Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-06-27
THE ST. JOHN FIRE.


tiOn- Loss Of Property over 100000
900.
The following details of the great fire
at ST. John, n b., are CLEANED from the
dispatches of June 81:
Nothing could have burst more sudden
Nv on our unsuspeCting citizens than the
fire which destroyed so many valuable
lives, wasted property By millions, laid
an arrest on many and varied forms OF
industry, and spread not only desolation
but terror and CONSERVATION all around.
Public buildings. palaces OF commerce,
temples OF religion, banks, palatial resi-
dences, ut wspaper and telegraph offices,
school houses. almost everything of which
the citizens OF st. John felt proud, were
all, in few hours, laid in ruin The loss
of our hotels, churches, school houses,
banks, etc, is made a thousand times
more painful by the lamentable desuuc-
ton of life accompanying.
The fire was discovered in building
owned by Mr. Fairweather, on the south
of York's paint.shop, next to McLaugh-
Inns boiler.shop. TO the latter building
the flames had spread before the tiremen
had reached the scene. The engines ar
rived and did t,Ieir best to stop the flames,
but all efforts were in vain. Nothing
could be done. The flames tl.en spread
to various buildings on Howe's Wharf,
which were quickly consumed, and the
fire broke out with a roar, into Smith
street. carrying everything before it. From
there the flames spread into Drury lane
and Mill street, following that into Dock
street, taking both sides. Ere this, how
ever, the rear OF the London House and
adjacent buildings had been attacked,
when it was seen that the first fire would
inevitably sweep along Dock or Mill streets.
Aid came from Portland in the shape
of the town engine and tiremen. The
finder boxes on fire, aided by the wind,
formed combination too much for he
gallant workers, and almost in despair
they saw the flames advancing upon
them, not slowly, but with a rapidly that
appalled, the stoutest hearts. The build
ings were a mass of flames at the end of
Smith street and Drury lane, ana while
the workers were vainly endeavoring to
have the fire end there momentary 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 the buildings were
doomed to destruction. Both sides of
of the devouring element, and the
men were soon obliged to drop their
branch pipes and run up the street, after
which they dragged the 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 be-
came siDged.
lrn,nglipr oil in
southerly direction the fire soon reached
Nelson street, and then Robertsons place.
1t then extended to Robertson's Wharf
and then up South Wharf. AS it gained
Nelson street the south, IL mot flames
coming up that street, and the comblna.
ton made terrific heat that could not be
borne. Allied with the strong wind from
the northwest, il did not take long for the
entire wharf To be in II blaze. Half Il doz, II
wood boats were at the head of Market
street, and at the end of the wharyes about
the same number of schooners. Those
at the head of the slip were, in a quarter
OF an hour, on fire in so many places that
il was impossible for each outbreak to re-
ceive attention before the vessels had been
we'll on fire. The flames passed above
their masts, that soon offered stepping
stone To the shops on South Wharf. Not
one of these west of Ward street was ca
pabe of outstanding the intense heat
and sparks, all being of wood. They went
down AS if ielled by a hurricane, the
schooners in f ont having been hauled to
place of safety. Many of the oc.
cupants OF the stores were of help
ing der unfortunate brother mer.
chants, and some arrived lust in time to
save their books, Others were Just
l,l ). 4
stocks. Some of the embers lodged in the
stceple of Trinity Church, on German
street, and with nothing to save il, for the
fire was so high as to be almost beyond
reach, and the aamcs were lett 10 pursue
their own way. AS the news spread that
some wooden houses in UorSeteid street,
as well as others on Duke street, near Vic.
toria, were on fire, thousands were
alarmed, as il was soon seen that the fire
was spreading north, south, east and west
to German, Charlotte, Duke and Horse.
field streets, not an engine To he had, and
everything going down before the unre-
lenting flames.
A building on Charlotte street had
hardly become prey to the flames when
Others ON the other side followed In
half an hour all but the German street
side of the square was in ashes The Vie.
toria Hotel and 81. Andrews Church were
in great danger and the hotel guests, rs
well As employees, began to make prepara.
uonS for seeking new quarters. Very
lit'c time was given them to collect their
vauahlcS, and in majority of cases the
inmates lad 10 leave with scanty ward
robes About the same time 81. Andrews
Church took fire and was speedily con
sumed
The buildings at the southern corner of
Dock and Union streets, and on the oppo-
site corner caught almost simultaneously.
To say that the fire ragged icrcely here