Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-16
BOY STUDENT ADMITS
SETTING COLLEGE AFIRE
Fearing Failure in Examination,
He Sought to Gain Time
for Preparation

Joseph Bashewslsl, giving his address as
332 North Twcnty-first street was arrested
today by the Bristol Pa. authorities lie
was accused of having set fire to the Holy
Ghost Apostolic College. at Cornwells. on
December Is and again on January Q.
BashewsN Is nineteen years old IIo has
been a student at the college for three
years
The hoy confessed his guilt and signed
statement lie was arrested by Constable
Eckert, of Bensalem. He admitted in his
statement that he was afraid he would fail
In his examinations and set fire to the
building so that he would have more time
to prepare.
The fire Of December Is. which damaged
the college building to the extent Of $4,000.
he describes as starting in the waste paper
room In the basement of the clock tower.
He said he crawled out of bed on hands
and knees going to the basement Then,
while the fathers and brothers and fellow
students fled from the building he returned
to the third floor and ignited mattress
on January .. the day of the second fire
he is alleged to have stated that he soaked
rags in bcnzine and oil and again set fire
to the basement. digging a hole in the wall
in which to place the blazing rags. To
the authorities Of Bristol where he is con-
fined, BashewslSl said he wanted a vacation
that he might prepare for the coming cx-
aminations.
PRIESTS AND STUDENTS IAPERILED
or the two fires which have damaged
the main college building, the first one on
December 10 was by far the most dis
astrous. This fire, discovered before day
light in the basement close to the main clock
tower spread with such rapidity that it
damaged the building to the extent of
$4,000. The 100 priests and students
barely escaped in time to save their lives
Evidences Of incendiarism were found
hut the matter was dropped At that time
it was believed a fire was started ON the
third floor simultaneously with the one in
the basement. The Blessed Sacrament was
rescued from the smokc-hlled chapel build
ing adjoining the main college by tho Rev.
Father William Teehan, principal OF the
college.
The fire on January . was discovered
shortly after I a. M Fortunately for the
others in the building, one of the students
awoke in a coughing spell, and, finding the
dormtories filled with smoke reused his
fellow students and again every one escaped
from the building. This time, however
the Rev. Father John Griffin, superior of the
college, whose room was just over the fire
on the second floor, was almost overcome by
smoke, while Brother Tertullian. chief en-
gineer of the college, was slightly burned
in fighting the flames.
EVIDENCE OF fNCENDIARIsM
No sooner had the students escaped
from the dormtories after aiding in the
rescue of eight Of their number who were
i'll, than one Of the mattresses on the third
floor was found ablaze
Investigation showed that the fire in the
basement could not possibly have been
started unless hole had been broken in
the wall. This confirmed the belief Of
the authorities that an incendiary was re-
sponsible. The damage on this occasion
amounted to about $4,000, much of the
work OF restoration following the first fire
being destroyed.
The college building of the Holy Ghost
Apostolic College is an imposing structure
standing about 100 feet back from the
Bristol pike. 1t was completed I'm 1910
at cost OF $4,000. It is constructed
Of granite, The loss is partly covered by
insurance.
The address given by BashewsSI at 3S2
North Twenty-frst street is on the line
Of the Parkway. The block OF which this
house was a part was torn down two years
ago.