Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-09
BURNED TO THE GROUND.

Total Destruction of the Slate Lick Presby'
terian Church Yesterday Morning-Nat.
uraI Gas Blamed for the Loss of a Neal
Place of Worship.
When the members of the presbyterian
congregation at Slate Lick. near freeport,
went to church yesterday morning they
found their place of worship in ashes. Ii
had been burned early in the morning,
natural gas being the cause. Inc cnurcn
was large brick building about 10 oy W lee'
in dimensions, with basement ana man auuf
torium. 1t is now a total wreck, ana Ine l9ss
will be from SIS, 900 to $4,000. Slate LICK Is 'he
center of healthy farming community apou'
midway between Freeport and klttanninS; ,
gas line which supplies the tord Clty GilSs
Works with fuel from the Butler county fields
runs through the place, and the cnulcn "as
supplied with gas through the generosity u
Captain j. b. Ford,
About 4:SO o'clock yesterday morning DR.; j.
c. Mckee, who lives opposite the churcI; us
covered flames issuing from the windows o! inc
building and gave the alarm. In snort tln,e n {
nearly the entire population of the Vliiage was
on the scene but nothing could be done to save
the property. In two hours the Dulioihg WAS
destroyed.
The loss is a severe blow to the community, as
there was only 81, 600 insurance on the properly.
The church was in excellent repair. having
been remodeled and refurniShed ABOUT three
years ago at considerable expense, anu Was q
comparatively new structure. 1t Stoou oh an
elevation overlooking,L Slate LICE. On
May 6, 1870 the church was blown down ny
wind storm, the loss at that time being neaVy.
A member of the congregation yesterday
told the following concerning the hre: III was
caused by natural gas. 1t was customary lor
the janitor to light the fire Saturday nlghts,
and turn the gas low over night. 1t is supposed
when the glass works were shut down the
pressure. which is at all times very heavy, pc
came so strong as to ignite the building. NO
blame is attached to the ianitor, however. as he
has always taken great care to avoid accidents.
When Captain Ford made the proposition TO
give our congregation free fuel, some OF our
members were fearful that the church would
be destroyed, but the majority OF the people
favored the scheme on account of its conven-
ience."
Future plans, of course. have not been deter
mined upon. The congregation includes lew
OF the oldest and most prominent citizens OF
Armstrong county. notably William Rea, John
Graham and James Brown. IL is thought work
VIII soon be commenced to rebuild.
The last sermon delivered III the church BY
the pastor, Rev. ]. p. Calhoun. was to the
American Mechanics, of Slate Lick, on Sun
day, March l. Yesterday morning the regular
church services had to be dispensed with. but
those of last night were held in the public
schoolhouse. The United Presbyterian con-
gregation has offered the use of its chu rch un
til new building erected.
The Slate Lick Presbyterian congregation Is
the oldest in the county, having been organ
lied about 1898. 1t has had a number of prom
Aughev. now of Charlton, Ia: Rev. ]. Z. Nc
Cracken, now of Markle, Pa. and Rev. b. +,
Boyle brother of Rev. I. n. Boyle, of Brad
dock, now located in the West