The Newtown bee., 1909-11-26
The Newtown Bee. Newtown, Friday, Nov, 26, 1909,
TOWN TOPICS.
RECENT FIRE IN THE ERIE Dl0'
 CESE,

M
 S62.000 Edifce Totally Destroye, By Fire. Life Work of Father M Giyney.
 The following clipping was takel from the Dubois Morning Jour nal. The young rector mentioned i Father John Nolan of Newtown ant who has the congratulations of hi many friends in his narrow escape: St. Catherine's Roman Catholic ChurCh-a monument to the lifeworl of Father Bernard McGivney wa practically destroyed by flames, las night, when 1t fell prey to the secont destructive conhagratlon Oul,ois, Pa
 has suffered within four days and thu third fire within week.
 The fire, originating in the boiler
 room of the beautiful edifice and as
 Cending through the altar and audi
 torium ot the church to the roof
 spread to points inaccessible by the
 dauntless iireMen and burned until
 only the walls. tower, basement and
 floor were left when the flame fight
 CTS after four hours of relentless
 work had control of the blaze. The handsome structure, erected l6 years
 ago at a cost of $62,000, furnished for
 many thousands more and only last
 year improved to the extent of sever
 al thousand dollars, stands to-day q
 run. It will require and eXpendi- tme of $S0,000 to render the edifce proper for worship again, according
 to the optimistic ones who believe
 that only the roof, upper walls and
 interior have been destroyed. To re- place the entire building would cost $75,eG0.
 Started Under the Altar.
 Ire started in the boiler room in the back of the basement directly un- der the altar, likely from clogged up llues. The glare of flames was noticed from the outside by children who spread the news shortly after ' o'clock and about 7.10 an alarm of fire counaed for the First ward. The fire companies responded with sur prising alacrity, having been notified by telephone before the alarm was heard, and were on their way to the scene of the blaze when the whistle acquainted the citizens of Dubois with the fact that another destruc- tive blaze was consuming one of the city's substantial and revered build ings.
 Church Filled V ith Smoke.
 When the fremen reached the church the entire edifice was filled with smoke, dense volumes issuing from the building. Chief Ditchburn by breaking in the front door of the church penetrated the smoke for a distance of 10 or 15 feet and lis tened half-stifed for the sound of cracking flames but could hear none. Entrance was gained at other parts of the church and several streams of water were turned on and played in the direction the heat came from al though the fremel could see no flames. ATter snort time it was be- lieyed that the fire was under control and the word spread through the ra- pidly gathering crowd that the fire was nothing more than slight blaze in the basement and had been ex- tinguished. Many turned home and the frement were considering reeling up thei" hose when suddenly burst of flames appeared in the roof. The fire has ascended along the heating pipes and communicated to the roof, where a lively blaze was assuming a threatening aspect.
 Roof Demands Attention.
 The fiji emen then turned their at- tention to the roof but the flames spread under the slate covering and little could be done to quench the fire. A second alarm was turned Tn and this brought the engine Of the Union company to the scene. The engine rendered valuable assistance and it's work was appreciated by the Friendship and Union firemen, whose streams of water received the bene- fit of the engines pressure. The nfe continued to burn through the root | and soon a gaping hCle Lad been eat- en there. The flames leaped upward sending a. red glare which lit np the sky which could be seen for miles around. Particles of the roof began to fall and the interior of the build ing became dangerous for the hre" men They were soon driven from F he auditorium of the church to the tower and the exterior, from where | they continued to ply water lnces- sanity.
 Roof Begins to Fall. |
 The roof soon began to fall ana this with the rear of the building IS 2 total wreck. The church IS of | Gothic architecture md it is believed 1 that the upper walls gre conslderaoiy damaged although the lower Walis ] are as firm as before. The tower IS not damaged in any way except by water and smoke. The fire continued in burn until shortly after l ocioch' ! when the tired firemen received .the i word that every vestigc of flames had disappeared and they could return home The floor of the church had hean flooded with water which had dropped from the roof and eeillng se1 E ond inns the falling sparks did no damage there. Neither did the pews hurn although fire and materlal which fell from above greatly scorch- .,, tahad conne of the benches.