The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-30
4 CITY In ASHES
Vancouver, in British Columbia,
Swept Away by the Flames. ,l
Numerous Lives Lost and 1000
Persons Rendered Homeless.

The city of Vancouver, British Columbia,'
has been destroyed by fire, every building
succumbing to the flames. At least ten per-.
sons lost their lives. A dispatch from the
stricken city gives the following particulars:
All day Sunday there had been a steady
wind from the northwest, and the brush fires
on the Canadian Pacific Railway lots were
famed to such an extent as to fill Vancouver
with smoke. Nobody, however, had any
idea of danger. Shortly after P. N. sew
eral persons began to consider the situa-
tion threatening, but the smoke was
so dense that they found it impossible to di-
rect their steps to the exact location Of its
source. Soon stable near the Colonial Ho-
tel was seen to be on fire. The alarm was
given, but the people raid no attention for
creased to gale, and famed the flames to 8
mass of raging fire. G.l1
One of the first buildings to 20 was Mac
Cartney'S drug store, followed by the office
Of the Vancouver Ne,Ds. The flames shot
across Abbott street with astounding rapid
ity, and almost before the people realized it
the whole western portion Of the city was in
blaze. The excitement was intense. Water
street was filled with smoke and flying Gin
ders, and people were hurrying with what
effects they could gather in their haste to O.
place of safety. fra
In less time than it takes to describe it the
fire had reached Carroll street. Some mer-
chants attempted to remove their goods to a
place of safety, but before their horses were
ready the teanlsters themselves were obliged
to fly for their lives. All hope Of saving
much property was now abandoned The
falling timber and stumps on each side Of the
road proved as serious menace to the fugi-
tives as the burning houses Of the doomed
city.
During the confusion, when rowdies and
roughs saw that every one was leaving, they
entered the Saloons which had been left un-
protected, and commenced drinking. Many
one was seen staggering along the streets
with keg Of beer on his shoulder, and
carrying as many bottles of liquor as he
could appropriate. Men were seen sitting
completely hemmed in by the fire, and ap-i
parently Oblivion; to their surroundings,
drinking liquor. enEi
The steamer Dunsmuir was at the wharf to j
receive people and, with several other steam
ers, conveyed large number over to Moody
vile. The flames subsidized as suddenly as they
had risen, and by + p. N. some venturesomej {
persons had already made their way along !
the roads of the destroyed city, and before
dark the work Of searching for the bodies
Of the victims began. In short time the re-
mains of several persons were discovered, and
up to 10 o'clock on Monday morning nine
bNNieo, cotuC VI WulCu were DuTu0u D6yCuu
recognition, bad been found. There is some
uncertainty about the exact number recov-
cred, as in some cases only a handful Of
charred boncs was found. -a,fi2
The people appear to be hopeful, and they
are determined at once to begin the recon
struction of the city. Some have already got
building material on the ground. The total
loss is estimated at 81, 100000. One thousand
persons are homeless. si}
A thousand men are at work clearing up
debris for the railroad company. Many men
lost there all, but are determined to start
again. The property loss falls directly on
the pioneer element Of the new city. Hun
dreds of people are camping out. There are
meagre facilities for the relief of the suffer-
ers. Families were compelled to aban-.
don their homes at moments warning and
fee for their lives. Business men in search
Of valuables were forced to rush through
flames and smoke.
The whole populace were panic stricken.
A number Of persons sought refuge in the
water One man was found in well, where
he had lowered himself to escape the flames
Few of the people have more than the clothes
they stand in. Of the ten bodies recovered
only three have been identified. ,.9S,