Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-07-14
A MEMORABLE SCENE.
Tho Dcs,rse,ive Fire NJ ~. John, n. H., ~
Wisnesscd by N Lady.

Tho bcstructtNe tlre ~ ~. JOuns Ne u's NJ
| Witnessed hy Lady.
A lady who was in st. John, N. b., at
the time OF tho fire gives the following
thrilling account Of the scenes and Incl
dents she Witnessed after the destruction
II the hotel ut which she was stopping;
We found shelter in the railway sta
ton, and the gentlemen went back to
reconncntrc. Before leaving the hotel ]
sent boy to tell the clerk would re-
turn as soon as the danger was past
After waiting m hour and watching from
that safe distance the horrible red sheet
Of fire that rolled along from roof to
roof, the gentlemen returned and said
the Victoria Hotel was gone, the Acad-
envy Of Music, and MI that part of the
street mass Of fire. We went back and
walked through King street up to Kings
square while one side OF the street was
burning. Such terrific, savage sight
| hope never to see again. Men, women
and children ran here and there terror
stricken, wringing their hands over
losses and horrors undergone. The cries
of children for food were piteous. Yet
there was nothing to give them. Fami-
lies had filled the burying ground and
other vacant grounds near, and little
children slept all night on the ground.
In the afternoon the people seemed dazed
and crazed by the smoke and the terrible
calamity. One or two funerals were to
have taken place and the corpses had to
be moved two or three times from houses
that burned. The burned district en-
braces n space further than the eye can
see through the smoke and dust, and
presents scene of ruin and desolation
no pen can portray. A part of the Jail
was burned, and number of prisoners
are said to have been allowed to walk out
free men again. They probably took to
their heels soon, and were not of the
number who prowled around to steal and
plumber wherever valuables were stored.
| was sent for by some friends whose
house happened to be spared, and re.
NAMED their all day.
The second day of the fire the firemen
were so exhausted and food and drink so
scarce that they asked for nourishment at
any door they CHANGED opass. Hourafter
hour went by and yet no abatement of
the fury Of the fire fiend. The revels Of
the internal regions seems to have been
visited upon this unfortunate city. HUI
man power was unavailiug to stay the
awful doom that swept from house to
house, laying one home after another
to ashes, driving families of little chill.
dren into the streets. The sick, the aged
and the intirm were obliged to seek re-
fuge in parks or any open space that was
considered reasonably safe by those who
kindly assisted them out of burning
buildings. A panic seized the people.
No spot seemed safe from the infectious
foe. Men reelcd in the streets who
were known to be of temperate habits,
md followed the crowd even to the verge
of scorching, eager to see whose house
would be the next to 60. Food was not
to be had for the poor olltcasts. Even
the pantries of the few rich, whose houses
were spared, were soon emptied for those
who came to their doors to be fed. It
seemed as if the clements had leagued
with the fire tiend to prolong the torture
until the city lay in asles.
la ind fNrn |, Il /, oefrn
into the air, and combined with hot
smoke to blind the multitude who watched
in agony for the flames to spend their
fury. There was great deal of intoxi-
cation. Men drank to sustain their
strength and drown their sufferings.
Many people were driven to the waters
brink by the flames, and but for the eff
,ient management of boats, ships and |
steamers, must have persisted AS it |
vas, they remained out i'll the water all
hight and were landed in Carleton in the
The dread of the second night |
If this atiiiction was that SO many were
naddened by whisky, hunger and a
general suspension of order that a savage
thirst after more excitement would place
he small remaining portion of the city
IL danger of incendiaries. But let me
lraw the curtain on this picture of shrek
ng women, homeless children, beggared,
broken hearted men and universal ruin.
For myself feel thankful to merciful
iod that l got out alive, even though my
private loss is heavy.