Narrow Escape from
Fire.

teacnerS ana A students were injured
in jumping from the burning building
when Badham hall, a girls dormi-
tory at the State Colored college, was
destroyed by fire early this morning.
The fire was the greatest in the his
tory of Orangeburg. All the physi-
clans Of Orangeburg and many train
ed nurses hurried to the scene and
the home of President Wilkinson was
converted into a temporary hospital
Matte ]. Battiste, Charleston, a
teacher. suffered injuries that re-
suited in both legs being broken and
ribs fractured. She is probably the
most seriously. injured, but her
Ichances for recovery are good. Julia
Mae Williams was the other teacher
injured. The injuries of the students
consisted of broken legs. broken arms,
fractured arms and legs, broken ankles
and sprained ankle. wrenched backs,
cuts, bruises and broken ribs. All
the injured will recover.
! In the buildings were 800 girl stu
dents and several teachers. Besides
domitory, a portion Of this build.
Ing, being the first floor OF one wing
o dormitory. portion Of this build
ministration purposes. It was in these
onices that the fire originated.
The origin Of the fire is unknown.
The night watchman had passed this
dormitory and registered at the clock
five minutes before the fire was dis
covered. From the great headway
Immediately gained by the fire, work
OF 'ncendiaries may be expected. The
lpresident states that he has been un-
Iablc to discover the origin of the fire.
The first girl awakened saw flames
eating away the door to her room.
She gave the alarm. In that portion
lof the dormitory stairway escape was
Impossible. as the first floor was a
mass of flames. The only escape for
the many girls In that section Of the
building was to jump. The result was
lappalling. Forty-six were badly In
jured. IA Of whom were seriously
Hurt.
The building destroyed, with the
FURNISHING, was worth about $4,000.
lover which there was insurance
tamounting to $4,000. Just as soon
as the alarm was given. all of the
doors were opened, except those in
the midst OF the flames. The students
came out orderly and safely. except
IN the quarter that was cut off and
jumping was resorted to. The build
ing was a modern brick structure,
steam heated throughout. The work
OF w, s. Wilkinson. president Of the
college, was highly commendable. He
has managed the situation since the
fire in an admirable manner.
College work will go on uninterrup-
ted, just as soon as rearrangements
can be perfected this week. The girls
of the college will be quartered in the
dormitories Of Claain university,
which adjoins the State colored col
lege. There are ample class rooms.
and the dining room and kitchen
We're not destroyed, although in close
proximity to the destroyed building.
Nearly oil the girl students are des-
titute Of clothes, but this necessity is
being met with assistance from the
Orangeburg people and parents of the
students.
Those from Sumter who were in.
jured in the fire were:
Rosa DeLorme. face confusion,
sprained leg.
Evylin Wilson, stomach injuries.
Marie Haywood. broken right
arm.
Lester Arthur, fractured right
ankle.