Huntsville gazette., 1885-08-08
GONE IN SMOKE.

GONE IN SMOKE.
A Million Dollar Fire at Toronto, Ontario
"A Disaster Unprecedented In the His
tory of the City-Several Men Severely
Burned and One, Perhaps Two Lives Lost
List Of the Losers.
TORONTO, ONT, Aug. 3.-One of the
most destructive fires that has ever taken
place in Toronto began about half past
twelve O'Clock this morning in the large
brick building erected by the Toronto
Sugar Refining Company on the esplan-
ade. A strong wind was blowing from
the east, and carried chunks of the burn
ing timber along the esplanade, igniting
the wooden buildings as far west as five
or six blocks. In a short time nothing
was left of the sugar refinery but the
bare walls and smoke stack. The
buildings of Saulter, Evans & Hicks,
Gunsell & Abb ottson, all boat buildings,
Reid & co. and Walsh & Co., lumber mer-
chants; Currie, Martin & Co., boiler
makers, and other buildings are in flames
and unless the wind changes the whole
south side of the esplanade will have to
succumb. Sparks are flying and lodging
on roofs of large warehouses on Front
and wellington streets and fears are en-
tertained that several of them may take
fire. The firemen are powerless. The
streets are lined with people. The loss
will be enormous. Three schooners have
already been burned to the water's edge.
Tho fro q q yroiIa in 1annfh
At this time the heat was SO
intense that the fremen could barely
go within half block of the building,
and were poweress to stay the flames.
A rumor was soon current that Henry
Wort, one of the watchmen OF the glu-
cose factory, was missing. He was
seen a few minutes before the fire
was discovered, and was said to have
gone after the books of the Company.
Diligent search failed to obtain any clue
to his Whereabouts, and he must have
perished. The sailors on the fine
schooner Annie Mulvey, loaded with
coal, which was unloading at Rog
ers' docks, adjoining the factory,
had terrible experience. In
attempting escape, William McCallum,
OF Port Hope, a sailor, was burned so
badly that he may die. The men were all
in their hunks, and were aroused by the
loud cracking noise of the flame. When
they got on deck the cabin and rigging of
the vessel were enveloped in flames. The
heat from the roaring furnance to the
east of them was so intense that escape
to the esplanade was cut off. The men
then made for the south end of the wharf,
! Jumped into the water and swan to the
| adjoining wharf In doing so,
| however, they were all more
Or less burned. William McCallum
suffered terrible scorching. The Cap
tain of the Mulvey, Thomas Uglow, of
Port Hope, and James McCallum, brother
of William, were also badly scorched.
The Mulvey was valued at $4,000, and
was burned to the water's edge in less
| than half an hour.
The rapdity with which the flames
spread was marvellous. A strong east
wind, amounting to a hurricane, was
blowing when the fire broke out. Great
| sparks and burning cinders were blown
westward with great rapidity, and by
TWO O'Clock the flames had reached
! The foot of Scott street, and
almost every thing in it's wake, station
ary and afoat, from Princess to Yonge
street, distance of over half a mile, was
burned. 1t is impossible at this moment
to give any idea of the amount of loss,
out it will be over a million. 1t was
nearly five O'Clock before the fire was un-
Ter control. A light rain began falling at
our O'Clock, and the wind shifted to the
northeast, so that the firemen were able
% check the flames, just as they reached
Yonge street dock.
LATEST.
The flames were luckily confined to the
esplanade, and the valuable buildings on
the north side of the nine blocks over
which the flames travelled escaped with
scorching.
The following are among the proper
ties consumed and damaged:
LIST OF THE LOSERS.
Glucose factory, owned by syndicate; (;
brick building, eight stories high and
cost $500, 600.
The schooner Annie Mulvey.
Rogers coal docks, with several hum
dred tons of coal.
Thomas Saulter's boat-house.
Evans boat-hOuse.
Heake's bcat-house.
Gunsell's boat-house.
Ibbotoon's boat-houSe.
Reid & Co.'s lumber ynrd.
Walsh, James & Co. g lumber yard.
Currie, Martin & Co.'s boiler works
Corporation Wharf.
Wiman's swimming baths.
Mrs. Richardson's boat-house.
Hamilton Sons elevator.
G. & J. WARNS boat-house.
Joseph Adamson's ice-house.
Williams roofing works.
William Poison & Co.'s engine works
Boards wharf and elevator.
Oag's blacksmith-shop
Buildings in Lionel Yorke's stone
yard.
Vale & Vets -four barrel factory.
Ontario Tanners Supply Company's