DRAMATIC SCENE

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19463, 31 December 1934, Page 9

DRAMATIC SCENE

CHURCH ROOF AFIRE. SERVICE NOT SUSPENDED. There was a dramatic, scene in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, on a recent morning. In the course of the celebration of High Mass the roof of the building caught lire, and dense clouds of smoke poured down upon the congregation. The celebrant, the Rev. Father John McCooe, had his back to the assembly, which comprised more than 1500 people, and, oblivjous of the increasing danger, continued the service. Despite the increasing anxiety or the congregation no one moved until the linal prayer was over. By this lime llie main aisle of the cathedral was lllied with smoke. In the midst of the most impressive part of llie service, the Elevation of the Sacred Host, smoke was noticed pouring down from the centre of the main aisle. The sacristan, Mr M. McLean, immediately left the sacristy and clambered up the narrow, winding staircase to the belfry. The roof beneath Hie belfry was well alight and rolling clouds of smoko were pouring from the building and penetrating through to the main part of llie cathedral. Mr McLean raced down the stairs again and hurriedly summoned the lire brigade.

In the meantime the congregation was becoming increasingly restive. Rather than cause a panic by warning Father McCooe that the building was.

alire, the administrator of the cathedral, the Rev. Gerald Bartlett, did not interrupt llie service, which by then was drawing to a close. Immediately after the blessing, which marks the conclusion of the service, there was a rush for the entrances, the majority surging toward the presbytery. The cathedral was then full of dense clouds of smoke, The administrator at once ass.umed control and quietly directed lire crowd to the most convenient exit. As the people crowded out of Llie building Die Bremen from headquarters and Darlingimrst stations entered. The outbreak bad commenced in an almost inaccessible spot beneath the belfry, and it was found necessary to tear away more than 10 feet of the roofing to reach the seat of the flames, which had a firm hold on that portion of the rafters. Chemical extinguishers were played on the flames for same time before they subsided, and more than two hours elapsed before the firemen left the .cathedral.-