Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-01-21
SUNDAY BLAZE At
HOUSE OF WORSHIP
Fire In Basement of
First Presbyterian
Church.
LOSS ONLY NOMINAL
Defective Flue From Furnace
lgnited Joists Under
Floor.
S. ONLY NOMINAL

Fire broke out yesterday afternoon
about 4 O'Clock in the basement OF
the First Presbyterian Church. For
tunately it was discovered before it
had gained much headway and extin-
|guished. The loss is estimated at
between $3.50 and $500. 1t is covered
|by insurance A defective tlue lead
ing from the furnace caused the blaze
which had the making of disastrous
conflagration.
When the fire alarm was turned in
the down town streets were filled with
people listening to the band concert
in the Plaza and the lobby of the
Claire Hotel was thronged with leg
islators and aspirants for positions
during the session of the Legislative
Assembly. Within a brief space of
time a crowd OF upwards of a thou
sand excited spectators gathered
around the burning church. The fire
department responded promptly and
the putting out of the fire was but the
work of few minutes once stream
was playing on the flames.
Fire Discovered by Passerby.
The fire started soon after the ad-
iournment of the Junior Christian
Endeavor Society which had met in
the church. Fl. r. Stephens was walk.
ing along Grant Avenue on the oppo-
site side of the street and saw smoke
pouring out from the fresh air venti-
lators. He realized at once that there
must be something wrong and ran
into the Presbyterian Manse adjacent.
An investigation disclosed the fact
that fire had broken out in the
basement near the furnace and an
alarm was turned in at once.
Soon after the fire was discovered
the auditorium had become filled
with smoke When the cellar door at
the outside of the church was opened
the woodwork was burning fiercely
but the fire was extinguished quickly
when the water was finally turned on.
The fire was confined to the basement,
Several of the joists were badly
burned and may have to be replaced.
Big Pipe Organ Uninjured
For a time it was thought that the
magnificent new pipe organ which
was installed few months ago might
have been damaged by heat or smoke
but 1t was found to be in perfect con.
dition. The organ is located in the addi.
ton built at the rear end of the
church and the fact that there is NO
basement underneath it probably
saved it from injury. No particular
damage was done to the interior of
the church proper aside from burning
a part of the carpet. The damage
from smoke is slight.
But for the opportune discovery of
the fire in it's incipiency it is believed
that the church would have been gut.
ted If not entirely destroyed. The
origin is traceable to a defective flue
connected with the furnace which be-
came overheated and set fire to the
woodwork. The furnace has been in
operation only about two weeks.
No Services Held Last Night.
No services were held in the church
last night on account of the pungent
smell of smoke that permeated the
interior and the inadvisability of
starting another fire in the furnace
until the faulty flue is repaired
Rev. George F. SEWER pastor of the
church. is thankful the damage was
not more. When seen after the blaze
had been extinguished he stated that
the loss would probably not exceed
$500.
Practically the only damage done
is In the basement" he Informed a
reporter of the New Mexican. "The
fire started from the chimney and not
the furnace proper. The organ was
not damaged at ALL The organist ex-
amined it after the fire had been put