Bridgeton pioneer., 1889-02-14
NO. 2I33
AN EARLY MORNING FIRE.
MT. ZION A. VI. z. CHURCH
DESTROYED.
FIRE is Discovered about Halt
past Three and $1,000
Damages Done

About half-past 3 o'clock Saturday
morning, persons living on Bergen
street, in the Third ward, discovered
the Mt. Zion A. NJ E. Church on fire.
and moment or two later, Harry
Darrety was flying towards the Court
House, and arriving there, sounded
the alarm. The fire department i'm
mediately responded, and in twenty
minutes water was thrown upon the
building. The fire was burning bright
ly, and was confined for time in the
northwest corner. A tin roof on the
building prevented it's spreading and
blazing up to any degree, and made
easier work for the firemen. The hose
carriage first arrived, and the pipe at
tached to the plug ON Vine street, but
the stream would not reach the point.
and the flfemen were obliged to mount
ladders. A few minutes more and the
Silsby arrived, and when her powerful
streams were turned upon the church,
the flames soon gave way.
The fire originated from the chimney.
| Friday night service was held in the
church as usual. That morning the fire
was built, and it being fresh, the SCOT
was most li2ely set en- fire. Near the
ceiling the bricks of the chimney have
been eaten away by the gases, until
there is now a hole some six inches
square, and here is where the flames
first started The flames were kept
pretty much in that corner. but the
| fire, together with the water. has done
| SO much damage that the building is
practically valueless above the foun-
datlon. The organ was in the gallery
on the north end OF the church, but
this was lowered down and carried
safely out The pulpit furniture was
also saved, but a number OF books be-
longing the choir were burned. A
number of excited men tore ont most
CT the seats on the first floor, and they
were needlessly destroyed. The fire.
men we're at work about an hour. Tie
citizens of that locality are warm in
their praise OF the fire laddies as had
they not done heroic work, the entire
neighborhood would have been likely
| burned out.
The church this morning presented
q sorry appearance to the curious
crowd who beseiged the locality. The
roof is STAYED in, and the weather
boarding, all of which runs upright.
is burned around the top and thus
practically useless for repairing. The
interior is Quilted with water and the
plastering will all necessarily come off.
a prominent builder present. this
morning said that it would be less ex-
pense to rebuild from the foundation.
Ihe church was valued at $500 and is
all clear of debt. About two years ago
the insurance in the Cumberland
Mutual was allowed to run out, and
never renewed, and the loss will fall
heavily upon the members of the
church. The trustees of the church are
Edward I. Wright, jeremiah Tudas.
VIM. Winder, Ed. Winder, Issac Green,
and Ephraim Pierce. They were all
seen by reporter this morning, but
they had made no arrangements for
the future as yet. The pastor Rev. Y.
4emmens, was in Philadelphia, and
his opinion could not be learned. The
| church was built in 1866 and dedicated
April 18th of that year. The building
is as it was originally. The Church
will undoubtedly rebuild as early as
possible.