Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-06-17
TERRIBLE CONFEDERATION AT QUEBEC
FROM 1900 TO 1900 HOUSES BuRyED-I2,00O PER-
SONS HoUsELEss-MAAY LIVES LOST.
From the Quebec Gazette, May 29l

|
The calamity which visited the city oil
Quebec yesterday, will account for the
Gazette having appeared on It's usual day
Of publication.
The habitations of u third OF The popu.
IIaton are in ashes. About twelve thou
/ sand souls are without houses or home, anI
most of them have lost nearly all they pos.
sesed.
The fro commenced at Richardson's
Tannery, in St. Waller Suburbs about noon,
and it was driven by strong westerly
wind into the densest parts of st. Koch
Suburbs, which soon became tempeslu-
Gus sea Of fire, driyng every effort TO sub
due it. Flakes of fire were carried INTO
Palace Warde and the nearest streets IN ST.
Johns Suburbs, which became prey TO
The flames. Houses in the Upper and
Lower Town were repeatedly on hire,
which however were exlinguished by the
watchtulness and exerions OF the nhab-
tants. A change Of wind more to the
south west; and showers of rain, saved the
Upper ano Lower town and The greatest
part Of ST. Johns Suburbs
All the res, oflhe city, excepting part
Of S.. Walters suburbs and some seattle ed
streets in St. Roch, towards the General
Hospital, is in ruins; and it is feared that
many lives have been lost by the rapidly
| of the fumes. unavoidable confusion Of a
crowded and hopeless population Of women
and children, many of the men being absent
al work in the lumber coveS.
The loss Of property Of every kind is
immense. In Mr.. Mum ; shipyards, great
quantities Of lumber are destroyed; ST
Roch's Brewery. The Chnrch Of ST. Roch,
the shops OF numerous traders and work
shops of great nnnbcr Of mechanics. In
fact every thing belonging 10 great pro
portion OF the industrious and laboring part
Of tie population, mostly proprietors OF
their dwellings,, now left houscIcss and
destitute.
A meeting Of several citizens was held
last evening in the Court House, the Mayor
in the Chair. when the School Houses and
Public Buildings were dered to be thrown
open, to those who had no place OF resort
with their friends aud charitable persons: =
and bread was ordered from the Bakers
whose ovens were rot destroyed 10 be
distributed at the Wardrobe of the House OF
Assembly, under the direction of two gen
,lemen of the meeting,
From The Quebec papers we selec, the
following, showing the extent oil loss by
the fire at that place.
One assertion we may smelly make, that
the amount OF property lost is not so far
magnltled, AMI the sacrifice OF human life
is unlearnel. The total loss has been
computed with the utmost nicely possible,
ana found TO be between one million and
one aud a half pounds !. or, in dollars,
from s 1000, 0)O to SO, 000,00O Tie loss
Of lie cannon be estimated
We hear of many private interviews Of
The remains found by supposed relatives.
aud IS asserted that about forty victims
OF the conf grafton have SO far been in
humed, and that many, will never be dis.
rered. This statement we fully credit,
from our own observations, as The first suf-
Iercs lied iowa town, and from the irreg-
uIar and distant outbreaks of the fire from
/ S origin, they could not have retraccd
tles way, and must have per shed, encom-
passed by the flames which from moment
to moment, ed the limits ofapparent
sa ETY. around them.
! We have abundant evidence, from eve
witnesses Of women, children and aged
persons having punished, WAC but the mo-
mcnt prior TO their death, (anci lhemsel e5
safe; so quickly and SO insidueusIy did the
/ fire pursue lis devastating progress.
The scene OF desolat on and despair is
/ beyond hnman power TO dc, cribe. Balllct
/ by the sudden and unlocked for directions
/ the fire took, the unfortunate relu. lees at
last yielded themselves TO apalhetic despair.
! From street to street they wended their
melancholy way, laden with their children
and the most prec Gus of their household
goods, bul Still the insa,a,e cause Of their
misfortune traced their path with unre!en-
ting fury. In The greater number of IN
stan ,es tho inmates Of dwellings barely
escaped with ;heir lives and many of these
were severely burnt, so sudden was the
on coming of the flames.
Toward the afternoon panic seemed 10
have saiZed the inhabitants OF the burnt
and burning districts, and from extreme
activity perfect apathy succeede d-ihey
knew hot whlter to Nv, nor what 10 do
The blocked streets wee in a blaze rs they
>pad through lhum-lurniture took fire in
carts. OF ca eckes. as il was hurried off
and tho heat and dense volumes Of smoke
VIII CHI ever anon swep, ahwart the suburbs
encrvatrd the active and paralyscd the ex-
erllons Of those even dlslntcres,ed. Meme
were safe.
From moment 10 moment the risk oil
escape with lii. increased. owing TO the
sudden and anticipated outbreak Of fire AT
Il distance from .hat ut tho crisis OF cunha
grafton. For several hours all commune
cation between the suburbs and the Uppc
Town was cut off, save by the round a way
a mle aud IA h,tI() of Sauyageau'S Hill.
Women, childten-nay even mrn-set
weeping by The road side. bereft of their
llilr property, and beggared by the de
+ >lrucion of the fruits Of their economy
and the investment OF their savings. Many
kneit in prayer 10 the Great Di>poser OF
events, seeking his protection and succor
and as The clergy OF The parish passed
rows OF handled and desolate beings Eel
at Their iect craving thcir blessing.