The New York herald., 1870-08-21

Revels OF the Fire Fiend In OntariO-Em-
mense Forests Swept Away-Houses and
Farms Destr0yed-ThOusands OF
Families Hgmeless-The City Of
Ottawa Narrowly Escapes.
JFrom the Ottawa Times, August 1871

IFrom the Ottawa Times, August 1871
For several weeks past intelligence mas feached
the city from tine TO lime OF the fearful res nat
were raging unchecked In the woods, destroying
fences aystacks, barns and latterly houses Secure
In the city, we only shrugged Our shoulders, gave
vent to q sympathizing poor people in the coun-
try,n or more demOnslrative, "iTls terrible The
loss to the farmers must be immense ana straight
way forgot all about the circumstance. AT u later
date the smoke from the extensive con-
Migration raging darkened the horizon,
and during the day the view on every
side was bounded by heavy dark banks of black
looking Clouds which people walking on the Parlia-
ment Buildings bluffs, the Majors Hill or other
elevations saw. and exclaimed "What are these
terrible big, black cloudsSn "Oh,n would be the
reply, "tnat is the smoke from the fires III the
woods and, as II this was matter too insignif
cant to he again thought OF, The conversation
ceased.
Last evening the grand eliminating point was
reached, and Ottawa, indeed, experienced
FRIGHTFUL NIGHT
which TO be appreciated must be experienced. All
IN faci, at certain period it was barely possible TO
see across the City Hall square. at noon, however,
the powerful sun seemed TO have disslpated the
smoke, and the city appeared freer rom IL iiian IL
had been for many days. About four O'Clock the
terrible programme began by a lerce gale spring-
ing up from the southwest and in less than
an hour the city was enyeloped In a thicK,
binding smoke, making It premature night
OF dark yellow glare, and nee, necessliating ine nc
ferceness. The dust lying on the streets hrec ana
ionr inches deep and on which for months no rain
had fallen OF any consequence was liited III great
bodies and hurled against buildings with seethmg
sound, while 1t was Impossible for human being 10
SCENE Seemed I''' as " If thew S"' were no more Than
SO many channels for the almost solid mass
Of ausi aS so e
street, affrighted and bruis ed, turned their backs
80 the gale and ram before 1t, or took shelter In the
stores. Into the city came the SMOKE rolling anu
tumbling IN thick, dense, bitter, binding clouds,
and mngllng with the dust, was dashed about the
city. windows everywhere were closed, and inside
the stores onices and houses the inmates sat half
surfocated and with streaming eyes.
Then clouds OF ashes began TO come into the city;
andtthe smoke got hotter and more binding. and
soon 1t was known that the herce gale mad tanned
the
FIRES INTO FRIGHrFuL PROPORTIONS,
and at that moment were travelling through the
country at the rate OF five miles an hour, and spread
Ing In every direction AT later hour II was learned
that district Of ten miles In the township OF Glou
cester was In blaze. Then CONSERVATION seized
many, and, in dread the nervous demanded again
and again to be told was there any danger OF the
flames getting into the city.
THE CITY Al EiGHT O'CLOCK.
scrbabie. The fierce gale was at Its height, the dust
and ashes Kissed down the street. while the smoke
came rolling in, not yellow and stlll more binding.
had there been Tor an hour. The carriers had long
ago been driven or their stands. AS a newspaper
sneezlng in the whirlwinds OF smoke and
tHs'' the eyes % It was was impossible to 'D make way way
against the storm without leaning forward as one
would do to meet hail or seet storm, Offering the
broad brIm OF straw hat TO the resistance OF the
gale, the dust and pebbles ratified fercely against It,
and every now and again. as an unusually fierce
to face about and gasp urti 1t was over. Meeting
merchant on his way home from business,
ne lei n,s w sD1MsS sS' w6as tn
was uppermost in his mind, and indeed, 1t
would have been frghtfu night for any such disas-
worst city in the country to cope with fire, from
the want OF water and apparatus, but what would
have been her position last ntghtY Proceeding on,
signs creaked and swayed threateningly about, the
ashes ew past ana eddled round the corners, while
raging the east end OF the city was brilliantly
from the direction OF Gloucester where the ten-miIe
IRE was lighted up, Notwithstanding the thick
smoke. II was truely such night as Ottawa has
never experienced
ANXIETY AND DREAD.
In many cases citizens going home were dashed
against fences or buildings when caught In sud-
den squall. SO did many become at the ter
ribe aspect Of affairs that they sat up all night hav
ing plenty to do to get pure air to breathe, To the
ladies the scene was terrific and the effect Of the
smoke was particularly painful.
IN THE COUNTRY.
In the townships OF Gloucester Nepean and FitA,
roy the fires rOared Oh before the fierce gale de
youring barns, stables and houses and eagerly seiz
ing on small copses or WOODS Wnlcn were instantly
in extent rOared on, while in the township or F1Z-
roy "a line Of seven miles was In blaze. The coun-
try people, terror stricken, new about from house
TO house. almost powerless from fear and
exhausted from exertion. No sooner did they
| arrive al one place. and before they could tell
their iae Of suffering they would be compelled to y
again, accompanied by the occupants OF the house.
"The roar OF the fire." said one who heard 1t, was
| terrible.r At an early hour people began to flock
in and at present there large number OF the
! sufferers III the city.
DESTRUCTION OF BELLS CORNERS.
About twelve O'Clock last night two gentlemen
| arrived from Bells Corners and gave IT as their
| opmlon, from the appearance and position OF the
fire In that quarter when tney lert that the village
| either had been destroyed or would certainty
| be IN very short time. They left soon after
midnight for Bells Corners but returned In couple
of hours with the intelligence that as they feared the
village had been consumed and nothing was left Ol
1t but Mrs. Bells house. Two churches and school
house, The fire came rushing on with fearful roar,
| and greedily devoured the houses In It's way.
TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE HOMELESS.
| gentleman, who came In from Bells corners
| about an hour ago, says that on the Richmond road
| there are 1000 persons homeless and Without any
| sustenance but what they can pick up. number
are making their way 10 the CITY. Iheir cOnsterna-
ONLY MILE FROM THE CITY.
At eleven O'Clock last night man came In from
Gloucester and stated that the fire was only milt
| from the city, making ITS way In by the railway
track. Upon inquiry II was found that no danger
was imminent from any quarter. However, ar
/ rangements were made in case OF emergency, ano
men were put to watch Indeed the city Is sur
rounded by belt OF fire. and the smoke as we write
s getting again thick and binding. Heavy rains
the only thing that can better the present dread
| IN! state OF affairs.
| TIE FIRES
are fierce as ever, and persons from the country
say great damage will be done tonight Ehe CRY
from the country is ran rain: but there Is no more
| appearance Of having it now than there was week
! ago. AS II to tantalize a few heavy drops fet
last night but the heavy cloud soon blew over, anC
this morning The sbone as bright and a. herceiI
| as ever.
| IN THE COUNTRY
People living In the city can form no adequate ides
| OF the horribleness OF the, situation. they were
sheltered in their substantial houses free ir0m tn'
fear of danger and they only heard the furious gaze
moaning as IL nOodly swept over the city; but now
| many took thought Of the condition and suffering