Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-10
RUFFALO.s GREAT lOsa.
The Fine Cashearal % 90. Paal Z
ssruvca bV Fire Causcd by Natural &c

The r,,e Cashear~l % 90. Paal De-
ssrUyca BY Fire Causcd by Nasuras GaA.
BUFFALO, n. Y, May lo.-This morning NasA
decidedly sensational and disastrous one In Buffalo
number OF explosions OF natural gas occurred,
almost simultaneously. due. it Is supposed 70 an
besides destroying the nnest church IN bunho
and doing other damsgs 81 fauLs Tns sstr, nre
interior Is burned out, and the roof is gone. put
the strong walls and the graceful spire remain.
OF the fine stained glass windows OF the church az
the junction OF Main and Erie streets ana instab-
taneousy most of the interior was mass VI
names
AN ExrLosIoS HAD oocrRRED
IN the basement the furnase being s2pplied with
natural gas and the force great 20 tear on
street sizes The people ran 20 see what the
matter, and a few entered the vestibule OF the
church. only TO be driven out by the flames An
alarm was at once turned in 70 which the fre de-
partlnent quickly responded, and when they ar
rived nothing could be done 20 the interior OF
ne staIeiy eolnce, as the flames were bursting
from every window. streams were quickly brought
10 bear with but little eject and the nre In n few
moments had reached the heavily -timoered root.
great crowd gathered and gazed awe-suicken at
the spectacle, while exclamations OF SORROW were
neard on every hand The fire burned with especial
Jury on the Erie street SIDE when IL attacked the
nne Hook & Hastings organ In the choir loft In
nan an hour from the time OF the discovery the
i1.e,io, 9l me noble church was completely de-
stroyed, Out IL was evident that the massive walls
ana tower would stand. W. II. welker, one OF tho
MaroenS and several other officers OF the church
were cary on the scene. and the Rev. Dr. Brawn,
rectof, VINO rvtires next month 20 assume the
rectorsnip on ST Thomas, New York, soon arrived
hooeI Mukeson, the sexton, says that he was IN
tne uuildlng Two OF three times this morning, and
the last time previous 20 the nre was twenty
minutes oeiore II broke out. He had been In the
gullu-house, and was returning 10 the church, and
had almost reached the sidewalk next the church
EWhen ne heard roaring noise and saw
TIE LARGE DOORS BLOWN FRoM THErR HINGES
Out on 10 the stone stairway that led up 20 them
Immediately there came a vomiting ana b-lching
out through the doorways OF huge volumes of
smoke and fame, and In less time than it takes %
tell The whole inside OF the building burning.
When asked as 10 the origin OF the nre he said he
was satisfied that II was natural gas that caused
| it. A. T. Perrin says he happened 90 be looking
| directly at the church. and was amazed
| at seeing the doors blown almost into the
| street. Up 10 this time Mr.. Perrin SAYS there
had been no smoke, but the blowing
open or the doors seemed 10 have caused suffcient
draft and vent 20 give the element Iull play and
almost at once the flames burst through the doors
and windows. and a minute or two later the hand
| some windows were cracking ana bulging with
heat. The church was valued at about $50, 900;
insurance on building s55, 900; about s. 900 on the
| memorial Windows and about 6, 800 on the organ
The meters In No. and 10 station houses were
| blown out, but no other special damage was done.
Small explosions also occurred In the residences Of
| Mrs Judge sheldon, on Main street, Harry Ham
| lin, Lawyer Perkins and Geo. j. Slcard on North
street, and Mr.. Goodyear, but no one has been re-
ported injured