Pittsburg State University - Kanza Yearbook (Pittsburg, KS)

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applause, the plans were discussed, and the generosity of the men of Pittsburg disclosed, as one after another they offered help and sympathy. The new Metho- dist church was thrown open to the school; the city high school building was turned over unreservedly to S. M. T. N.; all the available rooms in the Y. M. C. A. building were willingly offered; and the Chamber of Commerce stood ready to provide any necessity that might arise. With so much available space at hand it was not difficult to place the classes that could not be accommodated at the Normal, in some of the rooms up town. The only difficulty then remaining was that of transportation—some means must be provided whereby students could pass from classes at the Normal to those at the High School and Y. M. C. A. buildings. This was the opportunity of the Chamber of Commerce and they willingly met it by providing special street car service free to students,—a service which enabled a student to make the exchange of classes in a few minutes. In like manner all the difficulties were conquered, so that by the time the State Board of Control and Governor Hodges arrived, there was little to tell the story of the great calamity, except the still smoking ruins of Russ Hall. Not a day of work was omitted, and not a student deserted the ranks. The future looked very bright, indeed. The library, which had been almost entirely saved, was ready for use within a day or two after the fire; a temporary auditorium with a seating capacity of three thousand, was rapidly taking shape and the free car service was in splendid working order. But a new cloud appeared in the sky the street car employees went out on a strike! This necessitated another change, as the only means of transportation which could now be provided were moving vans, which were so slow that too much time was lost between classes. Again S. M. T. N. met the emergency squarely. Six large tents were obtained; and when these were pitched on the campus and when several rooms were obtained in the houses across the street from the Normal, all the classes save the chemistry and domestic science, were again brought to the Normal. A stranger passing by, might have thought at a first glance that a gay Chautauqua was in session; and upon a nearer approach, he might well have been amused as lie listened to the various' sounds from the different tents,—-the click of typewriters, the tap, tap of feet as the girls performed their gymnastic dances, the steady drone of science lectures, and the rolling tones of English students as they dramatized the masters; while over and above it all came the sound of hammer and saw constructing new buildings, and the crash of falling bricks and iron as the tearing down and re- building of Russ Hall went steadily on. But no account of this stirring period of S. M. T. N.’s history is1 complete without some mention of the loyalty and devotion of her thousand students, who so bravely and cheerfully accepted every inconvenience to which they were sub- jected. Not a word of complaint was heard, even when long, hot walks were necessary in order to reach the Normal, and when the noonday sun beat through the canvas, making the tents almost unbearable. Indeed, all the discomforts seemed only to bring the students together and closer to S. M. T. N. So we do not wonder that President Brandenburg said of them that such another loyal body of students could not be found in all Kansas; no, not in the United States.” EILEEN FRENCH-STEELE.

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0% ©ratrurfimt of ISitoo ffiall Sunday, the Twenty-Eighth day of June, Nineteen Hundred and Fourteen! What do those words recall? To most of us there comes the picture of a day of intense heat, oppressively sultry. No breath of air stirred the drooping leaves, which seemed to cling more closely to the protecting tree trunks. Even night brought but little relief and that relief was so charged with forebodings1 of the coming storm that a general restlessness prevailed, a restlessness which cul- minated an hour or so after midnight in the storm. And such a storm! It was not one of wind and rain alone, but one of grand electrical display as well. Farmers arose to care for the restless cattle; and many a city dweller lay awake, watching (with mingled terror and fascination) nature’s wonderful fireworks,— great flaming halls, white sheets1 of flame, and narrow jagged cracks of fire which seemed to rend the heavens. It was indeed a scene to call for admiration and dismay; and many an anxious thought came as the watcher heard the rattle of the fire engines as they sped on their way to fight the different fires- started by the lightning. Then about four o'clock the news spread—Rus Hall is burning! the Normal is on fire! Half-clad men and women hurried through the storm to the scene of the disaster, each one ready to offer his assistance; and many were the unrecorded deeds of courage that were performed in the early hours of that gray June morning: but no amount of labor nor of prayers could curb the hungry flames that leaped from floor to floor, and laughed defiance at the weak attempts of man. As students' and friends stood around the burning building they had loved, their hearts were very heavy; but when the sombre word went forth—Rex Tanner has been killed by a live wire—grief bowed the brave spirits of those who had toiled for this school, for they realized that through this loss S. M, T. N. had been made poor indeed. But there was1 little time for the indulgence of grief at that hour; for one thousand students must be provided for, and there was much to be done. So, with resolute courage and determination (the courage and determination of the S. M. T. N. spirit), those in authority turned their faces toward the future; and so well did they plan, and so generous were the citizens of Pittsburg that when, at eight o'clock, President Brandenburg, standing on the steps of the Industrial Arts build- ing, faced the eager body of students who had assembled to learn what was to be done, he was able to tell them that S. M. T. N. had risen to the emergency and that all would be well. Hence, he called a meeting of the faculty and students at the Orpheum Theatre at ten o’clock; and in the meantime, the faculty went into session where the plans for the future were perfected to such an extent that prac- tically all the classes then being conducted, were provided for. With this knowldge in their hearts, it was a more cheerful faculty that met the vast crowd which had more than filled the Orpheum by ten o’clock—a crowd of students who stood shoulder to shoulder to help make the remainder of the summer term more profitable than the first month had been. Amid enthusiastic

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(Eragpiiij nt‘ dJmte 23th Not only did we hear the thunder chords Sweep o’er the sky; But vague uncertainties bade us wake And from our windows peer; So sharp that lightning! Not long till fire bells clang, Phones ring; all eyes turn southward, nor yet Could comprehend our tragedy! Dark the night before the dawn; Rain fell steadily;—but in that darkness Like a glowing monster, stood our Russ Hall! Flames shooting, heat rolling far into the sky; Her very bowels poured forth In one great mass of heat and flame! Firemen rush in,—live wires fall! And Rex, in eagerness to aid, is taken Past the borders of Immensity! How weak,—-how small we feel; How powerless! Straggling from the darkness, White faced, awe stricken, numbers increasing, Men and maidens alike heavy-hearted. No one ashamed of tears! One great homeless family bound by love And ambition! Homeless? Yea, a retreat was in the minds Of many. Our President called! Not one failed to answer. Twelve hundred strong that student mass responded! Faculty ne’er left post of duty! Six hours of leadership and all was well. The great heart of Pittsburg answered. Every effort made to share our burden! Hours of labor given joyously. Thousands of dollars placed at our disposal To reclaim Russ Hall! Tented classes broiling in the sun,— Crowded, stuffy rooms! Long hours For faculty and student, yet,— Smiles, “miles and miles of smiles.” No complaint while wading dust Or riding hacks from class to class. No tragedy of human hearts But breeds a lesson ne’er forgotten. LENA M. SMITH.