Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-13
MOODY'S CHURCH BURNED,
And All But the Walls Destroyed.-lncen.
diarism Suspected.

CHICAGO, Nov. 12-At three o'clock
this morning fire was discovered in the
basement Of the Chicago Avenue Church,
better known IS "Moody's Church." at
the corner Of Chicago and Ia Sale ave
nues. An alarm was given. but before
the engines could respond, the flames burst
through the first floor into the lecture
room. Here their fury was checked for
awhile, as was supposed, but concealed
by the dense smoke, the fire had crept
up 10 the second floor and soon eaten its
way into the auditorium ON the second
tioor. Fed here by the multitude Of
cushions and other infiammable furnish
ings the flames spread with surprising
rapidity and redoubled ferceness, and q
second alarm was hastily turned in. The
burning cushions and other material gave
forth almost impenetrsble volumes Of
dense black smoke, which for a time re-
pulsed all efforts of the fremen 10 enter
the church. The stained glass windows,
which had begun to crack from the heat,
We're dashed in with axes and in n few
minutes half dozen streams were playing
on the fire, which clung with obstinate
persistence 10 the furniture and other COM
bustibles in the room.
After nearly three4uarters Of an hour
of hard work the flames were got under
control and the fire confined TO the church
building. The smoke was still too dense
this morning TO permit an investigation Of
the extent of the damages, but it is be-
lieved that the interior is entirely gutted.
The stained-glass windows were almost
entirely detroyed. The wall it is thought
are about all of the structure that can be
preserved so as 10 be fit for future use,
The pastor, the Rev. Mr. Goss. estimated
the loss at $4,000, and said that the
church and furniture were covered by in
surance to that amount. Another esti-
mate places the loss ut about $1,000.
Incendiarism is believed by some 10 he
the cause of the fire 1t is said that nj
l 30 o'clock this morning policeman saw
some one In the interior of the building.
Mr.. ID. l.. Turner, the janitor, said that
all the members of his family had retired
at that hour. The Rev Mr. Goss could
not conceive OF a motive any one might
have, but admitted that he could not un-
derstand the origin Of the flames in the
part of the building where they were dis
covered unless the fire was set. He said
there might have been an overheated pipe
from one Of the seven furnaces which are
located in the building.
The Church Society was Organized by
the Rev. Dwight L. Moody, the eyange-
list, in 1869, and occupied a small build
ing on Chicago avenue, near Franklin
street, until the great fire ia lS7l. I'm
medately after that time Mr.. Moody
built the present church structure, solicit
ing contributions from all parts OF the
globe, until 100000 was raised. Mr..
Moody continued as the pastor until he
begun his general eyangelistic work. The
church has grown from small beginning
10 he one of the largest churches i'll point
of membership, in the city. The Sunday
school rolls include the names OF over six
teen hundred children. A. II. Revcll,
J. II. Hitchcock. A. II. Lowden, l.. +.
AtchiSOn and John Morrison are at pres
ent deacons The auditorium OF the
church is the largest in Chicago. though
perhaps the plainest in design. Since the
building was first erected alterations and
improvements have been made To the eN-
tent of $2j, 600