Charred ruins remain . . .
A gaping hole is all that remains of the Kansas Union roof over the Ballroom. The tedious task of surveying damages to the Union, already estimated at $2 million, began Tuesday.
No cause has yet been officially determined for the fire that did damage estimated at up to $2 million to the Kansas Union Monday night. Lawrence Fire Chief Fred Sanders said it would be several days before the state fire marshall could determine the cause, "if that was even possible."
Damage survey begins
Actual fire damage to the building was confined to the destruction of the roof of the original portion of the building, constructed in 1926, and to the rooms on the third floor on the east and west sides of the building.
The interiors of the Pine and English Rooms were destroyed, but the elaborately decorated Centennial Room, immediately south of the English Room, suffered little damage other than waterlogging of the carpet.
There was no fire damage to the Ballroom floor, though debris from the caved-in roof, water and smoke caused considerable damage.
The main floor, basement and subbasements of the 1951-52 addition to the Union suffered damage from water and smoke.
Frank Burge, Union director, said he hoped the new addition, completed only last year, could be opened to the public within 48 hours. The addition suffered only very minor damages
"We knew if the fire reached the attic we would be in trouble," he said.
No one was admitted to either Lawrence Memorial Hospital or Watkins Hospital for injuries suffered from what Assistant Fire Chief John Kasberger described as "one big hell of a fire."
Kasberger attributed the huge blazes on the roof to the combustible furniture and wood-filled attic.
"We used about 10 hoses," Kasberger said, "but it took a while to get all of those inside." Onlookers reported weak water pressure at times, but Kasberger felt the pressure was good.
since, but Hassler left the pressure was good.
Burge expressed gratitude to students who assisted firemen, and said more than $50,000 worth of art objects and furniture were saved through the efforts of the students.
Sanders also had high praise for student volunteer firefighters.
"I had 30 men fighting the fire and from a hundred to two hundred students were helping," he said. "You just mentioned to them what you wanted done, and they'd do it."
Sanders said there was no trouble from the crowd, which ranged from several hundred to nearly a thousand spectators.
Administrators worked through Tuesday relocating and rescheduling nearly a thousand events which were to be held in the Union during the final four weeks of the semester.
Check cashing services have been moved to Summerfield and Strong Halls. Residence halls will supply food services for the conferences scheduled in the new addition of the Union.
Relocation of events originally scheduled in the Union will be announced when obtained from the reservations section of the registrar's office.
Student and campus organizations with offices in the smoke and water damaged building were uncertain of where they would relocate.
Most of Tuesday, however, was spent sifting through remains and surveying damages in an effort to determine losses. Relocation, said spokesmen for most organizations, was to be dealt with later. (Continued to page 20)
80th Year, No.119
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas Wednesday. April 22.1970
BULLETIN
Governor Robert B. Docking, again placed a curfew on the city from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. The curfew will restrict the sale of alcoholic beverages, the number of persons on the streets and will prohibit any flammable liquid in any container, and the carrying of any firearms or explosives.
Racial tension at LHS again causes violence
By TOM SLAUGHTER
Kansan Staff Writer
For the third time in two weeks, violence erupted on the campus of Lawrence High School Tuesday morning, resulting in the use of tear gas and mace by policemen.
A group of about 150 blacks, many of them University of Kansas students, broke several windows and clashed with Lawrence police and public safety officers.
The crowd formed in Veterans Park about 9 a.m. and then moved to the high school grounds. As the group moved toward the administration center of School District 497 at the south end of the block, windows were broken on
the east side of high school, Principal William Medley said approximately 15 windows were broken.
When the group reached the administration center, they were met by two Lawrence policemen.
More patrolmen soon arrived on the scene, bolstering the total number of the policemen to about 20 officers.
A number of small confrontations ensued between the blacks and the policemen. One female was held temporarily, but was set free after the group demanded she be released.
(Continued on page 20)
The only injury sustained in the melee was to a Lawrence
Heller asks watch
Instructions from Acting Provost Francis H. Heller were issued to volunteer faculty members and students who stayed in campus buildings last night for a curfew watch.
The instructions said, "We do not expect you to take any action. If, however, you should note strange movement in or around your building, or if you should hear sounds of glass breaking, you should call at once the emergency number."
"We hope the night will pass uneventfully," the instructions said, "but recent events suggest that we must take precautionary measures."
Because of the curfew, faculty, custodial personnel and students on duty were required to remain in the buildings all night.
Heller also released the following statement yesterday afternoon:
"This is an unhappy moment in the life of the University, with an unfortunate loss of property, and disruption of academic, cultural and extra-curricular activities of many kinds.
"But even in the most tragic of circumstances some bright aspects appear for the University—it was the spontaneous response of hundreds of KU students who helped minimize damage by removing paintings and furnishings from the burning building, by helping firemen with their equipment as they fought the flames and by serving refreshments to the firefighters through the night.
"We also wish to give thanks to the Lawrence fire department for their tremendous job in bringing the fire under control so quickly and minimizing damage. The fact that we have a Kansas Union still standing is due to their efforts."
Violence breaks out again at Lawrence High School
A black student at Lawrence High School was held briefly by police during a confrontation at the high school Tuesday morning. She was released after a group of black students from KU and Lawrence High demanded she be set free. Policemen used tear gas and chemical mace to disperse the crowd after several windows were broken on the east side of the school.
Guardsmen activated to quell snipers, fires
By DAN OSBORNE and GREG SORBER Kansas Staff Writers
Repeated sniper fire and several attempted fire bombings marked a tense curfew period Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in which state police and National Guardsmen were required to assist local law enforcement officers.
Assisting the 50 local policemen were 240 National Guardsmen from the First Battalion, 127th Artillery stationed at Garnett, 30 Highway Patrolmen and eight special deputies.
Trouble started almost immediately after the 7 p.m. curfew began. At about 7:05 p.m., curfew violators were reported in front of the Rock Chalk Cafe at 12th and Oread. Policemen arriving at the scene were pelted with bricks and rocks.
Several incidents occurred during the night between 12th and 13th Streets on Oread Drive and Louisiana Street.
About 7.25 p.m., a fire was reported at 1225 Oread Drive.
Firemen arriving at the scene were hindered by debris placed in the street. Ten minutes later gunfire was reported.
Also at 1225 Oread, at 7:50 p.m., police reported a youth shooting out a street light, and at 9 p.m. reported an attempt at starting a bonfire.
The last incident at this address was a fire on the front porch reported about 9:15 p.m.
Earlier in the evening a fire bomb was thrown in the front yard of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority house at 1433 Tennessee
forty house at 1455 Tennessee
(Continued on page 20)