The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-05-19

immetise crowd gathered and watched
the flames The intense heat OF the
fire, combined with that of the sun.
caused several prostrstions in the
crowd of on-lookers The victims
were taiisn sway by friends
EXPRESSIONS Of regret at the mis-
fortune which had overtaken Dr. Tai
msge were heard on all sides- The
reFsfsnd gentlemen stood with the
crowd near the church and witnessed
the destruction Of theTbeautiful ed
iflce. His expressiou=was a sorrowfui
one, and he was nearly moved to tears
He was surrounded by a large gather
itg OF friends when the reporter ap-
preached him. 3
"Tbank God" said the minister
Gods mercy overtowers the disaster.
ii we. all so sudden that ! cannot ex-
plain it. Bsd the fire occurred half an
hour sooner thefs would have been q
terrible loss of life. The church was
crowded, fully 5000 people were there
4 stampede would have occurred and
many would have been crushed to.
DEATH"
Rev. Talmage added that he was un-
able to tell whether the fire would in
terfere with his future plans. lie had
intended leaving Brooklyn this even-
ing on his summer trip to Europe. He
did not know if the disaster would de-
lay him.
The subject of DIR. Talmage's sermon
yesterday morning was "A Cheerful
Church" The text was SOlOmOn's
song, chapter iv, first verse, Behold,
Thou Art Fair. My Love"
1t was only on Thursday and Friday
last that Rev. DIR. Talmage celebrated
in the tabernacle the completion of the
twenty-fifth year of his pastOrate-
The tabernacle occupied a lot of
ground 200 feet by 11s feet in dimen-
sions. The style of architecture was
Romanesque, the material corsehil
stone, and rainwashed brick in red
mortar The roof was covered with
Spanish tiles. The main tower at
Green and Clinton avenues stood 100
feet in height. The main entrance
was at Clinton and Green avenues,
second was on Clinton avenue, and a
third on Waverly avenue. The Green
and Waverly-avenue entrances led to
the Sunday-school hall as well as to
the main auditorium. The vast inte-
riOr held seats for $500. The general
slope was amphitheatrical.
The lofty ceiling was domed and di-
vided into panels, the material used
being of patent fre-proof wood,
which, ,incidcntally,w was destroyed with
the rest of the building.
The magnificent organ in the loft
over which the fire appears to have
originated was back of the rostrum.
the woodwork incasing it being of ash.
nicely planed and ornamented with
carved columns. The glass used
throughout the building was n COM
binaticn of frosted crystal and various
shades of yellow, giving a very mellow
light.
There were two galleries finished
with stereo relief work. There was in
the tabernacle library and kitchen
and supper room to be used in connec-
tion with fairs. The tabernacle had a
debt of 5000, 200, and recently Mr.. Tai
mage threatened to leave the pastor
ate, but financial aid was promised and
DIR. Talmage then decided to stay.
The first fire which affected DIR. Tai
mage occurred in December, 1871, at 1
o'clock in the morning. The church
was then situated at Sackett and
Schermerhorn streets. Another church
was built on the same site and on Oc-
tober Q, 1889, was burned down at 2
o'clock in the morning. The congre-
CATION then moved up town to Greene
and Clinton avenues, where fire for the
third time overlook DIR. Talmage and
burned his church down.
The board of trustees of the taberna-
Gle last night held n meeting in the
house of DIR. Talmage, at which it was
decided to rebuild the tabernacle. The
trustees say that DIR. Talmage is to
start on his trip around the world as
at first intended.
The statement given out by the
trustees is that from the insurance re-
ceipts and money realized for the sale
of land. they will pay all debts
Within year the work of rebuild
ing will begin.
The tabernacle was insured for $780,
900, in four companies, viz: London
and Liveraool. the ROYAL Insurance
Co., the Phoenix Of Hartford and
Phoenix of Brooklyn.