p. 18 | Fire at the Southern Training School by LYNN H. WOOD

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 4, 1915

Fire at the Southern Training School

By LYNN H. WOOD

On Thursday morning, February 18, at four o’clock, the students of the homes were alarmed by the cry of “Fire!” coming from the girls’ dormitory. The fire had made good headway before being discovered. Before all the girls were taken out, the first floor had gone through in some places, and twelve girls were taken out after the piano had fallen through the floor into the basement.

One girl jumped from her window about twenty-two feet. The fall broke her wrist, and slightly injured her back. She is now in a wheel chair, and we hope that she will soon be with us in school. Another girl rolled off the roof of the porch, and struck on her hip, receiving bruises, but no bones were broken. These were the only girls that received injuries, and we are very grateful to God that no lives were lost.

It was clearly seen at the very first that the building could not be saved, and heroic efforts were made by all the men to save the other buildings. There was no wind, and so, although the water was cut off by the bursting of pipes in the burning building, the other buildings were saved. The academy was badly blistered, however, and the bake-shop, which stood near the dining hall, was destroyed, as well as the greenhouse. The printing office and boiler house were saved by the bucket brigade.

After the fire the students all came to a six-thirty rally in the chapel, and such a spirit of loyalty and earnestness had never been manifested in the history of the school. A subscription list was started for the help of those students who had lost nearly everything in the fire.

The personal loss of such will run very close to $2,000. The loss of the buildings is estimated at nearly $10,000, while there is about $3,100 insurance.

None of the students are going home. Everybody is rallying round the school, and it would make your heart glad to see the spirit manifested by those who have not stood with the school in the past. The girls were taken to the sanitarium for temporary quarters, but a large dwelling on the campus has been procured, and will be used for a girls’ home; and a rough dining camp will be erected in front of the old home. This will tide us over the three remaining months of the school year.

Our greatest need at the present time is money to assist the students who lost so heavily in the fire, and have no way of replacing their loss, and also to reimburse ourselves for the heavy loss of food. We should greatly appreciate any contributions of foodstuffs that may be sent in by our friends who are interested in the work in the Southland. All donations, whether of money or food, will be only too thankfully received. Pray for us that we may get just the lesson out of this experience that God would have us.

LYNN H. WOOD.

Graysville, Tenn.