New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-12-22
I,fLAAHs IN A BRookLrN oHpRoA
THE MORNING SERVICE INTERRUPTED,

CHRIST CHURCH DAMAGED TiUoo-ihh o"NN'
CoNGKEGATION NOT PANIc-srRIcKEN,
fire broke out yesterday in Christ Church ITO
testant Episcopal, at CLINTON aud Harrison sts''
Brooklyn. lust after the service began at II a. III.
Owing 10 the storm the congregation was small ana
no alarm or excitement prevailed. Even the women
present were self-possessed and some OF them did
not leave the auditorium until compelled 10 40 ~
by the volume of smoke that filled 1t. Inc hre was
discovered before it had gained great headway ana
the church members soon assisted by hremen,
speedily put it out
AN OvERHEATED FLUE-PIPE.
Christ Church is one of the wealthlest chnrches
in Brooklyn, and a handsome brown-stone edHce'
1t is heated by three furnaces Only two are
usually required to heat the auditorium but OWING
to the extreme cold Saturday, the third furnace
beneath The vestibule was started. Finding the
church not well warmed on Saturday night the
sexton directed to rake ont the hrcs, Put OH
coal, and leave drafts turned on all night Ocoree
G. White chairman of the house committee OF the
vestry was at the church early yesterday 10 see II
it was properly heated. Shortly before / O'Clock
he noticed an odor as of burning varnlsh. lie con-
cluded that it was from the pipes of the furnace
which had not been used before. But to be sure he
and the sexton George Rogers went into the cellar
and looked all the pipes. The hue pipe OF the
furnace under the vestibule was found to be red
hot but 1t was not thought that the floor would
catch fire from it, as it protected by plaster
ceiling
So the sexton rang the bell, and the congregation
gathered. In the chancel tine rector DR..
lucins W. Bancroft, and the assistant minister,
John c. Wildwood. About 200 persons were in the
pews and dozen singers in the choir gallery
SMOKE POURING INTO THE AuDIIoGIuM.
The opening sentences of the service and the
Lords Prayer we've read by Mr. Wewood, when
ltyt tha lt Ip
turned to Dr. Bancroft, who sat one side of the
chanccl. but the choir began the Vcnitc They
had sung II few lines, when the organist Sigsmund
iasar. noticed the smoke pouring INTO the audi
torinm, He and the choir were directly over th,
vestibule, aud they lost no time III gong down the
broad stairs to the entrance One Ol tle cliurch
members, several OF whom had left their seats as
soon n the smoke appeared In order to learn the
cause of it, hurried up side aisle and spoke to Dr
Bancroft. He stepped to the altar rail and said
" am told the church Is ON fire. The congregation
had better dispeisc quietly"
FLAMES BURST THROUGH TIE FLOOR.
Even then with the smoke almost binding those
nearest the doors, many of the congregation
fingered in the sles. Some of the men hurried to
the vestry for pals of water and they were hastily
poured down the registers in the vestibulc and on
| tho floor where Ii was smoking \ hundrcd-foot
hose kept in the church was uncolcd, attached to
the lydrant at the rear of the building and run
down through the main aisle. Flames began to
burst tlr ouglthe floor along the partition sepaf1'
ing the vestibule and the auditorium and nhder-
meath the rear seats. By tIls time the eoIgreg!ioni
without their Oycrcoats aud overshoes tetutriug
for tlcni All the cusiions and most Of THE prayer
looks and liiihals we're tenio9ed IRON tiis seats
Nein while a stranger Passing he Church ana ieelpg
smokc pouring from the iioit Doors, ran TO TIE
hotse 6t Engiue NJ IN Degti~ ST. ~ itc me
aiatii. cesefii eheihe4 aui tWd tticks vfte -6Dr
tiet hbs ~ Tho eellat dV ng "a the 4Bkt iti tiie
Hge,. 4 ggtasfTi 2iF ,t1ait ttl leaAsiifF tot
fhN.Nt pfNfT HAIi iNf ttsllNtF aNi ss{ttN
5ftfiHta 8att egsHfS sA 'As b's4ifs eeH't' s'sfi
I&lESI 0F fFE pAN4rl.
4 meetms 81 ihe lesly was sail ~ a. ppee aAA
committees va, appointed 81 Make tbs necessdry
repairs AMI pnt the church ln order The damage
was estiuated at about q 900 The door heans
and loor we're badly charred and halt dozen seats
were torn out where the holes IN the lloOr had to
lie cut.
Charles A. Denny, treasurer of the South Brooklyn
Savings Institution saId 10 TRIBUNE reporter That
there was no excitement confusion when the ire
was discovered. 1t was fortunate that the house
was not crowded as usual or panic might nave
occurred. There was. however rear exit where
every one cOad have escaped.
As soon the disaster was known oilers were
received from the Middle Reformed and the strong
Place BAPTIST Churches of the use of those edItccs
by the congregation OF Chrlst thuich.
WHAT KEPT THE FLAMES FROM SPREADING.
Chief Engineer Nevins OF the Fire Department,
sad that it was the tiled floor OF the vcstbnle
which confined the flames and prevented the fire
spreading much before the engines were on the
spot If it had not been for the tiles the fire would
have extended to the choir gallery and organ
the vestibule, and great damage would have
resulted.
Dr. Bancroft was greatly overcome bv the excite
ment aud the peril TO the church, of which he has
heon rector for ite I'll years The church was built
in lS42. 1t IS valued ut over Tl0O,OOo ami ~ m
surod for $4,000. The congregation includes
MANY prominent citizens.
The lire prevented IA special service at p. ~, ior
the children of The church, and no evening service
could be held. large number OF Christmas greens
| ia the cellar damaged.
The last destructive ire in a Brooklyn church
broke ont late at night III the Elm Place COnsre-
patonal Church. Ill 1850 and soon burnod out
| the cnt ire interior
NO MORE BODIES FOUND