The Portland daily press., 1881-06-11
RY TELEGRAPH.
THE QUEBEC FIRE.
A Drunken Man Said to be the
Fire Bug.
MOST OF THE HOMELESS FAMILIES
PROVIDED FOR.
Insurance Companies Promptly Adjust.
ing Losses.
Especial Despatch to the Press. I


QUEBEC, June 10.-The disastrous confagra-
ton which ragged here Thursday night is the
absorbing topic of conversation, and the vari-
GUS causes of it are more or less criticised The
water service in the burned district has always
been poor and the Fire Brigade here is brig
ade only in name, as their apparatus is small,
and with the existing water facilities is almost
worthless in Gaze of large fire. The water is
only let on in sections of the city at time,
owing to the supply being insufficient to supply
the whole of the city at time. At the time
this fire started the water was not on in this
locality, and it was fully twenty minutes be-
fore it was available, and then the fire was be-
yond control. The church mentioned (St.
John's), was the largest Roman Catholic
church in the place, covering nearly half an
acre, and the paintings therein were the most
costly OF any in the city; it was built of cut
stone, having twin steeples $50 feet high, and
contained four bells, two of which weighed
1900 each and the others 1000 each All that
mortal power could do towards saving this
building was done, but to no purpose; in tWen-
ty minutes after the fire reached it, it was a
mass of ruins. The wind, as is generally the
case at a large fire, blew perfect gale, and
the cinders and dust were like an impenetrable
cloud. Among all the confusion and danger
never saw SO much outward calmness shown
by those whose property was being swept away
before their eyes-no crying among the wo-
men, no excitement among men, but an ap-
parent air of resignation to what was inevita-
ble The fire fend was complete master, and
when there was nothing for him to devour, and
only then, did his fearful march come to an
end. What the loss of life is am unable at
this time to state fully; three, certain, two
women and one man, and report says more
two, think.
This fire covers about the same ground as
that destroyed in 1874, if anything this being
the greater.
A meeting in aid of the sufferers was held
yesterday afternoon, the Governor General
heading the list with $780, J.HA.
CTo the Associated Press)
QUEBEC, June 10.-The excitement is SUBJ
siding, and the fact that there is less distress to
be relieved than on former occasions, is very
encouraging. Insurance people are busy in
receiving and adjusting claims, and there
seems to be desire to pay losses with as little
delay as possible and thus inspire public con-
| fidence.
There are still new rumors concerning the
| origins of the fires Four houses were found
| simultaneously in flames when the fire was
discovered, but it is supposed the stables Of
Cartier Lupierer was the building in which the
fire originated. 1t is said drunken man who
| entered the stable with candle caused the
confagration.
| The rush for houses is immense Fortunate.
~ there were, according to the directory just
issued, over five hundred empty houses in the
city on the 10th of May, and those that are any
way eligible are being rapidly taken up at good
rentals, and still the demand continues great
1t is most surprising that more damage was
not done in other parts of the city by the fall.
ing cinders. Whole shingles fell as far as Der
gerville, three miles from Quebec.
A committee charged with the work has al.
ready commenced the collection Of subscrip.
tons. There are individual losses to the
amount of $4,000. The greater portion of the
buildings were wood