The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-06-07
From the Ottawa ~. C.) Cit zen, Nay -.
The Great Fire in Upper Canada.

The upper Ottawa country has been vsite with ter
ble calamity Hundreds Of families houseless and
almost without food, and large extent OF county pre-
senIs blackened picture of desoaton On the 10th in
slant conhagration SWEET the country from The Deep
river to within short distance of the nnechere river,
destroying houses fences barns. cattle, provisions grain
and every description OF property that came in It's way
II is miraculous that the lives of the inhabitants
saved, only two persons it appears having perished
The fire originated from the burning I new and in
different parts of the country, and owing 10 the warm
sunshine and high wind Monday it suddenly increased
and spread with fearful rapidly During the early part
of the day the wind blew from the southwest, and
red the fire from the of the townships il Upper
Canada northwards towards the settlements the Otta-
wa river. At the time il making alarming
progress Sheen and Chichester, the Lower
Canada Shore and the upper westerly part OF Alu
mee island. Soon after O'Clock the wind suddenly
came round TO The west and blew with increased vio-
ence The fire, which till then scattered and spread
considerable extent OF country through The town
ships of Pembroke, Stafford. and Westmeath, which lie
in order named, soon united and became dense mass
of hime and swept with fearful fury through the nte
ror passing portions OF Rose Bromley, and Horton,
towards the Bonnechere river During the greater part
OF the afternoon the scene was truly terrific. o. The Al
umette island the destruction going at the time
equally dreadful The Island is fourteen miles long,
and was swept from head 10 foot Only two three
dwellings remain out OF about hundred thus leaving
seventy nine families here alone houseess The Calumet
island also suffered severely.
The country burnt extends in Upper Canada from
The upper part OF Pembroke and Stafford to near the
Bonnechere river, in Horton and Adsmson the distance
in that direction being nearly thirty miles, and from the
best information il appears that il would average
twelve miles in width. The townships which suffer here
Pembroke, Stafford, Wesimea,h, Bromley, Ross and
Horton. and about hundred families are In them left
houseless; in fact totally burned out"
The Aumeiie island is about fourteen by FIVE miles in
extent, with ninety families in similar condlion.
The country the north shore being settled only short
distance back from the river, contains proporionay
fewer settlers and there the number OF sufferers may be
put a, about thirty families This would make altogether
something three hundred and thirty families suffer
ers by this calamity. In instances The individual
loss exceeds thousand pounds The area OF country
burned is about four hundred and fifty uare miles,
total.
To provide seed for the ground and food for four
seven thousand pounds. Less than that sum will not do
IT. Onefonr,h OF this amount may perhaps be raised in
this part OF Canada; bu, where is the remainder-over
four thousand pounds--io from We look 10 the
Legislature for this assistance For every good
should be granted forth with The necessity OF the case
the importance OF the demand the awful nature Of the
calamity, and whal the immense annual revenue de-
rived from this section OF Canada should be grounds SUI
hcient TO warrant the appropriation required. Let the
legislature speedily appropriate FIVE thousand pounds at
least to meet immediate and absoluienecessities