The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-07-20
FLAMES DESTROY
FURMAN BUILDING

Greenville, July 19.-The James C..
Furman science hall at Furman Uni
Nersity, constructed in 1911, at a cost
of more than $50, 900 was completely
eutted by fire which was discovered
about 8 o'clock this Smorning and
which ragged for several hours before
it could be gotten under control.
At meeting of the executive COM
mittee of the board of trustees today,
it was decided to replace the build
ing in exactly its former state, the
work to begin at once, with the ex.
pectation Of having it in readiness
about the time of the opening of the
fall term at the university in Septem-
ber. On account of increased cost of
building now as compared with the
time when the building was erected it
is estimated that it will require about
$50 900 to 100000 to rebuild it. Insur.
ance to the amount of $4,000 was
carried on the structure, and it is un-
derstood it is regarded by insurance
men as virtually a complete loss.
The fire started in one of the upper
floors of the three-story brick struc
ture, the theory being that it orig
mated in the chemical laboratory
through spontaneous combustion. The
blaze had evidently been burning for
some time before it was discovered.
The alarm was turned in by news
paper carrier boy who happened to see
the glare through window on the
second floor of The News building.
The fire department responded
promptly but virtually the entire loof
was blazing fercely when they ar
rived
All available fire fighting app p,ratus
in the city was put on the task, but
through a lack of sufficient water
mains on Furman campus, the fremen
were seriously hampered in their eff
forts to get the flames under control
The main which was at first tapped, it
developed today is on "dead" end of
not flow in sufficient quantity to sup
ply the bumpers. The result was that
for time only one OF two streams, of
rather insufficient force, could be
turned on the building. The flames
worked rapidly downward from the
top floors, completely cutting the
structure from bottom to top. The
walls are still standing apparently In
tact, but whether or not they can be
used without partially rebuilding had
| not been positively determined today
II was 8 o'clock before the fire was
completely under control.
Several of the fremen suffered
slight injuries as result of parts of
the cornice falling upon them. Vim
tually the entire equipment of the
building was destroyed. A private Ii.
brary of Prof. j. Scott Murray, con.
sisting of many rare and value vol
umes, on the third floor of the building
was completely lost.
The building housed virtually al
| the class rooms in two science courses
| together with chemical, physical, bio
|
university.
Chief Donald of the city fire de
! partmcnt tonight said he did not be.
lieve the damage would run as high as
was first thought and estimated the
d mage between $4,000 and $4,000
Grenville, July 19.-Fire of un.
known origin early Wednesday guttec
the two opper floors Of the James c
Furman Hall of Science at Furmar
| University, causing damage, variouslS
estimated at between $25 900 and $50,
900.
| Mechanical trouble with two of tn,
big pumping engines of the Gfeenvill
fire department and fire hydran
connected to the "dead-end" of
water main hampered the work of tn,
fire fighters. The blaze was gottel
under control after four hours of hare
work.
Valuable laboratory equipment an,
library belonging to DR.. j. S. Muir
ray, containing 1,500 rare and price
less volumes in ancient and moderl
languages, were also destroyed.
The executive committee of tn
toard of trustees passed resolution
authorizing the immediate rebuilding
of the burning structure. The build
ing and contents were insured fo
$32,5OO.