Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-05-14
TALMAGES CHURCH BURNED
III. Talmags Gives a Graphic Ac-
count Of tho Disaster
THE Doctor Himself Thinks tue Fire
was Caused by Electricity -Othor
nuiidings scorohed

BRoORLYN, May i8.-Jusl after ser.
vices NJ noon today, and while Dr.
ralmAge was shaking hands with
members Of bis congregation, FIRE
burst out between the pipes OF tho
organ And within ten minutes the big
tabernacle was doomed to total dcs.
tfuutiOn,
Adjoining the church was the Hotel
Regent, eight stories la height, with
n frontage Of uiucty feet ON Clifloh
avenue and extending back 200 itCt 20
Wavtfly avenue. Tao IRE spread
from tne tabernacle 10 this hotel aud
then 10 tho dwelling hou'es ON Green
anu Oliver avenues, opposite tue tab
eTnaClr, the Wind carrying tue blazing
tindBis Ia such quantities iu south
,nstcrly objection that dwelling houses
N WHshii gt0n avenue, two squares
away, and also the SummUfhtlu
AluthUdis, church were set on fire ny
them, but the greatest loss on am one
OF the structures did not exceed $4,000.
The total loss, however, reaches over
81 200, 00n.
Mrs. ralmage tells the following
story Of the iife:
"rhe doctor was stlll In tho pulpit
shaking hand with tho people, Of
whom there was nearly a hundred,
| probably, loft. His back was 90 the
| organ. | was standing up ut the end
/ OF tue pew, talking with hr. Martin,
| u Chicago, VINO wanted 10 sce tno doc.
| TOT with messages from loved friends
In that city. | looked towards the cell
lug anu cav n tongue OF fire burst out
between the pipes Of the organ. | At
once called out, Doctor, the church IL
on fire.'
Gle turned and told all the people 20
retire, while he went into the study
10 get n few thiugs. I waited for him
at tho door. The flames spread very
rapidly, 10 quickly that eome Of the
trustees were overcome anu had 10 bo
helped out. Tue doctor Joined me soon
alter anu We went down 10 lafayette
avenue 10 q friend, where We remained
until We could hear that friends IN the
Regent were out ~ danger and what
the prospeot was OF saving any Of the
church."
The doctor held quite reception At
hia homo during the afternoon. Wheu
asked for his opinion ~ 10 ths cause OF
the fire, he said emphaliually; "Eleo.
tric lights; electricity caused the tife,
nh II ulu IN tue last thbpfnaolc on gu M
mofhOfn street"
The hfe spread with lightning rapid.
ity aud before sunset had destroyed
property worth nearly s., UOO,00O.
The Hotel Regent was also doomed.
The DE started here on this second
story, but was speedily extinguishud.
TINS proved u DO ouly a temporary
relief, Tor little later flames were dis.
covered IN an upper story, blowing up
llefctiy through the air shail.
Within hall an hour the magnificent
hotel was seen 10 have Joinei tue tab-
ttnaclo on the tOHi 10 destruction.
The furniture In the holel, which
cost from 100000 n $4,000, Is entire.
ly destroyed, the total loss on the
building ana its contents footing up IN
the neightOrhoo1 Of ss5J,OOO, Tn,
loss fails upon the Brooklyn Hotel com
pauy.
Ihu loss ON the Hotel Regent Il
placed NJ ss5O,OOO by the manager, but
, this will 10 largely increased by tn'
individual losses ~ tue gursts, Toe Ice
on the church is not Tar abort OIL 5000,
; OOO.