Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-09
Causes Loss by Fire Of
Big New York Church.
|St. Thomas Episcopal a Mass
Of Ruins, with $4,000 Loss.
Priceless Paintings and Art Treasures Gone
---0ther Buildings in Danger.

New York, Aug. 8.-St. Thomas Epis-
copaI church at Fifth avenue and SD
street, ole of the most richly furnished
religious cdiIices in America, was
wrecked by fire. today. Within BLOCK
of the ruined church are the houses OF
half Il score of the country'S wealth.
lest men, On 54th street directly in the
rear is the city residence of John d.
Rockefeller aud nearby the the resi-
denccs of William Rockefeller. II. Nc
Kay Twomhley. Col. J. J. McCOOk and
the home of the late Daniel S. Lamont
The Hotel st. Regis is scarcely one
block away and scores of the finest city
homes i'm America are in the section
of which st. Thomas church was prac-
ticaliy the center. The fire was con-
fined to the church.
Defective electric wiring is supposed
to have started the fire. The loss is es-
;im;ted by Fire Chief Croker at least
$3.50. 900. Only Il mere Shell of stone
walls WAS left standing and paintings
and has relIefs worth many thousands
OF dollars were ruined. A bronze has re-
lief called "'Thc Alteration of the
Cross" executed by Augustus st. eau
dens, and valued at $4,000. was totally
destroyed. Slimptuous altar and chan
eel furnishings. including a $4,000 Or
gan, were destroyed by the fire.
For q time John ID. ROckefeller's
home WIS in danger. Firemen stood in
the windows of Mr.. Rockefeller's home
and concentrated the streams of water
on the 2O5-foot stone tower of the
church. which for a time threatened to
h. DnaJynfn1lnr homo
A dramatic incident, the ringing of n
big bell in the tower, marked the close
of this struggle Just at the moment
vhen the firemen had succeeded in saw
ing the surrounding homes from the
impending danger. The peril was great
est when the roof of the church fell in.
This shock shook the great tower to its
top.
Tie onlookcrs shrank back. but the
only sign the tower gave of the ire
merduus irnract of the falling roof was
one stroke from the clapper of Il shak-
Ell bell.
The church was closed for the sum-
mer. with pastor and parishioners near
ly all out of town. Only little more than
an hour preceding the fall of the roof.
the smoke was first seen curling out of
the tightly closed edifice and by the
time the first engine had arrived flames
were everywhere breaking . from the
windows.
The ohurch had stood on its present
site for so years and had been the scene
O. some of Americas most brilliant
weddings, including that of May Goelet
10 the Duke of RoXburghe. The Rev.
Ernest NJ Stircs Is the rector.
Laddermen Mooney helped to save
the tower by heroic climb to its
burning belfry. during which he was
severely injured and narrowly escaped
death. Woodwork in the belfry was
ablaZe and the order was issued to
cnop it down. Mooney volunteered and
after going to the top of an extension
ladder, which WAS too short to reach
the bclfry he climbed the remainder OF
the distance on IA scaling ladder. Big.
loosened stones were falling from above
and all about him.
The latlderman made the ascent safe
". Ioosencd the woodwork SO that it
fol to the ground and started to de-
Scend. when u falling rock struck him
on the head and shoulder. dazng him
He COLI; psed against the rungs of the
ladder and chung there until other fire
men climbed to his dangerous position
and carried him to the ground. There
hc was revived.