New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-20
THE FIRE AT PORT-AU-PRINCE.
SIXTEEN Block or BUILDINGS DEsrRoYED-Loss
ESTIMATED At TWO MILLION DOLLARS

SIXTEEN BLOCKS or BUILDINGS DEsrRoYED-Loss
ESTIMATED At TWO MILLION DOLLARS.
Alexander Miller, first officer OF the steam
slip Alps OF the Atlas line. made statement Ia regard
to the PorauPrince tIayt) fire to TRIBUNE reporter
last evening. Upon the evening Of the ltD VI February
the steamship lying ut anchor In the harbo ready
to sail upoa tho following morning. About $50 " M
bright hight was observed some distance back from tue
wharyes, and the OF fire was beard stOng north
easterly wind blowing and Ia an Incredibly snort
space time the fire assumed terrible aspect Dense
volumes of smoke noated the Earbor, every OBJ
ject 10 which distinctly brought to view by the
lgnt OF the James. Tue air was laden with burning
cinders flying all directions the great danger OF
tho shipping. Several vessels moored alongside tho
Custom-hou wharf were hauled into the bay ac-
count OF the ntLse heat but not before TWO schooners
had caught fire and were somewhat damaged Liter III
the night the wind gradually died away, but the
COZ lgratiOn continued % spread IN nj directions.
All u.h Il RACED, the wooden bailng' Offering every
and IL was not until morning that the TIRE was over
and then III, took place more from tho want OF more
buildings destroy Than account OF the 'h"rts maze
10 preyent its spread. Block after block was swept
away allowing little opportunity for the removal of any
personal property. Early in tho evening boat was
sent from the Alps extend all possible nid but tle
could be given. The upon shore was pinu one
The screams Of women aud children as tie, fed from
the fierce heat and the noisy Efforts OF the men to save
property were heard far from the Axes were cs-
truucd for tearing Tho bLildng~ but fear seemed
to have taken hold 0f al, ana bK little was done toward
suDduing the flames Tae only Oh CINE III tie 'p proved
worthless. Water cOul DC had In abundance uut th're
WAS no wav OF using IT, From time 10 ,ine heavy tx
illusions occurred, ruDUrtd mat several h'os
were lost at these tlJic-.
AS The fire splead. All tf rts were at last iirec ed
toward the ChStum-l Ouse long, low, wooden bhulue
upon the wharf. Around ais most VI tho HoldrrS vi
;e III. gItbcreO, and with DUCK Is OF wafer
* iu.u-hPd tao mrs that caught from udie 10 lHe
from the y.ug berr. Tue aInmhlioI La IN" lori Oh
The rIclt I the city aud Ia tue ratViIrs a. 0lAef
pOints was taken III UOas. aud mOOftd hOhc us-ahce
out in the haTlOr. o An
xteen blocks OF bmding', averaging from 80 {" 40
buildings In block, were en- rely GestrO) co. cover
ing an nearly IbrtC-quaittfo OI i'le ia "ngtn
from LCrth TO sOutu. ana from tBc water Font O'cA
some Il staucc nryund the base OF the h. HI "IreLs
families rendered homeless, ana ihc loss Was est
uatuu Ut s. OJ0,U0O. AmCng the Dniln2s hdlncu WAS
thc rc.iu, ~ gent OF the Alias ealsIp Com
pauy and hDe stores ana private residences lac
Alrs I,ft PUrd Prince AT -. ON the morning OF
lur 10Th of i, Eruar, mat Ia fGr her particulars
could pe ganrd tie general iIDpreshOn now
ever, that ITO originated from the ssnitna OF bar
rel OF petroleum Ia VI tile watcnpdsc.. Capt.
D.ubetOfe Of g. Alps, wLo was hm'h- those whO
asded tie ste,Lrr lie cULnScns rV'e l''ss ".Ie
lost through TIC eGp!oSiOns.