Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-14

Dr. Ialmage was SHAKING hands Win
members Of his congregation, FIRE burst
out between the pipes Of the organ, and
within ten minutes the big tabernacle
was doomed TO total destruction. Ad-
Joining the church was the Hotel Re-
gent, eight stories in height, with a
frontage OF ninety feet on Clinton Ave
nue., and extending back 200 feet
10 Waverly Avenue. The FIRE
spread from the tabernacle TO
this hotel, and then 20 the
dwelling houses on Greene avenue and
Wsverly avenue opposite the church.
The wind carried the blazing cinders in
such quantities In q southeasterly direc-
tion that dwelling houses on Washing
ton avenue, two squares away, and also
the Summerfeld Methodist Church were
set on FIRE by them, but the greatest
loss on any one Of these structures did
not exceed SIS, 900. The total loss, how
ever reaches over 81, 900, 600.
MRS. TALMAGE's STORY.
Mrs. Talmage tells the following story
Of the FIRE: The Doctor was still In the
pulpit shaking hands with the people
Of whom there were nearly hundred,
probably, left. His back was TO the or
gan. 1 was standing up at the end Of
pew. / looked up toward the
ceiling and saw tongue OF
fame burst out between the pipes OF
the organ. / at once called aloud:
Doctor, the church is on fire." He
turned and told all the people TO retire,
while he went into the study 20 get a
few things be had there. / waited for
him at the door. The flames spread
very rapidly, so quickly that some OF
the trustees were overcome and had TO
be helped out"
DE. rALMAGE TELLS OF THE FIRE.
The doctor held quite a reception at
his home during the afternoon. DR..
Talmage made graphic statement OF
the incidents connected with the fire,
de said: "a. the close Of the church
service I vas standing at the foot OF
the pulpit shaking hands with hun
dreds of people from all lands.
I was about through and walked
10 the centre OF the church, where my
wife stood when she called my atten-
tion to fire springing out from the top
OF the organ. | saw at once that II was
under full headway and my first impulse
was TO look around and see how many
people were then ia the house, and then
10 my great Joy there was only
about twenty people, and twenty-five
doors 10 get through, l felt that they
would all escape.
Il then went into nv study back Of
the platform, passing under the blazing
piping, TO get my hat and coat and then
] said 20 myself, Is it manly TO run?
No SO / walked up and down the
study room, rejoicing that the ire had
occurred when there was
NO CHANCE OF A FATALITY.
While in this sort of brown study a
New York friend rushed into the room
aud taking my arm said: Get out Of
this room immed iately, or you'll not get
out at all" We went out into the
church, one half of the organ was down
and the FIRE had leaDed TO the roof. l
saw that nothing could save the build
ing aud l came out"
The tears were coursing down the
Doctors cheek, aud his voice broke as
he told the story, but in an instant he
spoke with his old vigor.
There is mercy on top OF the disas-
ter. II IT had occurred one half hour
before 10 wOuld have been the calamity
OF the century. The church and all the
rooms adjoining were packed with peo-
Ule. and the panic would have left the
whole scene one OF ihdescribable horror.
Or, If il had occurred two or three
hours later, when the Sunday school
was in session, there would have been a
thousand households bereit in Brook
lvn. Little children, helpless children;
what would they have done? God
cared for them, and even in this calam-
ity
HIS MERCY Is INFINITE.
personally, feel not the least item
Of disheartment, nor less faith in God.
nor less of hope for the future.
This long procession of disasters is
eXplicable-liEe what occurs some
times in family, four or five dying
from scarlet iever-it is inexplicable, we
must simply accept the fact.
"Our church has been burned three
times. and il has always occurred on a
Sunday. 1t is a mystery that l adjourn
till the next world shall let us know.
1T is the Lord. let Him do what
seemsth good in His sight"
When asked for his own opinion as
70 the cause OF the FIRE, be said en-
phatically: Electric lights; electricity
caused the fire, as IL did that OF the last
tabernacle on Schemerhorn street."
Continuing, DR.. Talmsge said: The
fire may change my entire programme
and | do not think l will start on my
trip around the world as intended to-
morrow night. 1, however, do not know
what / shall do"
The fire spread with lightning-like
rapldty, and before sunset had destroy
property TO the value Of near s., 600, 900.
1t was nearly twenty minutes before
THE FIREMEN ARRIVED
on the scene, and then half hundred
streams Of water were turned upon the
blazing pile. But the church was DOOM
ed aud every Tort was devoted TO saw
ing the adjoining property. In three
hours only the bare walls OF one OF the
cOstliest structures OF Brooklyn remain
ed standing. Long ere this, however,
il BECAME evident that the Hotel Regent
was also doomed.
Before long both sides OF Green a We
nue. was in a blaze. So. too. were the
houses oD Waverly avenue, but as fast
as they broke out the people andAthe