The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-06-27
THE FIRE ERA.
The City OF st. Johns, Now Nrunswiclk,
Destroyed.

The City OF st. Johns, New Brunswick,
Destroyed.
A telegram from St. Johns, n. B., of
June 91st, gives the following account of
the destruction of that city by fire: Yes
terday was the most calamitous day ever
i known in the annals of St. Johns. Moth
ing could have burst more suddenly on
the unexpected citizens than the fire
which destroyed so many valuable lives,
wasted property by millions, laid an ar
rest on so many and varied forms of in
dustry, and spread not only desolation
but terror and CONSERVATION all around.
Public buildings, palaces of commerce,
temples of religion, banks, palatial resi-
dences, newspaper and telegraph offices,
school houses, and almost everything of
which the citizens of St. Johns felt proud
were in few hours laid in ruins The
loss of our hotels, churches, school houses,
banks, ETC., was made a thousand times
more lamentable by the lamentable de-
struction of life accompanying it. The
fire was discovered in the building owned
by Mr.. Fairweather, on the south of York
point, the shop next to McLaughlin's
boiler shop To the latter building the
flames had passed before the tiremen had
reached the scene. 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 various
buildings on HAYES wharf, which were
also quickly consumed, and the fire broke
out into Smith street with roar, carrying
everything before it. From there the
flames spread into Drury lane and Mill
street, following that into the dock, ia
king both sides. Ere this, however,
the rear Of the London house and
adjacent buildings had been at
tackled, when it was seen that the
fire would eventually sweep along the
Dock or Mill streets. Aid came from
Portland in the shape Of town engine
and firemen. The finder boxes on fire,
aided by the wind, proved a combination
too much for the gallant workers, and al
most in despair they saw the flames adj
vance upon them, not slowly, but with
rapidity that appalled, the stoutest heart.
The Carleton engine came on the ferry
boat and lent its aid. One engine had
been stationed at the corner of Mill and
Union streets, opposite Drury lane. The
buildings were a mass Of flames at tue
end of Smith street and Drury lane, and
while the workers were vainly endcavor-
ing to have the flames end there, a mo-
mentary gale took the flames across Union
street to the opposite houses, and there
they needed but their touch to be fatal,
and in less than five minutes the build
ings were doomed to destruction. Both
sides Of the street were soon in the grasp
of the devouring clement and men were
obliged to drop their branch pipes and
run up the street, after which they drag
ged tho hose after them. Another lot of
men were working at the foot of Union
street, and by placing boards in front of
their faces managed to battle with the
flames until their clothing became singed.
Proceeding along Smith street in. a
southcrly direction, the fire soon reached
Nelson street and then Robertson place
then extended to Robertson's wharf and
then up south wharf ......
AS it gained Nelson street on the south
it met the flames coming up that street
and the combination made terrific heat
that could not be borne. Allied with a
strong wind from the northwest, it did not
take long for the entire wharf to be in a