Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-04
CHURCH ON FIRE.
Centenary Congregation Greatly ExciIeo
During Services.


Sunday morning about quarter TO ls
O'Clock just rs Rev. Mr. Lumpkin, VINO
was filing the pulpit Of the Centenary
Methodist church IN the absence OF tng
pastor, Rev. Dr.Judkins, who is i'll. fnished
the first morning lesson the congregation
was greatly alarmed by the announcement
that the building was on fire and that they
had better get out.
ALMOST APANIC.
A scene of great confusion ensued:.
Nearly every one made a rush for the tront
door, but were driven back by q dense
volume of smoke.
Messrs. O. S. Morton, Allen NJ Lyon, no;
F.. Richardson. and p T. Winston jumped
upon the seats and by dint Of great exerii
ton succeeded in making themselves hehrd
above the confusion. They informed the
panic-stricken people that they could
easily get out OF the building by using tne
staircase which runs from the rear OF the
pulpit. This advice was followed, ana III "a q
few minutes the congregation of about 1Vo
had retired IN safety.
ALARM SOUNDED.
Mr.. Joseph W. Thomas. who with his IL
tie daughter was tho first 10 get out OF the
church, ran TO the Ihird-Street engine
house, about two blocks of, and gave the
alarm. Box wGs sounded, and before All
the people were out OF the building two
steamers were az work and the same num-
bcr of streams were being thrown upon the
fire, which was speedily extinguished.
DAMAGE.
The location Of the FIRE was under tho
stcps 10 the east of the main entrance, tho
flames coming mp through the wainscoat-
inc. The steps were nearly consumed
and portions OF the wainscOatlng both IN
the Vestibule and main auditorium had 10
be torn up.
The worst damage is that done to the in
terror of tine church by the smoke.
The loss is supposed to be about S5D.
There is an insurance of Sli,0OJ on the
building in the Mutual Assurance Society
of Virginia.
OEIGIN.
The furnace in the basement had lately
been repaired. aud 1t is supposed that It
became Oyerheatc1 and SET fire TO the
woodwork under the yestibule.
Wllhe Johnson, small boy, was sitting
on the steps in the vestibuie aud remarked
10 the sexton, John ". White. who was
coming upstairs. Uncle John, ! believe
the church is on fire; don't you smell the
smoker" White went back down IN the
basement and found the furnace-rOom on
FIRE
one of the members Of the church, in the
mean time, InQ noticed lIIL luc builuli1
was unusually warm and bad sent mes
sage to the sexton 10y his little son.
A TnoUGHTFUL LADY.
Miss Mildred Cullen, daughter Of Dr.
Cullen, who lives inst opposite the church,
was one Of the first to notice the fire. She
ran across and told the sexton to throw
water on It.
GBACE-sTBEET CHURCH.
The services at the Grace-Street Presby-
terian church were naturally somewhat N
terfered with by the excitement caused by
the ringing Of the bells and the noise ot
the engines at work Rev. W. 4. Camp
bell wa, preaching. but so many people
were leaving the church he stopped and
told them not to leave; that the engines
were at work on Centenary and there was
no danger
The CONGREGATION afterwards became set
tied and tho sermon was resumed.
CENTENARY.
Centenary church is one of the oldest
churches in the city. having been built IN
1916. In 1873 il was almost entirely rebuilt
at a cost OF cZ2,5JO.