The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-10
THEGREATFIRE ATST. JOHNS
SIX HUNDRED BUILDINGS BURNED
AND 10000 PEOPLE HOMELESS.


Tho Careless Use OF Match In II Harm
Starts the Bipxc-Handsoraest buildings
In tho city Destroyed Thousands OF
Cnfor,u nntes Camping In tho Firids-
cities Res,ondius TO Appeals for Aid.
HALIFAX. y. s.. July o.-The most disastrous
flre In tho history OF st. Johns. Newfoundland.
started yesterday afternoon during heavy
northwest gale. It originated in small wood
on building on Longs Hill near the ton OF tho
mountain. The insufficient water supply Mt
the heights. whore the fire. originated. gave
the destructive clomont full play. and its furi-
Gus progrcss was practically unimpedcd Tho
high wind carried live cmbors in all directions.
and soon score of fires were spreading de-
struction. Threatening: flames swept toward
the harbor licking up everything in ITS wide
swath. Tho Masonic Temple. tho Methodist
College. Cover Street Methodist Church. tho
majestic cathcdrals Of tho English and Ro-
man Catholic Church. tho two finest places OF
Worship. and built ut cost OF over S5O0.0OO,
the Orange Hall. tho pnluco OF Bishop Jones.
tho st. patrick's Hall. tho Christian Brothers
School. the Presentation Convent, the Sit
prone Court building and Police Hcaduunr-
tors. tho Government Offices. Government Saw
inzs Bank. the Presbyterian Church-every-
thing In tie path OF the flames was consumed.
Tho whole centre OF tho city IL ono smoul-
Gering mass Of ruins. Not u building In the
path Of the lcvourinE element was loft stand
ing down to Water street. where the great
stores. fish warehouses. and wharves soon
yielded to the Games also At < O'Clock the
telegraph and cable offices were burnod Tho
fire was still spreading to the southwark to-
ward the historical Parliament buildings and
Governors palace. 1t is impossible to esti-
mate tho loss. but over 5000 people nra home
loss. Tho last great ilro was in 1S46. when
three-fourths OF tho city was destroyed.
At last accounts 600 buildings had been
destroyed anil six lives had been lost. Much
suffering exists among the people who
are made homeless. and the Mayor has NJ
pealed to other cities for relief.
Further advices from st. Johns confirm the
reports OF loss OF life and say that the victims
are six children and one man. Two-thirds OF
the buildings in the city have been destroyed.
Halifax has promptly responded to the cry
for relief. Mayor Keefc appointed n committee
this morning. and authorized the sending OF
$4,000 worth Of food to the ST. Johns sufferers
by the steamer Ulunda. whic. will sail to-
night ut Z. The committee Will forward 200
barrels OF -four. 40 barrels OF biscuits. 20
chests Of tea 500 puncheons of molasses. and
90 barrels OF pork.
commodute 200 people. ami Admiral Hop
kins is CO operating by holding tho fas. cruiser
OF food. 1t is believed that 1871 people must
be homeless. rs the city Is two-thirds Turned
The homeless people are camped in the
Everything is destroyed from Birchs Cove
flames made u 'cl can sweep. and the work Of
destruction is appalling The fire started at
oGioeS yesterday It was caused
Longs Hill; At 10 o'clock this morning the
FIRE re-. ceased /, burning only tor lacS Of fuel!
so%ins ID: down Fresh Water Saley II The s South
Xnother Bulletin saws ' hat hat "f ire has started
bnck OF the city At IA place called hlonkstown
Road. This is the southern PORTION OF the
town that escaped last night. temporary
telegraph Office has neon established at tho
railway depot at st. Johns.
several nut out to sea. .ihe steamer Bona
Vista ran the gauntlet whiie on fire and was
The loss is estimated at scO,OOO,OOo.
The business town Of st. Johns consists
harhor and others crossing these at right
angles. Tho city is well drained and is lighted
IN SssDp eSe Tn HsroSshdns @Ss
stretches along the waters edge a distance OF
two miles. Is we'll built up with brick md
The Roman Catholic cathedral is one OF tho
finest churches IN North America. having cost
SNO.OUU: the episcopal cathedral cost Slgo.-
600. and was not entirely finished. Clustered
about the Roman Catholic cathedral were the
Bishops palace. st. Bonaventuro's College. a
convent and some parochial schools.
The population OF st. Johns is about 2S. 900.
Its Manufactures are insignificant. and con-
sist for the most part OF biscuit factories and
oil reflnerics. An immense business il done
by mercantile houses in furnishing shipping
supplies. and in dealings in fish and oil. One
firm alone Is said to do II business Of S1O.OtO.-
arc Wit" heres IN" and S' ssss
fleets are despatched from the port through
out the season. With the execution OF the
unpainted wooden buildings. crowdns out on
the sidewalks. an! tho genera appearance OF
Even many wealthy merchants occupy houses
far beneath their station: they seem to regard
Newfoundland as II place in which TO get for
tunes that may be spent in England.