The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-19
A GREAT FIRE IN CANADA.
THE BUSINESS PART OF THE IOWN
OF ST JOHNS IN ASHES.
The Flames Swept on a Galo from House to
House-B omeIess Families Taking Refuge
In the sBsrracks-Probsblc Loss Of Life.

Tho Flames Swept n Gato from House TO
House-B omeIess Families Tnk kins Refuge
In the Bsrracks-Probsblo Lose Of Life.
ST. ALBANs, VT, June 18.-A disastrous
condagration swept tha town Of St. Johns TO-
day. The town is forty-tbree miles from this
place. and at the junction Of the Central Yer
mont and Grand Trunk Railroads. 1t has about
seven thousand inhabitants, and 10 one OF the
most prosperous towns In Canada. This morn
ing about nine o'clock an alarm OF Gre was
sounded. The wind was blowing hurricane.
The nre was discovered by some persons resid-
ing near Bousauint's lumber MILL which stood
within one hundred yards OF the Central Yer
mont Railroad depot. In less than fifteen min
utes, and before the 1re apparatus arrived at
the lumber wharf. the flames had spread from
among the numerous piles OF dry timber into
the planning mill, which In twenty minutes the
structure was q orumbling mass OF ruins
Myrisds Of sparks nled the air, and fell In every
direction upon the dry roofs OF the houses and
stores for a distance Of over half mile. The
residence of Engineer Flanders, which stood
places, and In twenty minutes thereafter was
burned to the ground, the family barely escap.
from house to house until nearly the whole Of
Richelieu street on both sides was mass OF
aames Dwellings. stores, banks; mills, me
ee aph once, the hotels, and, In fact, the whole
business part OF the town was In flames, and
O'Clock BY 1 O'Clock the flames had ceased to
spread for want Of material to feed upon.
the many families made homeless by the nre
took refuge In the vacant fields with the scanty
amount Of goods they had been able to save be-
lore ths names teaened Inelt , awe,nnm, s .,,,l
ables from her dwelling, was burned to death.
Two other persons are missing. Two men were
seriously burned, one OF whom will probably
die. The Gre made a clean sweep Of Richeeu,
Front, and Champlain streets. All the business
scription was saved. The population who were
turned out OF house and homo are seeking tenn
Marchsnd, member OF Parliament representing
the st. Johns District, teleeraphed TO the Gov
ernor- General OF Canada asking permission to
take possession Of the Coy yernmeDt barracks for
shelter to the homsless. he request was grant
ed. and tonight over 800 families will be quar-
tered there. Their food will have to come from
outside sources, and there Ia no prospect Of any
being obtained except at Montreal or st: Adams
The loss Is estimated at over t1.o0o0oO. The
insurances are In Engl sh CON panles, as follows:
Royal Canadian, $4,000 Stadacons, Of Quebec,
iSSs oi fornn,o fan ,si ocS: Nas,onai' Of %ontre"I
$22.00 Agricultural $3.50; total, about $4,000.
Over seventy-nye OF the principal merchants are
Assistance was teleeraphed for to Montreal
and ST. Adams. The entire nre department OF
81. Albans res bonded, and were taken to st.
Johns by special train 10 htty minutes. Mon
The territory burned over Is 900 feet wide and
mile IN length. Seven hotels, nine churches,
the Custom House, Court House. Post once.
United states Consulate, two banks, docks, ves-
sells In the river, portion OF a bridge over the
Rlchelieu river, the st. Johns Woollen Mills
(empoying sixty hands,, stone china wareroofns,
and 80 stores and houses are reduced to ashes.
The st. Johns Bank saved Its paper money,
but everything else Is In the vaults The Mer-
chants Bank left rythine In Its vaults. Miss
Lay. miner, In endeavoring to save goods,
" 9 burned To death. Mrs. Lynch, a young IN an
named BONN, Joseph w. Thomas, and Charles
Arpann were badly burned. Mayor Rossiter.
whose house aud tannery we're destroyed, was
severely burned.
Toe Bank of ST. Johns was q beautiful out
stone building. Stone buildings, with iron shut
ters, supposed to have been nre proof. burned
like tinder. The woollen company had $4,000
worth of fannels burned.
The houses were mos " OF brick and stone.
About 30 families have been rendered home
less. most OF them losing every ming. The 81.
Johns Noues building was burned, and lie
Frdnco Canadians ofce saved. The Etna Com
pany OF Hartford Il the only American 90 pany
known TO have risks on the property burned.