Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-19
SAD WORK OF the FLAMES.
Terrible Fire at VancOuver-Immense
Loss Of Property and Some
Lives.
4 Disaster that Was Unlocked For and
Unprepared for by the In
habitants.
Scenes and Incidents of the Event-HOW
q Lot of TOOters Met Their
Death.

PORTLAND Ore, June 15.-The Oregon
ian's Victoria, British Columbia, special
says: All day Sunday there had been a
steady wind from the northwest, and the
brush clear ring fires on the Canadian Pa
cific railway lots were famed to such an
extent as to f1ll the termina! town Of Var
couver with smoke. Nobody bad. how
ever. any idea Of danger. Shortly after l
p. m. several persons began to consider the
situation threatening, but the smoke was
so dense that hey found it impossible to
direct tceir steps to the exact location OF
its source. Sool stable near the Colonial
Hotel was seen to be on fire. The alarm
was given, but so skeptieal were the people
that they paid no attention to it for some
time. The wind, which by this time had
increased to gale, famed the flames into
a mass OF raging fire. One OF the first
buildings to go was McCartney's drug
store, followed by the Office of the Van
couver News. The flames shot across Abb
bott's street with li.htning rapidity, and
almost before the people could realize it
the whole of the western portion OF tne
city Was ia blaze. The excitement now
Was intense Water street was filled
the people were hurrying with what effects
they could gather in their haste to place
Of safety. The general direction Of the
fight was to the east, though many ran to
the elevated ground owned by the Cana
dian Pacific Railroad Company. Those
who endeavored to save goods were So in
tent in their object as to appear heedless
OF danger. They ran and it was found
especially necessary to compel many
women to relinouish their efforts to save
their effects. In some cases there was only
Just time to place them in improvised rait
which were pushed from the shore hey"nd
the reach OF the flames, which literally
seemed Q fill the air. In less time than it
Carroll street. Some merchants in this
vicinity and in the Ferguson block engaged
| teams to convey their goods to a place OF
safety, but 81 rapid was the contlaeration
| tha before the horses were ready the team
| sters themselves were Obliged to fly for their
lives. All hope OF saving any considern bic
amount of property was now abandone J.
and each contented himself with hastily
putting together what he could carry in his
hands without seriously impeding his speed
and hurried from the spot; but even after
| leaving their houses the danger was not
| ov er, for every road had become an avenue
of fire The fallen timbers and stumps or
ca ch side OF the road glowed with fire prov
! ing as serious a menace to the fug1tlves as
the burning houses OF the doomed city
During the confusion that prevailed, wher
! the rowtlies and rouehs saw that everyont
/ was leaving they entered the saloons, whici
had been left entirely unprotected, ane
commenced drinking. Many one wal
seen staggering along the streets with a ke;
Of beer on his shoulders or packing al
many bottles of liquor as he could appro
pirate. Our informant WAS creditably told
that men were seen setting completely
he,nmed in by the fire, apparently obliv
ious of heir surroundings, drinking liquor
They were then partially intozica tod. 1
large numb-r of the fugitives collected
the Hastings Mill Company's wharf, bu
the large majority collected at the Falls
Creek bridge. Nothing was to be seen iron
either side hut a lurid, rolling bank o
smoke. hanging over the ashes OF th
city, from which stragglers could occa
sionally be seen fleeing. The stea nae
Dansmuir was at the wharf to receiv
people and with several other stea mer
| conyeyed a large number of people over tt
Woodyville. The dropping OF the flame
was as sudden as their rise, and by p. III
some adventurous spirits had alread
made their way along the roads OF the dc
stroyed city, and before dark the work 9
searching for the bodies OF those overtake
by the fiery clement had begun.
In short time the incinerated remain
OF several persons had been discovered. b.
the time of our informant's departure fror
the scane which was at 10 a. IN. Monday
nine bodies, some OF which were beyond re
coeni,ion, had been found. The remain
we're laid in an clubhouse near False Cree
bridge There is some uncertainty abou
the number already found, as in som
cases handful OF charred bones WAS th
only indica ton OF a human lie being los'
One of the searyhers informed our inform
ant that he thought that the number coul
ltruthiully be estimated at twelve. The gel
eral sentiment OF the people appears to b
une Of hopefulness and determination to a
once begin the reconstruction OF tho cit,
Some have already got building materi'
on the ground. The sympathy of tt
people at New Westminster was PRACTICAL
exhibited by the arrival at the site OF tt
fire Oh Sunday night OF three wagon !oac
OF provisions.
HELP FOR THE SUFFERERS.
TORONTO, June 15.--The Mayor tran
, 1aitted to-day by telegraph 81 900 for IL
q