Ellsworth American., 1877-06-28

4hFee lobFtAs OF me Guy Destr0yed-lS,Opp
People made homeless- Thirty dead bodies
reosrered.
Full details have been received Of the disas-
trous fire which on "wednesday night destroyed
lhree-fourths Of the city Of 81. John New Bruns-
wick. and turned out Of their homes 1900 pee
pie.
The fire wss first discovered Wednesday ev-
ening in buiiding owned by Mr.. Fairwesiher
on the south OF York Point slip. From here it
spresd rapidly, despite the efforts Of the FIRE
men, TO Smith street, thence 10 Drury Lane.
\ Mill street, following into Dock street. taking
both sides. Finally the news came that 4 house
had caught from cinders on Main street. This
the people were not prepared for and it swept
on, rsZing house after house. From Smith
street the fire also went 10 Nelson street thence
4 TO Rotinsons wharf, thence To South wharf.
on Nelson street the fire coming the other way
met it. snd the intense heat drove all away.
Before the fire assumed formidable proportions
men on North whSf wet down the vessels.
but the flames caught among them and could
not be STAYED. soon Trinity church wss on
IRE and terror seized the people, il was
learned that the fire was spreading north .souih b.
east and west TO GERMAN. Charlotte, Duke snd
Horsdeld streets. The Nictoris Hotel and ~.
Andrews church soon took fire. which, with
Odd Fellows Hall were soon DESTROYED.
From South wharf the flames entered Ward
street. extending TO Peters wharf. thence to
Market SquSre making jump TO Prince street,
thence to Princess and King street. The
Academy of Music with all the scenery aud the
Knights of Pythiss Hail IN the building were
destroyed.
The following public buildings were burned:
Post Office, Bank Of New Brunsw ick. City
Building, custom house, Maritime Bank, build
ing in which are thst Bank,that OF Montreal and
Nova Scotia, school irustcas Office. Bank Of
Sovs Scotia building. Academy OF Music, Vic
toria Hotel, Odd Fellows Hall. No. ! engine
house, Orange Hall, Temperance Hall, Dra-
matte Lyceum, Victoria school house, Temple
Of Honor hall, Barnes Hotel Royal Hotel, 81.
John Hotel, Acadia House, Brunswick House.
Bay View House. International Hotel,
Virgins Orphan Asylum.
The following churches are burned: 81. An
drew's Methodist and Baptist. on German
street: Christian. 81. James on Leinster street;
Baptist, the Centenary. Saint Phillips on Car
msthen street; Methodist on Pitt street: -.
Dsyid's Reformed Presbyterian on Shefields
street and Mission house.
The fire was brought under control Thurs
st four O'Clock in the forenoon aiter every
house south Of Kings street had been burned.
Every provision store and warehouse and ey-
cry wharf and all The newspaper Offices were
destroyed. The custom house. post Office,
telegraph oficc. three banks and fourteen
churches were all burned. Fifteen thousand
people were made homeless and many Of the
destitute having lost their sill. About five hun
dred acres were burned over. A large number
OF persons lost their lives Thirty bodies been
recovered and A. many more are missing. The
los is estimated ai $50 Oo0 900 and the insur-
Ance amounts 10 about sS,0o0.Ooo.
A call for help has gone forth and is beiGg
heartily responded 20. Al a meeting in Ban
eor "wednesday. $500 were raised and 4 spec
iAl train despatched from -. John at night
with MAYOR Hsmlin and prominent citizens,
taking sixty barrels OF crackers. 5000 pound.
OF cooked meat, loAyes Of bresd and cooked
food OF al kinds in large quantities. Portland,
Boston. Chicago, and other cities are respond
ing promptly TO the call Tor aid.
The cilv Of -. John which has met with so
great 4 misfortune is situated on 3 peninsuls ai
the mouth OF the 81. John river. The city va.
founded by American ioyAli.is. who len the
United States Al the close OF the revolution and
has HlwAys been closely counected with The
Eastern stAies by relationship and commerci a.
ties Across the hsrhor Is Carleton, and back
ofthe CITY /. Portland. the former containing
large saw mills and doing an extensive bushes,
in fish and the l.iter noted for its sbipbuiding.
Up the river shout eishi-hye miles !, freder-
ton. In population -. Jonn Is city lot Aoou
~ 900 inhabitants, and in $50 it. real esiA;e
valuation was g. .341 800. with 6Ss1 tax psycrs.
IL contained eighteen churches. four BANKS.
three daily new spapSrs, and six large hotels.
1is commercial bviness was principally tran =
acted in the upper portion. one OF the most
important ssaGSses ss e-eiss , tide w.i rs, 70,
Afargse' nst}isSes q our mercantile marine are
chartered for this trade. and this business ire
quentiy freights the large ships built along the
coast OF Maine. II exhorts largely Of laihs and
IL trade with the West Irdis l,laads ia shook
sud heads !, immense. Its -four znt pro,is-
ions Of various kinds II purcha>es largely in
the states. and its trade with Portland In thi.
line Is considerable. It, dry goods merchant.
are hesyy importers OF silks. lAces. yelyets. &c
large part Of which are sold TO residents o
the United states aid brought by the n cl landes
timely over the border. The hsrbor OF -. John
is one OF the best on the Atlantic coast. The
city has i've water works. the supply being de
rived from Lake Lily. about nine miles above
The fire started in the northwestern part o
the city in boiler shop. The buildings ther,
were small and mostly Of wood, and used fol
the storage OF wood. coal. and the like. Tn,
IRE soon spread 10 Dock street where the build
ings were entirely built Of brick and occupied
By wholesale grocery and liquor stores. but the
fire could no, be stayed. and swept down the
brick buildings a. remorselessly as il had iho..
OF wood. The other principal streets wer,
swept in their turn, TIL only about one-fourtl
Of the city wss len.
This catasu ophe i one OF the most terrible
that has ever visited any city on ihi. continent.
The actual losses by the Chicsgo and Bosiot
confagations were much greater. but in com
psrison with the population and valu alton they
were much smaller. Great destiiuiion prevail.
and much suffering must inevitably result. not
~ithsiandng the generou, efforts being msde
10 aid them.