Connecticut western news., 1890-01-15
4 NARROW ESCAPE.
THE PILGRIM CHURCH sCoRcHED.

THE PILGRIM CHURCH sCoRCHED.
 The Pilgrim church in this village narrowly escaped destruction by fire about o'clock last Sunday evening. At the close of the evening service the sexton, Mir August Larson, began extin- gushing the lamps and had nearly com pleted his task, having only one more lamp to extinguish in the west chande- Her, when suddenly, and without warn ing. the chandelier fell to the floor with crash. Instantly the flames shot upward. All except the sexton had left the auditorium, but Rev D. c. Stone, Mrs George Adam, John s Reed and several others were conversing in the porch. Hearing the crash they rushed into the church and attempted to sub due the flames. Mrs Adam threw her shawl over the flames. partially quench- ing them, while Mir Stone and 5 Reed whipped out the fire in another spot but the oil hadspread over so much surface that the fire extended in spite of thelr efforts. The evergreen decorations caught fire and the flames followed the festoons to the ceiling. The smoke and heat by this time became unbearable, compelling the little party to beat g nasty retreat. They closed the doors, thus preventing tine flames from enter ing the lecture room and other parts of the church. In the excitement of the moment, the sexton was shut in with the flames and smoke anu was nearly suffocated before he was missed and rescued from his perilous position. The alarm of fire was given and quickly re- sponded to by Ethe neighbors and such of the recent audience as were within hearing distance A few pails of water checked the flames but they again burst forth with renewed vigor. Then came almost forlorn struggle with the flames but by most desperate efforts they were extinguished.
 The interior of the church presents a disheartening appearance. Besides the ruined chandelier, about 20 seats are consumed and every seat in the church blistered, cracked, warped and damaged. The carpets are ruined. The ceiling and walls blistered, scorched and smoked. The total damage is variously estimated from 5000 to $500 and may even exceed the highest estimate The loss is covered by insurance through the A. T. < M. Roraback agency in this village. No amount of labor or paint can restore the former beautiful finish of the interior of the edifice. That can only be done by using entirely new material. Instinctivly the first thought is one of regret but the second or sober thought is one of thankfulness that the accident did not occur during service when some might have been injured by the fall of the chandelier or trampled to death in the panic which would doubt less have followed.
 Another illustration of the Christian Unity existing in this town has been furnished by this baptism of fire. The Methodists promptly invited the Pill grims to hold union meetings with them. They also rendered the use of their church if the Pilgrims preferred to hold separate services while the Pilgrim church is being repaired. The Pilgrims have responded promptly and have gladly accepted the invitation. Rev D. 0. Stone will preach in the M B. church next Sunday morning and Rev T. H. Baragwanath will preach in the evening. The Pilgrim Sunday school will be held in the basement of the M. E. church immediately after the close of the morning service. The young people of both churches will hold union young peoples meeting at 6.15 p. m. The regular Thursday evening meeting and teachers meeting of the Pilgrim church will be held tomorrow evening at J. l.. Bragg's. At that meeting it will be decided where to hold similar meetings while the church is being repaired.