Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-06-24
JOB WORK,
VANCOUVER In ASHES.
Millions or Dollars and Several Lives
Lost.

A dispatch from Victoria, British Columbia,
gives the following details OF the great are at
Vancouver, June 18th. All day Sunday there
had been very steady wind from the north.
east aud the brush clearing fires on the Cana
dian Pacific Railroad lots were famed TO such
an extent as to Oil the terminal town OF Van.
couyer with smoke. Nobody had, however,
any idea OF the danger. Shortly after y. m
several persons began to consider the situation
u threatening one, but the smoke was SO
dense they found It impossible to direct their
steps TO the exact location OF It's source. Soon
u stable near tho Colonial Hotel wa, seen on
IRE aud au alarm was given, but SO skcptical
were the people that they paid no ate itIon
FOR some tins, The wind by this time had in.
creased 10 a gale and famed the flames to a
mass OF raging fire. One of the first buildings
10 80 was Macartnoy's drug store, follow
ed by the Office OF tho Van Couysr News, Tn,
flames shot across Abbott street with astonish-
Ing rapidity, and almost before the people
could realize II the whole Of the western por-
ton Of the city was In blaze, and the excite.
mcnt was now intense. Water Street was III.
ed with dense smoke and flying cndcrs aud
the people were hurrying after what effects
they could gather In their haste
10 II place OF safety. Those who advanced TO
save the goods were so wrapped up In their
object as To appear needless OF any danger
the way they ran, and II was found especially
necessary TO compel women 10 rclnquish
their effects aud save their lives, In SONS CT
ses there was just time enough to place them
ON improvsed RATS, which were pushed out
from the shore beyond the reach of the flames,
which seemed literally TO all the air, All hope
OF saving any considerable amount OF proper
~ was now abandoned, and each contcnted
himself with hastily putting together what he
could carry In bis hands, without seriously i'm.
peding HIS speed, aud hurried from tho spot.
But even after leaving the houses tho danger
was sot over, for every road had becomc an
avenue OF fallen timber aud stumps, aud each
side Of tn, road glowing flames OF Are, prov.
Ing ~ serious menace to fugItlvcs rs the burn
Ing houses OF . doomed city could. Daring
the confusion that prevailed aud when tho
rowdies and rougss saw that everyone WAS
leaving, they catered the saloons, which
had been left entirely unprotected, aud com
mencsd drinking. Many OF them were seen
staggering along the street with key OF beer
on his shoulder or pack ny a. many bottles as
he could appropriate. Men were seen sitting
completely hemmcd In by fire, apparently OBJ.
iivIous Of their surroundings drinking liquor,
The steamer Dunsmuir was ut the wharf to re-
ccive the people and with several other steam
crs conveyed large number over - Woody
vile. The dropping OF the flames was as sud.
den as their rise, and by o p, m some adven-
turous spirits had already made their way
along the roads Of the destroyed city, and be-
tore dark the wo k Of searching for the bodies
Of those overtaken by the fiery element la | be-
gun. In u short time the incinerated remains
Of several persons had been discovered. There
Is some uncertainty about the exact number
already found, a. In some cases handful Of
charred bones were the only Indication Of hui
man life being lost, One Of the scarchers
thought the number could be truthfully estl-
mated al twelve. The general sentiment OF
the people appears to bo one of hopefulncss
aud determination TO at once begin the rc'
construction OF the city