The sun., 1895-12-27
BURNED THEIR CHRISTMAS TREE
Haverstrnw Sunday School Children Great
ly DInnppolnted.


The Sunday school Christmas tree celebra
tion in the Haverstraw Methodist Episcopal
Church on Wednesday night was enlivened by
n fire and panic, which were prevented from
having more serious results only by the cool
ness of some of those present who had seen
Christmas trees on fire before, and were pre-
pared for just that emergency. The church Is
a good sized structure of the white paint, green
blinds. and square cupola variety. The audi
ence which assembled there Wednesday
night consisted Of fully 400 persons, more than
half of whom were children. Tho children
sat well up in the front of the church. What
they before them big black curtain
JUS behind the pulpit. and appearing over the
top of it the tip of fir tree, gayly decorated
with colored tinsel, and stimulating the imag-
irL, IN !. to what the curtain concealed.
Tho usual programme of anthems and reel
tations was gone through with, aad then the
pastor. DR.. =. Atkinson, made few remarks
He concluded by, presenting to the Sunday
fully decorated hymnal subscribed for by the
teachers. Then announcing to the children
order. he sat down and beamed upon his con-
Mr.. Purdy, who was cast for the role of
tain with three young men OF the congregation,
and presently dim blurs of light began TO shine
move. and a babel of high-pitched voices told
OF their excited anticipation.
ess bars
into one comprehensive glow, and a streak
of flame shot up into sight over the top of the
up from their seats, there was a mighty tramp
ling behind the curtain.
young men to Dr. Atkinson. and everybody
began to push toward the door at the rear Of
the church, This was the point at which
came out strong. Earlier in the evening Capt.
Ssilas Mackay Of the q. 4. r. had warned Mr..
fire. and that 1t would be we'll for him to keep
watch for it,. Mr.. Lane took che hint, and
when the treo blazed up he kept his head.
the action G'T to the he word This showed the H' an.
dienco Just what had occurred. Around the
ssntins a eank Of snow. One Of the the little
Chinese lanterns had fallen off the tree as it
was lighted. and set, set the % cotton atirf; M e. There
men conceived the idea of putting out the fire
by smothering it with more cotton This
time Mr.. Lane had thrown open the door at
either side of the church in front, 81 that tho
ger for just II moment that the older folk would
become panic stricken and t:ample the chill
dren, but with three means OF egress all hands
The fire burned stubbornly i'll spite of at
tempts TO stamp it out. Mr.. Lane and the
and finally succeeded in smothring it. Tie tree
and sm9de%ring % cotton ,h were thrown ,;s out into
the yarl. w ME tne iasu traces OF Hre were
bcin. extinEuished on the platform the cot
any one knew it the fence. which runs close
to the church building, was on fire.. When
II was discovered n pail of water which some
body had brought put an end to it.
The damage to the interior of the church
was very slight. but the tree was n total wreck.
The loss also included II lot of candy and pres
ents which we're not on the tree. but lay on
the platform. These had been tramplcd into
n mass of elttering stickiness. 1t was mt first
reported to the excited congregation outside
The church that Superi intendent rurdy's illum-
mated hymnnl had been consumed by the
flames. but the anxiety of the subscribers
relieved by the appearance OF the smiling SUI
perintendent with the book under his arm
There was no alleviation for the dsappOint-
ment of the Sunday school children. but the
church trustees believe that they have learned
n great deal about cotton snow. which will DC
useful to them next year.