The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-07-14
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
THE MONTREAL FIRE.


the particulars of the late fire at Montreal
We often read in works Of fiction, descriptions
of scenes that fill the mind with awe; but an
account like the following, known to be true,
is read with the most peculiar emotions. Such
q picture of destruction and human suffering
almost surpasses belief, and yet it details but
one chapter in the sad history. The fire that
subsequently broke out, briefly noticed al the
conclusion, was quite as destructive.
BURLINGTON, VT, July 100 2. M.-The
following is extracted from one of this morn
ing's Montreal papers Yesterday morning,
between nine and ten O'Clock, fire broke out
in ST. Catharine street, St. Lawrence suburbs,
originating, we are informed, in the ohtbuild.
ings of the houses occupied by MIR. Waugh,
baker. From this il was carried by the wind
in nor;heas asterly direction, 10 the adjoining
houses, which were all rooted with wood, and
generally built of the same material. The
late dry weather having rendered them as dry
as finder, the flames spread with astonishing
rapiditv. There was, again, no water in the
reservoir when it commenced. What madness,
or blindness or neglect could have permitted
this to be the case, after the late frightful ca
family which visited them? Blame must rest
somewhere-where, we do not pretend TO say
bur this We feel assured of; that the people of
ytsiigalion into the cause of the disaster, and
Justice against those who are ulpube.
Within half an hour after the commencement,
hundred houses were on fire. They were
generally the dwellings of poor artisans and
laborers, and it was the most heart-rent-
ing spectacle to see the poor people gathering
their household goods together, ana carrying
them perhaps TO some place where the flames
would reach them in a few minutes, after carry
IN fbpn, they rhnu ht n n pIapP of Safetv-
Frequently, by the time they had removed one
load, il was too iate to return for more. ln
many instances the poor mother had just time
10 grasp her infant from the flames, and rush
20 an adjoining field or garden, and sink down,
desparing and exhausted upon the little rem>
nant of property which her husband or children
had been able to bring there. The despair and
agony written upon their features were most
s1ddening.
From the Main or St. Lawrence street, the
fire burned everything before it along ST. Cath
arine and Dorchester, and widening Its path
way up towards Cote a-Baron, and downward
towards Craig street.
AS it went along in ST. Dennis street, not
withstnnding the most strenuous exeTtiOns TO
ave them. the splendid buildings known as
Cornwall Terrace were consumed.
The fire having caught in Ellslie's wood
yard, and nothing but wooden buildings inter-
vening between it and the Montreal General
Hospital, that institution was in imminent
danger from about one O'Clock until halfpast
three, and the most strenuous exertons were
required to keep the fire from reaching it.
The Union Company did good service here,
and drew large quantity of water from the
large cistern on the hospital ground. Some
buildings and fences were also torn down here,
and the fire was checked in St. Dominique
down below Dorchester street TO near Lagau
caetefe street. Above this, ii made a clean
sweep up to the vacant ground, which skirts
Cote Baron and extended eastward along
Dorchester, Catharinc and Mignone streets.
1t made clear sweep to St. Dennis street,
which was burned from one end to the other.
The Bishops church and palace fell q prev
10 the hames. The greater part of the palace
mad been newly erected, and was splendid
cut stone building, with beautifully auted
columns before the ST. Catherine street froLt
The fire ran down ST. Catherine street to the
house OF Mr. Coffin, joint prothOnetaTy, which
was consumed. The nunnery opposite was
saved, though the fire ragged on three sides of it.
The buildings on Viger Place, including the
cattle market, &c, were destroyed, and here
the fire was arrested. -
On the lower side, at Elizabeth street, aud
from that to Viger Place, the flames came with
IN one or two houses of Craig street. -
Over six hundred houses have been destroy
ed, and the loss of the real property will be
probably from one hundred and twenty-five
thousand TO one hundred and fifty thousand
pounds sterling. Not any more than half the
amount, we believe, is covered by insurance, if
so much.
The loss of personal property it is impossi-
ole to estimate. Many poor working mechan-
ics and laborers have lost their little all, and
lew OF them, we fear, have taken the precaution
20 insure their furniture. From 9l5,Oo0 10
t20o00 we think moderate valuation OF these
losses, exclusive of what has been lost in the
church and palace, the wood-yards and the
shops, which will probably be 600.
The totalloss we should set down at e 420, 900
Ihis, II will be seen, is about the amount of
the loss by the FIRE of the 9th June; but it en-.
tails consequences upon the city far more dis
tressing,
Upwards Of three thousand persons must
have been homeless last night, and many of
them have, to-day, no means wherewith 10
procure new shelter for themselves.
Our citizens have never shown themselves
niggardiy in giving. Let them be ready to
give. iot now there are many who need their
bounty.
The fremen did all that men could do, who
bad no LEADERS for part OF The time, and for
The rest had 10 work without water. They
WORKED al their engines and upon the roofs, in
the denoilion of dangerous buildings. from
snofnibg until night, in The midst oil ire and
smose, and under broiling sun, with Il tempe
talufe IN the shade OF more tlian so degrees
While this large fire was rag ing, another one
began, kindied, ms we are told, by the sparks
noin tue fire which consumed Messfs. Simns
!" soiinan's steam planning mills. in St. Mary
...