Daily Republican., 1881-02-01
RIRx II PHILADELPHIA.
a Baptist church Totally Oou-
sumod-Othe BaildinKs Burned
Loss $500, 900.


The Ars is Supposed to have origina.
ted from defective heater. AbOns
three months ago two portable furnaces
which were considered upssfs. we're re-
moved and substantial brick heaters
placed in the cellar of the church.
Their positions were respectively, north
and south OF tho exact centre OF the
edi6ce. The south heater was used to
heat the leotura room aud other con-
meeting apartments, and the north ex.
clusively for the body OF the church
itself.
John Graham, the sexton OF the
church, states that he is in the habit
of making up the fire in the north
heater every Friday 80 as TO have 1t In
good order for Sunday, and that after
Sunday afternoon he allows it to 60 out
slowly; the south heater he keeps in
use every day, go that 1t may heat the
lecture hall whenever nesting is
held.
Mr.. Graham states that he left the
church shortly after nine o'clock on
Sunday evening, having examined the
heaters; in the south heater there was
good, strong FIRE, but in the other
merely q light, slumbering one. He
could not account for the erigin OF the
fire.
The arrangement and construction OF
the heaters afford some clue as TO the
cause of the conhagration. They were
walled with brick aud rooted with tin,
and above the roof was single thick
ness Of brisk, probably not more than
two. and O. half inches in width. I'm
mediatsly above this narrow brick par
tition we're the wooden floor beams or
girders. The theory rs to the origin OF
the Are is that eae Of the heaters--
presumably from appearances the
northern One--so heated the brick par
tition thatthe woodwork was ignited,
and communicating TO the flooring above
the building was soon in flames.
AS 1t now stands, but little is left To
mark the former architectural beauty
Of Beth Eden Church. The walls on
different sides stand alone without sup
port, and the cracked and blistered con.
dition of the green stone shows the sev.
Gritty Of the heat.
The building and It's contents were
insured for $40, 900, distributed as fol-
lows:
On the building-DelaWare Mutual
Company, 1000; Insurance Company
of North America, $4,000; Psnnsyl'
vania Fire Insurance, $4,000; Franklin
Fire, $4,000.
On the furniture-Lum1erman'
Company, $4,000; and on the organ
Insurance Company of North America
$1,000.
The damage to Horticultural Hal
was scarcely less general and severe
Parts of the walls are still standing and
may be used in rebuilding. The insur
ances on this building are as follows
German, Of Baltimore, $4,000; New
York Bowery, $4,000; Pacific, of New
York, $500; Peoples, Trenton, $4,000
Millvills. N. j., $2500; Western, Tor
onto, $4,000; Scottish Commercial
$4,000. The exact extent of the damage
cannot be accurately estimated at pre-
sent.
Beth. Eden Baptist Church, at Broad
and Spruce streets, and Horticultural
Hall, which Immediately adjoins 1t or
Broad street, were, with their contents.
almost destroyed by fire yesterday,
Nos. 1902, 1404, l406. l4OS, 14O9 and
14l1 Spruce street, all of them private
residences, and James T. Shinn's drug
store at, the southwest corner Of Broad
and Spruce streets, were damaged by
6re and water. The damage, which
exceeds $500, 900, is only partially Gov
cred by insurance.