The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-06-10
FLAME SWEPT.
QuEnEcs 1ERarBtE VISITATION,
A Eight Of Horror, GIVeH over 10 the
Vivid MSnAFehy Of FIre-Hun-
drsds OF People Homeless
In the Fields.

QUEBEC, June 9.-0ns OF the most de-
structive fires with which this unfortunate
city has ever been afflicted commenced last
night and was got under control this
morning. The frat alarm was from the
corner OF st. Oliver and St. Clair streets,
at ten minutes before eleven O'Clock. A
few minutes later the bells from Basilica,
st. Johns and St, R,ch's Churches rang
out the second alarm, and the whole bri'
gAde were soon upon the ground.
TUE REFLECTION or THE FLAMES
was 80 brilliant that In a abort time the
whole city appeared to be attracted to the
scene, and by half.pGsG eleven O'Clock all
the avenues leading to the fire were so
packed with people that 1t WAS next to
imposaibls 70 force q way through them
The scene OF utter confusion in the viCinl.
~ OF the fire beggars description. Hall
Of the people seemed panic stricken, and
thTee.tourths ot the others were only
Addiug to the general confusion by run
ming against each other and assisting la
IHH bhoAhSNllON VI FRIFHhlA
n the belief that they were rendering as.
sistAnce In saving 1t, Parents, partially
clothed, hurried along In every direction
with infants Ia their arms aud leading 9th
or children by the hands. Cows and horses
let loose from burning stables rushed half
madly through the crowd. The origin Of
the FIRE was In stable m st. Olive street,
near 81. Marie. The flames Immediately
spread to the surrounding wooden houses
and to streets ab9vs and below, ST. Olive,
LStourelle, Ut, Marie aud RiCklead streets
were quickly
t. MASS or YIRE
for some hundred feet, the flames from
the other side streets overlapping In the
middle and completely closing them, The
scenes common to oil great fires were dis.
cernsble at this stage, and even the police
and fremen were to great extent demon.
allied. Daring robbery was carried on
freely In full sight Of everybody; liquor
stores and private dwellings, attacked by
the flames, were rausACked for liquor,
which was openly drank by the lowest de.
gree OF society common to the locality in
question, and who frequent the low holes
whose destruction Is one Of the least re-
grstted features OF tho disaster. Sparks,
which everywhere flew from the burning
buildings, were themselves
TERRIBLE souRcE OF DANGER
to tho rest Of the city. It was a common
sight to see mems coats and hats ablaze
from burning pieces Of shingles which
alighted upon them. The wind, being
from the north, drove the FIRE rapidly in
the direction Of st. Johns Church and
various contrary local currents scattered
cinders around in every direction. The
brigade found the Ere more unmauageable
than ever. They allegs that four wooden
houses were found on fre BY them when
they arrived upon the scene, and that,
with water absent and unattsinable for
some twenty minutes, II was impossible
for them to obtain the mastery. The
hydranta threw good AtieSms when the
water came into the ward, but too late 10
be OF much service. When the Are spread
as above described, the men OF the brigade
LOST ALL CONTROL
over any portion CT 1t. The necessary
subdivision into 80 many parties wac
weakness. TIE flames swept onward with
almost lightning rapIdity. The fury Of
the devourlng element knew no baunds
but those Of the city outGkirts, and none
who failed to see them would be inclined
10 credit the rate at which they swept all
bHtore them. A great part O. DGqutlllon,
west OF vt. Genevlevs, had been destroyed
when the flames appeared 10 s.. John
street, q little iurthsr out At l o'clock
the ringing OF the bells Of s.. Johns
church In
RAPID AND ALARMING TONES
told oil the danger Of that property, and
summoned assistance. The whole efforts
Of the Ore brigade were Immediately bent
on saving the sacred edifCe, butte no avail.
Nothing was saved but the sacred vessels,
and some Of the most valuable plate and
furniture OF the sanctuary. The ire had Dos
session OF the noble structure In almost
less space OF time than Il takes TO tell, and
the finest and largest church In the city
was doomed. II was . gtand sight 10 wit.
ness the angry flames climbing the
sIseples OF the church and to see their fall
0 lew minutes later. The more northerly
Of the two was tho frat to g.; 1t gradually
tottered over and then fell upon the
roof of the structure. The other steeple
gradually sank. Next after the church
came the Friars school opposite, aud
Still THE PRE- SWEPT on.
Trusting, as II confident that so majsstic
an edifce could never fill prey
To any Of the elements, the neighbors
around had carried their household goods
TO the front Of the church and piled them
at every door Of the sanctuary. All wSs
irretrievably lost. The church was worth
at least 500, 900; Insurance. only S83 000
At the foot OF Jupiter street. bslow the
Betthbldt market, the flames had crossed
from the lower side oi ST.. John
street, and from this point they
RAPIDLY TLEw WEST
along that avenue, keeping pace with the
other division ot tho conh,gration oppo.
site. Nof was the Are coufued now to st.
John street. At Jupiter a.rsst II spread
southwatd to Bsttholdt Market Place, de.
stroying Gabriel and 81. Patrick streets ne
far ~ there we're buildings 10 he destroy.
ed, the hsli ! alone staying the progress Of
the Gre. AT Scott street the FIRE tau .up.
wards toward the Grand Alley at terrible
rate Of speed, there being no water, men,
hose, nor other appliances 10 stay II.
Only the gap caused by the recent con.
tlAgfAtion here stopped the total desttuC.
ton Of the whole street.
IT is NP.sstBLE TO DEscRiBE rtx srRRADor
The TLAMEs .U
N, .v.,, s;da and n v;ii naybans ha