The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-15
Quebec in a Blaze.
100000 WORTH OF PROPERTY DE-
sTRoTED-S00 BUILDINGS BURNED
"A NIGHT OF TERROR.

100000 WORTH OF PROPERTY DE-
sTRoYED-S00 BUILDINGS BURNED
"A NIGHT OF TERROR.
QUEBEC, ONT., June Lone of the
most disastrous fires which this un-
fortunate city has been afflicted with
commenced last night, and was only
got under control at 6 o'clock this
morning. The first alarm was from
the corner of st. Olivier and st.
Claire streets, at 1850 o'clock. A
few minutes later from Basilica, st.
Johns, and st. Roch's Churches
rang out a second alarm. and the
whole force of the fire brigade was
upon the ground. The scene in the
vicinity of the confagration was
one of utter confusion. Parents,
partially clothed, hurried along in
every direction, with infants wrap
ped in bed clothing in their arms !;
cows and horses let loose from burn
ing stables, rushed half maddened
through the crowd, or stood dazed
by the uproar and confusion sur
rounding them.
The fire originated in a stable on
st. Olivier street, near st. Mary
street The flames quickly spread
to the surrounding wooden buildings
and to the streets above and below.
st. Olivier. Latourelle, st. Mare and
Richelieu streets were quickly a
mass of fire. Police and firemen
were to a great extent demoralized.
Daring robbery was carried on free
ly IN full sight of everybody.
Liquor stores and private dwellings
attacked by the flames were ran
sacked for liquor, which was openly
drank by the low characters which
infest the locality. Nothing was
saved of st. Johns Church but the
sacred vessels and some of the most
valuable of the plate and furniture
of the sanctuary. 1t was the finest
and largest church in the city, and
was worth at least 100000, upon
which the insurance amounts to
only $4,000. At the foot of Jupiter
street, below Berthlot Market, the
flames had crossed from the lower
side of st. John street, and from this
point they rapidly progressed west
ward along that fine avenue, keep
ing pace with the other division of
the conhagration opposite. Nor was
the fire now confined to st. John
street. AT Jupiter street it spread
southwark to Berthlot Market Place,
destroying property on Gabriel and
st. Patrick streets, as far out as
there were buildings to be destroyed.
A lower field alone strayed the pro-
gress of the fire. Only a gap caused
by the recent confiagration here
stopped the total destruction of the
whole street.
Briefly summed up, the streets
consumed are running east and
west:
Richmond in part, principally the
south side; Latourelle, st. Olivier,
Richelieu, Daquillion and st. Johns
ward, in Montcalm; st. Gabriel,
Nouvelle and Breton. Running
north and south, the principal streets
were Sutherland, Deligny, st. Claire,
st. Marie and st. Genevieve, west
side, besides Jupiter street, in Mont
calm ward, also west side. Amongst
the property destroyed on st. John
street were a large number of hand
some buildings used as stores and
privates residences.
"a" battery was called out and
rendered efficient aid, saving prop
erty and keeping order. 1t is COM
puted that there must be a loss of
s2.0O0000 between the buildings,
stock and furniture. Over 100
families are rendered homeless by
the conhagration. AT least 500
buildings have been destroyed. All
the insurance companies doing busi-
ness in this city will probably be
heavy losers. The fire brigade and
apparatus was quite unfit to cope
with such fire, and to its weakness
and the wretched water service the
whole disaster is due.
Rumors circulated as to the loss
of life were not believed up to 3 p.
m. 1t now appears that five lives
were lost. Three bodies have al
ready been recovered. They are
those of Mr.. and Mrs. Hardy. of No.
11S Olivier street, whose children
were saved, and that of man named
Marois, joiner, of Richelieu street.
Mrs. George Lappe-iere and two
children are missing, and are also
believed to have perished in the
flames.
A subscription list in aid of the
sufferers has been opened by the
Governor General, who gives $500.
The Mayor gives 500 and the Arch
bishop 1000.