Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-06-29
The Great Fire at St. John, NIB.
ST. JouN, N. b.. June &.

wasted property by millions, laid an ar
rest on the many and varied forms of in.
dustry, and spread not only desolation,
but terror and CONSERVATION, all around
Public buildings, palaces Of commerce,
temples of religion, banks, palatial resi-.
dences, newspaper and telegraph offices,
school houses, almost everything of which
the citizens of st. John felt proud, were
all in a few hours laid in ruin.
The loss of our hotels, churches, school
houses, banks, ETC., was made thousand
times more painful by the lamentable
destruction of life accompanying It. The
fire was discovered in q building owned
by Mr. Fairweather, on the south of
York Point slip, next to McLaughlin's
bOilershop. To the latter building the
flames had spread before 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
he done.
The flames spread to the various build
ings on Have's wharf, which were quick
ly consumed, and the fire broke out with
a roar into Smith street, carrying every
thing before it. From there 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
buildings had been attacked, when it
was seen that the fire would inevitably
sweep along either Dock or Mill street.
Aid came from Portland in the shape of
engines and firemen. The tinder boxes
on fire, aided by wind, proved COM
l. 60 ha nvIy
ers, and almost in despair they saw the
flames advance upon them, not slowly
but with a rapidity that appalled, the stout
est hearts The Carleton engine came
in and lent its aid. The buildings were a
mass of flames at the end of Smith street
and Drury Lane, and 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 in less than five minutes the
buildings were doomed to destruction
Both sides of the street were soon in the
grasp of the devouring element, and the
men were obliged to drop their 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 singed. Proceeding along Smith
street the fire reached Nelson street, then
Robertsons Place, then to Robertson s
wharf, and then up South wharf. AS il
gained Nelson street on the south it met
the flames coming up that street, and the
combination made terrific heat that
could not be borne.
Westward street was not capable OF
withstanding the intense heat and sparks
All the houses being of wood they went
down as if felled by hurricane. Many
of the occupants of stores were off help.
ing their unfortunate brother-merchants
and some arrived just in time to save
their books and others were just enabled
| to witness the destruction of all theil
stock. Some of the embers lodged in the
steeple of Trinity Church, with nothing
to save it, for the fire was so high as tC
be almost beyond reach, and the flame!
were left to pursue their own way.
AS the news spread that some wooder
houses on Horsefield, as well as others OF
Duke street, near Victoria Hotel, were
on fire, thousands were alarmed, as i
| was SOOu Sttu Ludb IulS HIC was SDICuu
ing north, south, east and west, not al
engine to be had, and everything goiDs
down before the unrelenting flames.
building on Charlotte street had hardly
become prey to the flames when the 9th
ers on either side followed. In half al
hour all but the Germain street side o.
the square was in ashes. The Nictori
Hotel guests, as well as employees
began to make preparations for seeking
new quarters. Very little time wa
given them to collect their valuables
and in majority of cases the inmate
had to leave with scanty wardrobes.
The buildings at the corner of Docl
and Union streets caught almost stimuli
taneously. To say that the fire rageC
| fiercely here would but too family de
scribe the terrible manner in which i
kept on, unheeding the streams of waite
directed upon it. Dock, Mill, Water
Prince, William, Canterbury, Princess
King, and German streets were mex
burned. The conflagration was stopped
about North street, about 500 acres bein.
burned over and 10, 900 persons renderet
homeless. The estimated loss is SIS,
100000 to $40, 900, 900; insurance abou
100000.
The entire business portion of the cit
is destroyed. Not leading establish
ment has escaped. All the principa
dry-goods stores, the leading grocers, al
the ship brokers, commission merchants
all the wholesale liquor, -four, provisions
coal, salt, lumber, tea and West Indi
goods, are utterly wiped out. Forty cd,
blocks, or nearly 200 acres, south of Kin
street have not six buildings remaining
The following persons are reported t.
have lost their lives in the fire: Benja
min Williams, Harold Gilbert, William
Mcneil, Garrett Cotter, the mother of ex
Mayor Reed and his two aunts; two me-
whose names are unknown, are reporte
run over and killed; Hugh Movern. Tn
body of an unknown man was found Ol
Prince William street this morning
Many persons are reported missing
There were many persons hurt. Acci
dents were quite common, in particula
among the brave tiremen.
Five newspaper offices, fourteel
churches and nearly every public build
ing in the city were destroyed N
household goods of any account wer
saved. Hundreds of women and chill
dren were in the streets to-day cryin
for bread.
Relief meetings were held in a numbe
of cities on the 21st. Montreal sen
200 barrels of flour aud 100 barrels eac
of pork and beef. Portland, Me-, sen
large quantities of provisions. Tn
bakeries in Bangor worked all day an
at night a special train was sent wit
bread and cooked meat for the sufferer:
Several carloads of provisions were sen
from Halifax. Yarmouth sent steame
with provisions. The Chicago Board @
Trade in the afternoon subscribed nearl
$1,000 and the Masonic fraternity telt
graphed that all Masonic families ther
would be provided for.
ST. JoHE, n. b., June p.
While the FIRE was raging, John Z
Turnbull and his son James attempte
to rescue a partly insane lady from tn
flames. She struggled and held bac
until their clothes catching fire force
them to drop her, She burned to deaf