The Penn's Grove record., 1889-10-19
Brooklyn Tabernacle Burned
REV. T. DEWITT TALMAGE'S CHURCH
DESTROYED YESTERDAY MORNING.

SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIRED sBf
L1aHTNINa-Loss $15O.0O0.
NEW York, Oct. 13.-The famous
Brooklyn Tabernacle, OF which Rev.
T. Dewitt Talmages Is Pastor, was to-
day, for the second time ia its history,
totally destroyed by fire. At 2.15
O'Clock this morning . policeman dis
covered flames issuing from the small
wi dows over the main entrance,
and, rushing to the ne irest signal
box, sent in an alarm. The fire.
men found the hre had as
sumed large proportions, and adii-
tional alarms, calling all available
apparatus. we're ut once sent in. 1t
became evident that the edince was
doomed. It burned like a finder box
and the firemen, despairiug Of savin I
II. directed their efforts to the sur
rounding property. Many Of the Occu-
pants OF the neighboring dwellings
were already awake, and the police
proceeded TO arouse those who were
sleeping. The ~three-story frame struc
turp, adjoining tins church on the sast,
was the first to take fire, and No. 1856, d
similar structure, followed. No. 357
was also damaged.
On the west side Of the church the
flames extended to two brick dwell.
inps. and on the opposite side Of ScheT-
merhOrn street q row Of three-story
brick dwellings. Numbered 1888 to 348,
suffered from the intense heat. Win
dow glass was broken and woodwork
scorched.
The residents of the n~eighborhood,
awakened by the roar Of the flames or
by the pounding of the police upon
their doors, became frightened and
rushed out half dressed or In their
night clothes. and the police had great
diflculty in assuring them that they
we're in no danger. Fortunately, there
was no less of life or limb. The police
carried out one old lady of eighty years
from No. 337 Schermerhorn street, and
placed her In . house at q safe distance.
All the other inmates were able to care
for themselves.
But while the hremen and police
worked for the salvation Of the property
and persons the doomed church build
ing was being rapidly consumed, and
IN an hours time only t0ttering walls
remained. DR.. Talmage was on the
scene soon after the first alarm, and
did not leave until he had seen the edi.
fice which had been his pride laid In
ashes. Then he returned s0rr0wfully
home. All day to-day crowds visited
the spot and gazed upon the ruins.
Nearly all the members of the Tab
ernAcle congregation received their
first information Of the fire upon
rounding the aiacent corner. and being
confronted by the blackened walls and
smouldering ruins. No church sci vices
WINS held to-day, but . notice upon q
tree announced that Sunday School
would be held In the hall of the Young
Mems Christian Association. where
about 600 teachers aud scholars as
semblsd In the afternoon. Superinten.
dent Eels told them that the present
was NO time to cry or mourn. A
calamity had befallen the church, and
1t wa the duty of all to work to-
gether until q new home was built.
The origin Of the FIRE is unknown.
The sexton denies the rumOr that fires
had been lighted yesterday in the fur
uacea, and thus expIodes the defective
hue theory. Edis0n's men were In the
building until $50 p. M. yesterday ar.
ran ging q new electric plant, and 1t ia
thought that during the thunder
shower which prevailed during the
night lightning had been carried into
the building by the wires they intro.
duced, and which ran around the gal
lery about on Q level with where the
flames were first seen.