New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-14

Tho fire was the most important and eX'e'SN'
ona that has occurred in Brooklyn for nuiiioei
NJ vears. but It was unaccompaned by Joss Va
life or severe injury to any person. some u '"'
occupants Of the hotel however. had narro" -
c,nos and they lost many vauables. The wlhu
carried sharks from the burning structures "
tho summerfield Methodist Episcopal Church' d.
Vashinrton and Greene aves.. and It's ROOF caus'''
fro IN, tho flames were easily eXtnSulsheu'
The Tabernacle despite It's brick ana oro"lI''''
exterior burned like a tinderboX, the H"''''
having gained such headway in the organ"
whore they broke out that there was hothins 'i'e
hremen could do when they arrived % 'e'''"'''
f. The spa cious building. the largest fro''s''''
church In the country. was SMOKING '"''' "
less than an hour after the hre DroAe ""
IT.. oo,,es we're discovered Just after the morn
,r, servIces were ended, and Dr. Talmase was
shaking hands with the people VINO were "iS"-
a., bin, = nloasant trip around the world, upon
which he expected To start to-day Inc s''"'
conpregation was passing out ot 'he c"u''"
when the smoke was smeled. ana IL was lo""u
thar tho fire had broken out Inc peoP'e d"
nassed out safely. although there was some .N-
element among those who were lingering oe
fore leaving the building -,
,r,, ca,,os from the organ broke through the
all and fire 10 the SecpllN ll'ti w ~
pogen, This fire was exlnguisned by the em-
,,. -, tho hotel with the fire ex,nguishers
,on, an hand But when the flames in the Iaoer-
,,,l r,,u,,eIt to the roof the hotel caught
fire ON the top floor seven stories from the ground
49,, 40 tho annaratus II the Fire Department
,,,,id not roach above the third floor the building
.,s d,,ned The majority Of the occupants OF
,h ov,ensivelv furnished suites Of rooms IN the
bo,sl lost all their personal effects, Naiueu
NJ many thousands Of dollars The hotel was
costly structure Of white marble ana was o"''
only last year by the Brooklyn Hotel Cofnpdnl'
~ which Charles d. Burwe is president. me
fire extended to d dozen houses to the southeast.
carried bv the wind. in Greene. NaVerly ana
N,ebinrton ayes. causing losses ranging from
a few hundred to several thousands Of dollars.
,scp1rrD TO AN ELECTRIC-LIGHr WIRE.
The cause OF the fire is believed to have been
an electric light wire coming In contact Win
woodwork or the decorations in the front OF the
Tabernacle organ It a point where the lhSuatloh
had worn off The organ was the largest in the
citv and cost $4,000 It was pumped by an
electric motor and lows OF electric lights on
rs front were displayed at the services, even in
the daytime.
The successive fires in Dr. TalmaGe's churches
IA Rroo<Ivn have all occurred on Sundays In
December. 1872 the frs, Tabernacle in Schermer-
h,rn-st. was burned shortly before the morning
service. In October, 1889. the second Tabernacle
erected upon the site of the burned church, was
also destroyed by fire. but this occurred early
i'm the morning. while thunderstorm was IN
progress The structure had just been wired Tor
electric lights and 1t is supposed that the light
Ming was carried into the building. as the switch
board was burned out. The cdlhce destroyed
yesterday was erected a. Greene and Clinton
ayes and dedicated on April 81, 1891. IL cost
about 100000
The celebration of the close OF the twenty-ffth
year Of Dr. Tamage's pastorate was concluded
I'm the church on Friday night and the decora-
tons for the occasion remained in the building
yesterday. Dr. Talmage preached yesterday
morning upon "A Cheerful Church, and referred
to the joyous features Of the occasion He also
spoke OF his intended trip around the word, ana
expressed the hope Of meeting his people when
he returned after six months absence lie was
preparing to go upon an extended trip to the
Holy Land at the time Of the last fire In MS
church. and the work of rebuilding went forward
In his absence while services were held In the
Academy of Music Arrangements had been
made for the Rev r Fay Mills, the we-known
evangelist. to fill the Tabernacle pulpit during
Dr. Talmage's projected trip to Australia and
India upon which he had planned to sail from
San Francisco on May 80. He said yesterday
that IL must have been part of the infinite provl-
dence OF God that the fire did not occur hait an
hour earlier than 1t did. for II 1t had 1t wouid
have caused the greatest calamity of the century
BIDDING HIS FRIENDS GooD-BY.
DR. Tamage had concluded the services ana
dismissed the congregation shortly after noon
Yesterday He remained upon the platform 10
shake hands with those who wished TO speak
with him, and the organist, Henry Eyre Brown,