Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-10
THE FLAMES IN QUEBEC.
A LARGE PART OF THE ANCIENT
CITY IN ASHES.
The Fire Brigade POyVerIess-ManY
Streets Swept Clear of RuIldIngs-
Untold Confusion and Thrilling
Sights-The Loss Put at Fully Two
Millions.

QUEBEC, June 9.-One of the most disas-
trous fires which this unfortunate CITY has
been afflicted with commenced last night.
and was only got under control at o'clock
this morning. The first alarm was from the
corner OF st. Oliver and st. Claire streets, at
ten minutes before IL O'Clock. A few
minutes later the bells from the Basilica of
st. Johns and st. Roch's church rang out
second alarm, and the whole force of the
hre brigade was soon upon the ground. The
reflection of the flames was so visible
that in short time half of the city
appeared to be attracted to the
scene, and by half-past IL O'Clock all
the avenues around and leading to the fire
were SO completely packed with people that
II was next to impossible to force a way
through them. The scene In the vicinity of
the c0Lfagration was one of utter confusion.
HAIR OF those present seemed panic stricken,
aud three fourths of the others only added
TO the confusion by running against each
other, and really contributing to the de-
stfuction or property, while believing they
were helping TO eave 1t. Parents, partially
clothed, hurried along In every direction,
ADAoAeo WA0PPCu III UCu III
their arms. Cows and horses, let loose from
burning stables, rushed, half maddened,
through the crowds, or stood, dazed by the
uproar and confusion surrounding them.
The fire originated In a stable on st. Oil
yer street, near st. Marc street. The flames
quickly spread to the surrounding wooden
buildings and to the streets above and be-
low st. Oliver. Latourelle, st. Marc and
Rlchelieu streets were quickly mass of
fire for some hundred feet of each In ex-
tent, the flames from either side of the
streets overlapping In the middle and COM
pletely closing them to all traffic.
Scenes common to all great fires were
readily dtscernible. At this stage even the
police and firemen were to a great extent
demoralzed. Daring roherbies were carried
on freely in full sight Of everybody. Liquor
oy the flames were ransacked for
liquor, which was openly drunk by
the low characters who infest the locality.
The sparks, which everywhere few from the
burning wooden buildings, were In them
selves terrible source of danger to the rest
OF the city. 1t was no uncommon sight to
see mems coats and hats ablaze from burn
ing pieces Of shingles which lighted upon
them.
The fire brigade allege that four wooden
houses were found on fire by them when
they arrived upon the scene, and that, with
water absent and unattaiDable for some
twenty minutes, it was impossible for them
TO obtain the mastery. Nothing was saved
OF s.. Johns Church but the sacred vessels
and some of the most valuable OF the plate
and furniture of the sanctuary. The fire
almost q less space of time than
iC takes to read of it, and the
finest and largest church in the city
was doomed to destruction. The church
was worth at least 100000, upon which the
insurance amounts to only $4,000. At the
foot Of Jupiter street, below Berthlot Mar
ket, the flames had crossed from the lower
sides Of st. John street, and from this point
they rapidly progressed westward along that
fine avenue, keeping pace with the other
division OF the coufagration opposite.
Nor was the nre now confined to St. John
street. At Jupiter street it spread south
ward to Berthlot Market place, destroying
| property on Gabriel aud st. Patrick streets,
as far out as there were buildings to be de-
stroYed. The lower field alone stayed
| the progress of the fire. At Scott street the
Ere ran upwards toward Grand Alice at a
terrible rate of speed, there being 10 water,
men, hose nor other appliances to stay it..
| Only the gap caused by the recent coDfl-
grafton here stopped the total destruction
| Of the whole street.
| 1t lis impossible to describe the spread of
| the nAmes on every side. Brteny summed
up, the streets consumed are: Running east
and west in the Richmond part, principally on
the South Side, Latourelle, St. Oliver, Richie
lieu, DaguilloE and St. Johns ward, In
Montcalm, st. Gabriel, Norvelle and Breton.
Running north and south the principal
streets were Southerlsnd, Deligny, St. Clair,
st. Marc and st. Genevieve, on the West
Side, besides Jupiter street, in Montcalm
ward, also on the West Side. Amongst the
property destroyed on st. John street were
large number of handsome buildings used
as stores and private residences. The Bat
terry was called out, and rendered efficient
service in saving property and In keeping
order.
It is computed that there must be a loss
of 81, 000, 900 between buildings, stock and
furniture. Over l 500 families are rendered
homeless by the confagration. At least SOC
buildings have been destroyed. 1t is i'm
possible to give full and correct list of the
sufferers and insurance losses at the mo
ment, but all the insurance companies doing
business in the city will probably be heavy
losers. The fire brigade and apparatus was
quite unfit to cope with such a fire, and to
It's weakness and the wretched water service
the whole disaster is due.