Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-23

Starting in the midst Of n midweek
prayer service. FIRE last night swept
through the Holy Trinity Presbyterian
Church, Marvine and Rockland streets,
Logan. causing 800, 900 damage.
A panic and possible loss of life was
arerted BY the presence of mind Of Miss
Jean Doan. 1901 North Thirteenth
street. Arriving late for the service.
she saw the church ablase. Quietly ap-
preaching the Rev. William Rnrnes
Lower. pastor, who was reading the
Scriptures, she whispered to him that
the edtfice was on FIRE.
Dr. Lower left the room for a mo-
ment and returning, announced:
The church is OH fire. 1'lease file
out quietly and without disorder
The etghty men and women gained
the street without excitement. DR..
Lower then hastened to the basement
where fifty young people were holding
u rehearsai for a dramatic recital.
Soon Q Mas Of Flames
BY the time all Of the young peo-
pie had left the church the entire rear,
where the fire started from a defective
tiue. was mass of flames.
The rear wall had recently been part =
~ demolished to make way for q new
parish house, and had been Temporarily
closed with boards and tar psuer.
In less than thirty minutes after the
last person had left flames had spread
through the entire building. FIremen
respond Zig to three alarms were cuught
many times In perilous positions ON the
walls and roof when the structure
threatened to collapse.
In less than an hour after the fire
was discovered the balcony had cayed
In. mass Of wrecknge, which spread
over the auditorium where the prayer
meeting had been in progress.
When the fire was finally brought
under control only the skeleton walls
remained. In their fight from the
burning edifice the worshipcrs carried
out the Bible stand. the Bible and q
score of chairs. Those were the only
things, saved.
Turn to Saving Homes
The flames had gained such headway
when the firemen appeared that they
directed their main Efforts to safeguard
ing nearby homes.
One Of these is the home of Fred
erick Smith. at 1895 North Marvin.
street. separated from the church bu!kl
ing by ten n-foOt areawny. 1t was
slightly damaged by smoke and water.
Twenty automobiles were removed
from an adjoining garage.
II do not think that I deserve any
special credit" said Miss Doan today
~ did just what any one else woult
have done"
Miss Doan is twenty two years old, 8
mathematician and a member Of Holy
Trinity Church.
II arrived at the church about g. ~
O'Clock. she said. and as I walked
down Mervine street saw smoke, bu'
never thought that the church wa.
the street say: 1t looks like a fire.
called to the boys to send in IN alarm
and then went quietly to the pastor ant
told him that the building was burning
Helped Ssne With Wraps
He told the congregation to get o,
their wraps in an orderly manner anf
leave the church quietly. I assisted
some of them with their coats and ther
we tried to save some Of the movabl,
things.
II ran for the Bible. but a man 20
there first; 70 gathered up prayer
books. Dr. Lower attempted to rescu,
the flags. but the fire was spreadin.
too rapidly. The heat was becoming in
tense.
I'm less than three or four minute.
| after we left the building the entir
structure was in flames. It seemed tha,
the fire spread over the building all O
sudden. The engines were a litrl,
Int in arriving and when they dit
come I guess the hrernen thought tn,
church was beyond saving and turned
their attention to house In the real
that had taken fire."
! The church. which has n congrega
! tion Of 200, will continue to hold scrv
ices, DR.. Lower said today. Sam
uel Wilson. leader of the Mems Bible
Class, announced that the 200 member.
Of the class would meet next Sunda,
afternoon Mt 2 30 o'clock in the Logan
Auditorium, Broad street above Rock
land.