Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-14
AGAIN IN RUINS.
Ta|mage'sT Tabernacle at Brook
Iyn Destroyed by Fire.
Hotel Regent Also Gutted and Many
Residences Badly Damaged.
The Total Loss viii Reach Over 81 ,000, 900.
Fierce B.azs.

BROOKLYN, n. Y, May l6 The Taber-
nacle church at Green and Clinton avenues
of which Rev. T. Dewitt Tain ge is pastor,
was burned to lay. The fire wss discovered
shortly after IL, ju,t after the congrega-
ton was dismissed from the morning ser
vice.
Dr. Talmage was in the church shaking
hands with Leonard Moody, w. ii. Adams,
James Ferguson md their wives, when a
small boy rushed into the church and in
formed Sexton Day that he had seen smoke
coming out of the windows. After search
| fire was discovered back of the organ. DIR.
Talmage, Mr.. Day and Mr.. Moody started
| for the organ. hut before they could get
n ar it gust of flame burst from The top
of it. The gsntl, men made a hurried exit.
| In the mean'ime man outside hid sent
! in an a'arm of fire. Before DIR. Talmags
| and bis friends had reached the outer gate
| the whole interior of the edihce was in
flames. Ry the time the fremen arrived
flames were bursting from all the church
windows. A ppscial call was sent in, bring
ing all the engints in Brooklyn and Will
liamsburg to the fire. The flames spread
with almost the rapidity of lightning and
sparks flew in all directions. The greatest
excitement prevailed.
All the people in Hotel Regent, ad joining,
were just getting ready for dinner when the
fire WAS discovered. They fled from their
apart ments, leaving every thing behind them.
The flames shortly afterward spread to the
hotel All the hall boys and servants
formed a fire brigade. After a hard fight
they succeeded in extinguishiDg the flames,
but the botel again caught fire, this time on
the seventh floor, in the air shaft. The
men were unable to cope with it and pretty
soon the upper floors of the hotel were in
flames. At last the men had to fnrsake
their posts and seek safety the street.
The tiremen could do nothing in regard
to the hotel other than kee p ia. flames from
spreading TO the adjoining houses. Their
lines of hose we're short and could not
reach the top of the building. Neither did
they have a water tower. Both buildings
burned fiercely until nearly o'clock, when
the fire was under control. All the fire.
men we're kept busy putting out small fires
which occurred in the houses near by,
within four blocks of the church and hotel.
The Summerfiad M. f.. church caught
fire from flying SPARKS end was damaged
about S25.nU0. People living in Hotel Re-
gent lost all their effects. No one in the
hotel was il jured, though three women
were taken down the fire escapes from the
third, fifth snd sixth floors. Five houses
caught FIRE on Greene avenue, sustaining
damage oil the way from $4,000 to $l5 900.
While the firemen were ut work on the
house on Greene avenue, flames were seen
coming from the roofs of four houses on
Wa. .hington avenue. They were extin-
gui-hed after having damaged each house
$500. Two houses and a stable on Wa
verify avenue we're damaged to the extent
of $1,000 to $4,000 each. The Tabernacle
and Hotel Regent were completely gutted.
Nothing remains but the walls. At 3 por-
tions of the rear wall Of the Tabernac'e
fell.
The total loss is stimated at over 81 000,-
00). Loss on Hotel Regent, including the
building, paintings and guests household
z ,ods, Is about $500 600. The loss on the
tabernacle is about S400, 900, and adjoin-
ing buildings are reyorted damaged S50,-
900. 1t is said the hotel was insured tor
$500, 900.
Ii is supposed the fire was caused by
spark from an electric light wire behind the
gan in the Tabernacle. Henry A. Moore,
judge of court ressions, permanent CUES.
at toe hotel, lost all bis books and valuable
papers. There w, re 100 gue,t, and 90 ser
wants in the hotel when the fire was dis
covered. 1t is ssii two firemen were in
jured during the fire.
The Tabernacle was dedicated April &c,
1891. II was brick, With brown stone trim
mir IS, and of Romanesque architecture,
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