Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-11-18
!" MooDps oHURcH BURNED.
She largest Auditorium in Chicago
Tho Fire PrObAhHw Uncaudsa,..,

u AppEeDhF hhCemNhAfYe
CHICAGO, Nov. 12.-At 2.55 O'Clock
TINS morning fire was discovered in the
basement OF the Chicago Avenue Church.
better known as "hoody's Church, T" al
the corner of Chicago aud La Salle
avenues, An alarm was given, but before
the engines could respond the flames had
burst through tho first floor into the leo-
ture room. Here their fury was checked
for while as was Supposed, but con.
cealed by the dense smoke the fire Ind
orept up to the second floor and soon atO
It's way into the auditorium on the second
fioor. Fed here by the multitude of cushions
and other intlanmable furnishings, the
name spread with surprising rapidity and
redoubled ferceness. A second alarm
was hastily tdrned in. The burning
cushions and other material gave forth
almost impenetrable volumes of dense,
black smoke, which for time repulsed
all efforts Of the firemen to enter the
church. The stained glass windows which
had begun to crack from the heat we're
dashed in with axes and in O few
minutes half dozen streams
We're playing on the fire which
olung with obstinate persistence to
the furniture and other light combustibles
IN the room. After nearly three-guarters
of an hour Of hard work the flames were
gotten under control and the fire confined
t. the church building. The smoke was
SILL too dense to permit an Investigation
OF the extent of the damages, but il ia
believed that the interior is entirely
Quilted. The stained glass windows were
almost entirely destroyed. The walls, it
is thought, are about all of the structure
that has been preserved SO rs 10 be fit for
future use. The pastor, the Rev. Mr..
dosa, estimated the loss at $4,000, and
said that the church and furniture were
covered by insurance to that extent.
Incendiarism is believed by some to be
the cause Of the fire. It is said that at
l.3O o'clock this morning a policeman
saw sorle one in the interior of the build
ing Mr.. d. B. Turner, the janitor, sold
all the members of his family had retired
at that hour. The Rev. Mr.. Goss could
not conceive of motive any one might
have, and admitted that he could not
understand the origin of the flames in
the part of the building where they
were discovered, unless the FIRE was set.
He said there might have been an over
heated pipe from oDeof the seven furnaces
which are located in the building
The church society was organized by
the Rev. Dwight L, Moody. the evangelist,
in 1869, and occupied small building on
Chicago avenue near Franklin street,
until the great fire in 1871 Immediately
after that time Mr.. Moody built the
present church structure, soliciting and
receiving contributions from all pal Is of
the globe until 300, 900 were raised. Mr..
Moody continued as the pastor until he
began his general evangelistic work. The
present pastor Of the church is the Rev.
0. E. Goss. 1t has grown from Il small
beginning TO be one of the largest
churches in point of membership III the
city. The Sunday-school rolls include
the names of over 1,600 children.
The auditorium of the church was the
largest in Chicago, though perhaps the
plainest in design. Since the building
was first erected, alterations and improve
ments have heGn made TO the extent of
$25, 900. The walls of the church are
uninjured and the total loes will not ex-
eeed SIS, 900.