The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-11
FlRESSWAYIN ST. JOHNS
LIKE CHICAGO'S BIG BLAZE. II
STARTED IN A STABLE.


OF the Lurid Tidal Wave Two.
Thirds of the Business Part of the
Town, Half OF the Entire Town, and
Three-Fourths of the Value OF the
Town Oblitersted.
ST. JOHNS, N. F., July 1O.-Friday
afternoon about o'clock stable at the
head of Longs hill caught fire. At the time
the wind was blowing strong gale from the
west Rain had not fallen for three weeks
and the buildings being Of wood, with the
exception Of those on Water street, were
very tnfammable Tho adjoining houses
rapidly caught aud In few minutes Longs
hill was sea Of flame. Human efforts
were powerless to cope with the fire. Fly-
ing embers iguited hundreds Of houses
to the leeward and so rapid was the work
OF destruction that there was not time to
haul down a sufficient number of houses to
make fire break. The people seemed
paralyzed.
Wnter street was reached at s O'clock.
The Market house, Commercial Bank,
Athen@um building, Temple club house,
chamber OF commerce building,
Telegram building. Anglican cathe-
dral, which cost S5oo,0Oo Methodist
college, Masonic temple and St. Patriok's
hall, all fell before the flames
About $3.50 o'clock the waterside mercan-
tile premises were attacked and shipping
began to get out from the piers to the
middle OF the harbor.
The Anglo-American telegraph office be-
came untenable at sos O'Clock and oom~
munication with the outside world was
cut off.
SWEEPING DOWN WATER STREET.
The sea Of. fire which swept Water street
rendered all attempts at saving property
futile. The few hundred people who had
the temerity to remain in doors fed to the
rear and escaped from the piers to boats
that were waiting swinging TO their linee
ready 20 drop off out Of danger. The air was
filled with blazing embers. A terrific fire.
swept the buildings on Water street, many
of which were built of stone and
almost as quickly as the wooden
structures. The Atlantic hotel and cus-
toms house. more than half mile from the
stable, fell at 10 o'clock. Galway wharf,
a tobacco factory on Brookin's premises,
the Terra Nova foundry works, McKays
stores and wharf, John Woods premises.
Harvey's extensive establishment, consisting
Of a bread factory, the Costal oompanyis
stores and the wharves were speedily things
Of the past.
SIGNAL HILL MOUNTED.
Signal hill for time caused a lull In the
storm, but the residence OF the American
consulate, situated we'll upon the hill, was
doomed, and the large brewery and dwell
ing OF John Lindberg Gloss By were included
In the slaughter.
Having expended its fury to the eastward,
where there was nothing more TO destroy,
the fire began TO edge northward up the
slope upon which the town is built. Cooh-
ran street, leading from the government
house 30 the harbor, the towns handsomest
thoroughfare, fell q victim, only a few
dwellings at the top escaping The
Methodist church on this street also
escaped. st. Patrick's hall, owing to
the brave efforts OF the Christian brothers,
whose schools v ere established there, was for
long time considered safe, but such hopes
proved vain. Then supreme efforts were
made, aud successfully. TO prevent the fire
from creeping across to the Mercy convent,
which il attacked would have been the
cause OF thendeStruotion OF Markstown and
of fashionable quarters composed of pretty
cottages aud substantial dwellings. The
Congregational church In this neighborhood
could not be saved
ANOTHER GALLANT STAND.
Another gallant stand was successfully
made at Rawling Cross and the head Of the
Kings road. The postofice a large wooden
structure west of the range Of Military
road, was guarded and if this could be
saved that fashionable boulevard was safe.
The flremen by this time we're pretty well
exhausted, but intelligent action on their
part and that Of scores of spirited young
fellows manning the roof and fighting the
fire proved victorious.
Two-thirds of the business part Of the
town and one-half Of the entire town and
three-fourths Of the value Of the town has
been obliterated.
Some 1000 people are sheltered in the
parliament house and under tents and sheds
at Bannerman park and other open places.
To-day the town is enveloped in dense
smoke from the surrounding wooded
country which seems to. be all on
fire. The Kilbride Catholic church, three
miles OUT toward Bay Bulls. was destroyed
to-day. The wind continues westerly, and
there is no appearance Of rain, which il
badly needed.
The thermometer is up in the seventies.
Her majesty's steamer Blake is due here
at daylight tomorrow with tents, lumber
and other neoessaries
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAVED.
HALIFAX, July 10.-Concerning the fire
in st. Johns, N. f.. the latest advices are
that the Roman Catholic church is unin-
jured. This is one of the finest churches
on the continent. The Union bank is also
safe.