Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-17

=
or five dying from scarlet ;evEr--it is
inexplcable--we must simply accept
the fact. Our church has beeniburned
three times, and ii has always occurred
on Sunday. IL is o my stery that ad-
journ till the next world shall let us
know
ELEcTRIcITY CAUSED PHE FIRE.
When asked for his own opinion as
to the cause Of the fire he said emphati-
cally:
"Eectric lightsi Electricity caused
this fire, as it did that of the last Taber-
nacle on Schermerhorn street.
Tho doctor then crossed two fingers
and continues
ut was some misarrangement of the
wires. Electricity is force that is only
partially harnessed. 1t is one of the
greatest agents of beneticence and power
in the future, but just now it has the
bit in its mouth and almost beyond our
control, Electricity was undoubtedly
the cause Of the fire"
Continuing, Dir. Talmage said: "fhc
fire may change my entire program, and
| do not think / will start OH my tour
as intended tomorrow night. |, how
ever do not know what shall do"
QUICK WORK or THE FLAMES.
The fire was the most destructive,
rapid and furious that has visited this
city for years. 1t started shortly after
noon, when fortunately all but hun
dred of the 1000 morning worshippers
at the Tabernacle had departed, and at
time when the guests at the big hotel
We're somewhat prepared for such an
emergency. IL spread with lightning
like rapidity, and before sunset had de-
stroyed property to the value of nearly
| $1,500,000.
Ex-Supervisor John IL. Reed, who
was rehearsing with the choir in the
Summerfeld NJ. Il. Church, at Wash
| ington and Green avenues, two blocks
in the rear of the Tabernacle, had dis
covered that the building was on fire
and sent in an alarm to fire headquar-
tcrs. This was quickly followed by a
second, third and fourth alarm, which
brought out all the apparatus in the
western district Of the city. 1t was
nearly 20 minutes before the firomen
arrived on the scene and then half O
hundred streams of water were turned
upon the blazing pile. But the church
was doomed and every effort was de
voted to saving adjoining property. ln
three hours only the bare walls OF one
of the cnstliest structures of Brooklyn
remained standing.
HOTEL REGENT DOOMED.
Long ere this, however, it becam,
evident that the Hotel Regent was alsC
doomed. The fire started here on tn,
second story, bnt it was speedily ex
tinguished. phis proved to be only ;
temporary relief, for little later flame
were discovered in an upper story
blowing tiercely up the airshaft.
At dhe same time flames were seer
bursting forth from the roof Of Summer
tlgfd M. u. Church, which was badl.
Z damaged. But now all eyes were di
rected to the magnificent hotel, whicl
was seen to have Joined the Tabernacl
on the road to destruction. From ever,
window ou three sides of the building
the glowing flames poured.
Il They grew hotter and hotter and tn
smoke more dense as the fire spreal
throughout the huge structure. An oc
casional crash signilied to the spectator
the collapse of floor, and soon, with
tremendous crash and an outburst Q
smoke that filled the streets and garden
the rear and side walls on Wayerl
avenue toppled over.
HOTEL WALLS FALL IN.
After q couple of hours the efforts {
, the firemen were directed to the fror
of tho burning hotel, and at $3.50 o'cloc
there was prospect Of saving at least
few of the rooms of the lower tlool
from total destruction.
: At this time the fire lines had bee
extended in every direction, and thel
, were thousands of people upon ever
street, although back out of DANCE
Fortunately they were in the distanc
:. for after the flames had licked away I'll
supports beneath nearly all the fl
]. escapes on the north wall, they with
: norton of the wall itself, fell into II
t mass of debris with roar like distal
: cannonade. This was quickly followt
o by the fall of section about 80 feet
c height on the Waverly avenue side
the hotel, and from that time up to 8
h IN. huge masses of the wall continue
! to fall.
e The insurance on the Tabernac
n amounts to $i30,000, of which $1,000
i is held for collateral on a mortgage, lea
y ing insurance to the Tabernacle socie
e of $4,000 on the loss OF $350,000. III
c $780, 900 loss to the Hotel Regent
Q partly if not wholly covered by insu
u ance.
!, The furniture in the Hotel Roger
Y which is variously estimated as hayil
T. cost from 100000 to $250,000, is G
+ tirely destroyed.
:, When seen this afternoon and told
Y the destruction of the Tabernacle Russ,
!, Sage, except for little natural regr
d was quite cheerful and said he was n
l. at all worried about the money which
had locked up in the church proper
es "lf / feel any regret at all in tt
q calamity" he said, sit is on account
lg DR.. Talmage, and not for myself. WI
r money lent the trustees is fully secur
II by the insurance, which | believe cove
ID the entire value of the property and c.
al tainly covers my mortgage"
--l..= BISHOP COLEMAN.
His Return From an Extended visitati