The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-01
THE QUEBEC FIRE.
Seven Hundred Houses Burpcd and S,OOe
Persons Made Homeless.

QUEBEC, May 31.-The fire here yesterday
is reported as having been caused by children
playing with matches. II was gotten completely
under control about midnight, after having
burned passage clear through the centre Of the
st. Louis suburbs, from west to east, extending
on the north 10 some places to the neigh borhood
OF st. John street. Many Of the residents Of that
street moved their effects to places OF safety.
The whole district comprised within the space
bounded on the east by st. Eustache street, from
the cricket neld down "a far as the south side Of
Artillery street, inclusive; on the west by Claire
and Fontaine streets, at the lower field on the
north by Artillery street, and on the south by the
Grsnds Alice, now remains but forest OF chim-
ney stacks and smouldering ruins. The streets
wholly or partially destroyed may be enumerat-
ed as follows; Claire, Fontaine, burton, Pre-
sSse sSss f'gsse IssbsSToti.re 0 81. MeSe AmSbi.
Dartigny, Artillery, -. Croix, St. julia, St. Au-
sns'n, AND st. Eustscss; sl,sa "A AT ,n one tine time
and fell In showers within the walls, setting
ire to a number OF premises, but In all places
niThtfaii the wind iulled somewhat, and the
confsRration gradually burnt Itself out on the
line Of st. Eustache street. having nothing more
to feed upon, owing TO the fortunate interven-
tion at this point Of the gacis Held and esplan-
ade.
missing, also = child OF MIR. Cote, Joiner. on
Scott street, who himself got baul burnt about
the face and hnnde, n u risO ono or TWO Other
children, whose name IL was impossible to as
certain. 1t is also sta I'd that one Of the nuns
OF the Good Shepherd Convent, In very dell
cate state OF health, received such nervous
shock As To supernduce her sudden death.
There were number OF minor casualties and
narrow escapes, both among inmates OF houses
and those who were working in their behalf.
A rough calculation puts down the numDer OF
houses at between six and seven hundred. and
that OF the inhabitants rendered homeless and
thrown depend ent for shelter upon the charity OF
their friends and the punlic last night at about
the same number Of thousands. Many families,
however, including delicate nd poorly or half
clad and terrified women with Infants, prefer
RED to remain out IN the cold air, guarding their
little effects from tho herds OF uDscrupulous
| plundersrs, to accepting projection In such
| shelter as 10 the emergency and hurry and tur-
| moil OF the hour the authorities were enabled
| to provide. 1t is impossible as vet to get the
amount OF loss to the iDsurance companies, but
| 1t Is very large.
MANY of fhe sufferers were sheltered last night
In the riding school drill shed aud artillery bar
| racks. Owing to the extent OF the nre the water
| supply gave out, and nut for the exertions OF
"B" Battery and citizeDs In rulhug down
wooden houses anu out-budings the hre would
| have been much more serious. IL Is a strange
! coincidence that Yesterday was the anniversary
| OF the destruction by DIRE of the same suburb
| thirty years AGO. Quebec Ore ofioes, II 10 re-
| ported, will lose heavily.