The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-17
An EXPLOSION Tn ACHURCH
Serious Damage Done to Two Build
ings in Cumberland, Nd.

4 Clergyman Has Narrow EscaTe-
Tine Roof and Walls of the Sacred
Edificc blown Ewuy-SuppOscG the
Gas Was Accidentally Turs.esi On.
CUMBERLAND, Nd. June I7.s-1Sl ex-
piosion Of gas yesterday wrecked Christ
Reformed Episcopal Church. at the cor
ner of South and Centre Streets. in Cum
berLand, and a two-story frame dwelling
adjacent to tn church, occupied 10y Mrs
Philip Rhcden and her family, who had
narrow escape
The pastor of the church. the Rev
Ephraim Phillips. jr., went to the church
for early morning services and found that
the gas used for lighting had been escap-
ing during the night. and he proc eded
TO find out where the leak was and shut
it OF He raised a lighted taper 70 the
reflector lights to see if the leaking gas
was coming from that quarter, when
there was Il shTiII kissing sound, followed
by . low rumble, of distant thunder
and then sharp crash.
The explosion was apparently in She loft
Of the church, between the ceiling of the
auditorium and the comb of the roof. and
1t almost raised the roof from the building
and demolished a rear wall The debris
from this wall fell on the adjoining
dwelling. breaking in the roof and carry
ing it and the second story down to the
first floor
MI Phillips was not injured. Speaking
OF the accident. he said: Saturday ev-
eninS at choir practice the members Of
the choir and I detected the presence of
gas, but as no explosion followed the
lighting OF the gas jets near the organ [
cid not regard the situation with alarm
This morning as I entered the church the
odor was more pronounced. and I deter
mined to investigate I lighted match
in the auditorium, bat the gas. being far
above my head. did not explode. I then
went to the vestibule of the church and
examined the valve controlling the flow
Of gas I supposed it was less than
fourth open, but in reality the valve was
three-fOurths open. Procuring pole and
waXen taper. I lighted the latter for
the purpose of testing the reflector lights
/ proceeded cautiously and as I raised the
taper to the reflector jets. I saw fame
leap toward the ceiling TnstinctiveIy I
-an toward the door. which l had left
open, as well as the window, to guard
against being overcome by the suffocat-
ing odor- 1 was not thrown to the floor
and I failed to comprehend the gravity OF
the disaster until I retraced my footsteps
Then my startled gaze fell upon 4 scene
Of destruction The jets were blazing
high l then returned to the yestfbuIe
and turned off the valve with a wrench
Then 1t was that I discovered that the
valve was almost open, instead of being
quite closed, as I had supposed. Mean
while small blaze was in progress, and
/ bent my energies to prevent the de
struction Of the church by fire. fortunate
y receiving assistance promptly"
The residence Of Mrs. Philip Rhoden. ad-
joining the rear Of the church on --nion
Street, IS a complete wreck. the shower
Of bricks carrying the roof clear through
to the cellar Joseph Rhoden. who was
asleep upstairs, was wedged between the
roof and the second floor, the whole sec
ton being forced halfway down through
the frst-loor room He worked his way
out Of the debris, making miraculous
escape, with only slight injuries TO his
side and knee All the furniture was de-
moIished- Mrs Nora z. Pigman. Mrs
Rhoden's youngest daughter, was seated
by window reading a paper, and was in
q most periIoUs position under the falling
roof and timbers against the wall Of the
house next to the church. IN order TO
get her out of the crushed
dwelling it was necessary to cho-,
away part or the BUILDING sh~
was removed to the house Of q neighbor.
with bad bruises about the hips and
shoulders and her face scratched Her
DredicameHt was made known by her
screams for help Her condition is serious
from the shock Mrs Rhoden and her
daughter Theresa were in the dining
room wing Of the house, which was TIE
least damaged portion. The House. On
which there is no insurance, is completely
wrecked. and the family is left with notl
ing but the lot and the fragments of their
home
1t is thought that someone yesterday
cut off the gas by turning the large pipe
cock IN the hallway and then accidentally
turning it on again. OF doing so by mis-
take. When turned off many lights in the
refiectOTS at the top Of the ceiling Of the
main auditorium mad probably been burn
ing With these lights extinguished the
gas escaDed near the ceiling
The explosion lifted the entire roof from
the end and side walls tore out the rear
gable, making uph-avals in the tin roof
and demOliShing the top Of the pipe or
gan. running the instrument.
The church was built about 1874 at 4
cost OF $4,000 and was purchased by the
present congregation from the Methodist
Episcopal Church South