Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-06-28
THE BURNING OF THE CITY OF
ST. JOHN.
Some Details of the Great Fire at ST.
John. N. B.--A Number of Lives Lost.
and Thousands OF People Rendered
HOmeless-Loss of Property Estimat-
ed at About 81 5,O00,000.

HOmeIeSS-LOSs OF property EStIinat-
ed at About 81 5,OO0.O0O.
The thriving City of St. John, n. B.,
numbering population in 1871 of nearly
80, 600, and about IL, 600 additional in the
suburb of Portland, was visited by ter
rible conflagration, on the goth, and by
far the larger portion Of the city was
completely wiped out of existence. A
dispatch Of the 21st summarizes as follows:
"The entire business portion of the city
is destroyed. Nota leading establishment
has escaped. All the principal dry goods
stores, the leading grocers, all ship
brokers, commission merchants; all the
wholesale liquors, flour, provisions, coal,
salt, lumber, tea and West India goods are
utterly wiped out. Forty odd blocks, or
nearly 200 acres south of King street have
not six buildings remaining. There are
no regular postal headquarters in the CITY
proper. Every street, square and alley
is filled with furniture, and thousands of
people are without either food or shelter.
The International Company's steamer
New York sheltered and fed !, ,00s persons
last night, and vessels in the stream. have
large numbers of people on board. Thou
SduCS ndu W yet away lIOlu Tie lower part
of the city by boats.'
The fire was discovered in building
owned by Mr.. Fairweather, on the south
of York's paint-shop, next to McLaugh-
Inns boiler-shop. The flames spread to
various buildings on Howe's Wharf,
which were quickly consumed, and the
fire broke out with a roar, into Smith
street, carrying everything before it,
From there the flames spread into Drury
lane and Mill street, following that into
Dock street, taking both sides. The tin
der boxes on fire, aided by the wind,
formed combination too much for the
gallant workers, and almost in despair
they saw The flames advancing upon them,
not Slowly, but with rapidity that ap-
palled the stoutest hearts. The buildings
were a mass of flames at the end OF Smith
street and Drury lane, and momentary
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
the street were soon nsthe grasp of the
deyouring element. EEAF -
Proceeding along Smith street in a
southerly direction the fire soon reached
Nelson street, and then Robertson's place.
1t then extended to Robertson's Wharf,
and then up South Wharf. As it gained
Nelson street on the south, it met flames
coming up that street, and the, combina-
| ton made terrific heat that 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. Some en-
bers lodged in the steeple of Trinity
Church, ON Germain street, and with moth
ing to save it, for the fire was so high as
to be almost beyond reach, and the flames
were left to pursue their own way.
A building on Charlotte street had hard
ly become prey to the flames when others
on the other side followed. In half an
hour all but the Germain street side of
the square was in, ashes. The Victoria
Hotel and St. Andrews Church were in
great danger, and the hotel guests, as well
| as employees, began to make preparations
for seeking new quarters. Very little
| time was given them to collect their valu-
ables, and in a majority of cases the in
| mates had to leave with scanty wardrobes.
| About the same time st. Andrews Church
took fire and was speedily consumed
The buildings at the southern corner of
Dock and Union streets, and Oh the op-
posite corner, caught almost simulta-
| neously, and the fire spread along
the western part of Mill street, cross
ing over to the opposite side, and
| igniting Rankin & Sons biscuit man
ufactory,S then following onward to-
ward North street. From South Wharf
| the flames entered into Ward street and
| extended to Peters Wharf in a re-
markably short space of time, carrying
everything before them. Then they pro-
ceeded to Water street, and from thence
soon made their way to the southern part,
the Market Square, making jump up to
Prince William street. At this stage, a
wooden house on Canterbury street took
the flames, and Church street buildings
] were soon imperiled. Then the flames