Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-08-04
A scCRcnIMe BLAZE.
Over One Million Dollars Worth of
Valuable Property Consumed
And the Hottest Conhagra,ion Ever Seen
in Toronto-Seventeen Hours Occu-
pied in Quelling the Flames.
TORONTO. Aug. 3.

TORONTO, Aug. 3.
One of the most destructive fires that has
ever occurred here, commenced about Il. 80
Monday forenoon in a large block erected by
the Toronto Sugar Refinery Co on the es-
planade. strong wind was blowing from
the east and carried chunks of burning tim
Der along the esplanade, igniung wooden
buildings for distance of five or six blocks
In short time nothing was left of the sugar
refinery but the bare walls and smokestack.
The buildings of Saulter, Evans, Heakes.
Gunselles and Abbotonson. all boat builders
Reid & Co., and Walsh & Co., lumber mer-
chants. Mortem & Co., boiler makers, and
other buildings were soon in flames.
The work of destruction on the esplanade
went on. having reached the foot of Yonge
street, and all intervening buildings and
wharves were burned to the ground. At 4.30
A. M, the fire was under control. 1t is im-
possible at present to obtain losses and in
surance.
The fire which occurred at 1890 Monday
morning in glucose factory at the foot of
Princess street, proved the most destructive
one that ever visited Toronto. Scores OF
v4luable craft of all kinds which were moor
ed along the docks, suffered alike with fac
tory, foundery, elevator, boat houses, &c
Fifteen inmates after the fire broke out it
WAS seen that the large glucose factory was
doomed
At this time the heat was so intense that
the firemen could not approach within half a
block of the burning building. They were
utterly powerless to stay the flames which
totally De fed their efforts. Henry Wort ,one
of the watchmen in the factory, was seen a
few minutes before the fire was discovered
and it is said went after the books of the
m sf fai lad
to discover HIM, and it is believed he must
have perished. The sailors on schooner An
ME Mulvey, lying at Rogers dock, adjoining
the factory. had a terrible experience.
In attempting to escape one of them. VIM
McCalum of Port Hope, was so badly burn
ed that he may die.
The men were all in their hunks and were
aroused by the loud cracking noise of the
flames. When they reached the deck the
cabin and rigging of the vessel were envel-
oped in flames.
The great heat from the roaring furnace to
the east of them was so intense that escape
to the esplanaIe was impossible. The men
made for the south end of the wharf and
jumped into the water and swan to an ad-
joining wharf In doing this, however they
were all more or less burned VIM Nc
Callum suffered terrible scorchng. and the
n.
Port Hope, and James McCallum, brother of
William. were badly burned. The Annie
Mulvey. valued at 10000, was burned to
the waters edge in less than half an hour.
The rapidity with which the flames spread
WAS marvellous. A strong east wind amount
ing at times to almost a hurricane, was blow
ing when the fire broke out. Great sparks
and burning cinders were b own westward
with great rapdity and bv , o'clock the flames
had reached the foot of Scott street. Almost
everything in its wake. stationary and
ahoat, from Princess to Young street, dis
tance of over a half mile, was burned 1t
is impossible at this time to give any idea of
the loss but it will foot up to over 81 00O, 900
Ii was nearly O'Clock before the fire was
under control. The flames were confined to
the south side OF the esplanade and valuable
buildings on the north side of the nine blocks
over which the flames lowered, escaped with
only scorehing.
The following are among the properties
Consumed or damaged
The glucose factory, owned bv syndicate
composed of A T Fulton, John Leys, Geo
Gooderheim, W. II. Beatty, estate of James
Niche & Co., and others. The building cost
5000. 600 six years ago; schooner Annie
Mulvey, Rogers coal docks, with 700 tons of
coal, Saveter's boat house, Evans boat house.
Heakes' boat house, Gunseller's boat house,
Abbott & Sons lumber yard, Walsh, James
& Co, lumber yards, Curne, Martin & Cos
boiler works, Corporation wharf, Wyman's
swimming baths. Mrs. Rennordson's boat
house. Hamilton & Sons elevator, G. & J.
WARNS boat house, Aeamson's ice houses
]. c. Graham's ice house, II. Williams roof
ing works. VIM. Folsom & Cos engine
works, J. NJ. Boards wharf and elevator. J
Gags blacksmith shop, buildings in Lionel
York's stone yard. Haute & Vets flour barrel
factory Ontario Tanners Supply Co.'S factory,
J. Adamson's wharf. St. Lawrence wharf
and Swimmington's cigar box factory, VIM
Adamson's wharf,L. Crane & Co.'S coal docks,
Sylvester Bros. & Hyckmon's wharf, Dono-
hue & DINERS lumber yard, J. X. Bailey &
Co.'S coal docks.
The fleet of ferry steamers, Ontario, Ma
zeppa, Annie Crsry and Thurss, at the foot
OF Church street. are nearly all DESTROYED; /;
also Stone. Hooker's Madeline and Mary
Ann Many private houses are also more or
less damaged and some completely destroyed.
Steamers Chicora and Algeron, which were
moored at Yonge street dock, succeeded in
getting safely away
The progress of the fire on the esplanade
was checked shortly after ) O'Clock, this
morning. From Scott street. west to Prin-
cess street. there is nothing to he seen but
smouldering mass of ruins. 1t is impossible
vet to give anything like list of the losses.
Every Insurance company in the city is said
TO be loser.