The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-22
FREMONT TEMPLE Quilted.
BOSTON AGAIN VISITED BY A VERY
DISASTROUS FIRE.
The Totol Loss Will Reach Perhaps $685.
ooO-The Parker House and Park Hotel
Narrowly Escape Observation-Disclosures In
jury to Two PersOns-Other Fires.

BosToN, March 19.-Fire broke out about
temple. on Tremont-st. opposite the Ire
mont house, and before noon the entire
structure was Quilted. entailing a loss
roughly estimated at S375,0O0. Fireman
Patrick Dunn OF engine 26 had leg
broken, and another man unknown is re-
ported to have been seriously injured.
The FIRE in the temple was discovered
by one of the guests OF the fourth floor of
the Parker house adjoining. lie had first
been aroused by the smoke and going to
his window was startled by seeing flames
darling from the window fronting him.
He thought it was the hotel, and smashing
the glass on one of the signal boxes on his
floor sent in the first alarm. The hotel
guests proceeded TO remove themselves
and their Q ects, and no mishaps are re-
ported The temple was a fiery furnace
twenty minutes after the first alarm.
The blaze poured from all the upper
windows. threatening the Burnham hui d.
ing and w. 5. Buffers building adjoining
on TremOnt-st., placing the Parker house
and Park hotel in danger IN the rear,
alarming the firemen lest il should get
down among the rookerIes on Province
court The fremen ran lines of hose
through the Parker house and Park hotel
and both buildings were damaged by
water
AIS $50 o'clock the fire was well under
control. the ,000 occupants at the Parker
house and Park hotel were returning to
their rooms aud the insurance brigade
were busy covering goods. guarding as
much as possbl- from the water that
DAMAGED more or less all the adjoining
buildings and contents.
The loss on the temple lie variousv esti-
mated at from 1925. 600 TO $4,000. while
the Parker house is believed TO have been
damaged by water TO the extent OF so,
OUO. Besides the Union Temple church
there were a number OF Offices in the
building, including the Ame lean baptist
mission. Home mi-sion society. the bust
ness and editorial departments OF the
Uaichman and the Baptia Social Union,
Office of the Homan's Voice. L0yaI H0mal
of America. Under the temple was the
store occupied by Federnon q Sons,
opticians, and Mrs. ;. A. McDOnne ,
gloves. This store was badly flooded and
the stock much damaged. Nos. 80 to 90
TremOnt-st Is the building occupied by
Wi liam :. But err dry goods. etc. This
building was not damaged by fire, though
some OF the stock was damaged by water.
The Burnha'n building was occupied on
the ground floor by ). A. Beckards, gents
furnishing goods, and at 76, by Lubin,
tTusses. Both damaged by water.
fremont temple. which was originally
q theater, has been one of the most con-
BpicuOus pub ic buildings in Boston in the
current generation. Since 1868 il has
been celebrated all over the country as
the largest baptist church in New En-
gland, ii not IN America. and the head
quarters OF that denomination. The pur-
pose OF taking il for religious purposes was
stated IN the original appeal for purchase
money to found free church in Boston,
where AL persons, whether rich or DOOR,
without distinction OF color or condition,
might worship"
On Dec. Z, after remodeling. the house
was dedicated. but on the night of March
81, 1852, the temple was burned and John
Hall, citizen, was killed and George
Estes, a fireman OF engine Z, Charlestown.
had his neck broken and died shortly
afterward The loss was Sl76,365 iusur-
ance So. pa. A new building on tho oil
site was completed, however, in Decem-
Der, 1853. at a cost of Sl230o0. On Aug.
IA. 1879. the bu lding was destroyed again
by fire. but was promptly rebuilt and re-
opened Oct. II, 1881, at cost of more
than $3.50, 600 The auditorium was one
OF the largest in the country, being IL
feet In length, y in width and 60 feet in
height. The seating capacity was equal
TO an audience OF 1000 people. Beneath
this great hall was The Meinoian, with o
seating capacity of 900.