Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-10-17
LIKE A FINDER BOX
Tho Firemen Work to Save Adjoinino
Property-Dr. Talmage Issues
an Appeal For . New
Temple.

- -
Talmage. ID. D.. is pastor. was yesterday
for the second time in its history to-
tally destroyed by fire.
At 2:I5 O'Clock in the morning police
man discovered flames issuing from the
small windows over the main entrance
and rushing to the nearest signal box sent
IN an Alarm The iremen found the fire
had assumed large proportions and addi-
tional alarms were sent In. 1t became
evident that the edifice was doomed to
destruction as it burned like a finder box
and the firemen despairing of saving it
directed their efforts toward saving adj
Joining property.
Many of the inmates of the neighboring
residences were already awake. The
three story frame structure. 1913 Schermer-
horn street. adjoining the church on the
east side, followed. On the west of the
church the flames extended to two brick
dwellings and on tie opposite side Of
SchermerhOrn street row of three stor-
brick dwellings, numbered 33S to S4S,
fered from intense heat, window glass .e-
ing broken and wood work scorched.
The residents of the neighborhood
awak ened either 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 difficulty
in assuring them that they were in no
danger. Fortunately there was no loss Of
life or limb. The police carried out one
lady eighty years of age from 337 Scher.
merhorn street and placed her in a house
at a safe distance. All the other inmates
were able to care for themselves.
While the fremen and police worked
for the salvation Of property the doomed
church building was rapidly being con-
suued, aud in an hours time only the
fnfferinO wQ1Io N ed M church
services were held yesterday, but q notice
at the corner of Third and Schermerhorn
streets announced Sunday school in the
hall of the Young Mems Christian Asso.
citation, where about 600 teachers and
scholars assembled in the afternoon.
The origin of the fire is unknown. The
loss on the church building including the
organ, which was enc of the finest in the
country, is $780, 900. 1t is said to be COW
cred by insurance in a number of compa-
MES. The building was of fourteenth
century Gothic architecture. It had a
seating capacity of g 800 and was always
fully taxed at the Sunday services.
The previous structure which was built
Of corrugated iron, was destroyed by fire
on Sunday morning, December 81, 1872
It was at first said the flames originated
in defective hue. the statement being
made that fire had been started in the fur
IdCo W uodt tuS
building for yesterday mornings SER
vices. The sexton. however, denies
there was any fire in the build
ing all day Saturday and it is now
thought that during a thunderstorm in
the night lightning charged the wires and
caused some of the woodwork of the in
terror to ignite.
At meeting of the trustees of the
church Fire Marshal Lewis. who was
caused by the electric light wires. The
trust recalled the fact that the iusur-
ance companies had settled their policies
Immediately in the case of the burning of
the Catholic Cathedral last spring and
expressed the hope that similar prompt
ness would be shown in this case The
insurance amounts to $129 $50 in Ameri-
can and English companies. The build
ing cost Sis. 900, the organ 500. 600, furni-
mentation $4,000 and carpets s., 600.
Dr. Talmage has Issued an address to
the public appealing for aid. He says the
cb urch has never confined its work to its
own locality. 1t has never been large
enough TO accommodate all who came and
continues: sit is now desired to build
some: ing worthy of interest and of the
cause of God. We want 500, 900. which
added to the insurance will tuild what is
needed. I make an appeal to all cur
friends throughout Christend nm, to all
demon nations. to all creeds and those of
no creed at all, to come to our assistance.
I ask all readers of my sermons the world
over, to contribute. What we do as a
church depends upon the immediate re-
spon SO to this call.''
DIR. Talmage adds that he will postpone
his trip to the Holy Land on account Of
the fire.
The trustees adopted resolutions to
erect a sufficiently commodious structure,
its size, locality and style to depend upon
the amount of contributions received.
Services will be hereafter in the Brook
lyn Academy of Music, though a letter
was received from DR.. Abbott offering
Plymouth Church for Sunday evening