The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-07-26
MONTREAL LETTER.
international Press Bureaus Letter
MONTREAL, Canada, June 23C

international Press Bureaus letter.
MONTREAL, Canada, June 23d.
An extensive conhagration in these
days, notwithstanding all the modern
appliances for overcoming the fire
tiend, is not a thing of the past, The
most destructive fire that has occurred
perhaps since the Chicago confagra-
ton, was that which swept away
three-fourths of the town Of St. John,
the commercial metropolis of the
Province of New Brunswick, on the
DIST inst. st. John, is picturesquely
situated at the mouth of the river bear
inc the same name, and is 761 miles
distant from Montreal. The city is
built upon, solid rock, and stands upon.
a declivity. The population now
amounts to about forty thousand souls.
The chief industry Of the place was
shipbuilding and the fisheries. The
town, besides possessing all the most
approved fire appliances, had one Of
the most efficient fire brigades on the
continent. The fire broke out in q,
boiler-shop at Portland, a suburb Of
St. John, and spread with such light.
ming rapidity, owing to the high wind
which prevailed at the time, until it
became apparent to- the citizens that
a terrible confagration, accompanied
by all it's horrors and priyations, was
about to devastate the town. The
locality where the fire broke out was
principally built of wooden buildings
and sheds, which were swept away in
an incredibly short space Of time, Tie
firemen worked calamity to arrest the
progress of the fiery monster, but were
obliged in many instances to fee for
their lives, as the flames advanced
upon them not slowly, but with a
rapidity which appalled, the stoutest
heart. Many Of the occupants of the
stores ON King street had not even
time to save their books.
After Trinity Church took fire, the
devouring element was allowed to pur-
sue it's own way, and burn itself out.
To add to the horrors Of the occasion,
| thieves hung around like VUltures,
ready to carry off what yaluableS they
could lay their hands on. Among the
public buildings destroyed are the new
| Post-oftice, Custom House, Academy
of Music, Dramatic Lyceum, Bank of
New Brunswick, Maritime Bank, Bank
Agencies of Montreal and Nova SEQ
tia, and Savings Bank. No less than
| fourteen churches were consumed.
The offices of the Daily Telegraph,
Globe NeaOs, Freeman, and WatchDoo11
were also destroyed. In short, public
buildings, palaces Of commerce, temples
of religion, banks, palatial residences,
and everything that the citizens Of St.
John were proud of, were laid in ruins.
The loss Of life would certainly have
been greater if the fire had occurred
during the still hours Of the night
So far fourteen pers0l-s have persisted
lin the flames by falling walls and 9th
erWise. AS usual in large confagra-
tions, large number are missing.
Fifteen hundred people are rendered
homeless, and about twenty thousand
are without food, and depending on
the generosity Of neighboring towns.
Immediately when the extent OF the
calamity became generally known
Throughout Canada, means were taken
by the various cities and towns to re-
lieye the suffering inhabitants. At
Montreal a meeting was called by the
Mayor, and a committee appointed to
open q room for the reception of cloth
ing and provisions. Twelve hours
after the receipt of the news train
load of provisions was speeding on it's
way to st. John. The Dominion Gov
eminent has placed $4,000 in the
hands OF the Mayor of st. John for the
relief of the sufferers. The loss is
roughly estimated at fifteen million
dollars, and the insurance, it is stated,
will not exceed six millions. Canadian
insurance companies will be heavy
losers by the disaster, as they have all
had agencies in the town.
The town of Bobcaygeon, Ontario,
was also badly scourged by fire On the
18th inst. A large number of the prin-
cipal stores and public buildings were
consumed.
The Indian uprising at Okla has been
the prevailing topic OF interest during
the past week. The scene Of the
trouble is quiet Indian village, con-
tanning about one hundred houses,
on the Ottawa river. The
Roman Catholic Church destroyed last
week was over one hundred and fifty /
wears old. A valuable library, con-
tanning upwards of one thousand vol
umes in the Indian language. was also
destroyed. The cause of the uprising
was brought about by the issuing of
warrants for the arrest of
about sixty Indians, whose crime was
the cutting of wood on the 9th of May
last.
The history Of the trouble extends
over period of eight years. Since