Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-10-24
BURNED TO THE GROUND
DIR. TALMAGE's CHURCH HEAP OF
RUINS.

The Great Edifice at brooklyn Comp eteI
Destroyed by Fire Second Time-It
Pastor POstpones His Trip TO tho HoI
Liant and Appeals for Help.
The Brooklyn tabernacle, Of uwhicl
I. Dewitt Talmage, ID. D., is pastor
has been, for the second time in 1t
history. totally destroyed by fire. Al
2;l0 O'Clock in the morning a police
man discovered flames issuing from one o
small window over the main entrance, and
rushing to the nearest signal-box, sent il
an alarm. The iremen found the fire had
assumed large proportions, and additional
alarms, calling all available apparatus
were at once sent in. It became event
that the edifice was doomed to destruction.
1t burned like tinder box, and the fire
man. despairing of saving IL, directed their
efforts to the adjoining property. Many
OF the occupants Of the neighboring dwell
ings were already awake and the police
proceeded to arouse those who were sleep
ing. The three-story frame structure at
S53 Shermerhorn street, addjoining the
church on 'he east side, was the first to
take fire, and 355, similar structure.
followed; 357 was also damaged.
On the west side of the church the
flames extended to two brick dwellings.
and on the opposite side of Schermerhorp
street row Of three-story brick dwellings,
3bS to 3iS, suffered from the intense heat
Window glass was 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 tbeiy.
doors, became frightened and rushed ont
half-dressed and in their night clothes.
and the police had great difficulty in as
suring them that they were In no danger.
Fortunately there was no loss of life or
limb. The police carried out one old lady
from 337 Schermerhorn street and placed
her in house at safe distance. All the
other inmates were able to care for them
selvos
But while the flremen and the police
worked for the salvation of PROPERTY and
people the doomed building was rapidly
being consumed and in an hours time only
tottering walls remained. DR.. Talmage
was on the scene soon after the first alarm
and did not leave until he had seen the
edflce which had been his pride laid in
ashes.
The origin OF the fire is unknown, but il
is thought that it may have been caused bv
lightning.
The loss on the church building. includ-
ing the organ, which was one of the finest
in the country, is $50, 600. 1t is saia to
be covered by insurance in a number of
companies. The building was of four
teenth century Gothic architecture and
was dedicated Feb. %, 1874. It was of
brlck, with stone trimmings, with
frontage of $50 feet and a depth of 113
feet to which had recently been added an
extension 90 feet wide and IL deep. The
seating capacity was $500 and it was
always fully taxed at the Sunday services.
The previons structure, which was built
OF corrugated iron, Voc destroys vd Ly mo
Sunday morning Dec. %, 1872. That fire
was also of unexplained origin.
DR.. Talmage has issued the following |
address:
To THE PEoPLE:-By sudden calamity |
we are without church The b uildine |
consecreated by so much that is dear to us |
Is In ashes. In behalf OF my stricken con- |
gregation make appeal for help, as our
church has never confined its work to this |
locality. Our church has never been
sufficient either in size or appointment for
the people who come. We want to build |
worthy of our city and worthy /
Of the cause OF God We want 500, OOU.
which, added to the insurance, will |
blild us what is needed. make appeal
10 all our friends through christendom, to
lll denominations, to all creeds aud
Hose of no creeds at all to come to our assist
ance. | ask all readers of my sermons
The world over to contribute as far as
heir means will allow. What we do as
! church depends upon the immediate re-
ponse made to this call. l was on the
we OF departure for a brief visit to the
Holy Land that / might be better pre-
pared for my work here, but that visit
must be posponed. cannot leave until
omething is done to decide our future.
Nay the God who has our destiny as in
lividuals and churches in his hand ap-
,ear for our deliverance Response to
his appeal to the people may be sent to
ne at Brooklyn, N. Y, and will with
ny own hands acknowledge the receipt
/