Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-16
VANCOUVER'S VANISHING
ASTONISHING RAPIDITY OF THE
WIZARD OF FIRE.

"
The Whole Town Practically Wiped Out
or Existence in Couple of Hours
Hasty Flight of the Psople--saloOns
Looted by ROughs--A Dozen Lives Lost.
NEW WESTMINSTER, B. c., June To-
Parties arriving from Vancouver state
that at 2;30 O'clock yesterday afternoon
the wind rose to gale and caused the fires
which were burning on the Canadian Pa
cltc railroad reserve to spread toward the
city. A house on the extreme west end
caught and the flames spread rapidly
to adjacent buildings. At o'clock the
last house in the town was in ashes.
Hsvings' saw mill and the Royal
City planning mill, being situated on
points of land outside the town,
were saved. Five persous are reported
dead and several others are said to have
been seriously If not fatally injured. The
firm of j. NJ. Clute a. Co. loses $4,000, on
which there 10 insurance OF $4,000. The
total loss is estimated at $1,0OO.O00 and
the total insurance az $4,000. One thous-
and persons are homeless.
A CLEAN SWEEP.
NEW WESTMINSTER, b. c., June 10, 2
p. M.-The city OF Vancouver, situated at
the Pacific end Of the Canadian Pacific
railway, is in ashes. Not half dozen
houses remain out of 500, and, worst OF
all, there is a large loss of life. Ten
bodies have thus far been recovered and a
number of persons missing are supposed
TO have perished. One short hour did the
whole work. The property saved
is insignificant. "A clean sweep
defines the situation. A thousand
men are at work clearing up the debris
for the railroad company. Twenty con-
tracts for rebuilding have already been
let. Many men lost their ali. but are de-
termined TO start in again. The property
loss falls directly on the pioneer element
OF the new city Hundreds of people are
camped out. There are meagre facilities
for the relief of the sufferers, but the
people Of this city are especially open
handed in their efforts to relieve the dis
tress. Prompt aid from the Canadian
Pacific railway 10 expected.
FLEEING FOR LIFE.
Families were compelled to leave their
homes at moments warning and flee
for their lives. Business men in search
OF Valuables were forced TO rush through
the flames and smoke or perish. The
whole pOpulace were panic stricken. A
number of persons sought refuge in the
water. One man was found in a well
where he had lowered himself to escape
the flames. But few Of the people have
more than the clothes they stand in. OF ten
bodies recovered only three have been
Identified. Most OF the burned frame
buildings Will be replaced with brick
structures. Contracts for a large hotel
and other extensive buildings, represent
ing 100000, were let just before the fire.
STEADY WIND.
PORTLAND, ORR, June 15.-A Victoria,
B, c.. special says:
All day Sunday there had been a steady
wind from the northwest and the brush
clearing fires on the Canadian Pacific
railway lots were famed to such an ex-
tent as TO fill the terminal town of Van
couver with smoke. Nobody, however,
had any idea of danger. Shortly after /
O'Clock in the morning several persons
began to consider the situation threaten
ing, but the smoke was so dense that they
found IL impossible TO direct their steps to
the exact location Of lts source.
A STABLE ON FIRE.
Soon a stable near the Colonial Hotel
was seen to be on fire. The alarm was
given, but 80 skeptical were the people
that they paid no attention for some time.
The wind by this time had increased to d
gale and famed the flames to a mass OF
raging fire. One Of the first buildings to
90 was MacCartney's drug store, followed
by the office Of the Vancouver News. The
flame shot across Abbott street with as
tOnishing rapdity, and almost before the
people could realize IL the whole Of the
western portion Of the city was in a
blaze.
INTENSE EXCITEMENT.
The excitement was now intense.
Water street was filed with dense smoke
and flying oinders and people we're hurry
ing with what effects they could gather in
their haste to place of safety, the general
direction OF the flight being east, though
many ran to the elevated ground owned
by the Canadian Pacific Railway Com
pany. Others, again, made for False
creek. Those who endeavored 10 save
their goods we're so wrapped In their OBJ
ject as to appear fearless of the danger
they ran, and IL was found especially nee
essary TO compel many women to relin-
quish their effects 10 save their lives. In
some cases there was only just time TO
place them on imprOvised RATS, which
were pushed out from the shore beyond
the reach of the flames, which literally
filed the air.
INCREDIBLY QUICK WORK.
In less time than II takes to describe IL
the fire had reached Carroll street. Some
merchants In this vicinity and ia the
Ferguson block engaged In conveying
their goods TO place Of safety, but so
rapid was the confagration that before
their horses were ready the teamsters
themselves we're obliged to fly for their
lives. All hope OF saving any consider
able amount OF property was now aban-
doned, and each cOnteDted himself with
hastily putting together what he could
In hfa nd tut aartgVauf.,
peding his speed and hurried from the
spot.
EVERY ROAD AN AVENUE OF FIRE.
But even after leaving the houses the
danger was not over, for every road had
become an avenue OF fire. Falling tim
bers and stumps on each side Of the road
glowed with fire and proved as serious
menace 10 the fugitives as the burning
houses OF the doomed city. During the
confusion which prevailed, when rowdies
and roughs saw that everyone was leav-
ing, they entered saloons which had been
lett entirely unprotected and commenced
drinking. Many one was seen stagger-
ing along the streets with a keg Of beer
on his shoulder or carrying as many bot
ties OF liquor as he could appropriate.
DRINKING LUCK TO DEATH.
Men were seen sitting completely
hemnlod IN by IRE, and apparently obiiV-
Ious Of their surroundings, drinking
liquor. They were, OF course, then al.
ready partially intoxicated. A large