Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1881-06-15
DESTRUCTIVE CONFEDERATION.
The city of quebec Partially De"troysd--
Eight Hundred buildings Hurned and
h0N peanle Rentleretl HOmelesx.

r., .,,.,, ,.r O,ebeo Partially Destroyed
Eight hundred buildings Burned aud
hoo p.onIe Rendered Homeless.
Ouebec. June 9.-.One Of the most dis.
oatcons fires in tho history of this city
henan last night, and ut six o'clock this
mnrnin0 is Just under control. The |
alarm came from st. Oliver and st. Clair |
a. reets. The second alarm soon after
called out the entire fire brigade, Half
Of the city appeared on the streets at
1880 o'clock. called out by the brilliant
flames, and the avenues leading to the |
fire were so blocked with people that |
passage was impossible. The confusion
increased, half of the people were panic |
stricken, and wildly and incoherently
tried to render assistance. Parents, but
partially clothed, hurried along with
their children in their arms, and leading
others, and COWS and horses from the
burning stables rushed half-mad through
the crowd.
The fire originated in stable, whence
the flames spread to the surrounding
wooden buildings, and the whole neigh
borhood was soon mass of flames for
some hundreds of feet, the flames from
either side of the streets overlapping
IN the middle and completely closing
them.
Even the police and firemen to great
extent were demoralized, and robbery
was carried on freely in full sight of
everybody. The liquor stores and pri-
vate dwellings attacked by the flames
were ransacked for the liquor, which was
openly drank by tho lowest degree of
society common to the locality in ques-
ton, and who frequent the low novels,
whose destruction is one of the least re-
gretable features of the disaster. The
sparks, which everywhere flew from the
burning wooden buildings were them
selves a source of great danger to the
rest of the city, and it was common
sight to see mems coats and hats ablaze
from the burning pieces of shingles
which lighted on them. The wind being
from the north drove the fire rapidly in
the direction of st. Johns church, and
the various contrary local currents
scattered the cinders around in every d.
more unmanageable than ever. They
were found on fire by them when they
arrived on the scene, and with the water
absent and unattainable for twenty min
utes, it was impossible to obtain mas
terry. The hydrants threw good streams
when water did come into the ward, but
too late to be OF much service. When
the fire spread the men of the brigade
lost all control of any portion of it, and
their necessary sub division into so many
forces was a weakness. The flames swept
onward with almost lightning rapidly,
and the fury of the devouring element
knew no bounds but the outskitrs of the
city, 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 Daquilllon (wesD street
and Genevieve street had been destroyed
when the flames appeared in st. John
street further out.
At one o'clock the changing of bells in
st. Johns church in rapid and alarming
tones told of the danger to that proper.
ty, and summoned the assistance of the
whole efforts of the fire brigade, who
were Immediately bent on saving the sa.
cred editice, but to no avail. Nothing
some of the most valuable plate and fur
niture of the sanctuary. The fire had
possession of the noble structure in al.
most less space of time than it takes to
tell it, and the finest and largest church
in the city was doomed. It was grand
sight to witness the angry flames climb.
ing the steeples of the church.
Next after the church came the friar's
school opposite, aud still the fire swept
on. Trusting, ns if confident that SO ma.
iestic an edifce could never fall o prey
to any of the elements, the neighbort
round had carried their household goods
to the front of the church and there pilec
them at every door of the sanctuary
All was lost. The church was worth al
least 100000; insurance only $4,000.
At the foot of Jupiter street, below tht
Berthold market, the flames had crossed
from the low side of st. John street, anG
from this point they rapidly flew wes
along that fine avenue, keeping pac
with the other division of the conhagra
ton opposite, nor was the fire confined
to st. John street. At Jupiter street i
spread southeastward to Bethod market
place, destroying it and to Gabriel and s,
Patricks street, and as far out as ther
were buildings to be destroyed. Ther
the fire ran upward toward Grandal
street, and at terrible rate of speed
there being no Waterman, men, hos.
nor other appliance to stay it, and onl
the gap caused by the recent conflagrf
tion here caused the total destruction {
the whole street.
It is impossible to describe the spl ea
of the flames on every side, and it wi
perhaps be more satisfactory to give q
idea of the boundaries of the burnt dit
trict. The only thing that was succeed
ed in doing was to cut the fire off at 81
Genevieve street, and here, in fact, til
wind was blowing from the east IN
northeast. Lataurelle street up nearly
st. John street, and the westerly side {
Genevieve street has been swept ava
To the north the fire extended as far s
Richmond street. The western limit
o little beyond the street car stables.
Mt. Pleasant, near the city boundal
limit. The southern limit is at Burto
near Scott, and at Gabriel street, rs b,
been already mentioned. Briefly summe
up, the streets consumed are: Runnir
east and west-Richmood in part, pri
cipally the south side, Lataurelle, S
Oliver, Richelieu, Daquillon, st. John,
ward in Mont Calm, st. Gabriel, Nov,
tee and Breton. Running north NJ
south the principal streets destroy,
were: Sutherland, Deligny, st Ola
st. Marie and Genevieve on the We
side, besides Jupiter street in Mo
Calm ward, also on the west side.
Among the property destroyed on
John street are large number of han
some buildings used as stores and priva
residences. A battery was called o
and rendered excellent aid in 81
ing property aud keeping
der. Several remarkable whirlwin
we're caused by the fire, and men we
in some cases, lifted off of their feet.
the lower fields, where most of the bul
ont neonla had cnmped with their say