, 1873-01-18

Tho burning OF the First Congregational
Church, OIL Thursday oyoning, conveys another
aolomn warning to all parties engaged III the
construction of buildings which arc to bo usod
for large public assemblages. Tho wcl1-.ligh
Proyidontial circumstances attending this fire do
not lessen tho Importance Of tho warming
Thanks to tho efficiency Of tho llremen, the polid
character Of tho church walls, mud tho snow
which covered tho adjacent roofs, mono
Of tho surrounding buildings wero de-
stroyed. Thanks to tho fnct TINT the
fro broke out at o'clock, instead Of un hour
later, 10 lives were lost. Everything con-
nectod with tho fire was Fortunate -woll~nigh
miraculously Northumberland thoro is danger,
therefore. that tho warning may bo forgotten or
entirely unlcedod. Much as no may admire
tho strong, substantial manner In Which this
church WAS built, its elegant proportions, it's
massive wallis whiol, so successfully resisted tho
action Of tho hoat, and much as wo
may admire tho undaunted spirit Of
tho Truatcoa and congregation in resolving,
evon wAilo thoir church was still burning, to
rebuild Immediately, admiration md sympathy
should giyo place to duty. Whntoyer Of bonuty
and elegance md symmetry tha church pos
Bessed, WIS moro than oirsos by gil net OF culpa~
bio negligence, wlloro tho most conscientious
md careful precautions should have boon OBJ
served. Hero was q church built 30 nlassiyely
TINT it ought to have endured for centuries. It's
slated roof aud heavy rack-faccl walls gave
fr,F1Srn ~
| terror arrangements were not only the
finest in tllo city, but perfectly adaptcd to all
| tito usos Of q congregation of worshipporo, as
we'll ns for tho various sooial festivals of tho
church. Having flushed the church ut cost OF
| oyor $140,000, and made 1t ono Of tho hand
Homost odi1lcos west Of Now York, the ogrogious
folly Of boxing in the furnace I1uos with wood is
thon committed. It Ia only question of timo
| how Roon every such building will bo burned.
Litto by lttlo tho material subjected to tho hoat
Is preparing to burst into flamo. In
thia case tho opportunity camo quickly.
| For the regular Sunday sorvcea the
church can DO hcated gradually for day or two,
but this Was special occasion. A concert was
to lavo boon hold thoro Tho church must be
ioatod quickly. On The day Of tho concert, tue
weather changed, and it grew very cold. To
thoroughly warm 30 large church, oven under
ordinary circumstances, Yequiros groat amount
Of heat. In this instance. 1t hp.l to bo done
quickly, and tho result WAS that aa tho virtual,
wooden tluos became speedily oyerhoatea, tho,
wore eoon III flamcs, u,,il tho tiro WIS in aucl
q locality TINT it WAS instantly com
municated to yarious parts Of tile church, AMI
could not DO oxtinguishol by tho temporary up
pliancos wl.'cL, wero at hand. Before tho Gil
gnos could arrive tho building WAS doomed.
Bupnoso tint this fire l,ad broken out ali hou
or two lator, at which ti1no thore would hay
boeu largo aulionco In Attendance upon til
contert. Tho flames frat appeared by the from
doors Of tho church, and exit In TINT direction
would have boon cut off. There wa
ono other door In tho eaat wing of til
church, communicating with tho auditorium
two basement doors, and poHBibly doors In til
, rear OF the basonont. The exit OF tho audiono
must hayo boon practically confined to tho eat
, door. Tho baBomont Of tho church whs devote
to variety Of purposes, ind its large aroa wa
; cut up into pastor'a roomH, libraries, lecture
room, Sunday sohool-roon1, parlors, dinlng-roon
, and Kitchen, connecting With each othor by
| complicated network Of pasaagos md corridor
, II tho amoko n1ul heat Ind allowed al
, ono to oHcape by the basement, thol
would probably hayo boon no ol
I In tho audience sufficiently acq1alntt
i with tllo basement exits to hayo found Ills vi
!, out In time, for tho flames spread with fearf
Il rapldity, tho whole lutorior being seotlil
:, ! ,rnpo ~ Hrn in a vor&, Fauv rntn,,+aa An fnav