Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-17

New York, May 13.-Disaster again
overlook DIR. Talmage and his congrega-
ton in Brooklyn to-day, this time in the
shape OF fire, which twice before has
visited them and resulted in the total
destruction Of their magnificent new
tabernacle, which cost $350,000, with
ali its contents. Besides the church the
Hotel Regent adjoining and its furnish
ings were burned, entailing loss of
$3.50, 900, and private houses on Greene,
Washington and Waverly avenues SUR
rounding the church and hotel were
damaged to the extent of 100000, maxi
ing total loss of S1,500,000.
DIR. Talmage had just preached his
farewell sermon prior to his departure
for summer tour in Australia when
the fire broke out He had pronounced
the benediction, dismissing the 1000
people in the congregation, which filed
cut while Organist Brown played upon
the great pipe organ behind the rostrum.
DETECTED THE oDoR OF SMOKE.
The preacher advanced as was his
custom to the chancel and was under
going an impromptu farewell reception
from two or three hundred members of
detected the odor of smoke. Charles
Dean, one Of their number, thought the
smell came from the Hotel Regent, but
now recalls that he saw spark fly from
one of the stops on the organ and be-
lieves the patent electrical stop is what
caused the fire.
Sexton Bay also noticed the odor of
smoke, and going down stairs TO the
electrical motor pit could find no trace
of fire. Immediately after, however,
he discovered flames in the pipes of the
organ, which were filled with reeds.
This was about 30 minutes after noon,
He gave an alarm at once, and small
panic ensued among those present. The
trustees were holding meeting in the
building, and 80 rapidly did the flames
ascend that they were driven out before
they could make any effort to extin-
guish it by showers of melting lead fall
ing from the stained glass windows,
FOURTEEN FIRE ENGINES RESPONDED.
In less than 20 minutes after the fire
started the roof of the Tabernacle fell
in. Then the sides began to tumble in
and within an hour only a portion of
the four walls remained. Fourteen en-
gines had responded, but their efforts
were useless except in saving the SUR
rounding buildings.
DIR. Talmage had narrow escape
from death. In hearing the alarm he
urged the people standing around him
TO seek place of safety. He walked
up the steps to the platform and crossed
over to his study where he procured his
coat and hat. He was about returning
the same way when thoughtof danger
occurred and he left by the rear door
A moment later and the burning organ
pipes fell across the platform.
The subject of DR.. Talmage's ser
mon this morning was: "a Cheer
full Church" The text was Sole
mons Song, ~, 3, ''Bohold Thou Ar
Fair, My Love" 1t was only on Thurs
day and Friday last that DIR. Talmag,
celebrated in the Tabernacle the com
pletion of the 25th yearof his pastorate
THREATENED 70 LEAVE THE rAsroRATl
The Tabernacle had debt of 5000,
900, and recently DIR. Talmage threat
ened to leave the pastorate. Abou
$4,000 was raised by popular subscrip
ton, and the preacher was persuaded Il
remain. The amount of the insuranc
ON the Tabernacle is not known.
1t is singular coincidence that bot
Of the preceding fires occurred on Sun
day. The flames quickly spread to tn
Hotel Regent adjoining the church ol
the north. Most of the guests were a
dinner at the time and before the
knew it volumes of smoke and fam
entered the dining room through th
windows. Many of the guests fled t
the street without returning to thei
rooms. Mrs. Loonlis of Savannah, Ga
was lying i'll with her young baby fey
IL n ~ bn5a
ant housekeeper, Miss Keene, were cal
ried safely from the burning building
and with the child removed in an an
bulance to the Homeopathic Hospita
The building was completely destroye
above the second story and is fully in
sured.
One of the unfortunate circumstance
attending the fire was the death of Firt
man j. IL. McGarry, who was standin
on Greene avenue, opposite the Table
nacle, when the centre of the front wa
fell, knocking him senseless. He die
on the way to the hospital. Sever
other firemen were injured about Il
hotel, but none seriously.
MAY BE THE TABERNAcLE's END.
"Talmage Tabernacle burned down
is an old story in Brooklyn. Thrt
times has it been told to the world, Al
just at present it is question if the
A will ever be another "Talmage Tahe
nacle" in Brooklyn, though pledges
i assistance have already been made sin
the structure was destroyed.
DR.. Talmage held quite reception
his home, No. 1 South Oxford sire,
during the afternoon, so great was Il
& stream of sympathizers who calle
among them Rev. Tennle S. Hamlin
n Washington, ID. c., who occupied t
n pulpit Of the First Presbyterian Chur
n this morning. He had preached the de-
cation sermon of the building then bur
\ ing, some three years ago, and when
III grasped the hand of DR.. Talmage
said: doctor, you have my deep
III sympathy. But you should not be
fiery"
DIR. TALMAGE NOT DISAPPOINTED.
The two men clasped hands for
moment and then DR.. Talmage reptile
Il ut is blessing that only the buildi
is gone; the work will continue, and
n can all thank God that no life or lilnl
injured. There is mercy on top of I
Il disaster. If it had occurred one-h
hour before il would have been I
calamity Of the century.
Personally | feel not the least dist
pointment, no less faith in God nor
n OF hope for the future This long proc