Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-05-17

flames. The fire in the church ragged flu
rouslv, however, and although the servants
were kept at work at the hose on all the
floors, the hotel again caught fire. This
time it was 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. The fire got tiercer and
fiercer each moment and at last the men had
to forsake their posts and seek safety in the
street The tiremen could do nothing in re-
gard to the hotel other than keep the flames
from spreading to the adjoining houses
Their lines Of hose were short and could not
reach the top Of the building Neither did
they have a water tower Both buildings
burned fercely until nearly four o clock,
when they were under control.
All Of the firemen were kept busy putting
out small fires which occurred in the houses
near by and within four blocks of the
church and hotel The Summerfeld Metho-
dist church also caught fire from flying
sparks. Before the firemen could extin
gush the flames they did about $4,000
damage The people living in the Hotel
Regent lost all of their effects.
No one in the hotel was injured. although
three women were taken down the fire
One of the women rescued was Mrs. Mary
A. LOOMS of Savannah, Ga. Five houses
caught fire on Greene avenue sustaining
damage all the way from $4,000 to $40 ,O0O
While the firemen were at work on the
houses on Greene avenue flames we're seen
coming from the roofs of four houses ON
Washington avenue. They were extinguish-
ed after having damaged each house to the
extent of $500. Two houses and a stable
on Waverly avenue We're also damaged to
the extent of $4,000 to 5000 each,
The Tabernacle and Hotel Regent were
completely Quilted Nothing remains but
the walls. At five o'clock portions OF
the rear wall Of the Tabernacle fell.
Total Loss Over Million.
The total loss is estimated at over
million dollars. The loss on Hotel
Regent, including the building paint
ings and the guests household goods,
will amount to about $500, 600.
The loss on the Tabernacle is about $500
900, and the adjoining buildings are repor-
ted to be damaged to the extent of 800 600.
1t is said the hotel was insured for $500, 600.
1t is supposed the fire was caused from
spark from one of the electric wires behind
the organ in the Tabernacle.
Henry A. Moore, judge of the Court Of
Sessions, a permanent guest at the hotel,
lost all his books and valuable papers.
There were 100 guests and 90 servants in
the hotel when the fire was discovered, and
that there were no fatalities is remarkable.
1t is said that two firemen were injured dur
ing the fire.
The Tabernacle was dedicated on April
&c, 1891. II was brick structure with
brown stone trimmings and of Romanesque
architecture. 1t was 100 by l2O feet and
had seating capacity of $500 The school
room was large enough to hold 1900 per
sons. The building was put up at a cost of
800 600, including an organ which cost
$50, 900.
The first fire which affected DR.. Talmage
occurred in December, 1872, at 1870 O'Clock
in the morning. The church was then sit
uated at Nevins aud Schermerhorn streets
Another church was built on the same site
and ON October g. 1880, was burned down
at , O'Clock in the morning. The congrega-
ton then built the edfce burned to-day
On Wednesday last DR.. Talmage celebrated
his 25th anniversary as pastor of the Taber-
nacle.
Perhaps the loss which will grieve DR..
Talmage the most is that of the memorial
stones which he brought from the East,
and which were set in the wall at the right
of the organ. They were four in number
The top block was from Mount Calvary and
bore the word Sacrifice, - The stone be
low, from Mount Sinai bore on it, ''The
Law The bottom stone was from Mars
Hill, and bore the inscription, Gospel. -
The fourth stone was unmarked
DIR. Talmage Interviewed.
Rev. DR.. Talmage was seen this after
noon at his residence on South Oxford
street. He was surrounded by large gath
ering of friends who had called to express
their sympathy.
''Thank God" said the minister, God s
mercy overtowers the disaster 1t was all
so sudden that cannot explain it. Had the
fire occurred a half hour sooner there would
have been terrible loss of life The church
was crowded at the mornings service. Fully
5000 people were there. stampede would
have occurred and many would have been
crushed TO death or sutfocated If the fire
had occurred an hour later, when the Sab
! bath school would DC Ia session. there would
| likely Le hundreds OF bereayed holmes in
| Brooklyn. Personally I'm not q bit dis
Lsart-ned / never have found fault with
| God ID
DR. TalmAgs said the rire ~ss uhdoubtsd
~ caused 10y electricity. II believed il