The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-08


TOPEKA, KA
they seemed to be spurred on by the
presence of the firemen within the
building.
kled the roofs of houses and the Uni
versity club across Sixth avenue and
property owners were out with gar
den hoses dampening their roofs.
The children of the Sunday school
brought hundreds of articles they had
made for the Free Fair to church
Sunday. The many hours work were
lost in the flames.
Members of the church board were
out early rushing thru the smoke
filled building attempting to save rec
ords and equipment. The records and
music were saved.
The burning steeples could be seen
for miles around Topeka. Residents
from surrounding towns and suburbs
called The State Journal for many
hours today seeking information con-
corning the fire.
Topekans did not know there were
so many boudoir caps in existence
Shortly after the first general alarm
motor loads of persons from all sec
tions OF the city rushed to the fire.
= The crowds were under control
while the steeples were burning but
after they had fallen, it was an effort
on the part of the police to maintain
their lines.
Street car service was blocked near
ly all morning on the West Sixth,
Gage Park and State Hospital lines.
Fire lines were strung across Sixth.
Harrison and Topeka boulevard.
For some time after the fire was
discovered it was not considered seri-
Gus by onlookers. The smoke from
the coal in the basement seemed to be
the only trouble and it was thought
that the streams of water soon would
control the fire. When the gases eX-
ploded within the church-all in the
space of a few seconds-it was seen
that nothing could save the edifice.
The pipe organ fell thru into the
basement at 10:45 o'clock this morn
ing. 1t is a total wreck.
Women who have been in charge
of church affairs for several years in
an effort to remove the Indebtedness
of building and equipment watched
the fire in tears this morning. The
lack of sufficient insurance to cover
the losses was a distinct blow to the
workers, who have spent so much
time, energy and money.
The loss of the memorial windows
is a staggering blow to the church
and to the many families who have
donated them. 1t brings to mind the
need of some sort of hinged fastener
that would make it possible for fire
III
in event of a fire in church edifice.
Many windows were broken by the
/ fire and the water pressure that could
have been saved if they had been re-
movable.
The men of the University club,
across Sixth avenue north of the
church. organized a garden hose bri-
gade this morning and extinguished
several little blazes that had started
on the porches of the club house.
1t is estimated that there isn't a
church in Topeka that is insured for
more than three -eighths of its value,
| Churches with heating plants at
| tached apparently have been negligent
in this precaution.
I'VE could have saved hundreds of
dollars of additional equipment if on
/ lockers would consent to help u.s." a
tIllGulDGE VI Lllo OOdlQ Sd1Q Lille
afternoon. The average spectator at a
! fire isn't anxious to risk his life and
his clothing in this manner.
Senator Hugh Fisher was leader il
| the salvage brigade" at the church
/ this morning Fisher enlisted the sup
port of dozen men and disappeared
! many times within the smoke filled
church, emerging later with equip
ment.
Under the leadership of DR.. Edmund
! ]. Ku1p, pastor. the church had gone
on a sound business basis even ahead
of the church foundation move
ment. With the cooperation of
4 board composed of some of Topeka
most able and clear thinking business
! men, the church had established {
thoro business policy to insure this
carrying on of its religious program
I The budget system extended to every
branch of church organization and hac
been worked out with the sam'
thoug<>t and consideration given tn
establishment of sound corporation
/ There is no question but that today
heavy loss will cause decided shake
ur1 in some of the boards big plans fol
the future. Yet there is assurance
that application of practical, policie
which gave Topeka the beautiful hous'
of worship will meet the immediate
problem of restoration and rebuilding
All of the church records wer
saved from the fire. Miss Grac
Wolfe, office secretary for Docto
Kulp, attempted to get into the burn
ing building to get the records, bu
was prevented from entering by tn
lfiremen. She directed the firemel
hand managed to save all the Valuabl
documents. Ralph McEntire rescue'
the Sunday school records before tn
fire had swallowed up the Sunda
school room.
Both church and Sunday schoo
services will be held next Sunday, a
/ the church official board will not al
low the fire to interfere with the rou
tine of the church. it is announce
hv Johu V AbrahamS Superinten