The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-26
From the Ott,wa Tines. ]

fcula~S.
From the Ott,wa T:mssI
For several weeks past intelligence has
reached the city from time to time OF the fear
full fires that were raging unchecked in the
woods, destroying fences, haystacks, barns and
lattery houses. Secure in the city, we only
shrugged our shoulders, gave vent to a sympa-
thi1ing "poor people in the country" or more
demonstrative CTS terrible, the loss to the
formers must be immense" and straightway
forgot all about the circumstances. AT later
date the smoke from the extensive confiagra-
tions raging dark ened the horizon, and during
the day the view on every size was bound
ed by heavy dark banks of black-lookiDg
clouds, which people WALKING on the Parlia-
rent Buildings bluffs, on the Majors Hill or
other elevations, saw and exclaimed, what
are these terrible big black clouds? ooh"
would be the reply, "that is the smoke from
the fires in the woods" and as if this was
matter too insignificant 70 be again thought Of
the conversation ceased. Meanwhile the pa
pers in curt paragraphs would give an account
of a farmer losing his barns. or another bis
house or his fences, and in some instances cat
tie, and gravely remarked upon the necessity
of rain. But this did not Immediately affect
us we were again generous in sympathy and
Indifference.
From every quarter the fire steadily ap-
preached the city, until at night the red glare
lighting up the Heavens, would tell of the ter
rible body of fire that was stalking through
the country, and its close vicinity. Then it
was the news came fast and furious, of the
residence Of well-know persons living in the
pretty suburbs, icing ia danger, and necessity
tor some steps being taken il possible to stem
| the tide of fire. Some wise mel went out in diff
ferent directions, saw the bodies of fire and gave
as their opinion that sit was true, immense
| fires were raging in the woods close BY but be
| yond few houses in the country, there was no
| immediate danger" and again the matter was
| forgotten until new and disagreeable remind
| err came in the shape of thin blue smoke
which uck with great obstnacy around the
Parliame mt building, Lower Town, ,aui Other
| portiops of the city. Thicker and thicker go
the smoke, until last evening, when the grand
eliminating point was reached, and Ottawa in
deed experienced fr:ghtfu night, which to b.
appreciated must be experienced. About
| o'clock the terrible programme began by
| fierce gale sDrngiDg up from the southwest
and il, less than an h0ar the city was envel
oped in thick, binding smoke, making i
premature night of dark yellow glare, ano
| necessitating the use OF gas all over the CITY
| The gale increased in fierceness; the dust lylns
Oil the streets three and four inches deep, ant
on which for months no rain had fallen OF an,
consequence, was lifted in grea. bodies and
hurled against buildings with seething SOUND
while it was impossible for human beings Il
stand before it.
Then clouds of ashes began to come into the
city, and the smoke got hotter and more blind
| ipS, anu SOON III was l. nOWn that the nerce gan
had famed the fires into fdshtfu propo rtions
and at that moment were travelling through
the country at the rate of five miles.an hou
and spreading in every direction. At late
hour it was learnt that a district of ten miles
in the township of Gloucester, was in blaze
Iten CONSERVATION seized many, and in dread
the nervous demanded again and again to b,
told was there any danger of the flames get
ting into the city.
The scene 10 the city at o'clock was indie
scribable. The fierce gale was at its height
dust and ashes Missed down the streets, Will