Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-26
4 TALK WITH DIR. HATCHER.
The Pastor Tells OF the Discovery of
the Fire.

the Fire.
Or. Hatcher, the esteemed pastor OF the
burned church, was seen by a Dispatch
man last night at his residence. on west
Grace street The Doctor had just re-
turned from a marriage, and showed
marked fortitude, considering the dire
calamity that had so recently overtaken
his labor of many years.
II had just returned from the funeral
Of Miss Anderson, Of Norfolk" said the
Doctor, whose body j had met at the
Chesapeake and Ohio depot. and who
was buried in Hollywood. When l en-
tered the church / noticed all the win
dows were open, and asked the sexton
what was the matter He replied that the
church was full of smoke from the fiues.
! watched a little while. and then said
to MIN. 'Davy. there is too much smoke;
you will have to look in the engine-room
and see what is the matter
"In few seconds he came running
back and shouted, Good Lord, Doctor,
the wood in the engine-room is on fire.
lie said he could put it out, but to make
sure. | ran out and got several other ne
grOes 10 help him. / then went TO the
telephone, and sent messages in two III
rections for help Returning TO the
church, the men assured me again that
there was no cause for alarm. and that
they could easily subdue the flames.
About this time / noticed smoke issuing
rom the recess above the engne-room.
| then sent word to the engine house for
an engine to come around, but before 1t
arrived the flames suddenly burst into the
main auditorium AS soon as the depart
ment officials arrived they told me il
would be impossible to save the building.
HIS PAPERS ALL LOST.
ut came upon us so suddenly, and the
mistaken judgment OF the men so COM
pletely misled me that we had no time TO
save anything. l begged some one TO
break into my study and save my books
and papers, but they told me IT was dan
gerous as the fire had originated i'm
mediately under II. All of my books and
papers were destroyed, and | had no in
surance whatever. L have no one to
blame except myself. as everything 1
have made in the past few years has
been pressed towards paying the church
debt Rev. DR.. BroughtOn, who is con-
Quoting services here. lost all his manu-
scripts, representing the sermons of
four years.
while the fire was burning conduct
ed the funeral of one of my deacons Mr..
A. L. Shepherd. at the Second church.
The officers of my church were the pail
bearers, and after the burial | called
them together, and we held an informal
meeting. A subcommittee was appoint
ed to report this evening. When we re-
turned to the church and saw the smoking
ruins they cried like babies.
you may say that with a houseful OF
company, two funerals. and a marriage
this afternoon. l am doing as well as
could be hoped"
During the entire afternoon and eve
ming there was n steady stream Of callers
Of all denominations to extend their SYM
pathies. for which Or. Hatcher seemed
profoundly grateful. When the newspaper
man departed, after having expressed the
belief that I'm less than two years time
new edihce equally imposing as the
old would stand on the same site, IL was
heartfelt and sincere God bless you"
that was bestowed on him.
Congregation to Meet To-day.
The following address. issued last night,
explains itself
Richmond. Va. February 25 1896
"To the Members Of the Grace-Street
Baptist Church:
"A great calamity has fallen upon us
Our excellent house OF worship, which
cost us so much toll and care, and which
was TO us a source OF such comfort and
JOY, is I'm ashes. our membership Is
homeless. our church enterprises are
suddenly suspended. Even our glorious
would have been brought
TO an untimey close but for the hospi-
tally OF our sister churches OF the COM
mon Christian faith
at is important that we should come
together at once. Awaiting myself Of the
courtesy Of the First Presbyterian church
/ invite you 10 meet me in their house
OF worship. on the corner Of Grace and
Madison streets at 1 o'clock tomorrow
"wednesday afternoon. l sincerely trust
that every member Of the church may be
able 10 be present.
Your affectionate pastor.
WILLIAM Il. HATCHER"
Arrangements for Services.
Immediately after the burning Of the
Grace-Street church Rev. DIR. Kerr. Of
the First Presbyterian church, called
upon DR.. Hatcher and rendered him the
use of the First Presbyterian church in
which 10 hold services for the present.
DIR. Hatcher thanked Dr. Kerr for his
kind offer and after giving the matter
consideration. accepted it.
What steps viii be taken as yet 10
rebuild the burned church cannot now
be told,
In the burning Of the church DR..
Hatcher lost his library. which adjoined
his study, and was very valuable adj
junct TO his work as pastor. DIR. Hatcher
had been collecting the books contained
in this collection all his life. and their
destruction is greatly 10 be deplored.
struck ny Falling Door.
A youth named McPhail. who lives on
west Franklin street. opposite the Sol
diers' Home. narrowly escaped being
killed during the progress of the fire.
He was standing in the yard OF the fe-
male seminary, and the bremen were at
work upon the top OF the school build
ing, when one OF them dropped trap
door which had been picked up on the
roof. The heavy missile fell to the
ground, striking young McPhail glance
blow upon the head. knocking him I'M
conscious for some time. He was picked
ND by Policeman Mcmahon. who was
standing near. The wind had shifted the
falling door somewhat and this broke
the force OF the blow. Had the piece OF
material come straight down. 1t would
have killed the lad. McPhail was taken
TO his home. where medical aid was sum-
moned. His injuries are by no means
dangerous.
mug On aCEsTu EFT REVIVAL