New-York tribune., 1920-03-09
Girl Students
Battle Flames
At Mt. Holyoke
Stafford Hall, One of Oldest
Dormitory Buildings ON
College Campus, Burned;
Loss Placed at 100000
Professor Is Injur e d
Many Residents of Wrecked
Structure Lose All Their
Belongings in the Fire
Special Dispatch to Tho Tribune

Spcctdl Dispatch to Tho Tribune
HOLYOKE, Mass, March 8. - Fire
originating in the trunk room Of SAT-
ford Hall, one of the Oldest buildings
of Mount Holyoke College, to-day
threatened for the second time in it's
history to wipe out the entire college.
The fire was discovered by Margaret
Logan Clark, member Of the faculty
and resident of Los Angeles. Miss
Clark rushed to the basement, and in
an effort to check the flames was
severely burned about the face and
hands She was treated by DR. Eliza
beth Underhill, who said the injuries
would not be serious. Only six STU
dents were in the hall at the time, and
they made their escape without mis-
hap.
The total damage to the building
will reach $4,000, and this sum will
no doubt be increased to we'll over
100000 when the personal loss to the
residents of Stafford Hall Is estimated.
Seventy-five students were quartered
in the building, all of whom are attend
ing college on the cooperative plan,
which enables them to obtain their
education by doing various kinds of
outside work. In many instances the
entire worldly belongings of these girls
were destroyed, and it may be neces-
sary for some of them to discontinue
their careers as result.
Girls Fight Fire
Joseph A. Skinner, millionaire manu-
facturer and president Of the board of
trustees Of the college, who maintains
summer home a short distance away,
has offered shelter to the Stafford Hall
students until further dormitory pro-
visions can be made.
The fire was discovered shortly after
9 o'clock this morning and all classes
were in session. A general dismissal
followed and the entire student body
Immediately organized to fight the fire
tnder the direction Of Miss Brifeise B.
Teall. Of Bloomfield, N. j., member
Of Junior class and captain of the vol
untoer department. Owing to the
almost impa ssablc roads, the town appa-
ratus was unable to arrive on the scene
for some time, and only the energetic
and courageous work OF the students
brigade of several hundred girls was
formed and water was carried from a
lake, 400 feet away. This suficed to
check the progress of the flames until
the arrival of the apparatus. The girls
then turned to" under the direction
of Fire Chief Burnett and handled the
hose.
Many Lose All They Own
Several lines Of students in double
formation, radiating from the various
windows of Stafford Hall to the sur
rounding building, were formed The
tire!nen passed out furniture and per-
sonal property to the lines, which re-
layed the articles to place of safety.
Most Of the articles of wardrobe saved
rom the flames had been destroyed by
smoke and water
Many of the residents of the build
ing stood by in tears and implored
permission to enter and save their be-
longings. One Girl said that all she had
to her name was 10 cents and the
clothes she was wearing. Others had
articles of jewelry, heirlooms and trim
kets of no intrinsic worth which thew
We're willing to risk their lives to OBJ
tain but permission to enter the burn
ing building was denied them