Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-05-14
HATED TO FIRE. Rev. Dr. Talmage's New Taber.
 nacle Burned. HIS THIRD THUS DESTROYED. The Last of Big Congregation Were
 Just Leaving.

This Latest Disaster Occurred While the
 Eminent Divine and His Wife Were In
 the Building, the Pastor Saying Goodby
 to Friends Before Starting on Trip
 Around the world-Dr. TaImage In Dan.
 Ger-Crossed Electric Wires the Proba-
 bIe Cause-Trustees Decide to Build An
 Family Hotel Burned Also-Loss About
 se. .Ooo, 900.
 BROOKLYN, May 4-The fire that swept away the Talmage Tabernacle and the Hotel Regent and left its mark on a score of handsome residences was the most de. structive, rapid and furious that has wis. ited this city for years
 It started shortly after noon on Sunday, when fortunately all but 100 of the 1000 morning worshipers at the Tabernacle had departed and at time when the guests at the big hotel were somewhat prepared for such an emergency. It spread with light ninglike rapidity and before sunset had destroyed property to the value of nearly q, ,OOO, 900.
 Dr. Talmage believes the fire was caused by the crossing of electric wires behind the organ pipes, for it was from the organ pipes that the flames were first seen shoot ing out by Mrs. Talmage.
 Meanwhile ex-Supervisor John H. Reed, who was rehearsing with the choir in the Summerfield NJ. F. church at Washington and Greene avenues, two blocks in the rear of the Tabernacle, had discovered that the building was on fire and sent in an alarm to fire headquarters. This was quickly followed by second, third and fourth alarm, which brought out all the apparatus in the western district of the city.
 It was nearly 20 minutes before the fire men arrived on the scene, and then half a hundred streams of water were turned upon the blazing pile. But the church was doomed, and every effort was devoted to saving adjoining property. In three hours only the bare walls of one of the costliest structures of Brooklyn remained standing.
 Spectacular Fire.
 Long ere this, however it became evi. dent that the Hotel Regent was also doomed. The fire started there in the sec ond story, but was speedily eXtinguished. This proved to be only temporary relief, for little later flames were discovered in an upper story blowing tiercely up the air shaft.
 tremendous crowd gathered, hockln9 from all sections of the city. They surged and swayed around the burning buildings, and the police reserves had to exert them. selves to the utmost to drive the ever gath, ering hundreds back to place of safety.
 The inflammable nature of the material and the great open amphitheater of the Tabernacle gave such a draft that the fire was forced into the air in columns of glow ing flames that made a fearful picture of destruction. Flakes of burning wood and redhot cinders were shot up as from vol cano, and carried by strong breeze they swept through the air in every direction.
 The heat, too, blistered the fronts of the houses on the opposite sides of the streets, and before long both sides of Greene ave. nue were in blaze. So, too, were the houses on Waverly avenue, but as fast as they broke out the people and the firemen extinguished them.
 Then the walls of the Tabernacle began to crumb ble and fall, and the great rush of flames which followed started the houses burning again, and at the same time flames were seen bursting forth from the roof of the Summerfeld NJ. E. church, 6 short distance away. The streets were cleared as we'll as possible by the police, but hun. dreds of people remained and clung within the courtyards. too eager to witness the sight to obey orders.