Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-17
rAlmAaE,s oHUHon DESTROYED.
The brooklyn Tabernacle Bnrncd
Within an Hour On sunday NORM

wttbtu AN hour Oh suhudf MoHH~
ing.
EEw YoRK, Oct. l3--TAe famous
Brooklyn Tabernacle, OF which the Rev.
L. Dewitt Talmage is pastor, was today,
! for the second time in its history, totally
DESTROYED by FIRE. At 2 10 O'Clock this
morning q policeman discovered the fire,
and il was evident that the editice was
doomed. II burned like finder box,
and the iremen, despairing OF saving II,
directed their efforts to the adjoining
| property. Many Of the occupants Of the
! neighboring dwellings were already awake
and the police proceeded to arose those
who we're sleeping in the frame structures
adjoining the church.
The residents OF the neighborhood,
| awakened either by the roar Of the flames
or by the pounding of the police upon
1 their doors, became frightened and rushed
| ont halt dressed or in their night clothes,
and the police had great difficulty in as
! snring them that they were in no danger.
! Fortunately there was no loss OF life or
! limb. The police carried out one old lady
/ OF so, and placed her in u house st safe
1 distance.
While the fremen and police worked
to save adjoining property the doomed
/ church building was being rapidly con-
4 sumed, and in an hours tins only totter-
! ing walls remained. Dr. Talmage was on
the scene soon after the first alarm, and
| did not ,save until he had seen tine editice
| which hbi been his pride laid in ashes.
/ Then he returned sorrowfully home. All
dey to day crowds visited the spot and
gszed upon the ruins, Nearly all the
members OF the tabernacle congregation
received their first intimation of the fire
upon rounding the adjacent corners end
being confronted by the blacsened walls
and smouldering ruins. No church SER
vices were held to-day, but notice upon
tree announced -unday school in the
hall of the Young Mems Christian Asso.
citation, where about 600 teachers and
scholars assembled in the afternoon.
superintendent Eels told them that the
present was no time to cry or moan. A
calamity rad betallen the church, and il
was the daty Of all to work together until
new home was built.
TIE origin OF the fire is unknown. The
sexton denies the rumor that fires had
been lighted yesterday in the furnaces,
and thus eIplodes the defective hus
theory. Edson's men were in the build
ing until $50 p. m. yesterday arranging
new electric plant. and it is thought
that during the thunder.shower which
prevailed during the night lightning had
been carried INFO the building by the
wires they introduced and which rsI
around the gallery about on level will
where the flames were arst seen.
The loss on the church building, in
GLIDING the organ, which was one of the
finest in the country, is Sl50,000. 1t II
said to be covered by insurance in I
number of companies.
The building wps Of 14th century
Gothic architecture. and was dedicated
on February 1913, 1874. 1t was Of brick
with atone trimmings, with frontage o
100 feet and depth OF 1l3 feet, Il
which had recently been added ali ex
tension 60 feet wide ind ~ deep. TIL
seating capacity was $500, and 1t wa
always fully taxed at the Sunday services
The previous structure, which was bull
of corrugated iron, was destroyed by FIR
on Sunday morning, December 22d
1874 which was also of unexplaine,
origin,