Fire Guts Room in Lowell House; University Will Investigate Causes

A fire in Lowell House Saturday night gutted the rooms of two undergraduates, Jonathan Moss '69 and Paul M. Hackbarth '68.

Damage was estimated at several thousand dollars. Zeph Stewart, Master of Lowell House, said he expected the University's Administrative and Caretaking Department to hold an investigation into the fire's causes.

Moss discovered the fire shortly after 10:30 p.m. "It wasn't very hard to discover," he said. "I opened the door to my room [H-33], and clouds of black smoke billowed out."

Within minutes a team of firemen was on the scene. After some confusion about the source of the smoke, the firemen climbed through the third story window of H-34 and tore down the fire door 'eading to H-33. Brandishing gas masks, fire axes, and two hoses, they soon had the blaze under control.

One student was critical of the firemen's methods. "All they had to do was ask Fritz [Rau, the House Superintendent] for the key to the room," he said. "Instead, they trampled over everything that lay in their path."

Lost Data

The damage to clothes, books, records, and furniture was heavy. Moss lost much of the data he had collected for research in genetics and chromosomal mapping. Glassware, negatives from photographic work, and pages of notes were all destroyed.

More than a month will be required to restore the room itself. During that time Moss and Hackbarth will live with friends.

The crowd of onlookers watched with an air of festive enthusiasm. One student ran to his room and played "Baby, Won't You Light My Fire" over and over. The spectators cheered on the fire men and cheered Hackbarth as he emerged from his room with a salvaged pair of bongo drums.