Morning journal and courier., 1885-11-14
News by Telegraph
 FROM ALL QUARTERS. GALVESTON IN A BLAZE. The City Swept By Furious Flames. COSTLY HOMES IN RUINS. The Losses Over Two MiI-
 lion Dollars. EX-SENATOR SHARON DEAD. War In The East Now AL
 most Certain.
Ex-sENAT0R SHARON DEAL.
GREAT FIRE IN GALVESTON.

Furious Flames Sweep Through the
 Finest Portion of the CitY-The Cost
 Hest Residences Moved Down by
 Hundreds-Families Aroused From
 Sleep and Given Barely Time to Save
 Themselves Hundreds of People
 Shivering i'm a Fierce Northern
 Gale-The Losses over Two Million
 Dollars.
 GALVESTON, Texas, Nov. 13-The most destructive fire in the history of Galveston visited this city this morning. The fire broke out at 1: 40 in small foundry on the north side of Strand street, near the corner of Sixteenth. A stiff north wind was blow ing at the time and the flames spread with crept southward took in the finest residences in the city, all of which were built of wood. About o'clock the fire began to spread to the east and west of Sixteenth and Seven teenth streets and the wind rose to gale. For time it seemed as though the entire eastern half of the oity was doomed On ward and southward, it swept licking up the blocks and elegant residences hastily aban- doned by fleeing inmates. By o'clock it had reached Broadway, which threads the center of the island running west. At 2 o'clock the wind gave signs of dying out, and soon it began to shift, then to decrease until by 8 o'clock only fair breeze was blowing, but by this time the fire had eaten it's way to Avenue o, where, at 9 o'clock, it seemed to exhaust itself and the firemen com ing up checked it's further ravages at this point or within two blocks of the gulf
 The scene during the progress of the fire was simply frightful, and so filled with mis- cry and terror that whoever witnessed it must bear it's vivid impress for lifetime. The wind rose to screaming gale in the vii cinity of the fire and swept through the burning belt in terrific swirls, carrying mil lions of live cinders high in the air and rain ing them down a mile distant over the wood- en city and its panic-stricken inhabitants. The entire east end of the city scarcely con- tains a dozen brick dwellings. All are Texas pine, and it burns with an indescribable fury. The alleyways and streets for ten squares on either side of the burning belt were filled with the blanched faces of wo- men, crying children, and great, strong help less men who could do nothing ill such gale but crouch down for shelter from the piercing mortimer and watch the flames lick up the fruits of a lifetime's toll. Although the victims number many of the wealthiest residents of the city such as Julius Runge, CT people whose individual wealth runs up near $1 ,000, GOO, yet a great majority of those burned out lose the better portion of their fortunes.
 The burned district extends from Mechan- ic street oa the north to Avenue on the south, and east and west between Sixteenth forty fa or hfsy biocts long and Eve blocks broad through the finest residence portion of the city. All that remains of these once beautiful and happy homes are few stand ing chimneys and numbers of half burned ornamental trees and shrubs. Over seven hundred residences were dertroyed. As the flames swept uncontrollably along before the gale policemen ran from house to house in advance and aroused the sleeping residents, giving them barely time to save themselves and what clothing they could has tily throw on. People thus aroused several blocks in advance of the flames could not be made to realize that they were in imminent danger and would not attempt to move their effects until it was too late. great many lost their household effects after removing them to what they considered places of safety In a number of cases the flames came upon the people before they could re-
  tion of the city is burned and no govern ment, city or county buildings. number of valuable churches and schools have suf- fered greatly. Relief committees have been formed and the citizens have already subscribed twenty thousand dollars for the relief of the sufferers. The relief com mittees appointed at the citizens meeting this noon are actively engaged, but there will be great suffering on account of the severe mortimer now blowing. In addition to the above the city council has appropriated $15 5,000 for the general relief fund. They have also passed the customary resolutions of thanks At one time during the night the wind blew with terrible force, which car ried the flames across the streets and vacant blocks
 The hotels are filled with people made homeless by the fire and a committee is now at work apportioning families to rooms and premises vacated for their use. Every dray and vehicle in the city is at work carrying the strewn furniture, bedding and pictures to secure places. Thousands of people haunt the burned district looking among the smok- ing ruins for valuable keepsakes and jew elry, vainly hoping to find something left, but all is as bleak and barren as de- sert. Even the huge wooden water tanks and fences and sidewalks and telegraph poles pie were hurriedly removed during the con migration and many more are reported pros trated by the terrible excitement. A meet ing of citizens is now in progress at the Cot ton Exchange to provide immediate relief for the poorer victims. Already the rich men of the city and the well-to-do, even those who have lost elegant mansions, have determined to look after and provide for their own poor people and Galveston will probably make no appeal to the outside world. Following close on the heels of the recent great strike which inflicted money loss on the busi- ness men of Galveston of fully $4,- 900, ,000, this calamity is the climax to the woes and sore aff1ictions of this city. With the exception of half dozen grocery stores and iron and car repairing foundry where the fire started no places of business were de- stroysd.
 The insurance men held meeting to- night Those burned out in many instances lost their insurance papers. Telegrams of condolence are pouring in from all parts of the country Many cities and towns throughout the country are offering aid. The Baltimore & Ohio Telegraph company have rendered the use of it's lines free of charge to the relief committee. There are upwards of a thousand families homeless. Those who have homes are sharing with the unfortunates The total loss to the insur- ance companies is $1 ,123, 655 and the total loss will be over 8, ,OO0, 900. The New York Underwriters agency. Home of New York, Insurance company of North America, Wes- tern of Canada, City of London and Commer- cial Union of London sustain the heaviest losses.
 Galveston is the largest city in Texas, with population of from 35, 900 to 10000. It is situated on an island in the Bay of Gal weston, and looks out upon the Gulf of Mexico. It is the principal commercial point southwest of New Orleans and has a large export trade, steamship lines con- meeting the city with New York, New Or leans, Liverpool, Havana and other points. It is also the terminus of two or three railroads. The city had before the present confagration about % churches, Catholic cathedral, city hall custom house, county court house, two theaters, public library, large city hospi tai, cotton exchange, two national banks and many manufactures and shops o1 various descriptions. The yearly cotton re ceipts of Galveston are nearly 800, 900 bales and the export trade reaches nearly $40, 900, 900.
 An Heir to Millions.
 HALIFAX, N. S., Nov. 13.-Hemon Rog