Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-11
TERRIFIC FORCE.
A NUMBER OF EXPLOSIONS OF NATU-
RAJ GAS.
The Pride and Glory OF Buifalo in
Ruins-A Fearful scsne-
Incidents.
[Br telerrnph o the pi.pateh. }

BUFFALO, n. Y, NAV 10 This morning
was decidedly a sensational and disastrous
one In Buffalo. A number OF explosions OF
natural gas occurred almost simultaneously,
caused, 10 Is supposed, by overpressnre, and
caused widespread excitement, besides de-
stroylng the finest church In Buffalo aud do
ing other damage. 81. PauPs Cathedral, the
pride and glory OF Buffalo, Is in ruins.
The entire interior Il burned out and the
roof gone, but the strong stone walls and
the graceful spire remain. At 0:20 O'clock
the flames were seen bursting out az the fine
stained.glass windows OF the church ~ the
junction % Main and Erie streets, and in
simultaneously most OF the interior was s mass
OF flames. An explosion had occurred In
The basement, the furnace being supplied
with natural gas, sud the force was so great
az 10 tear OF and blow ont heavy doors
on the Erie and Pearl-street sides. Peo-
pie ran to see what was the matter and
n few entered the vestibule OF the church
only 70 be driven out by the flames. An
alarm was Al once turned in, TO which the
fire department quickly responded. but
when they arrived nothing could be done 10
save the interior Of the stately cdince. a. tho
flames were bursting from every window.
Streams were quickly brought to bear, With
but little effect, and the fire In few mo-
nents had reached the hoayiy-tlmbered
roof. A great crowd gathered and gazed
awestricken at the spectacle, while
EXPLANATIONS OF sorrow were heard
on every hand. tn. fire burned
with especial fury on the Ere-street
side, when IL attacked the fine Hook 4 Hast
ing's organ in the cholr.loit. In halt an
bour from the time Of the discovery the inte-
riOr OF the noble church was completely de-
stroyed, bnt Il was evident that the massive
walls and tower would stand. W. II.
Walker. one OF the warden-, and several
other officers OF the church were early on the
scene, and Rev. DR.. Brown, the rector, who
retlres next month to assume the rectorship
OF the ST. Thomas, OF New York, soon
arrived. Robert WilkersOn, the SEX
ton, says that he was In the build
ing two or three times this morning,
and the last time previous to the fire
was twenty minutes before it broke out.
lie bad been in the Guild house and was re-
turning 10 the church, and had almost
rcached the sidewalk next 10 the church
when he heard a roaring noise and saw the
large doors blown from the hinges out 10
the stone stairway that led NJ 10 them. I'm
mediately there came vomiting and belchiug
out through the doorways huge volumes OF
smoke aud flame, and IN less time than II
takes to tell the whole inside Of the building
was burning. when asked as to the origin
OF the fire ne said he was satisfied that il was
natural gus that bad caused It.
A. +. 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; but the blowing
open OF the doors seem TO have caused sufli-
cient draft and vent to give the elements full
play, aud almost at once the flames burst
through the doors and windows. and a minute
or two later the handsome windows were
cracking and bullying with the heat. The
church was valued at about S2j0.0O0. IN
surauce on building, Sjj,000 about $1,000
on memorial windows, and about $500 on
the organ.
The walls OF the church are uninured, bnt
The interior is completely destroyed. In'u-
rance. $50, 600 on the building; 1000 on the
furniture; on memorial windows, $4,000; on
organ, s., 500.