Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-07-14
By FIRE
A Raging Fire Removes st. John, N.
! S., From the Map OF
Canada.
For Thirty-Six Hours the Flames Rsge
Continuously, Burning Hundreds
of Hones.
of Howes

the capital of New Foundland, that de-
stroyed great part OF the city. The
damage was 100000 and several lives
were lest in the flames. Yesterday
another fire broke out in st. Johns that
threatens to far exceed in extent of
money damage and loss of life that Of
the disastrous conhagration OF 1916.
About o'clock in the afternoon o
house on Long street was discovered to
be on fire. The fre.nen responded
promptly to the alarm, but when they
arrived the southwest wind that was
prevailing had caused the fire to spread
to the adjoining buildings, which were
then turning furiousIy. Desperate
efforts were made to stay the progress
Of the fire, but it was soon seen t1at
these would prove fruitless. Most of
the houses on Long street we're very old
wooden ones, and they caught fire and
burned with great rapidity. Large
burning brands were caught up by the
wind. and carried to the roofs of other
structuree, which were seen burning
luriouslv.
1t WAS seen that the FIRE department
was helpless and people living in the
path that the fire was destined to take
began to remove their portable house.
hold effects and va!uables. 1t is feared
some of these people lost their lives by
their fcolhsrdlhess in returning to their
homes when the flames were close upon
them. While these dwelling houses
were burning unhindered it was found
the new Methodist college was on fire.
Efforts to save buildings were fruitless.
AS>So l, vi, Il h n
gale and the fire was spreading with
terrible rapidity. Buildings situated
some distance from the burning struc.
tures caught fire from burning embers
and were destroyed without hand be,
ing raised to save them. Firemen and
people were completely para;
its work of destruction without
a stay. It was growing dark and the
scene was magnifcently beautiful,
though appalling. Building after build.
ing caught fire and the whole city was
light as day. The rear CT the flames was
| terrible and the heat was SO intense that
it was impossible to get anywhere near
the burning buildings. Now and then
high and heavy walls would fall and i'm
mense masses OF burning embe,s
would soar upward to be- caught
by the gale and carried else.
where to add other buildings to
! the cont.gration. Thieves, taking ad-
vantage CT the confusion, entered the
houses ard stole whatever they could
lay their hands OF.
The Mas opic temple, Cratgs hall,
Roman Catholic cathedral and bishop S
palace, st. Patrick's hall, English
cathedral, Atheneum, Kirk Com.
iantio hotel and L;ndpergs
brewery, all fell prey to the devouring
element. The English Catholic csthe-
dral was magnificent structure and
was considered the finest piece OF Gothic
architecture 1t was yet Incomplete,
though it had been fifty years in build.
ing Nearly all these buildings
were in the center of the city
and before long they were
nothing but masses OF smoking ruins.
In addition to these the court house,
police headquarters and Government
Savings bank were destroyed, as were
also the Presbyterian church and the
Office of the Telegram. The flames
were now raging with increasing
vigor in the direction of the water front
and in very short time were eating up
the warehouses along the whsrfs. The
ships lying at the wharves had been
warned OF danger and the crews of the
various vessels hastily cast { # lines and
took the crafts outside the harbor. On
one side of the bay are steam seal oil
f. c.ories and a warehouse in which their
product is stored. 1t was thought these
would catch fire. 1t was also feared
the dry dock and marine railway would
be destroyed. The fire burned
out the telegraph ctfice and
fog q time all communication with
ST. Johns was cut eft, This morning,
however, the telee raphic officials estab :
lished temporary offices in what they
considered safe part of the city. and
further details were received These
later dispatches stated that the fire had
ragged all night and threatened to de-
stloy the whole city. It is known
positively that ore man and six chill
dren have persisted, but it is thought
when the terrible excitement subsidies it
will be found the less of life will be
much greater.
The parliament buildings have been
destroyed and 600 buildings have been
burned. Maly OF these We're dwelling
houses and their occupants have been
compelled to seek refuge in the fields.
TIE military authorities furnished them
with as many tents as possible, and the
civil authorities are doing every thing in
heir power to alleviate the distress.
Many of these unfortunate people have
est everything they had and imperitive
calls will be n ade upon charity In their
behalf.
This morning the fire communicated
to the seal oil factories and stores and
the whole south side Of the city was
burned. The large fire was coming
down the Fresh Water valley and the
whole population to st. johns were in
despair, seeing before them the com.
plete extirc tion of the city. The
fire swept Water, Cover and
Duokworth streets. From Bandy
Rankins to Signal Hill, the only build
ings standing are the Union bank, the
Roman Catholic cathedral and college
and the Devon Row railway depot. The
loss is thought to be about So. 100000.
Another dispatch says fire has broken
| mt ~, nj, 81, os$