The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-01-15
FOURTH FIRE IN MONTH
LEAVES BUILDING WRECK
Starting in Cupola, Flames
Spread Rapidly, DemoI-
ishing Structure.
HAD SOME INSURANCE
Practically All Equipment is
Ruined-School Arrange
ments Not Yet Made.
HAD SOME INSURANCE

Fire of undoubted incendiary
origin practically destroyed the
High school building on North Hill
yesterday afternoon at 1925 o'clock.
and sparks blown by the brisk north
wind seriously threatened not only
residences on the hill but the bust
ness section as well. The building
was partly covered by insurance.
The alarm was turned in by Prof.
A. c. Reilly, who discovered the
smoke coming from the cupola, and
sumsnoned the fire department at
once.
Spreading rapidly and famed by
the wind the laboratory was caught
in the flames next. The central roof
and attic were almost Immediately
enveloped, and made the work of
saving books and furnishings in the
top floor very difficult Typewrit-
ers and other valuable equipment
were brought down without injury,
but every desk and all books on the
entire upper floor were totally de
stroyed.
Professor Rogers, principal Of the
school, arrived on the scene almost
Immediately after the fire started
and with the assistance of squads Of
students materially assisted in saw
ing many valuables.
In the early stages the lower floors
were thronged with students madly
rushing about attempting to save
books, but when the eStire upstairs
was a mass Of flames, sentries were
placed on guard prohibiting entrance
to those except in organized aquads.
About two thousand persons wit
messed the fire, and there was very
general criticism because OF the in
adequacy of the fire fighting quip-
ment. AS soon as the alarm was
sounded, although turned in at the
central station, Station No sent its
trucks.
Until 4:05 o'clock there were only
two streams Of water to fight the
flames, and much delay was expert
enced even after other trucks arrived
because of the apparent shortage of
ladders.
The fire spread on the inside Of
the building to the northern wall and
became fiercest there, finally work
ing across the roof and around the
laboratory TO the southern side, ruin
ing the entire roof and upper floor.
When additional equipment arrived
the northern side of the building was
extinguished, and concentrated eff
fort made to stop the flames on the
south side, while this was being done
flames again started on the north
side and it was some time before the
whole was finally extinguished. All
desks and books left in the building
were either burned or ruined by
water. The new piano was saved.
and a large number of the regular
school desks on the ground floor as
well as all of the portable teachers
desks in the building were saved.
With the various squads working,
much confusion resulted, and piles of
books and cases, maps, boards, and
benches were placed in the streets
surrounding the grounds. After
short consultation with the teachers
in the school, Chairman C. J. Levey
of the board of public instruction, de-
cided to have the furniture and all
paraphernalia moved to the Armory
hall for safe keeping, and this was
done Immediately.
| Fourth Fire in Month.
The destruction Of the building is
the elimination Of what is believed
to have been a series Of deliberate
attempts TO burn the school The
first took place December II, q week
before the Christmas holidays. The
damage was slight, and repair work
was started Immediately, having the
building ready for occupancy two
weeks later While the repair work
was being done, second fire was
discovered in the building, but was
Of little consequence, and did rot de-
lay reopening.
On January 3, the third attempt
was made, this time with positive
evidence Of incendiarism, as Dunsen
burners in the laboratory were found