Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-15
INSIDE THE CHURCH.
Stories by DIR. and Mrs. Taimage OF How
the Fire Started.

Stories by DIR. and Mrs. Talmage Of How
the Fire Started.
Mrs. Talmage tells the following story
Of the fire:
..The Doctor was still near the pulpit
shaking hands with the people. OF whom
there were nearly 4 hundred, probably,
left. His back was to the organ. / was
standing up at the end Of the pew talk
ing with Mr.. Martin, Of Chicago, VINO
wanted TO see the Doctor with messages
from loved friends In that city.
Il looked up toward the ceiling and
saw a tongue OF flame burst out between
the pipes of the organ. l at once called
aloud: Doctor the church Is on fire.
He turned and told the people to re-
tire while he went into the study 10 get
a few things / waited for him at the
door. The flames spread very rapidly, so
quickly, in fact that some of the trustees
were overcome and had 10 be helped out
The Doctor joined me soon after ana We
went down TO Lafayette avenue to
friends. where we remained until We
could hear that friends In the Regent
were out OF danger and what prospect
there was OF saving any Of the church"
The Doctor himself held quite recep-
ton at his home at south oxford street
during the afternoon, so great was the
stream Of sympathizers who called, among
them Rev. Teunis $. Hamlin, Of Washing
ton, ID. c., who occupied the pulpit OF
the First Presbyterian church this morn
ing He had preached the dedication SER
mon of the building some three years
ago, and when he grasped the hand OF Dr..
Talmage he said:
FEW PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING.
Doctor, you have my deepest sympa-
thy. But you should not be so fiery"
The two men clasped hands for a mo-
ment, and then DR. Talmage replied:
at is a blessing that only the building
Is gone. The work will continue, and We
can all thank God that no life or limb is
injured"
DIR. Talmage gave a graphic statement
of the incidents connected with the fire.
He said:
AT the close of the church service l
was standing at the foot of the pulpit
shaking hands with hundreds OF people
from all lands l was about through and
walked toward the centre Of the church.
where my wife stood, when she called
my attention to fire springing from the
top of the organ.
IL saw at once that II was under full
Roadway, and my first impulse was to
look around and see how many people
were then in the house. and TO my great
Joy there were only about twenty people,
and with twenty-five doors to get
through. felt that they would all escape
IL then went into my study back Of the
platform, passing under the blazing piping
to get my hat and coat, and then said
to myself, Is 1t manly to run? No!
So / walked up and down the study
room rejoicing that the fire had occurred
when there was no chance OF fatality.
while In this sort of brown study a
New York friend rushed into the room.
and, taking my arm. said: Get out OF
this room Immediately. or you'll not get
out at air We went out into the church.
One half OF the organ was down, and
the fire had leaped to the roof I saw
that nothing could save the building. and
I came out"
DOCTOR TALMAGE IN TEARS.
The tears were coursing down the Doc
tors cheek and his voice broke as he told
the story, but In an instant he spoke with
his old vigor:
"There IL mercy on top Of this disaster.
II Il had occurred one half hour before
II would have been the calamity Of the
century. The church and all the rooms
adjoining were packed with people. and
| the panic would have left the whole
scene one OF Understandable horror.
"Or IL II had occurred two or three
hours later. when the Sunday school wa
In session, there would have been a
thousand households bereft In Brooklyn
Little children-helpless children-whai
would they have done? God cared fol
them; and even In this calamity Hin
mercy Is INFINITE.
Personally. ] feel not the least dis