p. 20 | A Fire at Union College by C. C. Lewis

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 17, 1907

A Fire at Union College

By C. C. Lewis

SUNDAY evening, October 6, about half-past seven, while Elder R. F. Andrews was offering prayer at the beginning of a baptismal service in the College View (Neb.) church, the college bell rang the alarm of fire. It proved to be in the college power-house. In some unknown way, perhaps from an electric wire, the fire caught in the upper story of the building, and when first seen was bursting out of the ventilator on the very top. One man was in the boiler room, and another was on the first floor, but neither knew of the fire until it was beyond control. So rapid was the progress of the flames, that it was seen from the first that the building was doomed, especially as there was no adequate provision for fighting fire.

In a short time, the entire building, including boiler room, laundry, printing plant, bakery, blacksmith shop, and carpenter shop, was consumed. Only a few tools, one printing-press, a part of the week's laundry, the College Press account-books, the Messenger list, and a few books, were saved. The loss is estimated at about twenty-five thousand dollars. There was six thousand dollars insurance on the building; nothing on the machinery and printing stock. The actual loss will not be so great as the figures would indicate, since the boilers are thought to be little injured, and a less costly and safer building can be erected. After the fire a few of the managers assembled in the Business Office for a season of prayer and consultation as to the best plans for meeting the necessities of the school. In a short time it was arranged to connect the heating, lighting, and water systems of the sanitarium with those of the college. The parlors and vacant rooms of the sanitarium were placed at the disposal of the ladies of the College Home for study if the weather should turn cold.

The running of the school was not interfered with by the fire. The recitations proceeded the next day without interruption.

Before ten o'clock the sanitarium water-supply was flowing through the college system. That same night South Hall was receiving light from the sanitarium dynamo. Fortunately, the weather is mild, and there is little need for heat. The steam-heating system of the college is being connected with that of the sanitarium, and soon our buildings will be heated from that source until our own plant can be restored. Work on the new boiler house will begin immediately.

The students are behaving nobly. The boys worked like heroes to save property. Some sustained a few burns and bruises, but no one was seriously injured. A good spirit prevails. There is no talk about going home, but all are determined to stand by the college through this crisis.

At the church the service for baptism proceeded without interruption during the fire. The men went largely to render what assistance they could, but the candidates and a large audience of people remained, or soon came back from the fire. When the electric lights, supplied by the college dynamo, were extinguished, lamps were brought in. Perfect order and deep solemnity prevailed while sixty-two candidates were baptized by Elder Luther Warren. There will be another baptism soon. The good work is still going on in many hearts, and the influence of the solemn preaching of the last two weeks has been deepened by the fire. Pray for the work of the Lord in College View.

C. C. LEWIS.