The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-11
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FLAMES RUIN A CHURCH.
AN EXPLOSION OF NATURAL GAS
STARTED THE FIRE.

The Doors OF tho Sanctuary Blown
From Their Hinges by the Force of
the Explosion - The Total Loss
$25o,Ooo AMI the Insurance Only
$4,000
BUFFALO, N. Y, May 10.-This MORN
ing was decidedly sensational and dis
astrous one in Buffalo. A number of ex.
plosions Of natural gas occurred almost
simultaneously; caused, 1t is supposed, by
over pressure-and caused widespread ex-
element, besides destroying the finest
church in Buffalo and doing other damage.
st. Paul's Cathedral, tho pride and glory
of Buffalo, is in ruins. The entire interior
is burned out and the roof gone, but the
strong stone walls and graceful spire re-
main.
FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE FLAMES.
At 9:20 o'clock flames were seen bursting
out Of the fine stained glass windows of tho
church. at the junction of Main and Erie
streets, and instantaneously most of the
interior was a mass of flames. The ex-
plosion had occurred in the basement. The
furnace was supplied with natural gas, and
the force was SO great as TO tear Off and
blow out the heavy doors on the Erie and
Pearl street sides. People ran TO SEQ
what was the matter and few entered the
vestibule Of the church only to be driven
out by the flames.
RALLY OF THE FIREFIGHTERs.
An alarm was at once turued in, to which
the fire department quickly responded, but
when they arrived nothing could be done
to save the interior of the stately edifice,
AZ flames were bursting from every win.
f,
bear, with but little effect, and the fire in a
few moments had reached the heavily tim
bered roof. A great crowd gathered and
gazed awe-stricken, at the spectacle while
exclamatons of sorrow were heard on
every hand. tx he fire burned with especial
fury ON the Erie street side, where It at
tackled the fine Hood & Hastings organ in
the choir loft.
QUICK WORK.
In half an hour from the time Of dis
covery the interior of the noble church was
completely destroyed, but it was evident
that the massive walls and tower would
stand. W. II. Walker. one of the wardens,
and several other officers of the church,
were early on the scene, and Rev. DIR.
Brown, tho rector, who retires next month
to assume the rectorship of st. Thomas
church at New York, soon arrived.
STORY OF THE SEXTON.
Robert WILKINSON, the sexton. says he
was in the building two or three times this
morning, and the last time previous to the
fire was twenty minutes before 10 broke
out. He had been in the guild house and
was returning to the church, and bad almost
reached the sidewalk next TO the church,
when he heard roaring noise and saw the
large doors blown from their hinges out on
10 the stone stairway that led up TO them.
Immediately there came rushing and belch-
ing through the doorways a huge volume
Of smoke and fame, and in less time than
il takes to tell il the whole inside of tho
building was burning. When asked as to
the origin of the fire. he said he was satisfied
that it was natural gas that had caused it.
CAME WITH RUSH.
A. 4. Perrin says he happened to be look
ing directly at the church, and was amazed
at seeing the doors blown almost into the
street. Up to this time, Mr. Perrin says,
there had been no smoke. The blowing
open of the doors seemed to have caused
sufficient draft and vent to give the ele-
mant full play, and almost at once flames
burst through the doors and windows, and
minute or two later the handsome
windows were cracking and bulging with
heat. Tho church was valued at about
$3.50, 900. The insurance on the building Is
$50, 900, $1,000 on the memorial windows,
about $4,000 on the organ and 81 900 on the
furniture.
SIX BRICK STORES BURNED.
CHARLESTON, s. c., May 10.-Fire at
Georgetown this morning burned six brick
stores with adjoining warehouses. The loss
is about $4,000.