New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-11
EXPLOSION IN A CATHEDRAL.
NOTHING LEFT BUT WALLS AND TOWER.
ST. PAUTs IN BUFFALO DESTROYED BY NATuw
AL GAs-THE METERS BURSTING IN VARlooo


NOIHlNG LEFT bUl WALLIS AMI AC"
ST. pAUBs IN BUFFALO DESTROYED By NATUE
AL GAS-THE METERS BURSTING IN VAisiooo
PARTS OF THE CITY.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUxK.I -.
Buffalo, May 10.-St. Pauls Cathedral, the nan~
soonest church In the city, is In ruins. Only 'no
walls and the tower are left Janitor Treman wa
dusting furniture in the basement of tho church ~
9:I5 q m, when terrific explosion occurred ana
the air about him at once filed With SMOKE anu
fame. He was not much hurt and had Just Time 20
get out before tho interior of the building was IN
flames. The fremen were soon at hand, but ht'i'
could be saved, and in twu Lours tho cathedral wa
a mass of ruins. 1t occupied the block bounded oy
Church, Pearl, Erie and Main sts., and as the waiis
were Of stone the surrounding property was In hto
danger
The frcmen had hardly got to work at the nre
before series of alarms began. The natural gas
meters In Maln-st., between Chippewa and TupPer-
sts several in Northst, six blocks away, ana many
Others scattered tie West Side, exploded ana
number OF fires were started Of which, however,
proved serious. The excitement was grcst. MANY
families whose houses were supplied with natursi sss
left their homes and were afraid TO return The cause
Of this series of disasters too great pressure on
the natural gas mains. St. Paups furnace was sup
piled with natural gas Near by was a lighted let.
The pressure of gas burst the meter, the filed
with gas and the explosion followed. The trouble
was the elsewhere. The officials OF the Naturai
Gas Fuel Company say that an obstruction In Inc
pipes must have nterfered with the working OF tho
automatic regulators. Superintendent DAILY said
81 have been in the gas business all my life, and
never knew anything like this. We do not know ye'
what the Probably some Of the valves
which close automatically forced open, allowing
extra pressure on the mains. 1t case of extra
pressure, anyway
Shortly before the fire broke out at st. Pauls thorc
was an exciting at DR.. Perce's hotel, in Main
ST. An explosion occurred there and panic followed
among the inmates. Just the fremen got there
another explosion occurred badly bruising and burn
Ing five OF them. The flames were extingulshed after
a loss Of 81 ,000
The loss by the fires and explosions will be about
100000 ST. Paul's Cathedral Will be rebuilt at once
The insurance the church is only $4,000. Tho
pastor the Rev. Dr. John W. Brown, had Just accepted
a call to St. Thomas's Church. in Now-York. All tho
natural gas mains In the city have been shut or but
1t expected that thcy will bo in working order BY to-
morrow. Following is a complete list Of the insurance
on the Cathedral Fireman's, Newark, $4,000; Spring
field, $1,000; British America $500; Scottish,
$4,000; New Hampshire S5, 600 Providence, Washing
on SO 500 Citizens, Pittsburg d 900 Lion. Of Eng
land. $4,000 Hartford, $500; Williamsburg City,
$4,000; State OF Pennsylvania, s2,o00 Guardian, OF
England, So 600. Total building, S5o,000 on sae
ton memorial windows, Dutehcss, 81, 900; organs.
Lion, of England, 81, 600; Buffalo German, $1,000; {;
Phoenix, Sc, 500; on church furniture, Williamsburg
City, 81 900. At IL :45 a. the flames were practi-
cay extlnguishod. The walls Of tho church were un
injured but the structure was destroyed.
1t was reported this afternoon that the Westminster
Presbyterian Church on Delawareave had narrowly
escaped being destroyed in about the way was
ST. Paurs. The sexton vert to light the natural gas
and 1t burst out with such loud explosion and large
ame that 1t burst the meter, but the sexton turned
1t of at the meter in time to prevent any damage.
Another report that the gas was burning In the
furnace and suddenly burst and wrecked the meter
and would have set the church on fire but for the
presence of the sexton, who turned 1t Of The natural
gas meters generally throughout the city appear to
have given out The supply is now entirely shut off,
TIM cato valves at, RaIfeus points hsylng all beer
closed and there being no other source OF supply.