The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-14
NATURAL GAS CAUSES
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE
STATELIEsT PILE
or Church Architecture In the Gre al
City Of Pitsburg-A Graphic
Account OF ths Fire.

PITTsBURG, Pa, November lS.-The
pro-Cathedrsl of st. Peters, the pride
of the Roman Catholics OF the twin
cities, is a mass OF smok ng ruins. A
half hour after midnight Arthur Wig
gins, district messenger boy, while
passing the corner OF Sherman avenue
and Ohio street, Allegheney City,
ga " flames in the interior Of the mas.
sive structure. The boy gave the
alarm and ten minutes later three
dist lets of the department were at
work. The fire, however, had msde
great Roadway before it was discov-
cred and while the flremen were fight
ing 1t in the basement, to which il
IVES at first supposed to be confined,
end had gotten il under control there,
flames were discovered in the great
auditorium overhead, where they had
eaten their way insidiously through
fues and ventilators and were creep.
ing in and out among the rafters just
beneath the vaultsd roof, licking mp
in their furious greed the beautiful
frescoes and mr gnifCent oil paintings
with which the walls were lined, aud
were bursting through the costly and
exquisite stained glass windows.
Meanwhile q great crowd had gath
cred and looked on appalled,, while
the magnificent Structure slowly
crumbled before the relentless progress
OF the flames, faithful chprchmen
mourning as 1t became apparent that
their religious refuge was doomed TO
destruction. Protestant neighbors
mourned with them in the loss to the
city Of 30 costly and magnificent
church edi6ce. The fire progressed
from the front to the back, the roof
falling with lis advance. In interior
furnishing the paint and Varnish sup
piled fuel aud the ceiling beams and
pews Kissed and beckoned to each
other as the progress Of the CONF gra-
ton showed that little II anything
more than the movable fixtures
would bs saved. In the rear of the
church Bishop Phelan and number
OF friends, VINO were early on the
ground, were busily engaged in
saving the gold and silver vessels OF
the altar service. The majority Of
them, with the chalice and many Of the
vestments, were gotten out, the workers
being urged on by the cracking OF
beams, the falling OF timbers and the
near approach OF the Are on the floor.
Even then few efforts were made to
again reach the altar, In an attempt
TO cave some OF the many ornaments
which had made IL one OF the most
beautiful and costly in this State, but
in vain. The fire absolutely refused
to be governed by the fremen, who
now were delivering theif streams Of
water flom every available point, in
Guiding the roof of Simpsons stable,
on an adjoining property. Steadily
and without apparent diminution of
its force 1t progressed toward the rear,
and the constant flow of water rose in
clouds Of steam. One squad of fire.
men with stream made their way in
side the small apartment at the rear,
and from that vantage ground tried 10
save the altar. Although from the
first the fiercest fire had been at, the
front of the church, the tower, having
but little inflammable material in its
makeup, wigs almost uniniured. The
ediice is of stone, and cost when
ready for it's interior furnish
ings 1925, 900. The cost Of the
finishings and furnishings, added
to the cost OF the build ng
almost $4,000. The frescoipg was the
finest, as indeed was every particle OF
q furniture. On the walls we've four.
teen oil paintings descriptive OF the
life Of the SAVIOR, which were i'm
ported for the church. The organ,
which was one OF the best In the two
cities, cost $1,000, and the altar, with
it's fuTDishinM about $1,000. The
stained glass windows were ell me-
In The altar were number
of valuable relics from Rome, and
also the archives OF the church, which
were saved. When the fire burned its
circuit nothing but the walls were
stan ding, and over S130,000 had gone
up in the smoke. The strong easterly
wind which prevail ed at the time car
ried the embers and sparks in cloud
to the surrouu ding buildings, but the
dampness Of the roofs saved them.
The fire was caused by the registers
becoming overheated from natural
gas, which YVES only put in the build
log last Saturday.
The loss will not exceed the frst es-
innate OF $4,000. The spire il uuin-
jured and the stone walls, which were
lined with brick and cemented, are
intact. The building was insured for
1000 in Il stern companies, but the |
list ID not now obtainable. The church |
will be rebuilt at once.