The Portland daily press., 1877-06-23
The St. John Fire
DETAILS OF THE
CALAMITY.
Loss from $12,OOO,O00 to
$l5,O0O,OO0.
The TOTAL INSURANCE
ABOUT $6,0OO.OO0.
Incendiaries and Thieves
ut Work.
Aid Pouring In From All
Directions.

Sumed, ana De1ofe the IRE COulu % cnecKeu IL
broke out with roar into Smyth street, carry
ing everything before it, From there the
flames spread into Drury lane and Mill street,
following that into Dock street, taking both
sides. Ere this, however, the rear of the Lon
don House and adjacent buildings had been
attacked. When it was seen that the first fire
would inevitably sweep. along either Dock or
Mill streets, aid came from Portland IN the
shape of the town engine and tiremen. The
tinder-boxes on fire, aided by the wind, proved
combination too much for the gallant work.
ers, and almost in despair they saw the flames
advance upon them, not slowly, but with a
rapidity that appalled, the stoutest hearts. The
Carleton engine came in the ferry-boat and
lent its aid One engine had been stationed at
the corner of Mill and Union streets, while the
men with branches were down on Union street,
opposite Drury lane. The buildings We're
mass of flames at the end of Smyth street and
Drury lane, and while the workers were vainly
endeavoring to have the fire end there
nomentary 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 the
street were soon in the. grasp of the devCuring
element and the men were obliged to drop
their branch-pipes and run up the street
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 clio thing became sirged.
AhuPAu ShEAuCS Va sAC u AhAAAcss
Proceeding along Smyth street in southerly
direction, the fire soon reached Nelson street
l and extended to Robertsons 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 such a terrible heat that it 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 dozen wood
boats were at the head of the Market slip, and
at the end of the wharf about the same num-
Der of schooners. Before the fire had assumed
formidable shape on the North wharf the men
on the vessels began to pour pals of water on
the decks. The water was low just then, and
something like this was necessary to eXtingllsh
the sparks that were continually showered ON
them. Those at the head of the slip were in
quarter of an hour, on fire in SO many places
that it was impossible for each outbreak to
receive attention. Before thu vessels had been
well on fire the flames passed above their
masts, which soon afforded steppiDg-stOne to
the shops on South wharf. Not one of these
west of Ward street was capable of withstand
ing the intense heat aud the sparks. All being
| of wood, they went down as ii felled by
hurricane. The schooners in front were hauled
out to place OF safety. Many OF the occu-
pants of the stores were off helping their
| unfortunate brother merchants, and some
| arrived just 10 time to save their books Others
were just enabled to witness the destruction OF
all their stock Some of the embers lodged in
There was Nothing to save it, for the fire was
so high as to be almost beyond reach. The fire
was left to pursue its own Way. AS the Eews
spread that some wooden houses in Horsefied
street. as well as others on Duke street, near
the Victoria Hotel, were on fire, thousands
were alarmed, as it was soon seen that
the fire Was spreading north, south, east
and west to Germaip, Charlotte. Duke ard
| to be had, ard everything was going
down before the nnreIenting fire
A building on Charlotte street had hardly be-
come prey to the flames. when others on eth
er side of the street, followed suit In half an
hour all but the German street side of the
square was in ashes. Tue Victoria Hotel and
ST. Andrews church were ia great danger. and
the hotel guests, as well as the employees, began
10 make pre- parations for seeking new quarters.
Very little time was gwen them to collect their
valuables, and in majority of cases had to
leave with a scanty wardrobe. About the same
time St. Andrews church took fire, and it did
not stand long. Adjoining the church was the
two story brick building occupied as tailor
| shop in the lower story, and the Beacon, Pion-
Ger and Sloan lodges of Odd Fellows, as well
as the Mellicate Encampment of that order,
had the upper fiat. Some of the members man.
aged to get into the building and saved most of
| the regalia and paraphernalia prior to that
building being destroyed. The buildings at the
southern corner of Dock and Union streets and
on the opposite corner caught almost slmuta-
| neously. To say that the fire ragged fercely
here would but Zoo 1alntly describe Inc terrlDle
manner in which it Kept on, unheeding the
streams of water directed upon it. The engine
was obliged to shift its position from this quar-
| ter, the heat being most terrific. There was
danger, too, of the hose being burned, and OF
all things the preservation of that was most es-
| seutial. The engine was taken down Dock
street, but it seemed as if the fire did not wish
| to part company, and kept up rapid pursuit.
| 1t also spread along the western part of Mill
street, crossing over to the opposite side and
Io.&: ,%p;v,
Rankin & Sons biscuit mandatory, then fol-
lowing on toward North street. From the south
wharf the flames entered into Ward street, and
extended to Peters wharf in a remarkably
| short space of time, carrying everything before
them. Then they proceeded to Water street,
| and from thence soon made their way to the
southern part of the Market square, making
| jump up to Prince William street. At this
| stage wooden house on Canterbury street took
| the flames, and the Church street buildings
were soon imperiled; then the flames advanc-
ed to Princess and King Streets and German
street, in front of Trinity church. began to take
| the fire very rapidly. The Academy of Music
was also destroyed. Two stores were sccupied
| in the lower story, and the Knights of Pythias
had a hall in front up stairs. A great many of
| the actors who have been playing under Mr..
Nannary's engagement, lost portions of their
wardrobe, and all the scenery was burned.
When the fire had reached the Market square,
and had obtained strong hold upon the many
sions were heard coming from one of the hard
ware stores. This caused a general scattering
of the people, and the reports reached as far
| up as the court house. The fire entered King
street on the western side from German and
Canterbury streets, extending northerly on
Charlotte street to the ST. John Hotel, burning
the Trinity school in its course, went up the
south side of Kings square and levelled to the
ground the lyceum, destroying the marble works
of S p. Osgood and the Messrs Milgan; pro-
cppdp6 m Mr. ROhertson's stable ST
Malachi's hall; up Leinster street and then
back to King street, east down nearly to Pitt
street. From there all the buildings south of
King street have been burned.
People Fleeing for Safety.
In the other part of the city the confagra-
tended as far up Union street as Messrs j. and
| T. Robinson's. The Bank of British North
America was saved. The police Office and sta
ton opposite were burned. The shipping
foated down the harbor to places of safety at
au early stage of the fire. There are no losses
to the shipping by the fire except to the schoon-
ers in Market slip. At an early part of the day
the Western Union Telegraph Co.'S ofice was
burned, and its valuable batteries and appara-
tus destroyed. The Office is now established at
the Inter Colonial Railway station. A great
quantity of the goods saved fell into the hands
of thieves, who hung around like vutures,
eager 10 avail themselves of any opportunity
that afforded to carry off what they could lay
Ju6iT DdDuS OH. 1U6 WHAT was COV6r-
ed most of the night with thousands of people
anxious to escape by water, as were the railway
track and ground around the track. The post
Office in Carleton was used at night for the
reception and transmission of mais. The eve
ming mails we're made up and sent off there on
time.
Newspapers and hob Offices Destroyed.
The following newspaper offices and their
stock were completely swept away: The Free
man, the Evening Globe, DAILY Telegraph,
Daily News. Waterman aud Religious Intel
lIgeucer. The G ODE, Telegraph, News. Intel
ligenc-r and Watchnan had job offices at
tached Messrs Chubb & Co. lost their large
job Office, book bindery, etc. Messrs McMll.
Ian lost their job office building, etc. Mr..
Knodell lost his job office.
The Public Buildings Burned.
The following are among the public buildings
burned Postotfice, Bank of New Brunswick,
city building, custom house. Maritime Bank
building lin which are located this bank, that
of Montreal and Nova Scotia, Office of the
school trustees, etc., Bank of Nova Scotia
new bullding,) Academy of Music lin which
was the knights of Pythas hail. Victoria Ho-
tel, Dad Fellows Hall. No 1 engine
house, Orange Hall, Temperance Hall,