The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-16
Another Account.

PORTLAND, ORE, June 15.-Tne Ore
gOnian's Victoria, B. c., special says:
IAN day Sunday there had b!en a
steady wind from the northwest, and
the brush clearing fires on the Cana
dian Pacific railway lots were famed
to such an extent as to fill the teImi.
nsl town of Vancouver with smoke.
Noobdy, however, had any idea of dan
ger. Shortly after p. m. several per-
sons began to consider the situation
threatening, but the smoke VS. so
dense that they found it impossible to
direct their steps to the exact location
of its source. Soon a stable ear the
Colonial Hotel was seen to be on fire.
The alarm was given, but go skep,ical
were people tina. they paid no atten-
ton FOR some time. The wind by this
time had increased to a gale, and
famed the flames to a mass CT raging
fire. One of the first buildings to g.
was McCartney's drug store, followed
by the Office of the Vancouver NelCs
The famfs shot across Abb tt street
with tonishing rapidity, and almost
Def people ould Ieiliz it the whole
Of The western rorion Of the city was
in a blaze. TIE excitement was
now intense. Water sirtet was
filed with dense smoke and flying
cinders, end people wers hunying
with what effects they could ga her in
their haste to place OF safety, the
general direction OF the fight being
east, though many ran to the elevated
ground owned by the Canadian Pa.
cific Railroad Company. Others a!ain
made for False creek. Those who en-
deavored to save their goods were so
wrapped in their object as to appear
needless of the danger they ian, and
it was found espe cislly necessary to
compel many women to relinquieh
their effects TO save their lives. In
some cas- there was only Just time
10 place them on improvised rats,
which were pushed out from the
shore beyond the reach of the flames,
which Ii orally seemed to fill the air.
In less time than it takes to describe
it the FIRE had reached Carroll street.
Some merchants in this vicinity aud
Fera uson block engaged in conveying
their goods to place Of safety, but 30
rapid was the cobhsgration that be-
fore their horses were ready the team
steIs themselves were obliged to fly for
their lives. All hope of saving any
considerable amount Of property was
now ahsnd ned, end each conten. ed
him Elf with hastily putting together
what he could carry in his hands,
without impeding his speed, and hur-
ried from the fpo but even after
leaving ihe houses the danger was net
over, for every road had become an
avenue of fire, the falling timbers and
Stun on each side of the road glow
ing with fire, and proving as serious a
mer ace to the fugtives as the burning
houses Of the doomed CITY. During
the confusion which prevailed, when
rowdiss and rougbs saw that every
one was leaving, they entered the ia.
looms, which had teen left entirely
unprotected, aud commenced drink
log. Many a Que was seen staggering
along the street. with key of beer on
his shoulder, or carrying az many
bottles of liquor as he could appropri-
ate. Men were seen completely
hemmed in by the fire and apparently
oblivious of their surroundings, drink
ing liquor. They were of course then
already partially intoxicated. A large
number of The fugitives collie Cted at
the Hastings Mill Compsny's wharf,
but large majority collected False
creek bridge. Nothing was to be seen
from eli her Of these points but lurid,
rolling bank of smoke hanging over
the sshes Of the city, from which
st agglers could be seen occasionally
fleeing. The steamer Dur smuir was
at tie wharf to receive people, and,
with several other steamers, conveyed
lsrge number over to Moodyville.
Tae dropping of the flags was as
sudden as tbeir rise, and by pm.
come adventul Gus spirits had already
made their way along the roads Of the
destroyed city, and before dark the
work of searching for the bodies of
those overtsken by the fiery clements
rad be7uu. In a short time the in
cinefa'ed remains of reveal persons
had bsen discovered. Up to 10
o'clock Monday morning nine bodies.
some of which were burned beyond
recognition, had been found. There
is some uncertainty about the exact
number already found as in some
csses a handful OF chsIred bones was
the only indication Of human life
being lest. One OF the sesrchers said
he thought the number could be truth
fully estimated at twelve. The gen.
eral sentiment Of the people appears
to be one of hopefulness aud determ-
ina'ion to at once begin the recon-