The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-05-17
SEVEN HUNDRED HOUSES DESTROYED.
Six Thousand People homeless In a
Suburb Of Quebec.
The Firemen's Desperate Efforts un-
avaiIIng Against the Flames.
A Premature Explosion of Dynamite
Kills Three Men.

QUEBEC, May 16.-The greatest c0ntiagra-
tion in Canada for many years. ragged today
in the st. Sauveur suburb. 1t began at mid
night and spread like lightning. st. SauveIr
Is about one and one-half miles from the city
proper, and is almost entirely composed Of
small wooden houses. inhabited by the
poorer class. All that is known about the
cause Of the fire is that 1t started in Mr.. Nc
Cairns property on st. Waller street, and
spread right and left. The population were
like crazy people. The fire brigade was de-
moralized. Everybody was rushing here and
there, and today there are over 5000 people
homeless, with only huge piles Of debris to
mark what remains Of all they owned In the
world. Before the fire had been in progress
half an hour 1t had enveloped four blocks.
The fire engines were practically useless and
the water supply was wretched. With what
poor material the firemen had at their COM
mand, they fought desperately, only to see
the flames gradually spreading over larger
and larger area, and taking in the whole of
the suburb. When the wind moved round
to the west 1t seemed as If nothing short of
miracle would save the city proper. 1t was
plain that the only way to check the fire was
to make a break in the densely-packed
houses, and accordingly dynamite was re-
sorted to and the work Of blowing mp dwell
aB" Battery was called out under com
mand of Major Short. and took their part of
the work in hand. Suddenly an explosion
took place. 1t was premature. Major Short
and his men were still in the house, and all
three were killed. ALI attention to the
fire was then stopped, and the hope
less task Of rescuing the soldiers from
the burning ruins began: The two gunners
were found near the door unrecOgniZably
mangled, but the majors body could not be
recovered, and was burned up. At o'clock
light rain began total, which slighly checked
the conhagration, and the winds changing to
the east saved the city from total destruc-
tion, but the suburb Is all gone. All busi-
ness is stopped in the city. and the Mayor
and all the prominent citizens are doing
what they can 10 assist the homeless.
The suburb has about 10000 inhabitants,
nearly all Of the poorer class of workingmen,
and the fire spread so rapidly that nothing
was saved, some people rushing from their
houses in their night clothes. 1t Is imp0ssi-
BILE just now to estimate the damage. Com
paratively little of 1t was covered by insur-
ance, and most of the houses were owned by
the Door people, who have lost everything
they possessed.
The fire burned Itself out after reaching
the limits OF st. Sauveur, the t0llgate keep
er's house in Waller street being about the
last to go. The district north and west of
Massue and St. Ambrose streets was swept
clean, with the exception of a portion of
Waller street. About 700 houses were burn
ed, many of them tenements. The number
Of families homeless is not less than 1000,
comprising 5000 or 6,0O0 persons. Applica-
ti0n was made to Sir A. p. Caron for the
use OF the drill shed and other government
buildings to shelter those camped out in the
fields. The clergy are distributing food and
steps are being taken to organize regular
system Of relief.
A Worcester Theatre Burned.
WORCESTER, Mass, May 16.-Worcester
Theatre was totally destroyed by fire early
this morning.
1The Bay State Hotel stands in close prox-
unity. The rear wall was scorched, and the
building was only saved from destruction by
the energetic work Of firemen.
The guests and servants of the hotel were
panic stricken for time, but no casualties
are reported there.
Louis Morrison and his company were
playing Faust at the theatre this week. They
lost everything. Morrison estimates his and
his company's loss at $1,000.
1t is not known how the fire originated.
The theatre for the past six years has been
leased by Frank Wilkinson, and since his
death has been managed by his wife. Mon
day last it was leased to +. +. Proctor. The
loss on the building is not known. The prop
erty is assessed for $4,000, and insured for
$4,000.