River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-03-23
m RUINS.
Tire Destroys Boston's Famous fremont
Temple-A Loss of $1,000 O0 - Church
Societies suffer Heavy Damages.

Aho Otstfots ITtmouN
Temple-A Loss OF &5OO.oOe - Church
Societies suffer Heavy Damages.
BosToS, March 20. -Smoldering ruins
mark the site of the historic fremont
temple, and one wall stands as a me-
mento to Boston's narrow escape frors-
eonhagration that at one tin-c babe
fair to be more serious than any in the
his DRY of the city. Coupled with this
was close call for over 1000 sleeping
guests of the Parker house adjacent
The property loss win reach $500, 600,
only one-third insurance being carried.
II was 5:10 o'clock when the fire was
discovered in the temple auditorium,
breaking mp through from the boiler
room. and before the department ar
rived, ? = after of less than four min
utes the entire interior was a roaring
furnace. Never did a fire gain such
Roadway. The ALARM vas given from
box 129, the private box of IKE Parker
house
Three alarms were sounded in quick
succession, but when the firemen ar
rived the entire upper part of the
building was in flames and the Parker
house on the north and w. ). Butler &
Co. 5 big dry-goods establishment on
the south side were in imminent
danger. 1t looked as though nothing
could prevent the spread of the fire in
both directions. and greater danger
was threatened in the rear, where ten
acres are covered with ramshaclIle
structures. finder boxes, with the eX-
ception of ClarlIs tavern and the st.
Nicholas and the Park hotel, all filled
with guests.
Five streams from standpipes from
the Parker house and engines poured
water into the building, and after two
hours the iiremen had conquered and
the flames were kept within the walls
of the temple. though some damage
was done to the adjacent buildings.
fremont temple was of stone and
bricis and had frontage of "a feet on
fremont street, running back $50 feet
toward Chapman place. II was owned
by the Union Baptist Temple society
and portions of it were leased. 1t cost
S375, 600. The insurance was sos, 600
on building, 81. 900 ON the great organ
and So, 600 on the fixtures. The society's
loss will be about $500, 900, including
$50, 600 value of the Gilbert collection
of rare music and paintings
The damage to the Parker house, j.
Reed Whipple, proprietor. will reach
SO. 900, mostly water loss 20 carpets
and decorations, fully covered by in
surance.
William s. Butler & Co S loss will be
heavy and it is impossible more than
merely to approximate it at $50, 600 TIE
firm employs 800 clerks and carried a
heavy stock, which is badly damaged
by smoke and water.
The Waterman, the Independent,
Women's League, Loyal Women of
American Liberty, WomaIis Voice,
American Baptist Missionary union,
the Kingdom, the Womar's Baptist
Foreign Missionary society the Amer
lean Baptist Home Missionary society,
the Baptist State Mission all had Of
fees in the temple and lose their
books and furnishings.
John Frederhen & Co, opticians;
Mrs. NJ. A. Macdonald, gloves; Sum
ner, pharmacy: Sam A. Becfard. gen
tlemen's furnishings, and otto Lubin,
trusses, suffer loss by smoke and water
The heaviest loss among these tenants
of the Durham building Ia wing OF the
Parker house, and the front of the
Temple building was sustained by Mrs
Mac Donald, who carried a $50, 900 stock
of gloves.
Patrick Dunn, driver for the district
chief, had his right leg broken by
wall falling, and Andrew AcLane, of
Ladder 30. 5, was seriously injured by
being struck by falling AK.
There was excellent Judgment shown
| by the help Of the hotel in allaying a
! panic, and in recognition of their work
proprietor Whipple gave $1,000 to be
divided betw cen his cooks, bell boys
and porters. and 81, 900 to be divided
between the firelnen. and policemen.
The fire is supposed TO have orig
mated from ovcrheated steam pipes or
| from an electric wire in the organ loft
Public services were conducted in
| the temple and the Maionaon or lower
/ hall every Sabbath and both halls
were rented for lecture and dramatic
uses. Many big political conventions
| and rallies have been held in the great
! hail. The temple will be rebuilt
The loss to insurance companies viii
be about S240 600. The lines are well
| 0lSkEltukctls tHkl no bttt NbAApub1 VIII
sustain a greater loss than $4,000. All
the firms in the vicinity who suffer
! losses By smoke and water are we'll COW
cred by insurance; iadecd the only real
! losers by the fire are the fremont temple
people, whose official title is the Union
| Temple Baptist church.
! fremont temple which was originally
| thcatcr. has been one OF the most conspicuous
! public buildings Of Boston in the current gen
Grafton. Since 1868 il has been celebrated all
| over the country as the largest Baptist church
/ in New England il not In America, and the
! headquarters OF that denomination The pur
/ pose OF taking IL for religious uses was
stated in the original appeal for purchase
/ money 10 found free church in Boston. where
! .'al persons, whether rich or poor, without
distinction Of color or condition, might
| worship" The night OF March 81, 1882.
the temple was burned, and John HaE,
citizen, was killed and George Estes,
/ fireman Of engine No, :, Charlestown, had his
| hack broken and died SHORTLY afterward The
/ loss was slsS365; insurance, 1921 a new
/ building on the old site was completed,
/ however, in December 1888 81 cost OF Sl25,-
| coo August Il. 1879 the building was destroyed
! again hv fire hut was promptly rebuilt and re-
| opened October H. 1850 at n cost OF more than
| 000 The auditorium WAS one Of the largest
ia the country, being ~ feet in length, - feet
| ia width and G6 feet in height The seating
! capacity was equal 20 an audience Of 200 peo-
| nc Bcneath thiS great han was the MeiOnaOn,