The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-07-11
A CITY IN FLAMES.

A CITY IN FLAMES.
St. John, n. b., Visited by n Terrible
CnIamity-Thc City Reduced to Ashes and
n Number of Lives Lost.
The calamitous fire that visited st.
John, N. B., is described as follows:
The fire was discovered in building
on the south side of York PointsGp, next
to McLaughlin's boiler shop. To the
latter building the flames had spread
before the fremen had reached the scene.
The engines arrived and did their best
to stop the flames, but all efforts were
in vain. Nothing could be done. The
flames then spread to the various build
ings on Have's wharf, which were also
quickly consumed, and before the fire
could be checked ait broke out with
a roar into Smith street, carrying every
thing before it. From there the flames
spread into Drury lane and Mill street,
following that into Dock street, taking
both sides. Before this, however, the
rear of the London House and adjacent
buildings had been attacked. when 1t
was seen that the first fire would inevi-
tably sweep along either Dock or Mill
street. Aid came from Portland in the
shape of the town engine and firemen.
The tinder-boxes on fire, aided by the
wind, proved q combination too much
for the gallant workers, and almost in
despair they saw the flames advance
upon them, not slowly, but with n ra-
pidity that appalled, the stoutest hearts.
The buildings were mass OF flame at
the end of Smith street and Drury lane ;
and while the workers were vainly en-
dcavor;ng to have the fire end there, a
momcntary gale took the flames across
Union street to the opposite houses, and
then they receded; but their touch had
been fatal, and in less than five minutes
these buildings were doomed to destruc-
ton. Both sides of the street were soon
in the grasp of the devouring element,
and the men were obliged to drop their
branch pipes and run up the street, after
which they dragged the hose after them.
Another body of men were working
Mt the foot of Union street, and by plac-
ing boards in front of their faces man
aged to battle with the flames until their
clothing became singed.
Proceeding along Smith street in q
southerly direction, the fire soon reached
Nelson street, then Robertsun's place,
then extended to Robertson's wharf, and
then up the South wharf. AS it gained
Nelson street on the south, it there met
the flames coming up that street, and
the combination made terrific heat that
could not be borne. Allied with the
strong wind from the northwest, it did
not take long for the entire wharf to be
in blaze. Half a dozen wood boats
were at the head of Market slip, and at
the end of the wharves there were about
the same number of schooners. Before
the fire had assumed a formidable shape
on the North wharf the men on vessels
began to pour pals of water on the decks.
The water was low just then, and some
thing like this was necessary to extin-
guish the sparks that we're continually
showered down on them. Those at the
head of the slip were in a quarter of an
hour on fire in so many places that it
was impossible for each outbreak to re-
ceive attention before the vessels were
we'll on fire. The flames caught their
masts, and these afforded stepping
stone to the shops on South wharf. Not
one of those west of Ward street was
capable of withstanding the intense heat
and sparks, all being Of wood, and they
went down rs if felled by hurrica ..
The schooners in front having bee4,
hauled out to place of safety, many Of
the occupants of the stores were off help.
ing their unfortunate brother merchants,
and some arrived just in time to save
their books. Others were just enabled to
witness the destruction of all their stock.
Some of the embers lodged in the stceple
of Trinity church, German street, and
with nothing to save it, the fire being SO
high as to be almost beyond reach, the
fire was lett to pursue its own way.
AS the news spread that some wooden
houses in Horsefeld street, rs well as
others on Duke street, near the Victoria
Hotel, were on fire, thousands were
alarmed, rs it was soon seen that the fire
was spreading north, south, east and
west to Germain, Charlotte, Duke and
Horsefeld streets, with not IN engine tc
be had anl everything going down be.
fore the unrelenting flames. A building
on Charlotte street, had hardly become g
prey to the flames. whsn others on each
side followed, and in half an hour all ex.
cept the German street side Of the square
was in ashes. The Victoria Hotel and
st. Andrews church were in great dan.
ger, and the hotel guests, rs well rs the
employees, began to make preparations
for seeking new quarters. Very lit {
time was given them to collect theil
valuables, and in the majority Of cases
they had to leave with scanty wardrobes.
About the same finest. Andrews church
took fire. and it did not stand long. Ad.
joining the church was two-story brick
building, occupied as tailor shop in the
lower story and by the Beacon, Pioneer,
and Sloan lodges of Odd Fellows, as
we'll as Millicets Encampment of that
order on the upper flat, Which was de.
stroyed; prior to which, however, the
members managed to enter the building
and save most Of the regalia and para
phernalia. The buildings at the south
ern corner of Dock and Union. streets and
on the opposite corner caught almost
simultaneously.
At al early hour the Western Union
Telegraph Company's office was burned
and its valuable batteries and apparatus
destroyed. A great quantity of the
goods saved fell into the hands of thieves,
who hung around like vultures, eager to
avail themselves Of any opportunity that
afforded to carry off what they could lay