New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-22
TILE GREAT KINGSTON FIRE.
STATEMENTS OF EYE-wITNEssEs.

STATEMENTS OF EYE-WITNESSi,S.
Fall accounts of the great fire in kingston. ia
maica which broke out on December H. were
brought to this city Dy the steamship AlvO of tho
Atlas Line, which arrived yesterday morning, hav-
ing left Kingston two days after the fire. lie
purser Of the vessel, L. j. Cohey. who was an eye.
witness OF the fire and worked hard with his
brother officers and the men of the vessel to save
property aud lives, gave an account OF the coDia-
grafton TO n TRIBUNE reporter rs follows:
The fire was FIRST discovered shortly after moon
in Feu tards's lumber yard. 1t was thought only
little blaze at first, but q marvellOusly short time
re strong south wind had scattered burning shin
giles and fire. brands far aud wide, igniting the
shingle-roofed buildings at great distances and IN
many places. The small fire brigade with its two
hand engines was poweress. The shipping was
taken into the harbor. but even there constant
watch alone prevented the vessels from taking fire.
I Ire wind, that had blown from the sea, soon
shifted entirely about and blew Oft the shore. thus
endanoering the lives of thousands of people who
had gathered along the wharves. Great quantities
OF furniture that had been brought to the shore for
safety were burned when the wind veered about
W. r. Mcpherson & Co. had moved a large amount
of silk TO safe place. as they thought, but the fire
was blown back upon the car company stores III
King-st., where IL had been placed. aud everything
was destroyed. Mr. Mcpherson told me that his
loss by that mistake would amount to 80 600. Our
boats and those of the Ailsa and other vessels III
port were manned and great. numbers OF people
we're brought out from the shore for safety. The
light was 50 bright that we could see every onleot
oil the shipping and on shore. saw one woman
standing knee deep in the water WITH three trunks
around her and keeping the sparks cif.wi an UNI
brella couldn't persuade her to leave her truhhs
and get into our ships boat. One man III buggy
was driven ont into deep wafer by tho nalnes
We brought 200 people on board THE AyO. Many
of them were scantilY cad and most OF them were
made utterly destitute by the fire. Tho sights and
sounds in the CITY beyond description pitl1ul
and heartrending. Tho streuts wore thlctiy strawn
with telegraph and telephone wires, while on the
parade and in the parade grounds great quantities OF
household goods piled ana were guarded by the
homeless owners Of them"
Chef Officer +. NJ. Mcknight estimated that the
burned district extended one mile and quarter
along the shore and from three to seven blocks back
from the wharves. All the wnarves ana stores
near them within shat district were destroyed eX-
ccpt two wharves OF the Atlas Line and one OF Tie
ROYAL Mail Line. tents and marques belonging
Co the military OF the city were set up IN thepublic
park Tor the great numbers of hOuseless people Ii
the streets. Mr. Mcknight thought that there were
twelve or fifteen sailing vessels along the wharves be-
sides the three of the Atlas Line and London steam
ship Chief Engineer MITCHELL of the Alsa, OF the
Atlas Line. was severely injured by n failing roof
and is now in the hospital at Kingston. The car
penter OF the same vessel WAS also Injured and IS
in the hOAuital.