New-York tribune., 1898-12-05
HEAVY LOSS AT ST. AGNES'S.
PART OF THE ROOF DOWN AND THE
AFFAIRS BADLY DISFIGURED
THE total. DAMAGE AZ LEAST 500 0OO-JANTrOR
SLIGHTLY BURNED IN SAVING THE
RELICs-MAss HELD IN THE
PAROCIIIAI, SCHOOL.


Church. in Forty-thrd-st. near Third ave.
early yesterday morning. brief description Of
which was given in yesterdays Tribune. did a
good deal more damage than was at first sup
posed. 1t appears that 100000 will hardly
cover the loss inflicted by the flames The loss
is covered by insurance. The walls OF the build
ing still intact. but a great part Of the roof
fell in. and many Of the costly affairs and paint
ings which adorned the interior have been de-
stroyed or disfigured Unit; the extent Of this
damage Is accurately known no final estimate
OF the loss can be made. Neither the rectory nor
the parochial school, which adjon the churt h.
damaged by the fire.
Policeman Muldoon. Of the East Flfty-flrst-
ST. station discovered the fire. While passing
through East Forty-thri-st. soon after l
o'clock he smelled smoke coming from the
basement OF the church. and sent in an alarm.
Almost at the same time of the servants In
the rectory aroused by the strong smell Of
smoke and she awakened the Rev. Or. H. A.
Brann. the rector. He awakened the other
priests and servants and dressing in such gar
ments as came to hail he household got down
the stairs In few minutes In the mean time
John OBren. the jantor. asleep in the base
ment OF the church. had been driven from his
bed by the smoke. which pouring from the
to the boiler. One Of the priests fastened into
the parochal school adjoining and told Sister
Mary Magdalen and tn, other Sisters of the pos
sible danger All dressed themselves in read-
ness to leave their quarters. T. necessary but
were able to remain in their rooms.
When the hremen arrived they found the
place full Of choking smoke, and with difficulty
able to find the blaze. third alarm
Immediately sent In. for it was apparent that
the fire would prove To be serious The
fire by that time had gained great headway in
the basement Of the church at the chancel end.
but streams Of water were poured in from every
side. In the midst OF the excitement O'I}rien.
the jantor. ran to the altar and rescued the
relics Of st. Agnes the patron saint of the
church. The priests at the same time sue
ceeded In saving such vestments and pieces Of
the silver and gold altar service as were in the
church. These were paced in the rectOry. In
saving the relics O'Brien slightly burned his left
hand
After an hour and half Of hard fighting on
the part Of the Fire Department. It thought
by Chief Bonner that the flames were under
control. but suddenly the whole building lighted
up with fire. which hai climber the pillars in
the interior. and had communicated with the
roof The tlremen renewed their efforts TO
tinguish this blaze but it was two hours later
before they succeeded and not before part Of
the roof toward Thirdave. had fallen down
into the interOr.
The greatest anxiety in the minds of the
priests to the safety Of the beautiful
marble altars in the chancel and the less i'm
portant altars and paintings at the sides Of the
church. The exquisite high altar of ST. Agnes.
erected in the church two years ago, and built
OF Italian marble. richly carved suffered less.
however. than had been feared Its lofty pima
cles were unbroken. having been protected by
destroyed.
altar and statue of the Blessed Virgin were ap-
parently not seriously injured. but st. Josephs
altar was more or less disfigured and the statue
was destroyed. its head having been broken off
by falling timber The painting and altar to
the Sacred Heart Of Jesus. on the easterly side
Of the church. were completely destroyed. The
large painting Of the AnnunciatiOn over the
high altar suffered 10 some extent. but can
probably be restored All Of the stained glass
windows, including some figure windows. were
smashed. These pieces Of art were mostly
placed in the church in 1896. and cost about
$1,000
1t was after / o'clock in the morning before
the blaze was fully under control. Arrange
ments We're Immediately made 10 hold the regu
lar services yesterday in the large halls on the
second and third floors Of the parocha school
building. Policemen were stationed at the cor
ners Of the street on Third and Lexington ayes.
to tell Iarishioners Of the change in their place
Of worship. Dr. Brann the celebrant at the
: O'Clock mass and referred I'm his sermon 10
the great loss which the parish had sustained,
but sought to encourage his people in their loss.
Services. he said. would he continued In the pa
rochial school until further notice. Messages of
coincidence and calls Of sympathy were received
by Or. Brann yesterday from Archbishop Corri-
gan. Bishop Farley and many priests Of the
diocese and prominent laymen
St Agnes's Church was founded twenty-five
years ago. and the silver jubilee of the parish
was To have been celebrated next January The
founder Of the church and its hrst pastor was
the Rev Father Henry Mcdowell. Or. Brann
succeeded him eight years ago. The church
recently red' GRATED and -efurnished
throughout.