The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-06-10

A xa,ooo.ooo Ceni1aarst,on TERRIBLE scene.
OF Excitement and Observation-Disclosures
Hundred Families Rendered Homeless
Eight Hundred Buildings In Ashes, &C.. 4.

Eight Hundred Buildings In Ashes, &c., A.,
QUEBEC, June 9.--0ne OF the most disas
trous hres with which this unfortunate eli,
mas ever bfen affl cted commenced last nj 9 hi
and was only got under control at 9 O'Clock
THIS morning. The first alarm was from IN,
corner Of ST. Oliver and -. Clare streets. n,
len minutes before IL o'clock. A few min.
utes later the bells from the basil,ca OF 81
Johns and 81. Roche churches rang out \
second alarm, aud The whole force OF III,
! IRE brigade was soon upon the ground. Tn,
reflection OF the flames was so visible that in
short time half the city appeared TO bt
attracted to the scene, and by hall. past II
O'Clock all the avenues around and leading
10 the f'Ie was 80 completely packed witt
people tint !, was next 10 impossible TO fore,
way through them.
SCENE OF UTTER CONFUSION.
The scene in The vicinity OF the confia
grafton was one of utter confusion. Hall
OF those present seemed panic stricken, an0
three fOurths Of the others only added t.
the confusion by running against each
other and really contributing to the de-.
struction OF property while believing they
were helping 10 save II. Parents, partially
clothed. hurried along in every direction
with infants, wrapped In bed-clothing, in
their arms. Cows and horses, let loose
from burning stables, rushed half-msdden.
ed through crowds, or stood dazed by the
uproar and confusion surrounding them.
ORIGIN AND SPREAD OF THE FIRE.
The FIRE originated in q stable on St
Oliver street near st. Marie street. TIE
flames quickly spread to the surrounding
wooden buildings, and TO the streets above
and below 81. Oliver. Latercule, st. Marie,
and Richelieu streets were quickly mass
OF fire for some hundred feet OF each in eX
tent, the flames from the other sides OF the
streets overlapping IN the middle and com
pletely closing them 10 all traffic. Scenes
common TO all great fires were readily dis
ccrnable. AT this stage even the police and
hremen were TO grea. extent demorallzed.
DARING ROBBERY
was carried on freely in full sight of every
body. LiquOr-stores and private dwellings
attacked by flames were ransacked for Ii.
quor, which was openly drawn by the low
characters which lnfest the locality. Sparks,
which everywhere flew from the burning
wooden buildings, were themselves terri.
bic source OF danger TO the rest OF the city.
Ii vas no uncommon sight 20 see mems
coats and hats ablaZe from burning pieces
Of shingles which lighted upon them.
The fire brigade alege that four wooden
houses were found on fire by them when
they arrived upon the scene. and that With
water absent aud unattaiuaDle for some
twenty minutes il was impossible for them
to obtain the mastery. Nothing was saved
Of II. Johns church but the sacred vessels
and some Of the most valuable OF the plate
and furniture OF the sanctuary. The fire
had possession OF the noble structure in
almost q less space OF time tbGn it takes 10
read OF it, and the finest and largest church
in the city was
DOOMED TO DESTRUCTION.
The church was worth al least 100000,
upon which the insurance amounts TO only
$4,000. At the foot of Jupiter street,
below Berthlolt Market, the flames bad
crossed from the lower side OF 81. Johns,
and from this point they rapidly progressed
westward along that fine avenue, keeping
pace with the other division OF The
CONFEDERATION opposite. Nor was the
fire now confined to st. Johns street.
At Jupiter street it spread southwark
to Bertblott Market-PIace, destroying pro-
perty on Gabriel aud St. Patrick streets as
far out as there were buildings to be de-
stroyed. The lower field alone stayed the
progress OF the fire at Scott street. The
fire ran upwards toward Grand Alice at
terrible rate Of speed, there being no water,
men. hose, nor other appliances to stay ii.
Only the gap caused by Il recent confiagra-
ton here stopped the total destruction OF
the whole street. 1t Is Impossible to describe
THE SPREAD OF THE FLAMES
on every side. Briefly summed up, the
streets consumed are running east and
west-RchmOnd in part, principally the
south side; LatOwTelle, II. Oliver, Richie
lieu, DaquelIOn, and ST. Johns Ward. In
Montcam, st. Gabriel, Nouvelle. and Bre-
ton. Running north and south, the prin.
cipal streets were Sutherland, Deligny, St.
Clare, st. Marie, and Genevieve on the west
side; besides Jupiter street in M0ntcalm
Ward, also west side. Amongst the pro-
perry destroyed on John street were large
number of handsome buildings used as
stores and private residences.
"a" Battery was called out and rem
dered efficient aid in saving property and
in keeping order. II is computed that there
must be
A LOSS OF TWO MILLION DOLLARS,
between buildings, stock, and furniture.
Over fifteen hundred families are rendered
homeless by the cOn6lgration. At least
eight hundred buildings have been de-
stroycd. 1t Is impossible TO give full and
correct list of the sufferers and insurance
losses at this moment, but all the Insurance
companies doug business in the city VIII
probably be heavy losers.
The fire brigade and apparatus was quite
unable to cope with such fire, and to IFS
weakness and he wretched water, eryice
the whole disaster is due.