The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1916-06-01

was seen shortly after three o'clock
Saturday morning by Will H. Strouse
engineer of the night switch crew OF
the M. & st. l.. Ry., who was working
at the time in the north years, north
of NJ avenue. Considerable lightning
had been visible in the southeast
during the night and had attracted the
attention Of the trainmen. This had be
Cnme fainter as dawn approached.
When flare of light again became
visible a little before daylight, the
men working with the engine noted it
but supposed the light to be from the
storm clouds hanging low in the south
east, which was also the direction Of
the college building from where they
. were working. But this new light was
of a different color and more frequent.
1T was seen from time to time and
then as the engine came into the op-
en- flare of flames was plainly seen
and the men knew fire of no small
proportions to be the cause of the
light which had now become a steady
glare as it increased in volume. Mr.
Strouse or some of the trainmen were
on the way to give the alarm when
they heard the fire bell ring.
Origin of Fire Unknown.
Indications point to the fact that
the fire had been burning a consider
able length of time in the attic of the
college building before it broke
through the roof or was discovered BY
the boys in the building itself. When
first seen by those in the building the
fire had eaten it's way down through
the ceiling of two separate rooms
making holes several feet in diameter
through which sparks, arnbers and
burned material was dropping to the
floor below but just how long the fire
had been burning or just where it
started cannot be known as no means
existed of getting to the seat of the
trouble when the fire was discovered
and the tiremen were handicapped in
the same manner as those who first
attempted to fight the flames.
Mistaken Identity.
Editor The Herald: - | notice III
your report of the catastrophe at Penn
College, that your reporter has been
misinfOrmcd in CTediting me with
leading part in the affair. | reside
more than a mile from the college, and
was not aware of the fire at all until
too late to have any part in the actiV'
tiles ascribcd to me. In Justice to
those among the faculty. students and
friends, who actually did the perilous
work enormously imputed to me, I
wish to make this correction.
Clarence NJ. Case.
Senior Class Resolution.
Whereas. the Seniors of Penn Col
lege feel almost overwhelmed by tho
tragedy that has befallen Penn Col
lege community, all preparation bear
ing on the presentation of the Greek
Drama, Iphigenia, has been postponed
for The memorial period. If at the end
of that time the class feels able to
make final preparations in the time
remaining, the drama will be given on
June 9Th, 1916.--The Senior Class.
Funeral of Harry Oakley.
The funeral services of Harry Bar
rowman Oakley, one of the victims of
last Saturdays catastrophe at Penn
college, was held at ten o'clock Mon
day morning in the Friends church,
President David M. Edwards being in
charge. Several hundred students,
friends and relatives were gathered
in the church to pay the last respects
to the departed.
The college freshman class, of
which the late Harry Oakley was a
member, attended the services in a
body and we're seated in a section
next to the family and relatives of
he deceased. Music was furnished