Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-18
RUIN WROUGHT BY FIRE.
RAT PORTAGE WIPED oIJT nv A
SECOND CONFEDERATION,

The Loss 500, ,OOO-Sss.OOO Worth of
Ashes at Augusta-Two Lives Lost In
an $4,000 Blaze at HaIifax-The New
hall House Horror Recalled at Mil
waukee.
WINNIPEG, NAN, Dec. 17.-Whst was
left of the town of Rat Portage after the
recent confagration there was almost to-
tally destroyed by similar disaster early
thls morning. The town possesses no ap-
plIance for protection against fire, and
the flames had full sway, consuming all
the buildings within reach. One store
was saved by the blowing up of an inter-
vening building with gunpowder. This,
with a few isolated dwellings, is
all that remains of the town. The
stocks of the merchants are a total loss.
The loss on buildings and stocks aggre-
gates about 100000. Owing to the want
OF hre protection, the inflammable nature
of the buildings, and the unsettled and
lawless state of the town, the insurance
companies will not take large risks there.
The principal losers are McKinnon Bros.
general store, $40, 900; Baker & Co.. gene
raj merchandise, $4,000; Chadwick &
MeLennan, hardware, $4,000; William
Mccarthy. general store, $4,000. Many
persons are now homeless and in desti-
tute circumstances. A relief committee
Will be organized here. No one was hurt.
AUGUSTA, GA, Dec. 1.-THE residence
of Frank II. Miller was burned this MORN
ing. The loss is $4,000. This afternoon
cotton and bagging, was burned. The
loss is $4,000.
A PANIC IN A HOTEL.
Mr.
covered in the laundry of the Plankintou
House this evening, which created panic
among the 200 guests. who remembered
the NeWhall House holocaust, and rushed
into the street. The female servants were
mostly on the upper floors, and
made a rush for the fire escape,
and about twenty of them, with the
assistance of the fremen, landed safely
upon the sidewalk. Owing to the break
ing of gas-pipe and the ignition of the
gas the firemen had considerable difficulty
in mastering the flames, and eight of them
were asphyxiated by the mingled gas and
smoke, but were resuscitated. The dam
age is about $4,000. Order was restored
after couple of hours, and the guests
returned to their rooms.
LIVES AS WELL AS PROPERTY.
HALIFAX, N. S., Dec. IA fire yes
terday destroyed the Queen Building, oc-
cupied by the Queen, Guardian and Union
insurance offices, the Spanish Consulate,
and several other offices and business
houses. The total loss is $4,000,
and the insurance $4,000. A
clerk named Edward O'Connor,
aged 56 years, who slept inthe build
ing, was suffocated. The remains with
the head missing were found In the de-
bris. The family of the janitor, with one
exception, escaped safely by jumping to
the roof of an adjoining building. A
niece of the janitor was fatally hurt.
THE STANDARD THEATRE FIRE.
NEW YORK, Dec. 17.-Fire Marshal
Sheldon continued his investigation to-
day in regard to the Standard Theatre,
and from the testimony given the fact was
established that the fire originated in the
dressing room. The police are now look
ing for an actor named Wilke who is said
TO have been i'll the dressing rooms shortly
before the fire broke out.
FOUR STORES AND ONE DWELLING GONE.
POINT PLEASANT, w. VA, Dec. H.
Four stores and one dwelling were burned
here yesterday. The loss is $4,000 and
the insurance $1,000. The principal losers
are Sayer Bros, Benjamin Franklin, w. j.
Hopkins & Co. and NJ. M. Laidiey.
BURGLARY AND INCENDIARY.
DETROIT, Dec. 1.-THE house of S. P.
Creasinger, at Fowler, Mich, was entered
this morning by burglars, who secured
81, 100. They then set fire to the house,
and It was totally destroyed. The loss is
$2I,0 900.
SIXTEEN BUILDINGS BURNED.
CANDELARIA, New. Dec. I7.-Fire
Yesterday destroyed sixteen buildings
here. The loss is $50, 900.
WIN. PRoCToR's HOUSE BURNED.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 1.-THE house of
VIM. Proctor, at Glendale, Ohio, was
burned this morning. The loss is $50, ,OOO