UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NUMBER 147.
VOLUME XV.
Engineers Parade And Hold Annual Open House Despite Fire In Fowler
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, FRIDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 10, 1918.
Service Flag Containing 500 Stars, Four in Gold, is Unfurled
Chancellor Chief Speaker
Visitors Shown Work of School
—Entertainment Closes
With Motion Pictures
Plans for six annual Engineer's Day which was held today were carried out as designed even though the burning of Fowler Shops necessitated the omission of some of the demonstrations.
The parade started from Marvin Hall at 11 o'clock, headed by a float carrying the band and drawn by the students. It proceeded from the Entrance, down the doorway past the Administration Building on down town.
The line of the march lead back to the Engineering Building, where, at 12 o'clock the school's service flag is raised. The Chancellor Strong gave the address.
CHANCELLOR DEDICATES FLAG
GIRLKING BEFORE YOU'S MAY 74
The flag contains more than 500 stars, four of which are gold ones. In the white center the number "500" is made with the stars. The flag will fly from a flag pole in front of Marvin Hall.
The Chancellor in his speech asked all engineers who had no classes this afternoon to assist in cleaning Fowler Shops. "The fire," said the Chancellor, "will not affect the plans for the new building." For the repairs have already been made and it is probable that the material has already been ordered.
K. U.'S FIRST CRITICAL PERIOD
"This is the first time," continued the Chancellor, "that the University has ever seen a great war. The first session was in 1866 after the close of the Civil War, and the only other war was the Spanish-American. The University has never passed through a real critical period and it was not a failure. It did not spend in such a crisis. The question, however, has passed away. It is the college and university men of this country who have responded.
"No department of the University has done more for the country at this time than the School of Engineering. The five hundred men represented in your service flag show a great per- menge of the school in active service.
PROVIDE CARS FOR VISITORS
PROVIDE CARS FOR VISITORS
"The great menace of Europe will be known for one thing that it will never hurt us be done again. The University will do all it can for the country and will stand for all that it is fine in the nation."
Cars were used this afternoon to carry visitors out to see the laboratories which were open all day to visitors. Some of the most important demonstrations of the open-house were to have been in Powder Shops.
FLOAT FOR BAND MEN
The members of the engineers' band carried in the float were: Ceil Hough, director; Guy Sackett, Thuck Neiswander, Clyde Farnsworth, Don Weidman, Steve Stevens, George Lutz, John Pepper, H. V. Smith, Carl Grey, Harold Cox, and Fed Lampton. The criers were R. R. Ryan, "Dutch" Ublraub, and George Nettles.
The program will end tonight with a picture show in Marvin Hall at 8:30 o'clock which will be open to the public.
Quill Club Initiates 14 Members Thursday
Nineteen new members were initiated into the American College Quill Club yesterday afternoon in Fraser Hall. The initiation was to have been held last January, but was indefinitely postponed on account of the inability of the official jeweler to supply the pins. Those who were initiated yesterday were: Margaret Mitchell, Eva Elliott, Michael Wardlaw, Marie Hostetter, Ethel Rush Randall, Lucile Nowlin, Katrina Baldwin, Hazel Ernst, Frances Hitchcock, Mary Roberta and Carey P. Butcher, C. A. Goss and James Lymne. Special initiation was held a short time ago for Howard Morgan, Rolly Brown and Herbert Laslett, who are now in the Government service.
Low Water Pressure Caused by Phone Delay
Emergency Pump Not Started For Thirty Minutes After Fire Was Discovered
The delay in getting a sufficient water pressure last night was caused by the failure of the Lawrence telephone exchange to put in a call to the power plant, so that the emergency engine would be started. "We are supposed to call the city exchange at once in case we hear of a fire on the hill before the news gets to town," said C. A. Griffith, day man at the plant. "When they are informed of a fire before we are it is up to them to let us know, and this they neglected to do last night, probably thinking we already knew. The result was we did not start the pumps until late."
G. W. Hazzard, night man at the power house, started the big pump immediately when the chief messon's fire, brought him the word.
Previous to this word the men in charge of the pumping station knew nothing of the fire and not until the fire had been burning for perhaps thirty minutes was the emergency fire pump started, and even then, a long time elapsed before sufficient pressure could be obtained.
The pump has a capacity of 750 gallons per minute under 150 pounds pressure, which is sufficient for three $1\frac{1}{4}$ inch smooth nozzle streams. There were, however, six streams playing on the fire, three belonging to the fire department and three from the hill, and the 150 pounds pressure was not sufficient. Were it possible to press pressure on the lines was weak, and the engine was at once speed up to 180 pounds, which gave a larger supply of water.
The city pumping station raised its pressure from 120 pounds to 150, and this helped the University pumps to carry the load. Water from Potter's Lake was used as well as from the city system. The lake pump began work comparatively early and kept up a consistent pressure.
The War Here and Over There
"We cannot fail; we must not fail; we shall not fail; but it is better to fight failing than willingly to submit to the yoke."—Samuel Gompers.
A drive of the Germans to try out the strength of the Allied line on the Flanders front southwest of Ypres found the line able to withstand the offensive. Although the Germans pushed the line back at some points, Field Marshal Haig reports that they have been regained. German losses were heavy, it is reported.
General Pershing has issued an order asking all American troops in France to write letters home on Mothers' Day.
A plan of the War Council of the American Red Cross provides for the give free of cost of $1,000 life insurance to Red Cross workers abroad, not enlisted in the army or navy. There will be several thousand of such workers by the end of the year.
The United States Steel Corporation will manufacture artillery and projectiles in great quantities, and the government will erect a plant for this purpose soon.
The Senate passed the House Bill Thursday providing strict restrictions on travel to and from the United States.
Vernon Kellogg will lecture at the University Monday, May 13, instead of Tuesday as was reported in Thursday's Kansas. The lecture will be given in Fraser Chapel at 8 o'clock. Mr. Kellogg is the guest of the local chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and will attend initiation Monday night. No initiation banquet will be given this year on account of the war.
Vernon Kellogg Will Lecture Here Monday
Author Is Guest of Phi Beta Kappa for Initia
Serve and save-buy War-Savings Stamps!
Fire Sweeps Two-Thirds Of Fowler Shops Just Before Government Might Use Them
Fire Will Not Prevent Use Of Fowler Shops For Military Training
Temporary Repairs to be Made
—Fowler May Become College Commons
Temporary roofing will be placed over the burned portion of Fowler Shops, said Chancellor Strong this morning, "following a conference of University authorities called to investigate the fire of last night.
It was pointed out today that the floor of the second story had held and prevented fire getting at the machinery, by far the greater part of which is located on the ground floor. This fire did not damaged in the least by water.
"These repairs will be made as soon as possible," said the Chancellor, "and the fire will not interfere with instruction of drafted men, should the Government decide to send them here June 1, as has been planned."
When new shops are erected, says the Chancellor, an effort will be made to have them put nearer the Engineering Building. If this plan is carried out, Fowler Shops will be converted into a University Commons and club room. The building will then be renamed, and may be called the Lawrence Hotel, with the name of a Lawrence hotel famous in the troubled times before the Civil War. The Free State Hotel was once burned by raiders.
Declines To Give Cause
William Reinisch, Chief, Offered No Theory As to Origin of Fire
"We received the alarm at 6:45 last night and figure about five minutes to the Hill," said Chief Reishim of the city fire department this morning. "So we must have been there not much later than 6:50."
"No time was lost in getting several streams on the building but we were handicapped because of the lack of water pressure."
Chief Reinish said, "I notified the city's power plant and the telephone girl who was supposed to notify the University's plant failed to do so. When I found this out I sent word over to the plant myself, but before an effective water pressure came, valuable time had been lost."
When asked his theory as to the origin of the fire the Chief replied, "That's something I don't know anything about. It must have started in the locker room in some way or an and spread rapidly to the ceiling."
“It's not much good,” was the few words that Reinisch summed up his opinion of the University's fire equipment.
The alarm for the fire in Fowler Shops last night was turned in by Miss Cora M. Downs, instructor in the department of bacteriology, who lives in the Twenhofel cottage just below the hill on the south.
Miss Cora M. Downs Says She Saw Smoke Coming Out of Fowler
She Turned In Fire Alarm
of Fowler
Miss Dows was sitting in the window and as she looked up toward the University she noticed smoke coming out of the southeast corner of Fowler Shops. She immediately called the fire department and asked them to stop building any building on the campus. When they replied they had not said she said the Shops seemed to be on fire and they had better come up and investigate.
Miss Downs came immediately to the burning building, arriving, just as the fire chief and the chemical engine reached the spot. By this time the fire had stopped and the fire fore long it burst through the roof. A crowd soon gathered.
No amount is too small to LEND TO YOUR COUNTRY. Buy War-Savings Stamps!
"Comus" Electrician Discovered the Fire
Earl Martin, an electrician in charge of the lighting effects of the Dramatic Club's play "Comus" first discovered the fire in Fowler Shops last night.
"I was going down to the repair shop just south of Fowler for some material about 6:35 o'clock," said Martin this morning. "In passing Fowler Shops I smelled something burning. I looked inside and saw that a fire had broken in the locker room and had gained such headway that one man could not handle it. I yelled and whistled, but there was no one in hearing distance. Even the repair shops were deserted.
"ruminally I attracted the attention of a taxi-driver who took me to "Brick's." There I turned in an alarm he had on to the Hill about ten minutes later."
The taxi-driver and Martin got out a hose and were fighting the blaze when the fire department arrived, about five minutes later.
"Apparently the blaze had been started twenty minutes or half an hour before I discovered it," said Martin, "and when we returned after sending in the alarm the place was so full of smoke we could hardly get into the rooms."
Machines Saved and Temporary Measures Taken for Receiving the Draft
Draft Plans Will Continue
"Practically all of the machines can be saved," said L. A. Hartley, superintendent of the Fowler Shops, "and the draft men can come on schedule." A volunteer squad of almost a hundred engineering students was at work early this morning clearing away the debris. It is likely that a temporary roof can be erected and that the machines can be put in order for work by the time the drafted men arrive.
"Some of my plans for the drafted men were lost in the fire," said Mr. Hartley, "but they can be replaced."
Fire Flickers
The fire made a very unpleasant first number on the evening program. Heroes were made in an hour. Fair co-eds thrilled with pride when a favorite young gallant appeared through the smoke and fire. Some of the most notorious slackers dared only to go close enough to get their hands smeared with the soot. They then delighted in coming back to tell their friends how they had saved several bolts and screws.
One spectator observed that the vines growing up the wall of the building would not need to be watered again this summer.
The average velocity of the wind between 6:00 and 9:00 o'clock last night, as registered by the anemometer, was 35.8 miles per hour. The highest velocity during that time was 37.5 miles which was recorded during the three minutes from 6:28 to 6:31.
The spirit and efforts of the students to assist in every way that they could to fight the fire centered about "Dutch" Uhrlaub. For nearly two hours wet to his hide and in shirt sleeves, "Dutch" played the small hose of Fowler Shops on the fire. Several times he was given a thorough drenching by the stream of the city fire department, but it did not seem to effect "Dutch" in the least.
Forty-mile Gale Lashes Flames from Uncertain Starting Place Through Upper Story,Loft and Tower
Last night's fire got a good start while the alarm was being turned in. Earl Martin, the electrician, who discovered the blaze, hailed a colored taxi-driver and directed him to go to a telephone and turn in the alarm, as he wished to stay and fight the fire. "Oh, you call," said the negro, so Martin climbed into the taxi and drove to a near-by restaurant. There he asked the cashier to report the fire. "Oh, you call," said she. He called, and the fire burned merriely on.
Cause Uncertain and Undetermined;Armed Guards Posted
Reclamation of Machinery and Immediate Temporary Repairs On Building Prevent Delay to Nation Desnite $34,000 Loss
This morning when cooled ruins made possible access for clearing of debris, salvage, and investigation, the burned area was found practically confined above the ground floor. Damage by water to the lower floor and machinery there will be slight work needed on the floor of one hundred loyal engineers who worked both during the fire and afterward.
Dean Shaad of the School of Engineering, and his associates expect a temporary roofing over the still intact stone walls of Fowler Shops within a few days, and will have the interior of the building with all machinery ready for Uncle Sam's business the minute he asks for it. The engineers themselves are standing right by their school with long hours of hard, swift labor to redeem and repair for the work that must be done there.
But damage to lumber and other materials stored in the loft, to patterns, and to what machines were on the second floor, as well as to office equipment and other fixtures will amount to a minimum of $18,000. This with about $16,000 loss on the building itself brings total to a minimum of $34,400. Larger figures were quoted last night, but were given as plausible during the course of destruction and before adequate investigation and inventory could be made.
One of the places in which the fire might have started was stated in the report of a preliminary investigation to be in or above the locker room, second story, southeast corner, but this is not settled. A theory of spontaneous combustion caused from the day's heat action on iron filings, oil mops, waste, or shavings, was advanced but not substantiated.
Guard duty ceased this forenoon but will be resumed again tonight at least for Fowler Shops. Superintendent L. A. Hartley of the Shops says he will have the guards there.
As the fire was finally drowned out about 10 o'clock, soldiers from the Lawrence Home Guards were posted about not only Fowler Shops but about several other University Buildings. Their bayonets were fixed and ball cartridges were in the chamber of their rifles.
Place of origin and actual cause uncertain and as yet undetermined, fire impelled by a 40-mile-an-hour gale swept the eastern two-thirds of the upper story, loft, roof, and tower of Fowler Shops early last evening with a loss of approximately $34,000. The fire was discovered by Assistant Electrician Earl Martin at 6:45 o'clock and was not under control of the combined forces of city and University fire fighters until 8 o'clock.
The building and the machinery within it were being considered by the Federal Government for use in a special training work as yet unannounced, but, if established, scheduled to begin about June 1.
Permanent repairs will be undertaken later, the time as yet not fixed. The holding of the second floor is considered little short of miraculous. Great quantities of water were continuously poured onto it, and the tile roofing formed a hard surface over the wood. This prevented the more severe damage that threatened the valuable machinery downstairs; the walls are apparently ready to be built into again, according to estimates of the engineering faculty.
ARMED GUARDS POSTED
SLOW ALARM FOR BIGGEST FIRE
As soon as Earl Martin discovered the fire, the largest known at the University, he telephoned Central of the telephone company. Central mildly suggested to one of the firemen at the station that there was a fire "by" Fowler Shops and casually inquired if an alarm should be turned in. He replied to talk with the chief. By the time the chief was on the wire, Central had received notification from Miss Cora M. Downs who lives just south of the Shops, and now said the fire was "in" Fowler Shops. Chief Bill Reimis didn't wait to answer whether an alarm should be turned in, but started in lead of his racing apparatus to set a pace that never was seen before on the streets of Lawrensburg.
rence. He got on the scene of action as fast as possible and could prop him. WATER, ORING.
WATER DRIBBLE ALONG
The chief sized up the situation and placed his streams advantageously for a good fight to confine the fire in the east eagle that second story of the burning building. Hit the so-called streams that meandered through the nozzles of flabby hose pipes, made him jump to do something the telephone Central should have flone automatically before the firemen arrived at the fire. He had to notify the pumping stations to jam on the pressure and send water up on Mount Oread. It was twenty minutes after operations began before water volume was sufficient.
Good use was made of all water as soon as it came. Strategic placement was made for stream effectiveness to save the west end of the building and only occasionally were pipe men deceived to send showers into flames. Undergraduates manned the University's lines, helping the regular employees, and engineers worked at saving property throughout the fire. The isolation and tile roof of Fowler Shops, however, was all that prevented rapid spread of the fire by the wind to other buildings.
There is no regular insurance carried on Fowler Shops in an insurance company, but the State of Kansas has provision for all of its property on a large scale which amounts in the long run to the same thing as payment of insurance premiums would. The state was owned by A. Fowler as a memorial to his father, and was completed in 1899 at a cost of $21,000. The School of Engineering used the plant primarily for instruction in shop work.
NO INSURANCE
All this week engineering students have been cleaning out the building in preparation for holding open-house today. All waste material, extra lumber, and trash had been entirely cleaned out of the building.
Forges are located in the end of the building destroyed, but it is stated positively none of these forges were used yesterday, because forge practice was to have been one of the features of the entertainment today. No laboratory experiments requiring heat were conducted yesterday, since the students of the department were busy with other duties.
Spectators enjoyed to some extent the heat while the cold north wind blew at their backs. Meanwhile, they were ready with advice, which was, in the main, that the fire should be extinguished as soon as possible.