New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-23

Ysvitt almaee's church situated in Schermerhorn-st,
near Third-ave was burned yesterday morning The
fire was frst discovered at about $50 o. mr. by tho
assistant sexton the ue at the southeast corner OF
te front yestlbue of the church. lie Immediately rang
the bell while the sexton started for the house of Mr..
Corwn one OF the trustees opposite the church. These
with Others who had in began TO fight the fire with
pals OF water and small hose, but the flames increased
and worked up rapidly. They then set about removing
things from the church, carrying out the books,
cushions, stools, and nearly everything portable.
AS far as could be word sent to the Fire
Department for some time, and 1t was nearly half an
hour after the discovery of the fire before the alarm was
sounded from the City Hail. In fewiminutes steam
fire engine arrived followed quickly By Others, and soon
seven streams brought to bear upon the front OF
the building and ave upon the The first however,
was applied saving from destruction the adjoining
threestory wooden dwelling No. $50 schermerhornst,
which overlooked the Tabernacle and was considered in
great danger. The flames were thus prevented from
spreadn in this direction, which was in the Immediate
path Of the wnd at the time blowing very brsky from
northwest The inmates, however. removed their fur
niture from the house till the danger was over.
RAPID MARCH OF THE FLAMES
Upon The arrival OF the fremonithe hrcwss' still con-
fined 70 the vestbule, but IN few minutes, with great
rapidly the flames burst into the auditorium, ran up
the wall and along the ceiling and the whole interior
was soon enveoped Tho wiaaows being mainly in the
upper walls the remen could only bring streams 10
bear directly small portion Of the burning building
through the few which opened the roofs Of the single
stored corner wings. The effect Of these streams was
slight however and the 6reen were only able to con-
fine the flames TO the interior. The roof fell in early
and the flames rose through the opening with great
herceAess, that serious apprehensions were enter
tanned for some time OF therGspreadng with the wind
and causing extensive connagratoD. This was hap
PLY sverted however by the exertons Of the fremen,
who kept the neighbOrng buildings saturated with
water The walls, toe, aided materially in combining the
4 Y.raFf
The fire ragged here, however almost unchecked for
long time, the streams directed upon it from above
through the front windows appearing to have little
effect and the flames rapidly fastening upon everything
combustible which the tremen unable 10 reach.
The tbers, they caught IRE, way. aud let the
wall fall piece by piece, the beethoven going first, at
about 1856 and other portions OF the front follow
ing soon after. While the Aremen in front throw
ing water into the building from above the flames began
TO creep rapidly along the ceiling Of the southwestern
wing and threatened to engulf the men who were at
work upon the roof. Men shouted 70 them Come
down" bat they remained at their post. One OF the
lines Of hose was soon brought down, anu stream was
directed upon the lower part OF the building.
This was done first through the front windows,
but to so little advantage that the door opening
into The western passage broken IN and the hose
taken inside Here the water did good service, quickly
extngushing the flames and saving the roof so that
those above worked away without danger. This also
did good service. The flames driven back gladu-
ally and brought TO bear upon the interior
excellent effect. By 1880 the fire was under
pretty good control and the work OF exttngushng 1t
proceeded rapidly. Portions Of tho wall which were
stan standing we're pulled down to afford access to
the burning mber and the wreck Of tho structure was
TINS completed. During the afternoon the fire stil
Emoldered and several streams were kept playing on
the ruins until 10 was completely quenched. The nfam-
mabe nature OF building and the peculiar method OF
Its construction rendered the task OF the hremen dill
cult one however aud early became evident that they
oould not save it from complete destruction The air
was bitterly cold ana the mon suffered considerably,
when not in immediate contact with the fire. Many
were completely drenched with water, which quickly
froze Oh their clothing.
DELAY IN MAKING THE ALARM.
WI Crouch. who vesin framehouse next door TO the
Tabernacle told TRIBUNE reporter that about $3.50 a. M
Yesterday he heard the church bell ringing with rapid
strokes very unlike the TO church service and,
rushing out lac a dense smoke issuing from the
southeast ue. The sexton ran out OF the church. cry
ing that IL was GU fire. and that he was going 70 get Mr.
Coryin one Of the trustees BY the time Mr. COrwin
arrived Nh Crouch had entered the church with AK
and tired TO cut through the iron casing to the hue
When an opening was made it found that the wood
work between the two sheets Of iron was all in flames,
which at this tine began TO pour out at the ro0I Inc
sexton tried 10 some hose from rail
road stable, but without efect. In his opn-
even II the stean-eDgnes had been hand; but there
was 20 much delay sending to the police station that
II was fully half hour from the discovery Of the fire
before the general alarm sounded and the engines
were on the ground Indeed, one hookandladder com
psny received information Of the FIRE and had arrived at
the scene before the first fire alarm was struck. Mr.
Crouch had feared that his house would be burned
as II uas close church; and the iron walls, which
were helpless 10 save the church. afforded protection 70
It's neghbor and his house unsiDged by IRE though
somewhat damaged by water.
ZINC FLUEs cAsED IN WOOD
Mr. Randall who was sexton OF the church when the
Tabernacle was built described to the reporter the con-
struotion OF the hues. They were square, and con-
sructed Of thin nc inside Of these were round sheet
iron pipes for conveying the smoke and gas The zinc
ues were cased 10 wood which the corrugated iron
was fastened. If tue iron pipes became disjonted or
bent 20 as to come in contact with the zinc there was
nothing 70 prevent the wood work from catching hre
when the furnaces under full blast
gentleman standing near told the reporter that at
the time Of building the church proposals were invited
for constructing ues and the contract was given 70
the lowest bidder One of the defeated applicants said
20 him. when the terms were made public. that they
could not be safey built the amount named and that
there would be IRE IN that church some time.
MI shotwel, the sexton. found in the old church.
now used for Sunday school services and prayer meet
ings. He was carefully pilng up the cushions which
had been rescued from the burning Tabernacle. He
sd that the res the furnaces never allowed 10
~ during the cold weather and that In the furnace
from which the caught the fire had been going since
early In November 30 that no wood kndng had been
used Ia t for more than q month At $50 a. yester
day he shook the fires and put on fresh coal They
were then all 10 good order. About $50 o. IN. he was
busting the church furniture, when his assistant went
In front Of the church and smoke coming out OF
the southeast nue, and returned saying that there
"a NnN