Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-06-10
The Scene Of Horror and Confusion
Beggars Description.
ROBBERY AND DRUNKENNESS.
The Population Panic Stricken, and Police
men and firemen Demoralized.
Property ReckIcssiy Destroyed.
A PandemonIum Let Lose.

menced last night at IL o'clock, p. NJ, in
Quebec, was not got under control until 6
this morning The first alarm was from the
stable at the corner Of ST. Oliver and St.
Claire street. A second alarm soon brought
the whole force of the fire department
upon the ground. The flames were so WISH
BILE that in short time half of the city was
attracted to the scene, and by half-past clev-
en- all the avenues around were SO crowded
that it was next to impossible to force way
through. The scene of utter confusion in
the vicinity of the confagration beggars des-
scription. Half of the people seemed panic
stricken, and three-fourths of the others
were only adding to the general confusion
BY running aAlinst each other and assisting
in the destruction Of property, in belief that
they were rendering assistance in saving it.
Parents partially clothed hurried along in
every direction with infants in their arms
and leading others.
Spread Of the Flames.
The sparks which everywhere flew from
the burning wooden buildings were a terrible
source of danger to the rest of the city. The
wind being from the north, drove the fire
rapidly in the direction of st. Johns church.
The rush of cold air caused by the rapid
spread of the flames, seemed to divide the
wind into local currents, which scattered the
fire in every direction. The fire brigade
found it more unmanageble than ever. They
allege that four wooden houses were found
on FIRE by them when they arrived on the
scene, and that with water absent, and not
obtainabe for twenty minutes, and it was
impossible for them to obtain the mastery.
The Panic.
Cows and horses let loose from the burning
stables rushed, half-maddened, through the
crowd. The flames Immediately spread to
the adjoining wooden buildings, and the streets
above and below St. Olivier, -Latourelle, ST.
Marie and Rchelieu streets, were quickly
mass of fire for some hundred feet of each in
extent the flames from other sides of the
streets everything in the middle and complete
ly closing them to all traffic. The police and
fireman were to great extent demOralized.
Daring robbery was carried on freely in full
sight Of everybody. Liquor stores and private
dwellings attacked by the flames were ran
sacked for liquor, which was openly drank by
the lowest dregs of society.
The hydrants threw good streams when the
water came into the ward, but to late to be
of much service. When the fire spread, the
the men of the brigade lost all control of any
pOTtlOu Vi IL. NC uauCS SWCPt OuWAIu I'LL
almost lightning rapidity. great part of
Danquillon, west of St. Genieve had been
destroyed when the flames appeared in St.
John street, little further out than Herring
tons bakery.
Burning of st. Johns Church.
At one o'clock, the bells of St. Johns
church summoned assistance from all who
had it to give. The whole efforts of the fire
brigade were Immediately bent on saving the
sacred edifice, but they were of no avail.
Nothing was saved but the sacred vessels and
some of the valuable plate and furniture of
sanctuary.
| Next after the church came the Friar's
school, opposite, and the fire swept on. The
neighbors around had carried their house.
hold goods tn the front of the church, and
there piled them at the door of the sanctuary
and all were lost. The church was worth
| 100000
Limits Of the Fire.
1t is impossible to describe the spread of
the flames on every side, and it will perhaps
be more satisfactory to give an idea of the
boundaries of the burnt district. The only
thing that the firemen succeeded in doing
was to curb the fire east Of Genevieve street.
From Latourelle street up nearly to John
street, the westerly side of St. Genevieve
had been swept away to the north. The fire
extended as far as Richmond street. The
western limit is a little beyond the street
car stables at Mount Pleasant near the city
boundary. The limit south was Burton near
Scott and Gabariel streets.
Briefly summed up the streets consumed
are running east and west, Richmond in
paIt, principally south side, Latourelle, St.
Oliver, Richelieu, Daquillon, St. Johns
Montcalm, st. Gabriel, Nouvelle and Breton.
Running north and south the principal streets
were Switzerland, Deliquy, st. Clair, St.
Marie and st. Geneveive, west side, besides
Jupiter ST. in Montclaim, also west side.
Amongst the property destroyed on John
street were a large number of handsome
buildings used as stores and private resi-
dences.
"A" battery was called out. and rendered
aid in saving property and keeping order.
Several remarkable whirlwinds were caused
by the FIRE. Men were in some cases lifted of
their feet. On the lower field where most of
the burnt out people had campsd with their
saved goods, the fire followed, and burnt up
most of the goods.
The Loss and its Causes.
1t is impossible to give full and correct
list of sufferers, but the'insurance companies
doing business in the city will probably be
heavy losers.
The fire-brigade and apparatus was unfit
to cope with such fire, and to its weakness
and the wretched water service the whole
disaster is due.
Burning shingles fell over the city as far
out as Maple Avenue, during the night, en-
dangering every part of the town. Several
incipient fires in different streets were sup
pressed BY the vigilance of the occupants.
The loss is estimated at 81, OOO, 900. between
buildings, stock and furniture. Over 1900
families are rendered homeless. At least
500 buildings were destroyed.
Later.
The rumors circulated As to the loss of life
are not believed. but it now appears that five
lives are lost. Three bodies have been already
recovered. Those of Mr.. and Mrs. Hardy,
whose children we're saved, and that of one
Warois. a Joiner. Mrs. Geo. Lapperreir and
two children are missing. and are believed to
have persisted. A subscription list in aid of
the sufferers has been opened. Gov. Gener-
al gives $500 1.-The mayor. 500 and the bishop
of Quebec 1000.
Total loss is estimated at 81 5000. coo. In
surances will probably cover about $3.50, 900.
The Governor Generals ball for this evening
has in consequence of this calamity has been
postponed.
The ofRcial list of the houses burned, as
Riyeu this evening, makes the total number