Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-18
THE CHURCH OF THE COVENANT.
The Damage Not So Great as at First
Thought-EePairs to lie Made at Once

The Damage Not So Great as at FRS:
Thousht-Eepairs to lie Made at Once.
Z Inc scene OF the f-e in Tie chapel of the
Church Of the Covenant. an account of witch
was given in Saturdays SrAE. was visited yes
terda- by large number OF people who were
anxious 10 ascertain. the extent of tie damage
doae- Every one was gratifed 20 learn that
while the havoc wrought by fire, water and
smoke had been great, il bad yeI stopped far
short of the total rUiI. OF the beautiful S:rUc-
ture. The lecture room suffered the most. as
the fire originated II the furnace room in the
basement directly beneath II, and then found
its way up between the wall and the plastering
TO the roof. The latter is pretty badly wrecked.
The large stained-Slass triple window in the
south end of the room Is. OF course. destroyed.
a small pipe organ is a ruin. but the piano es-
capped with but slight injuries. The furniture
OF the room and OF the adjoining class
rooms is, Of course. a total loss. Fortunately
the pastors study in the second story was not
invaded by the flames and the library was not
injured.
Yesterday the water was pumped out of the
basement and an examination showed that the
furnace was probably not injured. Active steps
will be taken at once to repair the damage. and
II Is expected that the congregation viii be able
10 occupy the main auditorium next SUNDAY.
Fortunately the. fire did not reach the main
part of the edlfice.
Yesterday upon invitation of Rev. DR.. Stakely
the pastor of the First Baptist Church. the con-
grega:Ion Of tie Church of the Covenant wor-
shipped with them. Rev. DIR. HaIn!in delivering
the sermon In the morning and Rev. DR.. Stakeiy
IN the evening.
MEETING OF THE TRUSTEES.
The trustees of the Church Of the Covenant
held meeting today at the residence of Mr.
Gardiner c. Hubbard to consider plans for the
restoration of the chapel building. After con-
ference they went over to the church and in
spected the damage done. IL was decided to
defer any action until the appraisers appointed
by the insurance companies nave made report
The church property is insured by ten COM
panies. none of them local. to the amount of
$4,000, divided as follows: Church and chapel
s6l. 500; furniture, 1900. and organs and mo-
tor. IS. 600 The companies carving risks on
the property are follows: sun Fire Office
London. $4,000: London Assurance SO COO.
Farragut. 5000; Phenix. BROOKLYN $1,000:
Mechanics of PHILADELPHIA S25Ol. Long
Island % New York, S2.5OG. State of Penusvl-
wanna. $500; Fire Association of Philatlelph:
5000; Spring Garden. 5000; Liverpool and
London and Globe. $4,000.
ESTIMATE OF The loss
It is estimated by Mr.. James f. Fitch. the
treasurer Of the church. that the loss amounts
to $4,000 or $4,000. but the exact amount
will not be known until the appraisers have
made their report 1t is expected that the
heating apparatus can be pat IL order at once
and that the Usual weekly prayer meeting can
be held IN the main auditorium on Thursday
evening Services will be held there next
Sabbath usual The origin of the fire re-
mains mystery. and the OILY conjecture
offered IL that the flames may have started
from engineer : waste or from the explosion of
the gas bags tina: supplied tie gas motor At
any rate II IS definitely known that the fire
originated IN the engine room. The residence
adjoining the church, occupied By 3irs. Isabella
Johnston, was IN considerable danger from
&c names. Fortunately. however no further
damage was done than tie flooding OF the
basement with wa.cr.