Morris tribune., 1905-07-15
ASSUMPTION CHURCH BURNED.
Origin of Fire a Mystery, =-LosS
Total.

Assumption church was burneC
early Tuesday morning. The cause
of the fire is unknown. Loss SIS,
600. insurance $3.50. The church
will be rebuilt.
The fire whistle aroused and turn
ed out an unusually large crowd
last Tuesday morning at 200 o'clock,
and also brought dismay to the
many loyal members of the Catholic
church when it was discovered that
their beautiful building was on fire.
| Besides the pecuniary loss the
community lost one of it's landmarks
and a structure in which it could
take pride.
The fire was discovered breaking
out in the belfry and must have
been burning for a long while before
discovered. The building being Of
brick veneer burned very fercely
and in less than an hour from the
tim : of the alarm was beyond saving,
so rapidly did the flames spread.
By daylight only the rear part of
the church and side walls were left
standing. The fire department
were prompt in getting to the scene
and did good faithful service but
the stream from hydrants was in
adequate to reach the seat of the
fire in high tower aud for this reason
were seriously handicapped. Per-
haps by the use of the fire engine
which was not taken out of the
engine house heavier stream could
have been played, At least it will be
worth while for. the city to have a
team of horses always available to
haul the engine in just such emer-
gencies.
The many people who
Witnessed the fire will not soon
forget the grand picture made by
the burning spire which was of wood.
The flames mounting upward soon
weakened the spire and it fell in
ward striking the roof of the church
with a crash and thence sliding to
the ground. It was indeed fortu-
nate that it fell as it did or some of
the many spectators would undoubt
edlv have been hurt. Later the
brick work which composed the
lower part of the belfry fell and
with it all the front of the church.
The cause Of the firs will probably
never be known, but there is no
foundation for the report that the
electric light wires causing it.
MIR. Baker says there we're no fuses
burned out at the power house as
would have been if the fire was
caused by the short circuiting of the
wires anywhere in the church. And
moreover the care with which the
work was done and the modern in
sulating appliances made such an
accident impossible. The other
solution is more probable. The
church is open most of the time
and it may have started from ashes
of a pipe falling among the
rubbish and thus smouldering for a
long time. Two residents of the
east side going homo near midnight
noticed a bright light in the
tower, but thought nothing of it
because the church is opened so
much.
The members of this church with
commendable energy have already
rented the armory and will hold
services there till a new and larger
church is erected On the site of the |
burned structure.
Father Jones sets the loss at |
something over SIS. 900 but owning
to the great increase in prices of
material thinks it could
not be rebuilt for less than $4,000.
The insurance on the building was
$4,000 and on furnishings $i,750
making total of $3.50. AS the
walls were of veneer they will have
to be pulled down and only part of
the foundation could be used thus
making loss practically total.
The repairs on the church which
have been made and these in pro-
cess would have made the church