The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-30

alarm from box las. The janirOr made
an attempt TO extinguish the flames, but
was almost suffocaJec IN his Efforts, Sc
rapidly did the flames. spread through
CINE companies Nos. l. Z, and sand
truck B. under Assistant Chief Ken-
her, responded TO the alarm.
When they reached the church the en-
tire southern portion OF the structure
was in flames, so that Chief Keliher at
once sent in a second alarm, calling OUT
Engine Companies No. = and 6, the wa
ter tower and Assistant Chief
Roadway with such speed that
another alarm was sent an. calling
out Engine Companies TO. 3. a. y. ana
II. Truck ID. and chief Engineer Belt.
TO replace these down town engines, the
various suburban engines We're sent in
TO the central engine houses. wise
provision, as IL proved, as before the
fire was out another alarm had come
Life Lines Established
In the meantime the reserves of the
First. Second, and Third police pre-
clncts, under Lieutenants Amiss,
Byrnes, and Boyle, had been called out.
and had established life lines around
the entire square known as Luther
Place. With the last alarm. word was
sent to the higher officials Of the police
took personal charge. with the assis-
tance of Captains Pearson and Heff-
ner, and Detective Trumbo.
Before the flames could be brought
under control the southern half of the
auditorium roof and the steeple of the
tower burned through and fell with q
resounding crash. sending sparks and
flames upward TO a great height. II was
the most spectacular fire that has oc-
CURED in Washington for years past.
and thousands of people gathered In
the adjacent squares, giving the police
all they could do to keep them out Of
the range OF danger. BY midnight the
flames were under control, with loss
estimated at about $25 GOO
The fire is believed to have originated
In spark from one of the wires con-
nected with the chandelier.
Cost saIo,ooo.
The Memorial Church cost about s21o,-
900. subscribed In small sums by Luth-
Grams all over the country. The organ.
which was totally ruined last nig.4lt, cost
=. 600 and was given as a memorial in
1888 by the late David NJ. Morrison, of
this city. The tower, only the walls
of which remain, was a memorial built
by George Ryneal. jr., of Martinsburg.
w. Va. at a cost of 5000. in memory
of his parents. A peculiar feature OF the
catastrophe was that Mr.. Ryneal, fol
lowing the custom OF years, was on his
way to participate In the birthday ban
ouet arriving on a street car Just IN
time to see the flames licking about the
cornices of his memorial gift.
in front of the church ste ads the
statue OF Martin Luther, also bought
by popular subscription at a cost OF
$4,000. and made in the same mold as
that which adorns the plaza in Worms, /
where Luther appeared for trial on the
charge of heresy before the celebrated
diet So great was the interest in this
national center OF Lutheranism, that
this statue was transported In 1884 from
>. orns to the very churchyard without
a cent of expense to the church. When
the steeple toppled and fell last night
It narrowly missed the sta tue.
History of Statue
This celebrated figure is mementO of
one of the birthday parties given 10 DR..
Butler Il was in 1888 that Ex-Mayor
Charles A. Scherin, OF Brooklyn. n. Y.
in greeting the birthday party that year.