Power House Destroyed
in Midnight Blaze. . . College Plunged in Darkness When Fire Wipes Out Central
Lighting Plant. . . Boiler Only Slight
Damaged, Able to Supply Heat to Girls’ Dormitories
On Thursday night fire destroyed the power plant of the
college causing a damage estimated at about $3,000, partly covered by
insurance.
The steam engine and dynamo are a total loss, but
fortunately the brick wall between the boiler room and the engine room shielded
the boiler from the intensest heat and with some slight repairs it has bene
able to keep New Garden and Founder’s heated. Oil lamps have been supplied to
the students, but it is hoped that arrangements may be speedily completed to
bring an electric power line from Greensboro.
The fire was discovered by President Binford about 11:15
p.m. He had just returned home from a conference in Cox Hall regarding the
proposed rally for Saturday night, when Mrs. Binford called his attention to
what seemed like smoke from the coal piles. He hurried to the power house,
where he found the northern end of the dynamo room a mass of flames. His cries
roused Cox Hall, but the flames spread so rapidly in the oil-soaked wood that
before the doors could be battered won the fire had burned through the roof and
the interior was a veritable furnace. A light breeze from the south served to
protect nearby buildings from flying sparks, yet it was thought better to
conserve the inadequate water for their protection rather than to pour it on
the mass of burning oil in a vain attempt to stop its ravages. The fiercest
blaze was beside the engine, where three large tanks of oil stood. One of these
exploded and threw blazing oil into a group of spectators; fortunately no one
was injured.
The boiler, protected from the hottest part of the fire by a
brick wall, suffered little, though the roof was burned above it.
Edgar T. Farlow, superintendent, was on the scene soon after
the fire was discovered and by daybreak, under his direction, temporary repairs
had been made and breakfast time found the dining room in Founder’s and New
Garden comfortably heated. Man leaks developed, however, so that it was
necessary to draw the fires and make further repairs. This was done so
expeditiously that it caused the college almost no inconvenience.
The matter of lights has been more of a problem. Oil lamps
were purchased, but seem a poor substitute for electricity. The three kilowatt
generator of the Physics Department did valiant service on Friday evening in
providing lights for the lecture in Memorial Hall. It also furnished light for
the banquet on Saturday night and, barring accident, will probably be able to
supply a limited amount of current for other college functions.
On account of the great scarcity of all electrical supplies,
efforts looking toward immediate restoration of the power plant met with much
discouragement. It has been hoped that connection could be made with the North
Carolina Public Service Corporation. A line into the neighborhood has been
projected for some months, but is not? Up on account of the impossibility of
securing wire and transformers.
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