Bisbee daily review., 1905-08-05
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
 WAS BURNED
WAS HANDSOME STRUCTURE AND WAS JUST NEARING FINAL
 COMPLETION.

The Baptist church in this city was
 baptised last night with both fire and
 water and this morning is almost a
 complete wreck. after one of the hard
 est fought battles ever engaged in by
 the fire companies of this city. Rev.
 T. F. Courtney. pastor of the church.
 and who was in charge of it's erection,
 stated this morning that the loss, as
 near as he can estimate it. will amount
 to fully $S,5OO, of which $2.50o is GOV
 cred by insurance in a New York com
 pany The insurance was secured by
 the American Baptist Mission society,
 who had extended a loan to the church in aid of erection of the building.
 The fire was caused, according to
 general opinion, by the electric wires
 in the building for lighting purposes The fire occurred simultaneously with one of the heaviest electric storms in the history of the city and it is pre- sumed that the lightning followed the wires into the building and caught where the wire came in close contact with the roof
 Pistol shots rang out and aroused the people of Douglas about nine O. clock. when one of the heaviest rain falls which ever visited this city was in progress. Notwithstanding the rain and the fact that the streets were run ming rivers of water, many people left their homes and waded to the fire. In the crowd which gathered around the burning building were many women, who remained to witness the heroic work of the fire boys, who were ire quently applauded for their courage
 -,- ~,,,r, of the building as possible.
 When the water was first turned on the building the pressure was weak, but later it greatly improved, after the direct pressure from the pumps reach ed the location of the fire.
 The entire roof of the building will be a total loss, including the heavy wooden girders which supported. The floor was not burned, but it was GOV erad several inches with water and will be badly damaged. Some of the handsome glass was saved from the i windows, but many of the windows i were smashed in the fight with the | fiery demon. The contents of the build ing. including chairs, benches and oth- CT articles of furniture. piano and or gan were rescued and carried to the Methodist church and to the Calumet hospital.
 The battle with the fire lasted more l than two hours, during the most of | which time a drenching rain was fall ing Many people wondered at the Z persistency of the flames on the roof i in spite of drenching from both the | falling rain and the hose nozzle. This l was explained when it became known | that the shingles had only been paint | ed and that the ceiling underneath the | roof had just received a heavy coating | of oil
 The work of building the Baptist church. which is located on the south west corner of the church block. was begun a little more than a year ago; i the walls were constructed of cast stone made at the factory in this city. and they are not damaged; the cost of the bunding is a little more than six thousand dollars.
 Rev. McCourtney stated this morn ing that he would proceed at once, as soon as the insurance can be adjust ' ed, to rebuild the church and is very | thankful that the loss is not total one.
 During the life time of the Baptist in this city services have been conducted in a large tent, but when the new building had reached a il sufficient state of completion it was occupied and the tent sold, so that it Is now uncertain where the Baptists will find a place of worship. during the rebuilding of their church, but it has been suggested that perhaps the Baptists can find a temporary home in the Christian. which at the present lime has no pastor.