Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-16
A FEARFUL FIRE.
Terrible COnilagratlon In the City OF
Quebec.

Vuebtts
SCENES or CONFUSION ASD DEMoRALIzATtoS
POLICE AND FIRE AUTHORITIES HELPLESS
--RoBBINd HOUSES AND PLUMBER
INC SALOONS IN BROAD DAY.
uGuT-L0ss TWO NIL.
LION DOLLARS.
Tho most disastrous fire with which
tho city of Quebec was ever afflicted
occurred on Wednesday night and
Thursday morning of last week. The
first alarm was from the corner of st.
Oliver and st. Claire streets at lilo
o'clock. A few minutes later the bells
from Baslica, ST. Johns and st. Roch's
churches rang out a second alarm, and
the whole force of the fire brigade was
soon on the ground. The reflection OF
the flames was so visible that in short
time half the citizens appeared TO be
attracted to the scene, and about ll.3O
o'clock all the avenues around and
leading to the fire were so completely
packed with people that it was next to
impossible to force "A way through them.
The scene in the vicinity of the con.
tlagration was utter confusion. Half of
those present seemed panic-stricken,
added to the confusion by running
against each other and really contrIbu.
ting to the destruction OF property,
while believing they were helping TO
save it. Parents, partially clothed, hur.
ried along in every direction with in
iants wrapped in bedclotbing in their
arms. Cows and horses let loose from
burning stables, rushed halfmaddened
through the crowd or stood dazed 10y
the uproar and confusion surrounding
them. The fire originated in a stable
of st. Olivier street, near st. Marie
street. The flames quickly spread to
the surrounding wooden buildings and
TO the street above and below.
st. Olivier, Latourelle, st. Marc and
Richeleu streets were quickly mass Of
fire for some hundred feet Of each in
extent, the flames from the other sides
OF the streets overlapping in the mid.
die. and completely closing them to all
traffic. The scenes common to all great
fires were readily discernable at this
stage, even the police and frcmen were
to "A great extent demoralizcd. Daring
robbery was carried on freely in full
sight of everybody. Liquor stores and
private dwellings attacked by the flames
were ransacked for liquor, which was
openly drank by the low characters
which infcst the locality.
THE BURNT DISTRICT.
It is impossible TO describe the spread
OF the flames on every side. Briefly
summed up the streets consumed are
running east and west, Richmond in
part, principally the south side Latour.
ellie, st. Olivier, Richelieu, Duqullon
and IT. John ward, Montcalm, -. ia.
bricl, Nouyllle and Breton. Running
north and south the principal streets
were Sutherland, Deliguy, ST. Clair, st..
Marie and 81. Genevieye, west side, be.
side Jupiter street, iu Montcalm ward
also west side. Among the property
destroyed on John street were a large
numLer OF handsome buildings used as
stores and private buildings.
TuE loss.
IL is computed that there must be a
I loss of 100000 between the buildings.
stock and furniture. over 500 iami.
lies are rendered homeless by the con
/ lsgration.
At least eight hundred buildings have
been destroyed. It is impossible 10 give
a full and correct list OF the sufferers
and insurance losses st this moment,
but all the insurance companies doing
business IN the city will be heavy losers.
The fire brigade and apparatus was
quite unfit to cope with such a FIRE and
to its weakness and the wretched water
service the whole disaster is due.
The theory most generally credited Ia
| that the fire was started In the stable OF
Mr. Laperiere Carter by accident Most
Of the sufferers on this occasion are q re.
| spectacle class Of people, such as clerks.
bookkeepers, etc. The loss to them will
be heavy, but not seriously so. Various
members OF Parliament, who are here
! from the district OF Montreal, last night
, addressed a strong letter to that city
asking its co operation in lending assist
ance to the sufferers.