The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-06-29
ST. JOHNS CALAMITY.
Detailed Account of the Destruction by Fire
OF the New Brunswick Metropolis.

OF the New brunswick Metropolis.
Wednesday, the Goth of June, 1877,
was the most calamitous day ever known
In the annals of st. John, n. b. "Noth-
ing" says a correspondent, "could have
burst more suddenly on the interpreting
citizens than the fire which destroyed so
many valuable lives, wasted property by
millions, laid an arresting hand on many
and varied forms of industry, and spread
not only desolation, but terror and cor
sternation, all around. Public build
ings, palaces of commerce, temples d
religion, banks, palatial residences,
newspapers and telegraph offices, school,
houses, almost everything of which the
citizens of st. John felt proud, were al
in few hours laid in ruins" The as-
count continues
The loss of our hotels, churches,
school-houses, banks, ETC., was made \
thousand times more painful by the
lamentable destruction of life accom-
panying it.
The fire was discovered i'll a building
owned by Mr.. Fairweather on the south
side of York's Point slip, next TO Me
Laughlin's boiler shop. To the latte,
building the flames had spread be
fore the firemen had reached the scene.
The 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 quick
" consumed, and the fire broke out with
roar into Smith street, carrying every
thing 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 London House and adjacent tuild-
ings had been attacked. When i 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 firemen. The tipler
boxes on fire, aided by the wind, prCved
q combination too much for the gallant
workers, and, almost in despair, they
saw the flames advance upon them, not
slowly, but with rapidity that appalled,
the stoutest hearts.
The Carleton engine came In on he
ferryboat and lent its aid. One engine
had been stationed at the corner OF Mill
and Union streets, while men with
branches were down on Union street oo-
posite Drury lane The buildings wee
mass of flames at the end of Smith
street and Drury lane, and, while tie
workers were vainly endeavoring to have
the fire end there, momentary gall
took the flames across Union street to
the opposite houses, and then they re
coded, but their touch had been fatal
and in less than five minutes the build.
ings We're doomed to destruction. Both
sides of the street were soon in the
grasp OF the devouring element, and mer
were 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 a
the foot of Union street, and, by placing
boards in front of their faces managed t.
battle with the flames until their cloth
ing became singed.
Proceeding along Smith street in !
solltherly direction, the fire soon reached
Nelson street, and then Robertson
place; then extended to Robertson
wharf, and then up North wharf. AS i
gained Nelson street on the south, j
met the flames coming up that street, anC
the combination made terrific heat tina
could not be borne. Allied with tn,
strong wind from the northwest, it dix
not take long for the entire wharf to b.
in blaze. Half a dozen wood-boat
were at the head of Market slip, and a
the end of the wharves about the sam
number of schooners.
Before the fire had assumed formida
bic shape on North wharf the men on tn
vessels began to pour pals OF water OF
the decks. The water was low just then
and something like this was necessary +
extinguish the sparks that were contin
ually showering down upon them
Those at the head of the slip were, in
quarter of an hour, on fire in so man
places that it was impossible for eac
outbreak to receive attention before tn
vessels had been well on fire. TIL
flames passed above their masts, this
soon offered a stepping-stone to tn
shops on South wharf. Not one of thes
west of Ward street was capable of witt
standing the intense heat and sparks
All being of wood, they went down as
felled by hurricane, the schooners
front having been hauled to a place {
safety. Many of the occupants of store
were off helping their unfortunate brotl
er merchants, and some arrived just
time to save their books. Others wei
just enabled to witness the destructio
of their stock.
Some of the embers lodged in IL
steeple of Trinity Church, Germai
street, and, with nothing to save it-f'
the fire was so high as to be almost b
yond reach-the flames were left to pu
sue their own way.
AS news spread that some woodt
houses on Horsefeld street, as well
others on Duke street, near the Victor
Hotel, were on fire, thousands we
alarmed, as it was soon seen that this fl
was spreading south and east to Gre
main, Charlotte, Duke and Horseie
streets Not an engine was to be ha
and everything was going down befo
the unrelenting fire. A building {
Charlotte street had hardly become
prey to the flames when others on Il
other side followed. In half an hour
the German street side of the square W
in ashes.
The buildings at the southern corn
of Dock and Union streets and on {
opposite corner caught almost simuli
neously. To say that the fire rag