New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-12
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
A LARGE FIRE IN HARLEM.
A HANDSOME CHURCH BURNED.

HANDSOME CHURC BUkNED.
DESTRUCTION OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL
CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY AT HARLEM
LOSS. $4,000.
At an early hour yesterday morning, as Sergeant
Armstrong and officer Egan of the Harlem police.
were passing the Protestant Episcopal Church OF
the Holy Trinity, at Fifth-ave. and One hundred.
and-twenty- y-ffth-st., they discovered smoke or
steam escaping from the chimneys The officer i'm.
medately aroused the sexton j. X. Cowperth ait,
who lives near, aud with him entered the
church. They discovered that the steam
pipes, by which the church was heated,
were very hot, and that a very high pres
sure upon the boiler, which was almost empty
Of water Fearing an explosion they drew the fire,
and after satisfying themselves that there were no
Goals left burning they left the church. About ff
teen minutes later the lookout in the bel-tower on
Mount Morris Park discovered flames within the
building and sounded alarm; but by the
time the engines were ready for action
the entire interior of the edtce ablaze
In few minutes the flames had forced theiI way
through the roof, and it became evident that the
most the fTemen could do would be to contne the
fire to the interior of the church. second alarm
brought additional engines to the spot, and six
streams were soon brought to bear upon the
burning building The heated air and flames
pouring through the large pipes of the organ
gave forth sounds which added to the weirIness
of the scene. At $3.50 o'clock the fremen
had the flames under control bur everything inside
the church was destroyed At daylight the walls
alone standing.
The church was built of Philadelphia brick with
white stone trimmings, eleven years ago. At that
time the pastor was the Rev. w. n. McVlcker, who
is now rector Of church in Philadelphia. 7 he pres
ent rector is the Rev. Dr.. Randolph H. McKlm, who
assumed & charge a6t oF % as me TSs
glass with Scrlptura persOnages, was very 0eauti-
tiiul, and cost $1,000. The organ: which
building stood back from the street, and had
a frontage Of 80 feet on FIftn-aye. and 100 feet
pews and seated $50 or 900 persons. There are
many wealthy persons connected with the church;
among whom in the vestry are K. q. Roston, pres-
dent OF the Farmers and Loan Trust Companyj Dir.
HarriOtt. of Harriott & NOyes, bankers, of No. 10
Wall-St.; d. w. Valentine. dry goods merchant, OF
Franklln-st.; c. I. Alyord Secretary Of the Man
haitian SAVINGS Bank, and others. The structure
originally cost S125,0QO, upon which there Is
mortgage held by the Mutual Life Insurance Com
pany for $4,000. The building was insured for
S47, 900, distributed in the following companies:
Hanover ........... $4,000 $4,000
Lsnox ............ 5000 cOntncntal........ 1000
Citlzens............. 10000
The large PRESBYTERIAN Church at Madison. ave.
and Observation-Disclosures y-fifth-st., was last
night thrown open for the usual Ash Wednesday
services. The calamity thar lad occurred occupied
the attention OF the Rev. DR.. McKim who con-
sumed the time in referring to the fre.
He thought. the fire would prove a bless
ing in disguise. The Rev. DR.. Tying, jr., fol-
lowed with an impressive address in which he
urged the members OF the church and congregation
TO subscribe literally toward the erection of new
edifice.
A trustees meeting was held after the services,
at which the pastor presided. Mr.. RolstOn offered a
resolution that the pew rents be paid as usual, no
matter where the congregation worshipped. it was
explained that the mortgage was equal to the in
surance which virtually wiped out the church pro-
perty except the real estate. The resolution was
adopted Ii was further resolved, that COMMITTEES
be appointed, of ten gentlemen and ten ladies, who
shall engage in obtaining subscriptions toward the
building OF a new church.
The Sunday services for the present will be held
at Association Hall at FOurth-ave. and One-hundred-
| and-twenty-ninth-st. The place of holding the
weekly meetings will be determined to-day.