The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-06
Fire Drops Suddenly Upon the
Pastors Pulpit
In the Second Baptist Church
in Chicago.
? THOUSAND PEOPLE
Flee in Terror From the Church
to the Street.
Pastor Holds. His Ground TIL
Compelled to Leave.

Chicago, April 6.-Eighteen hundred
people were in the seats and aisles Of
the Second Baptist church, Morgan and
Monroe streets last night, and Rev
Dr. W NJ Lawrence, pastor of the ven
cradle and historic place of worship
was in the midst of an eloquent SER
mon when it was noticed by rev IN
the congregation that the ceiling was
on fire
Before a word could be said. however,
a blazing brand fen among the flowers
which surrounded the pulpit Instantly
there was rush for the door
Above the roar of the stampeQed
worshippers came the reassuTing voice
of Pastor Lawrence. There is no dan
ger he cried. but the WOrShippers dis
tracted beyond control, did not pause.
Again did the pastor cry out III you
will resume your seats I viii finish my
sermon but as he uttered the last
word the hyacinths at his side caught
another blazing brand ana then tne
great chandelier with its 105 lights, tot
tered to one side and a sheet of flames
rolled over the pastors head
The terrified wOrshippers waited
for no further counsel They stOrmed
through the aisles, over the peWs ana
were Wedged in a struggling mass at
the doors Organist Howard Wells
now attempted to Queu the panic me
voice of the pastor was lost i'm the tu-
multi, but the great roar of the organ
could still be heard Its melody, hoFy-
ever, had no effect.
old was being trampled upon, when
Patrolman Woolsey dragged her upon
the steps. She was taken away
bleeding and in a swOOn by friends
WhR We're summoned Using force IN
some instances and calling to the pe0-
pie to take their time, the Policeman
fought his way into the auditorium
where he picked up three other women
who had tainted.
When the tumult was at its height.
Captain George Cressey marched the
raHN
dered them to save the MOVERS and
pulpit chairs.
Then the beautiful Easter decora-
tons were torn from the altar and
following them came the pulpit itself.
leaving the pale but calm faced pastor
still standing in a doWnpour Of glow
/ ing embers, and Organist Wells run
ming his fingers over the key DOarQ IN
a laundering rendition of the hymn
/ Onward, Christian Soldier.
Sexton Allison had not been unmind-
full of his charge during all this panic.
4 When the WOrshlpperS arose and
/ stOrmed the doors. he ran to the ball
/ conv climbed a ladder which led to the
attic and fighting his way through the
4 heavy smoke, reached the big burner
/ and the flames that were rapidly MAX
/ ing their way to the roof He was ac-
/ companied by David Murray
without waiting for the hremen,
/ whom Usher William Toates was max
/ ing haste to summon, the aged sexton
/ stripped himself of his coat and sought
/ to smother the flames with the gar
ment But the fire had gained such
! Roadway that it not only destroyed the
1 coat, but severely burned the hands OF
1 the cOurag eOus fighter
The sections vest was then used to
/ whip the flames, but this. too, proved
/ of no avail, and it was not until water
/ was brought in pals from the auditor
/ ium that the fire was extinguished-
When the hremen dashed up before
I the hundreds of frightened people who
! still filed the streets, and dragged their
/ hose through the Easter lilies, palms
/ and hyacinths, to the gallery, one man,
1 blackened, stripped of coat and vest,
i and so badly burned that he could
] scarcely clutch the rounds of the lad
] der. came down from aloft. 1t was the
/ sexton
THE fire is all out boys" he gasped
out for he was all but suHOcated by
/ smoke.
But the fremen hammered away i'm
/ the lath and plaster to make sure that
/ their services were not needed and
/ when they left the place a ragged hole
4 in the ceiling which completely encir-
/ cles the chandelier told of the narrow
I escape of the venerable structure. Sex
ton Allison said the fire was caused 10y
/ leak in the big gas pipes which sup
piled the chandeliers.
The injuries Of those hurt in the rush
-reA