The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-06-16
Great Fire i'm Quebec.


menced last night and only got under
control at 6 o'clock this morning. The
first alarm came from the corner of ST.
Oliver and St. Clarence streets at ten
minutes before eleven o'clock. A few
minutes later the bells from Balisi-
ca, st. John and st. Rochs' churches
rang out the second alarm, and the
whole force of fire brigade was soon
upon the grounds. The reflection of
the flames was so brilliant, that in
short time half of the city appeared at
tracted to the scene, and by 11:30 all
avenues around and adjoining were so
completely packed with people, that it
was impossible to force way through.
A scene OF utter confusion in the vicia-
ity of the conhagration beggars descrip-
ton Half the people seemed panic
stricken and three fourths of the others
were only adding 10 general confusion
by running against each other, assisting
in the destruction of properly in the
belief that they were rendering assis-
lance in saving it. Parents partially
clothed, hurried along in every direc-
ton with infants in their arms and
leading other children by the hand.
Cows and horses let loose from the
burning stables, rushed half maddened
through the crowd. The original fire
was in a stable on st. Oliver street, near
St. Marv's street. The flames immed-
lately spread to the surrounding wood
en- buildings to the streets above and
below St. Oliver, Latountelle, St. Marie
and Rchels streets, which were quick
" q mass of fire for some one hundred
feet-the flames from the other side of
the streets overlapping in the mid
die and completely closing them.
The scenes, common to all
great fires. were discernable at
this stage, even the police and fire
men were to q great extent demora-
lized. 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 lowest dregs of society, COM
mon to the locality in question, and
who frequent the law novels whose
destruction is one of the least regret
able features of the disaster. The
sparks which everywhere flew from
the building, We're themselves terri
BILE source Of danger to the rest of the
city. 1t was a common sight to see
mems coats and hats abIaze, from
burning pieces of shingles which light
ed on them. The wind be-
ing from the north, drove the
fire rapidly i'll the direction
OF St. Johns church, and various con-
trary currents scattered the cinder
around in every direction, and the
brigade found the fire more unmanage-
abie than ever. They alleged that
wooden houses were found on fire by
them, when they arrived on the scene,
and with water absent and understandable
for sone twenty minutes, and it was
for them to obtain mas
terry. The hydrants threw good streams
when the water came inward, but too
late to be OF much service. When the
fire spread as above described the men
Of the brigade lost all control over it.
The necessary subdivision into so
many parties caused weakness and
the flames swept onward with almost
lightning rapidity. The fury of the
ievouring element knew no bounds but
the city's outskirts. and none who
failed to see them would be
inclined to credit the rate
at which they swept all before
them. The greater part of Dapuillon
street ives. OF St. Geneveive street has
been destroyed. When the flames ap-
peared in St. John street further out at
one O'Clock, Changing bells of St. John
church in rapid and alarming tones.
told of the danger to that property and
summoned assistance. The whole ef-
lorts OF the fire brigade were immedi-
ately bent on saving the sacred edifce.
But to no avail. Nothing was saved
but the sacred vessels and some most
: liable plate and furniture of the
sanctuary. The fire had possession of
the noble structure in almost less space
Of time than it takes 10 tell il, and the
finest and largest church in the city was
doomed. 1t was grand sightto witness
the angry flames climbing the steeples
of the church and to see their fall a
few minutes later. The more north riv
Of the two was the first to go. 1t grad
ually tottered over and then fell out on
the roof OF the structure. The other
steeple gradually sunk next. After the
church came the Friars' school, OPP
posite. and still the fire swept on. The
neighhors around had carried their
goods to the front of the
and there piled them at every
door of the sanctuary. All was lost.
The church was worth 100000; in
surance. $4,000. At the foot OF Jupi-
ter street, below Berlott market, the
names mad crossed from the low side
Of St. John street, and from
this point, they rapidly flew west along
that fine avenue, keeping pace with
the other division of the confiagration
nor was the FIRE confined to
ST. Johns street at Jupiter Ii spread
southwark to the Berthlet market
lace, desire: a:ss::=.y:n Gs.:ssiissll s. Patrick
street as far out as there were buildings
to be destroyed The lower field alone
ssaid the progress OF the fire. AT Scott
street the FIRE ran upwards towards
Grand Alice, at 2 terrible rate OF speed,
there being no water, no men, no hose
and no other appearance TO stay it,
only a gap, caused by the recent coniia-
grafton here stopped. Total destruction
Oi the whole street. il L. lnDC,ssIbie
to describe the spread of the flames