Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-05-14

l wall itself. fell into the mass of debris with a roar like distant cannonade. This was quickly followed by the fall of a sec tion about 30 feet in height on the Waver- | ly avenue side of the hotel, and from that l time up to D. m. huge masses of the l 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 times it has been told to the world, and just at | present it is a question if there will ever be another Talmage's Tabernacle in Brook lyn, though pledges of assistance have al- ready been made.
 This edifice, the fourth in which the doc tor has preached in Brooklyn, was situated 1 on the northerly side of Greene avenue and l extended from Clinton avenue on the west | to Waverly avenue, 200 feet away. Ad- l joining the church was the Hotel Regent, eight stories in height, with frontage of 90 feet on Clinton avenue and extending | back 200 feet to Wayerly avenue. Mrs. TaImage's Story. Mrs. Talmage tells the following story of the fire: "The doctor was still on the pull l pit shaking hands with the people, of whom there were nearly 100 probably left. His back was to the organ. I was stand ing up at the end of the pew talking with MT. Martin of Chicago, who wanted to see ] the doctor with messages from loved friends in that city. I looked up toward the ceiling and saw tongue of flame burst out between the pipes of the organ. "I at once called aloud, Doctor, the | church is on fire.'
 He turned and told all the people to re- tire, while he went into the study to get Q few things. I waited for him at the door. The flames spread very rapidly-so quick ly that some of the trustees were overcome and had to be helped out.
 "The doctor joined me soon after, and we l went down Lafayette avenue to a friends, where we remained until we could hear that friends in the Regent were out of dan ger and what prospect there was of saving any of the church."
 The doctor himself held quite a recep- tion at his home, South Oxford street, during the afternoon, so great was the stream of tsympathizers who called. Among them was the Rev. Teunis $. Hamlin of Washington, who occupied the pulpit of the First Presbyterian church yesterday morning.
 He had preached the dedication sermon of the building then burning some three years ago. and when he grasped the hand of Dr. Talmage he said, Doctor, you have my deepest sympathy, but you should not be so fiery.'
 The two men clasped hands for a mo- ment, and then Dr. Talmage replied: "It is a blessing that only the building is gone ! The work will continue, and we can all thank God that no life or limb is injured"
 Dr. Talmage's Graphic Account.
 In response to the request frequently re- peated pr. Talmage made graphic state ment of the incidents connected with the fire. He said:
 At the close of the church service was standing at the foot of the pulpit shaking hands with hundreds of people from all lands. I was about through and walked toward the center of the church, where my wife stood, when she called my atten- tion to fire springing out from the top of the organ l saw at once that it was un- der full headway, and my first impulse was to look around and see how many peo- pie were then in the house, and to my great joy there were only about 20 people, and with % doors to get out through felt ! that they would all escape.
 'I then went into my study back of the platform, passing under the blazing pip ing, to get my hat and coat, and then l said to myself: Is it manly to run? No.' So walked up and down the study room, ISJOlClIS o4Attb Silc IifS LdI OSCIEEcd " heH there was no chance of d fatality. While in this sort of brown study New York friend rushed into the room, and taking my arm said. Get out of this room imme diately 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 leaped to the roof. I saw that nothing could save the building. and I came out " The tears were coursing down the doc. tors cheek, and his voice broke as he told the story, but in an instant he spoke with his old vigor. ''There is mercy on top ot the disaster. If it had occurred one-halt hour before, it would have been the calnm ity of the century. The church and all the rooms adjoining were packed with people, and the panic would have left the whole scene one of indcscribable horror. Or if it had occurred two or three hours later, when the Sunday school was in session, there would have been a thousand house holds bereft in Brooklyn. Little children, helpless children-what would they have dones God cared for them, and even in this calamity his mercy is infinite. Personally 1 feel not the least item ot disheartenment, nor less faith in God, noI less of hope for the future. This long pro cession of disasters is inexplicable-like what occurs sometimes in a family, fou or five dying from scarlet fever-it is in applicable. We must simply accept the fact.
 Three Times Burned on Sunday.
 "Our church has been burned three times, and it has always occurred on Sun day. It is mystery that I adjourn till the next world shall let us kOow.
 Ut is the Lord! Let him do wh at seem eth good in his sight!
 'Two of our trustees had narrow es cape. They were in their room and knew nothing of the fire until it was nearly toe late for tkeir escape. They were MT. Mathews and MT. Pitblado, and both re- quired assistance in their escape.'' When asked for his own opinion as to the cause of the fire, he said emph atically. Electric lghts Electricity caused the fire, as it did that of the last Tabernacle on Schermerhorn street."
 The doctor then crossed two fingers and continued: Ut was some misarrangement of the wires. Electricity is force that is only partially harnessed. It is one of the greatest agents of beneficence and power in the future, but just now it has the bit in it's mouth and is almost beyond ou1 I control. Electricity was undoubtedly the cause of the fire"
 Continuing, pr. Talmage said: "The fire may change my entire programme, and ] do not think will start on my trip around the world as I intended tonight. I, how ever, do not now know what I shall do. This thing has been so sudden have not yet had time to think about it.' The doctor was then called into 8 con- I ferencein his back parlor with the trustees 1 and elders of the church, who were all
 Dr. TaImage's Latest Sermon. | The morning sermon by Rev. Dr. Tal- mage was on 'A Cheerful Church" his 1 text being Behold, thou art fair, my l love'-Solomon's Song iv, 1. He referred to the past week of prolonged congratula- tion that they had passed through in that for 25 years they had been permitted to as- ! sociate with each other in the relation of