The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-01-21
SERIOUS FIRE.
The Presbyterian Church Damaged
$500.
Good work by the Fire Department.

Tally Again for the BabcOck Engine.
About 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon,
Mr.. Smith, janitor OF the Presbyterian
church ON Sth avenue, while going back
to the church to look after the furnaces
which he had fired IN for the evening
meeting, saw smoke issuing from various
parts Of that fine building. He ran and
opened the rear door, and found the au-
dItorium filled with smoke. He closed
that door and sped around to the base
ment and found that still smoker. he
then gave the alarm, and in few min
utes the fire department and large
crowd of citizens were on hand.
BY this time the entire building was
full Of smoke, which poured out Of every
crevice in the doors, windows, and roof,
and great tears were felt that the fre
could net be conquered. Chief Engineer
McMurtrie promptly decided that the
door was on fire near the heaters, and had
the doors and windows kept closed, and
the crowd kept out, while Frank Schmidt
ling took the nozzle Of the hose OF the
Babcock engine aud thrust it through the
basement window, and directed the
stream up to where the floor was believed
to be burning. The smoke was so dense
in the basement and in the church above,
that it was impossible for any one to go
in. As soon rs breathing inside the base
ment was possible, Mr. Sehmidling open
ed the door and went in, and did very eI-
fective service. Meantime the citizens
had formed bucket lines, wagon hurried
down town by Chief McMurtrie had
| brought up load OF pals, and an abund-
ance OF water was supplied to the Bah
cock, and the water throwing part OF
that engine was put to work, four men
operating the brakes, and a good stream
OF water thrown. Then the west door OF
the church was opened and the stream of
water thrown on the floor, while SchmId-
ling continued to direct the chemical
stream from beneath. The consequence
was that in few minutes more the fire
was subdued, and the welcome news
given out that the beautiful church was
safe.
The water working attachment to the
Babcock was by this trial demonstrated
to be very useful. 1t consists OF two 4
inch cylinders which can throw, through
ter over any two story building in town.
1t works independently of the chemical
cylinders. which also ON this occasion
proved to be very effective. The Babcock
is both fire extinguisher, and water
engine, and in case OF fire every citizen
should promptly fall into line, and do
his best to supply the machine with wa
ter. We noticed several OF our best ladies
indignant at the apathy evinced by
some OF the men, took place in one buck
ct line, and insisted on working as long
as they were allowed to. We trust the
fair sex Will not have to repeat the lesson.
The damage to the church consists in
about u of the floor being burned or
charred near the center of the building.
The hole burned entirely through, being
about feet wide by Is feet long, Begin
ming southwest OF the west heater and
extending beyond the middle of the room.
Right over the burned place in the door
hang four lamps, full of kerosene Oil.
Luckily the fire was kept so well smoth-
cred that the flames did not reach and eX-
plode them. Two seats wholly and three
partly ruined. Forty yards OF carpet are
spoiled by fire and water. The walls and
ceiling are all blackeced, and the paint
blistered, up to the highest parts oil the
arches OF the ceiling. The expense which
the fire will neceSsitate to fully repair
damages and fresco the walls and ceiling,
will be $500. There is an insurance poll
cy on the church, Of $1,000, IN the Cont
mental, to secure the loan of that amount
due the Presbyterian Home Board of Mis-
sions, and we suppose, Of course, that 1t
will be available to repair the injuries
caused by this fire. The value of the
building is $4,000, and had 1t been burn
ed down now it could hardly have been
replaced for some years.
The origin OF the fire, was, in some way,
do doubt, from the furnaces used to heat
the church. They are inclosed in brick
work, and there are no holes in the pipes
leading through the aoor to the heaters.
Neither are the timberS nearest the pipes
burned-the fir being near but not abb
soluteIy adjoining the pipes. Exactly
how the heat OF the furnaces set the floor
| on fire canAot be determined.
The church, when refitted and frescoed
will, we have no doubt, be more hand
| aOme and attractive than before