The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-18
NOTES OF THE FIRE.

| The Indicator bell in the home OF Fire
| Chief MrNulty failed to ring. and as a
| result he was unaware of the fire until
| notified by II messenger. He was soon
upon the scene and took charge, con-
ducting the details in n very capable
| manner. Hc deeply deplored the fail
l'rc OF the bell to do its duty at his resi-
dcnce, and at once set to work to have
| ii repaired.
Tile fire hlnrn rs all right" said
CITY Engineer Kupp, while the flames
We're at their highest point. you hear
all sorts of comments on 1t around
here he continued. "about all the diff
ferent numbers of boxes which the bell
rang. 1t was Electrician Gillcran who
caused all the alarms to ring in, and
no fault of the system. When he saw
the fire, he went to the city building
and rang in alarms from nearly all the
boxes in the city" Speaking about the
work OF the fremen. Mr.. kupp said:
They are greatly handicapped in not
having the necessary appliances for the
lighting Of Il big fire They are used to
small fires. They are good fire fighters.
all right he concluded, but they
should have ladders and other appli-
ances.'
During the fire. thoughtful residents
in the neighborhood OF the church sup
piled the tiremen with coffee and sand
wiches The Kindness was gratefully
appreciated by the hosemen, who were
almost exhausted by their heroic CT
forts.
The incessant downpour OF slate from
the tower made a regular tattoo on the
sidewalk below.
Bishop Hoban. of the Scranton do
cesc. arrived in this city at $40 and
with Chancellor J. j. Griffin viewed the
fire. The bishop was visibly affec ted at
the loss of the handsome church.
1t was very fortunate that the crowd
had surrounded Hull when he was lying
on the ground. Had the water been
turned on the burning clothes. his sur
terings would have been seriously ag-
eravated
From the hundreds in attendance at
the fire came cries of the deepest grief
when the handsome stained glass Win
dow in the front crumpled and melted
in the flames.
The tower, in which the frenen
played the water on the flames below.
was II veritable death-trap, in the opin-
ion of many. 1t would have proven one
had the flames advanced more rapidly
than they did.
Many lad went to church yesterday
with his Sunday clothes soaked, They
all wanted Il front view of the fire, and
as IL result got in the way of the water.
Special Policeman Archie Gurney was
on the scene early with his little billy"
and did good service in keeping the
crowd back.
Both fire companies performed vail
ant service from start to finish. Arthur
Thomas, of the Columbia company, has
the proud distinction of being the first
on the ground and the last to leave.
Many people thought the church bells
were over-industrious, when the alarm
continued to peal 1t was a strange
sound, the incessant ding -donging.
Many a tear was shed yesterday by
the ladies of the congregation, who
viewed the fruits of years of effort fall
ing into ruins. During the afternoon
many Went into the interior and We're
kept busy pointing out remnants of
many OF the church articles.
When Rev. a. +. Chaffee, the pastor
arrived on the scene the fire had made
but little headway, and he little en-
pected or feared such disastrous conse-
quences.
John Brown, of the Columbias hustled
with the younger fire boys in their et-
forts to subdue the flames.
Ralph Blair. an old time fireman. VAS
again in the harness yesterday for a
short time. Ralph has quit tn" fire
fighting business.