Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-12-17
DISASTROUS FIRE AT WIIi}ER-
FORCE UNIVERSITY.

ingS FOR educational advantages ana
hopes OF the race for better things,
and out from whose walls have gone SO
many OF the men and women who have
dono and are doing SO much in
worthwhile way for the establishments
Of the Negro as a very vital force in
the affairs of the Nation, was complete
ly destroyed by fire, Wednesday night
December 9TH.
From an investigation Oh the part
Of the authorities at the University,
and also On the part Of the State Fire
Marshals Office, it appears that the
fire must have starred from defective
wiring in the attic of the north wing
of the building. The fire was discover
ed by students who were returning
from tho weekly prayer service which
was conducted at Galloway Hall, at
the other side Of she campus.
President ]. a, Gregg, who conduct
ed the prayer meeting and Secretary
jenkins who lives directly across from
the building were the first officials In
the building after the alarm was sound
ed. They directed the few boys who
were already striving 10 put out the
fire. They were soon joined by Superin
tendent Berry, Bishop +. H. Jones,
Dean Tones, w. A. Anderson and 9TH
or members Of the faculty and friends
from the neighborhood. Had there
been adequate fire fighting apparatus
ab hand the building might have been
saved. Appeals for help were sent to
nearby towns butt none would respond
and the authorities mt Xenia, tho
nearest town, when called upon, re-
fused to come.
Everything possible was done to save
the building, and when it finally be
came certain talat it was doomed, thc
boys were directed to save whatever
they could. Very little was salvaged,
however, which left total loss ofssev
oral Thousand uoliar;, and two hun.
dred boys without homes, and many
Of chem without clothing.
superintendent Berry and Dean
Woodson very generously threw opsn
the doors Of their departments and
committee called by President Gregg,
including Bishop Jones and tho heads
OF departments. were able TO pan on
the housing Of students and ;he care
Of the College Department, whose
class rooms were OH the first floor If
Shorter.
Mr.. II. e. Schmidt of Xnia was IL.
strumental in getting Governor Davis
to send one hundred cots and two hun
dred blankets to President Gregg, TO bu
distributed to the young men whose
bedding was lost In tire conflngratiu,l
The local Red Cross unit under Miss
Sohaeffer has offered aid, and the PEG
ple generally are doing all possible to
care for the wants of the young men.
President Gregg and Dean Jones, to
gether with the Office forces of both tho
University and G. N. and I. Depart.
mentS have been busy in placing tho
boys In comfortable homes.
AT The Chapel exercises the next
morning, President Gregg spoke feel
lngly OF the great loss, and called up
on the faculty and students to slew
fortitude and bravery In the face, or
the fearful disaster. Bishop Jones ms
sured the faculty and students that
the loss although staggering was no.
altogether discouraging and that stems
would be taken to Immediately re.
build and take care Of tho situation.
Miss Halle Q. Brown spoke touching
ly Of the passing of Shor.er Hall.
which meant SO much in the lrores
"iid inspirations Of men and women
scattered throughout the world. Chan.
lain Stewart offered the first ono nun.
dred dollars toward the rebuilding Of
the edifice, and he was quickly follow.
eli by promise Of five hundred do
lars from Bishop Jones, hundred dol
lars each from President Gregg ana
Dean Jones, and Miss Halle @. Brown
; who wena to England and secured over
fliteen thousand dollars on Emery
Hal! promised to raise one Thousand
dollars towardthe fund. All members
81 the faculty have pledged their SUI,
! tort toward the fund.
:. . "A very vigorous campaign for funds
VIII be started and although a eoal
mas not been determined, President
Hregg estimates thai. at least two hun
area thousand dollars will have to he
raised Mt once. The friends of the
community have very kindly helped
IN housing the boys, but this gives on
~ temporary relief, and President
Gregg calls upon tire Alumni and
friends Of Wherefore and those who
are interested in the DEVELOPMENT or
Negro youth, to send in gifts for the
,, purpose of raising the funds required.
lie has the opportunity to give aid ia
worthy cause. Contributions in any
amount will be gladly accepted and re
ceipted by Secretary C. C. Jenkins anil
. the money set aside for The special
1und. The building Rust be stated at
once IN Order to f.e ioaty fer ccGupa,l.
cy by the poening Of school for the
next scholastic year, In October.
How strange that Just little owe,
), week before the bell which had been
calling students for over fifty years,
should have tolled the requiem Of DR..
Ihomas Jackson, t(le last of the first
three graduates OF Wilberforce, and
then as Miss Brown puts 1t, tolled tho
knell Of the building where 1t had
hung since the completion of the
building, following the destruction by
fire Of the original building on the
nights Of the assassination of Presi.
dent Lincoln, during the Presidency Of
BISHOP ID. A. PaVna And n, pioI ,,,