The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-06-23
The st. Johns Fire-More Help for tht
Destitute

TORONTO, June 23.-Committees and
collectors are at work raising money, pro-
visions and clothing for the St. Johns
sufferers. 4 thousand blankets and lot
Of womau's and children'S clothing we're
sent over last night. All the principal
towns in country are moving in matter
and militia has volunteered to do police
duty
ST.. JOHNS, June 23.--Offers of assist
ance for sufferers by the great fire contin-
ue to come in from provincial towns, and
also from many American cities. Several
car loads of provisions arrived this morn
| ing from MiramitchIe by special train from
| Halifax, and Tonight special trains from
Portland, Bangor, Lincoln Center, &c,
brought 100 barrels of -four and a lot of
blankets and a quantity of cooked food.
| Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton and other
Canadian cities have dispatched provisions
Relief committees have been reorganired
and the work systematized, so that aid may
go as far as possible and reach those more
in need oft A public meeting was held to-
day, and addresses were delivered by Mayor
Hallan, of Bangor, Mayor Rice, of Hali-
fax, and others. A vote of thanks was
passed to the cities and individuals con-
tributing to relief for the distressed. A
i com pany of local volunteers was employed
blowing up the ruins, and to move dan
gerOus walls Three men were badly in
iured by the premature explosion of blast
one will not recover. Several new fires
, were started to-day, all supposed to have
: been the work of incendiaries; FIVE mer
D accused of incendiary are III custody, one
I who was caught in the act narrowly es
h caped being hanged to the nearest lamI
r post. A company of troops arrived from
!, Halifax to aid the civil authorities II
+ maintaining order. AL is quiet. Tn
J. body of Capt. Firth, a we'll known citizen
E was found in the ruins, also another body
e identified as that of James Thomas,
$ clerk Several persons are still missing
IT Banks are reopening, and business estab
'f lishments are opening in new localltlODs
e and, in some instances, rebuilding ha
Is commenced.
ID Boston, June 23.--A St. Johns specia
IS says, the moonlight last night was an il
as calculable boon, there being no gas fo
III either streets or houses. For every Oh
:. hundred thieves, aud there were swarm
y of them. at least half dozen special polio
"a patrolled the streets. These specials en-
- braced the younger male population,
the very best classes only, and were arme
or to the teeth. Shots were heard in tW
quarters, but no serious results have y,
- been reported. Volunteer miliu
in considerable force, were also G
duty. 1t is a matter of the grea
n est surprise to strangers that q
e. 900 or upwards of homeless peop
lat should haye been so successfully provide
Eat for with lodgings for the night. A smi
til percentage were in tents pitched in Chi
he mans grounds, Union street, on King
Sc square, on the .barrack green, but Il
bulk, whether rich or poor, might ba
. been found peacefully resting in the be
pitable houses of the poor, as we'll as ric
throughout not merely the narrt
limits of the standing city, but in {
much more extended suburbs Of Portlau
led Carlton, Indiantown, Fawville, and 9th
AN places. Reduced railroad fares on t
ON Intercolonial r. R. also added to the fac
tiles SO much required. The morni
ro- trains brought thousands of peol
from Halifax and all intermedi;
I. points, some bearing messages a
substantial tokens of sympathy. Pro
= sion trains continue to arrive. Early tt
morning, dispatches were received a
= read from various places in Great Brit;
s and Ontario, announcing sympathy a
. full readiness of the people to assist
q needy. The citizens of Toronto have Sc
n scribed seventy thousand dollars; the Il
, flax subscription has been increased to t
. ty thousand, and with these aud ma
other generous donations from all quart
y there need be no fears, for time at lea
of any actual suffering. The commit
on distribution are indefatigable in
! work assigned them, having spent all nj
, in feeding deserving applicants at
skating rink and other places. The see
/ during the night were heartrending.
n The few hotels remaining do what Il
can to feed the multitude, and even sup
special police and militia with ratio
The artillery has been called out tot
gg;at 70 to batter down with shot the danger
5ric. walls and chimneys in the burnt dlstI
lme The upper vault Of the bank of \
and and Brunswick, containing the ledgers
ises, other books, has been opened and eve
kin' ,sda thing found IN a perfect state of pres
vation. Hopes are therefore entertai
- of no loss in that quarter. Owners
safes are working among the ruins v
- satisfactory results. The roll of dead !
e embraces but ten names, Capt. Firt
prominent merchant, being among
.sna mum Der.
dard raoA- a%a%aunanH