The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-06-10
QUEBEC FIRE.
Late accounts of the severe
Connagration.
Inadequate Water Supply and De
moralizsd Department.

QUEBEC, June 9.-The firemen found
four houses in flames. They allege that
four wooden houses were found on fire by
them, when they arrived upon the scene,
and with water absent and unattainable for
| 90 minutes it was impossible for them to
obtain the mastery. The hydrants threw
good streams when the water came, but it
was too late to be of much service When
the fire spread, the men of the brigade lost
all control over any portion of it. Their
necessary subdivision into so many parties
was source of weakness. The flames
swept onward with lightning rapidity. The
| fury of the devouring element knew no
| bounds but the city's outskirts, and none
who failed to see them would be inclined
to predict the rate at which they swept all
before them.
The great part of Daguilton street. west
of St. Genevieve street had been destroyed,
when the flames appeored in st. Johns
street farther up.
ST. JOHNS CHURCH IN RUINS.
At one o'clock the changing bell of St.
Johns church in rapid and alarming tones
told of the danger to that property and
summoned assistance. The whole efforts
of the fire brigade were Immediately bent
on saving this sacred edifice, but to no
vessels and some of the most valuable
plate and furniture of the sanctuary The
fire had possession of the noble structure
in almost less time than it takes to tell, and
the finest and largest church in the city was
doomed. 1t was grand sight to witness
the angry flames climbing the steeples of
the church.
Next after the church came the Friar'
school, opposite, and still the fire swept
on. Trusting, as if confident that so ma
iestic an edifice could never fall a prey to
any of the elements, the neighbors around
had carried thier household goods to the
front of the church and there piled them at
the very door of the sanctuary. All was
irretrievably lost. The church was worth
at least 500, 900. The insurance was only
$4,000.
At the foot of Jupiter street, below Ber
tholt Market the flames had crossed from
the lower side of St. John street and from
that point they rapidly flew west along
that fine avenue, keeping pace with the
other division of the conflagration oppo-
site Nor was the fire confined to st. John
street At Jupiter it spread southward
to Berthlot Market place, destroying Cab
riel, at ST. Patrick street, as far out as
there was buildings to be destroyed. The
lower field alone stayed the progress of the
fire. At Scott street the fire ran upwards
towards Grand Aztec at terrible rate of
speed There being no water, men, hose,
or other appliances to stay it, only gap
caused by recent confagration, here
stopped the total destruction of the whole
street.
BEGGARS DESCRIPTION.
1t is impossible to describe the spread of
the flames on every side. and it will, per
haps, be more satisfactory to give an idea
of the boundaries of the burnt district.
The only thing the firemen succeeded in
doing was to curb the fire at East Genev
ieve street, and here, in fact, the wind was
blowing from the east and north east,
From Latourelle street up nearly to St.
John Street, the west side of the street
Genevieve has been swept away. To the
north the fire extended as far as Richmond
street. The western limit is a little be-
yond the street car stables, at Mount
Pleasant, near the city boundary The
limit south is at Burton, near Scott, and
at Gabriel street. which has been already
mentioned.
Briefly summed up the streets consumed
are, running east and west; Richmond, in
part principally the south side; LatouneIl
street, Olive, Richeheu, lagallon and ST.
John In Montcalm ward, Gabriel Maui
velle and Breton running north and south,
the principal streets were Sutherland, De-
lany, St. Clair, ST. Marie and Greenwich
on the west side. Besides Jupiter street
in Montealm ward, all the west side.
Among the property destroyed on st. John
street is a large number of handsome build
ings used as stores and private residences.
Company GA" battery was called out and
rendered excellent aid in saving property
and keeping order Remarkable whirlwinds
were caused by the fire. Men were in
some cases lifted off their feet. On the
lower field, where most of the burnt out
people had camped with their saved goods,
the fire followed the unfortunates and
burned up most of the goods piled up on
the grass. Burning shingles fell over the
city, and as far out as Maple Avenue, dur
ing the night, endangering every part of
town. Several incipient fires in different
streets were suppressed by the vigilance of
the inhabitants.
LOSSES.
1t is computed that there must be loss
of two million dollars between buildings
stock and furniture. Over 1900 families
are homeless, and at least 800 buildings
are destroyed. 1t is impossible to give
full and correct list of the sufferers and
losses and insurance; but oil the insurance
SOn1 n1PdAlSo oOAAaSS ONoAA~oo IA VIZ SAey
are heavy losers.
The fire brigade and apparatus were
quite unfit to cope with such a fire, and to
its weakness and the wretched water SER
vice the whole disaster is due.
LIVES LOST.
Five lives are known to have been lost.
Three bodies have already been recovered;
those of Mr.. and Mrs. Hardy, 18 Oliver
street. and that of Maroi, a joiner, of
Richelieu street. Mrs George Lapierre
and her two children are missing, and it is
believed have perished in the flames.
st, Johns Church was insured for S63,
900, The total loss is estimated at 81, 500,-
900. The insurance will probably reach
probably 650000. The city engineer esti-
mates the number of houses destroyed at
about 600. The GovernorGeneral's ball
which was to have come off this evening,
was postponed till the evening of the 22d.