Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-08-30
Terrible Fire Raging round Ottawa.

OTTAWA, Aug. 1s.-Word has reach
ed here from Hull that the fire is max
ing way into the city in two places
The ire-bells are ringing and engines
flying through the streets. The princi-
pal stores are closed, and crowds are
rushing to do battle with the flames.
The smoke is dense, and hot ashes fall
ing thick. Business is entirely suspen-
ded and the city is panic-stricken.
We are surrounded by walls of fire.
The Goth Rifles have just marched
over to Hull. The lumbermen say
the fire will be in Hull in two hours.
6 P.M.-The Mayor has issued a
proclamation calling upon the citizens
to turn out and resist the march of
the flames. The garrison artillery
have been called out and the bugles
are yet sounding the assembly through,
out the city. In two or three parts
of the city fakes of fire have been
falling, but were discovered before any
damage was done. A fresh breeze is
getting up and the position of the city
now is nearly critical, everything de-
ponds upon the wind. An engine,
men and water carts, are stationed in
the city hall square ready to be moved
to any quarter. Many persons have
packed up their clothes ready to move
away. The city is full of smoke, and
ashes are falling in great quantities.
l have gone to Hull to watch the fire
approaching there.
8 p.m.-I have just returned from the
burning woods in the Township of
Nepean, about two and half miles
from the city. Immediate danger to
the city has been stopped by cutting
the dam of the reservoir of the Rideau
canal and flooding 800 acres of land
from Rideau Canal to the Ottawa
River, thus placing an efectual barrier
before the onward progress of the
flames. The fires in the country
around the city and in the distant
townships are still raging uninter-
ruptedly. Throughout the night, tho
it was very calm, it was evident by
the heavy smoke in the atmosphere
that they were still doing their work
of destruction on an extensive scale.
At periods it was next to impossible
to breathe, so impregnated was the
air with smoke, which seemed to have
settled in clouds over the city. Mr..
Perry, from Montreal, is on his way
with FIRE engine and hose. Regulars
and volunteers have been out all day,
working nobly, under Col. Robertson
Ross. One unfortunate man, named
James Blink, while endeavoring to stop
the fire from destroying his buildings,
suffocated with the smoke, and was
found early this morning lying behind
a fence, where, after falling down, he
had crept under, in hopes of escaping
the smoke. 1t is reported that wo-
man named McHarvey, has been
roasted alive; also, that a number
Of other persons are missing, and are
supposed to have suffered the same
fate. One woman stood in a pond OF
water all night, with four young
children, bathing their heads to keep
them from burning. In Gloucester,
for miles along the roads, wherever
the country is timbered, the trees are
undermined at the roots, and lie scat.
tered in all directions on every farm.
Men, women aud children were en-.
gagged in the fields fighting the fire
hoes, shoyels, spades and water pals
were busy, and the poor people work
lag with the energy Of desperation
/ The change of the wind is now driv.
ing the fire back over the old ground
/ and today at noon it was a fearful
looking sight People we're driven
from the fields and could do nothing
but look on and see their property
destroyed. Fields and grain, turnips
carrots and other crops were left eX
posed to the cattle and what has es
capped the fire fell a prey to their hun
ger The change in the wind is now
driving the fire back over the faller
timber, and its onward course i:
irresistible. The city is somewhat
quiet to night. The Minister Of Public
works has authorized the adoption o
certain measures necessary for public
safety here.
A new national organization called
the Irish National Brotherhood ha
lately been put into operation by tn,
most advanced Irish nationalist t.
take the place of FenianiSm. TIL,
organization will have its headquarter
at St. Louis, and be under the direction
of a central committee of seven, Ed
ward A. Reilly being the only mem
f Der from the Eastern States.