Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-06-16
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Concerning the Great COntiagration at
Vancouver.

Concerning the Great Contiagration at
Vancouver.
PORTLAND, ORE, June l5.-The Oregon
iau's Victoria, B. C. special says; All day
Sunday there had been steady wind from
the northwest, and the brush clearing fires
on the Canadian Pacific Railway lots were
famed to such an extent as to fill the
terminal town of Vancouver with smoke.
Nobody, however, had any idea of danger.
Shortly after o'clock .. NJ, several per
sons began to consider the situation
threatening, bat the smoke was so dense
that they found it impossible to direct their
streams to the exact location ofits source.
Soon a stable near the Colonial Hotel
was seen to be on fire. The alarm was
given, but so skeptical were people that
they paid no attention for some time. The
wind by this time had increased to gale
and famed the flames to raging FIRE.
One OF the first buildings to go was Mac.
Cartneys drug store, followed By the Office
OF the Vancouver News. The flames shot
across Abbott street with astonishing
rapidty, and almost before people could
realize it the whole OF the western portion
OF the city was in blaze. The excitement
was cow intense. Water street was filled
with dense smoke and flying cinders, aud
people were hurrying with what effects they
could gather in their haste to a place OF
safety, the general direction OF their flight
being east, though many ran to the elevated
ground owned by the Canada Pacific
Railway Company. Others again made
for False creek. Those who eudeaVored
to save their goods were 80 wrapped in their
object az to appear needless Of the danger
they ran, and 1t was found especially nee
esssry to compel many women to relinquish
their effects to save their lives. In some
cases there was only Just time to place
them on improved rata which were pushed
ont from the ghore beyond the reach OF the
flames which literally seemed to ell the air
In less time than it takes TO describe it,
the Ere had reached Carroll street Some
merchants in this vicinity and in Ferguson
block engaged in conveying their goods to
a place OF safety, but so rapid was the con-
dsrration, that before the horses were
ready the tesmsters themselves we're obi l'gs |
TO fly for their lives All hope of saving
any considerable amount Of tide property
was now abandoned, and each contented
| h;mss,"t .sith hastily putting together what
he copld carry in nniiss hands without seri'
ousIy i'm peding his speed and hurried from
tLs s,o, INT eyen after leaving the houses
/ the danger 40 aot Oyer, fer every road
become an avenus of are. The falling
t;mbers and stumps on each side OF the
road glowing with FIRE, aud proving ss se-
rious q menace to the fuginves as the burn
inc houses of the doomed city. =, =,
Daring the confusion which prevailed,
when roWdies and roughs saw that every
| one was leaving, they entered the saloons
which hsd Gesa Jeff entirely unprotected
and commenced drinking. Many 3 one
Was seen staggering along the streets witt
a ksg OF beer on bis shoulder or carrying
a. msny bottles Of liquor as he could sp
nronr;sts. Men were seen sitting com
pleteIy hsmne3 il BY the fire, and nppar
sntlv oblivious OF their roEndlngs
drinking liquor. They were, of course
, then already partially intoxicated. 4
. large number Of the fugitives collected q
u the Hastings Mill Compsnys wharf, bu
he large majority collected at False Cree
bridge. Nothing IVES 70 be sean ;rou
either of these points but 3 ldrid, Folhni
| bank Of smoke hanging over the ssues .
: the city, froz which stragglers could b
: seeu occasionally fleeing.
, The stesmer pupsmuir was at the Hhar
to receive the people and with seyera
: o,bsr steamers conveyed large numbe
over to MoOdyyille. The dropping OF tn
aames was as sudden ss thsir rise, and b
ak .. m. some adventurous spirits ha
, already made their vsy along the road .
: the destroyed city, and before dark, To
B work Of searching for bodies Of those oVs1
E taken by fiery elements had begun. In
? sbost time incinersted remains OF sewers
J uerscns had been discovered and up to se
e o'clock Monday morning, nine bedie
' some of which were burned beyond recol
a milton. had been found. There 10 some III
Q lcertainty about the extra number alresd
/ found. a. in some cases q handful
/ eharred bones gere the only indication
I human life being lost. One Of the scare
: L. L. ruuahaR aRuld y