Evening journal., 1894-05-14

young man, who turued out to be George
Mccoy Of the dry goods firm of Victor y
Achaelis New York and who was alss
one Of the Regents guests, suddenly dis.
covered that he had left valuable papers
and jewelry in his room. which was on the
seventh floor. In a moment he had made
his way 20 the fire escape and ascended IL
with the ease and skill OF practiced fire
man. The flames and smoke were already
belching forth in volumes from the fooi
above, and it was feared that the daring
man would pay with his life for his teiner
ity. The crowd held its breath in sus.
pense. All at once a mighty cheer arose,
and the young man was seen to climb
coolly out of the window with a satchel in
his hand and with great deliberation
made the descent in safety.
Firemen Frustrated.
The heat and the showers Of sparks and
embers had made the situation an ex
tremely trying one for the men of the fire
department, and one man, George Gun
ningham of Company 10. had TO be carried
from his post when the heat was the most
intense, but he afterward returned.
John Gafiney of Engine "a had an epilep
tic ilt from heat prostration and was re
UlONku ~ AAAH llNlliUlAlIlt nQNnlIAA. Tie
is not considered to be in danger
After couple Of hours the efforts Of the
firemen were directed to the front Of the
burning hotel, and at half past 3 o'clock
there was prospect of saving at least a
few of the rooms on the lower floors from
total destruction.
At this time the fire lines had been ex-
tended in every direction, and there were
thousands Of people upon every street, al
though back out of danger. Fortunately
they were in the distance, for after the
flames had licked away the supports be
meath, nearly all the fire escapes on the
north wall, with a large portion OF the
wall itself. fell into the mass of debris
with a roar like a distant cannonade. This
was quickly followed by the fall of a sec.
tion about 80 feet in height on the Waver.
ly avenue side of the hotel, and from that
time up TO s p. m. huge masses OF the
wall continued TO fall.
Two more firemen. Edward Sheridan
and John Kelly of Truck 10, were pros
trated by heat.
''Talmage's Tabernacle burned down
is an old story in Brooklyn. Three time.
it has been told to the world, and just al
present it is a question II there viii evei
be another Talmage's Tabernacle in Brook
lyn, though pledges of assistance huve al
ready been made.
This edifice, the fourth in which the doc
tor has preached in Brooklyn, was situate,
on the northerly side OF Greene avenue anS
extended from Clinton avenue on the ives
to Waverly avenue, POO feet away. Ad
joining the church was the Hotel Regent
eight stories in height, with frontage o
80 feet on Clinton avenue and extending
back 200 feet to Waverly avenue.
Mrs. Taimages Story.
Mrs Talmage tells the following story o
the fire: 'The doctor was still on the pull
pit shaking hands with the people, O
whom there were nearly 100 probably left
/ His back was to the organ. ] was stand
ing up at the end Of the pew talking wit
| Mr. Martin Of Chicago, who wanted to Sc
the doctor with messages from love-
| friends in that city. / looked up towar
the ceiling and saw a tongue Of flame burs
out between the pipes Of the organ.
81 at once called aloud, Doctor, tn
church is on fire.
"He turned and told all the people to II
tire, while he went into the study to get
few things. waited for him at the dool
The flames spread very rapidly-so quicl
| ly that some Of the trustees were overcom
and had to be helped out.
"The doctor joined me soon after, and W
went down Lafayette avenue to friend
where we remained until we could hea
that friends in the Regent were out OF daI
ger and what prospect there was of savin
any Of the church"
The doctor himself held quite a receI
ton at his home, South Oxford stree
during the afternoon, 80 great was th