New-York tribune., 1870-08-19
THE NEW DOMINION.
GREAT CONFLAGRATION-LARGE NUMBER OF
LIVES LOST-MILLIONs OF FEET OF LUMBER
BURNED-FARMS ENTIRELY GUTIED-IHE
PEOPLE NAKED AND HOMELESS.

GREAT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES NUMBER OF
LIVES LOsT-MILLIONs OF FEET OF LUMBER
BURNED-FARMS ENTIRELY GUTTED-IHE
PEOPLE NAKED AND HOMELESS.
OTTAWA, Aug. 1S.-The fires that have ragged
in the bush during the past three weeks approached the
settlements in the vicinity of this city last night almost
wholly destroying them, driving the inhabitants from
their homes and in the majority OF almost without
clothing Several lives reported to have been lost
and about 100 persons missing they probably hiding
in the creeks and rivers. About 80 persons arrived in
this city to-day, burned and otherwise personally in
ured Fires are spots to the extent Of 40 or 80
miles long by u Is wide running west to the east
parallel this city mostly the other or north side OF
the river.
Those spots are now almost everywhere joined, making
two or three dense conhagratiOns OF the most
dreadful character ever known in the Lower
Valley Of the ottawa In visiting the immediate
scenes this afternoon, every found he could not
get more than seven miles from this city in any direc
tiOn. EOrh Of the city, flames II miles from the suburbs
Of Hull containing all the sawms and 300OO0OO feet Of
sawed lumber, plainly visible, the smoke being
blown edgewise away In some places the flames were
quite 100 feet hgh and everywhere 35 feet hgh and
seemed dense sheet OF flame. Everything this fire
has encountered has been utterly destroyed Crops,
stock and houses are menaced, and the lumber at
Hull, and if that takes fire there is no hope OF saving
Ottawa from utter destruction
The City Council met to-day, and the Aldermen pro-
ceeded TO every point with the intention OF sparng no
expense in checking the flames and thus save Hull All
the Chaudere mills are stopped, and the men and fire
brigade sent out TO fire. but did nothing to check It,
The spare engines Of the city being repaired ana
made ready Many families are packing their most val
liable articles for escape In the west the flames are one
mile from Rochesters Brewery in the suDurDs ana ad
yancing at the rate OF mile an hour In the south
flames are advancing the city at the rate OF Two miles
an hour having burned almost every fence, farmhouse
and stock I'm their way The worst losses have been
in this direction. East the entire BUSH as lar as oa
o5r are soc feet Of sawed lumber chelsea
seven miles northeast Of GilmOurs pilng grounu
been saved by the persons taking the timberrafts ana
floating the stream. IrOnside Nilage.lO lhe
No iives are lost, although there are many marrow
escapes recorded here. Many are Injured some sriGsy
Loss In village $4,000. Bridges and the GaI,dp
road running northeast near the CITY Is ht and
and every house ana sRsfy The loss Of
life is not known, but number OF PoPIS9 H'o or
not been f9Snd a1a ffher eas all the Village
burned down in incredibly short space oi tIIe.
sembed near the waters edge their only means OF es
cape; ferries were hastily orgahzea hnu PoP 60 tbis
stde Rel,s Corners Village nine miles west on tne pro
posed Canada Central Railroad was entlrely ny
cent two churches and one stone mouse Az Dom' n be
nepnic were burned seriously, all the worknen Oh tno
railroad driven In some losn az i.vnryytlinr
was burned down. At Bells Corners nd sta,loI ROAD al
station and were destroyed On . a. scarcely
a Lonse fence or crop for seven miles iuhdIeus md
capped during the night ty escaping 10 e oeccasonaiy
wettng their heads. Here there WeIs na"rg been
Scores Of horses and cattle are haf and plunged
into the flames. The list OF farmers totally t .ealtbv
i'm the district The Packenham sagedriver eod heaT
see the road account Of the smoke. ne - hre fire
broke out half "a mile ahead, but luckily Durhou III 'A
othf aI1Gi1 5 Innst 9n wholly destroyed Mr.. Grant
farmer there being burned alive. Near that place. "'