The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-05-14


torate of the Tabernacle-TrusteesA An
uouncc That They Will Rebuild at
Oncc-TalnaGe VIII Remain.
NEW YORK, May A. Special Tele-
gam to THE GLOBE. The beautiful |
new tabernacle at the corner of Clinton !
aqd Greene avenues, Brooklyn, was de- |
s.royed by fire yesterday afternoon
Flames broke out in the church edifice |
fI7t after those who had attended the |
morning service had left the building.
Nos only was the church destroyed, but
the near by hotel and a number of build |
ings were also greatly damaged. Had
the fire broken out one hour earlier
while the building was filled with wor-
shippers, it is almost certain that dread
ruI panic and loss of life would have re-
-utcl.
This is the third time that tEe Talmage
Tabernacle has been destroyed by fire
Each fire occurred on Sunday.
Everything in the Tabernacle was de
s'roycd With The hailding Perhaps the
loss hich viii grevc Dr. Talmage most
is that Of the memorial stones which he
brought from the East, aud which were
set in he wall at the right of The organ
cncascd in stereO.relef work. They were
four in number. The top block was
trom Mount Calvary, and bore the word
"Sacrilice." The stone below from
Mount Sinai, bearing on it "The Law"
The bottom stone is from Mars Hill and
bears the inscription "Gospel." The
front stone was unmarked
By the time the fircmen arrived, the
flames were bursting from all the church
windows. Two extra alarms and finally
Il special call were sent in, bringing all
the engines in Brooklyn and Williams.
burg to the fire. The flames spread with
lightning rapidity and the sparks flew in
all directions. The greatest excitement
prevailed.
The interior of the church was seeth-
ing roaring mass of flames inside of thirty
minutes after the fire was discovered and
by | o'clock the roof and handsome
steeple had fallen in.
Great jets of flames shot across the
open space between the Tabernacle and
the Hotel Regent, which is next to the
church, on Clinton avenue, and in a short
space Of time that EOrtiOn of the hotel
nearest the church was burning fiercely.
The numerous small fires continued
Until o'clock, by which time the firemen
had gotten the flames in the Tabernacle
and hotel under control.
The Tabernacle and Hotel Regent were
completely Quilted. Nothing remains but
the walls. At o'clock portions of the
rear walls of the Tabernacle fell. The
total loss is estimated at a little over
million dollars. The loss on the Hotel
Regent, including the building, paintings,
and the guests household goods will
amount to about 100000. The loss Oh
the Tabernacle is about $780, 900, and the
adjoining buildings are reported to be
damaged to the extent of $4,000. 1t is
said that the hotel was insured for
100000.
-Four tiremen were overcome by heat.
1t is supposed the fire was caused by
spark from one of the electric light wires
behind the organ in the Tabernacle
During the progress of the fire an i'm
mcnse crowd gathered in the nearby
streets and watched the flames Express
stons of regret of the misfortune which
Ta1oo hoe rl
on all sides. The reverend gentleman
stood with the crowd near the church
and witnessed the destruction of the
beautiful editice. His expression was
sorrowful one, aud he was moved to
tears. He was surrounded by a large
gathering of friends.
THANK God" said the minister.
Gods mercy Overtowers the disaster. 1t
was all so sudden that | cannot explain
1t. Fully 5000 people were there at wor-
ship in the morning"
The subject of DR.. Talmage's sermon
was "a cheerful church" The text was
Solomon s.song, chapter iv, l Behold
Thou art fair, my love-"
1t was only on Thursday and Friday
last that Rev. DR.. Talmage celebrated in
the Tabernacle the completion of the
twenty-tifth years of his pastorate.
Dr.. Talmage and the trustees were all
of the opinion that the fire was caused
by the electric wires in the organ.
DR.. Louis Klopsch, who three years
ago made the arrangement for his recep-
ton at that time, is to secure Madison
Square Garden on the return of Mr.. Tai