Fort Worth Fire

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 15, 1909

The Seventh-day Adventist church and the branch office of the Southern Publishing Association, Fort Worth, Tex., were both destroyed in the recent terrible conflagration which visited that city. Some interesting particulars are found in the following statement, dated April 5, made by Brother R. L. Pierce, the manager of the branch office:—

Last Sabbath, while we were having quarterly meeting, fire broke out about two blocks from the church, and it was necessary to close the meeting on account of it. With the exception of two little “sprinkles,” Fort Worth has had no rain since last November, and at the present time everything is exceedingly dry. There was also a hard wind blowing, and before we could all get out of the church, the roof was on fire. By the time I reached the office, three blocks farther on, the wind had carried sparks to that vicinity, and a number of roofs were burning. It was but a few moments until all of that section was a mass of flames. However, we saved our typewriters, adding machine, neostyle, and bookkeeping records.

Twenty blocks were entirely wiped out. The office was located in about the center of the burned area, and all that is left is the iron safe. Although it was in a cement-block building, no one now could tell but that little more than the foundation had been made of concrete. The fire spread with such terrible rapidity that hundreds of people lost everything but the clothes they were wearing. There were many pitiful sights. . . . While our stock was largely covered by insurance, yet there will be quite a heavy loss. . . .

Mail addressed as before; or simply to Southern Publishing Association, Fort Worth, Tex., will reach us. We desire to learn just the lessons which the Lord would teach in permitting this experience to come; and as we set about the work of “beginning over,” it is with a feeling of good courage, and the conviction that the Lord is leading.