Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-07-15
Newfoundland's Capital Suffers a Sec
ond COnfiagratiOn Of an APP
palling Character.
Best Portion OF the City Already
Wiped Out and the End is
Not Yet.
Eight Million Dollars Worth of
Property Destroyed and S me
Lives Lost.

HALIFAX, N. s., July g. Forty-six
years and one month ago today fire broke
out in st. Johns, the capital of New
FoundIand, that destroyed great part of
the city, damage done amounting to e.
1000, and several lives were lost.
Yesterday afternoon a fire broke cut in
St. johns that threatens to far exceed in
extent of money damage and loss of life
that of the former disastrous confiagration.
About o'clock house on Lcngs hni was
discovered to be on fire. When the fire.
men arrived the southeast wind that was
prevailing had caused the fire to spread
to adjoining buildings. Desperate efforts
were made to stop the progress of the
fire but soon most Of the houses ON Long
hill were burning. Large burning brands
we're caught up by the winds and carried
to the rows of other structures which
we're soon burning furiously.
1t was seen that the fire department
was helpless and the people living in the
path CT the fire began to move their port
able household effects and valuables 1t
is feared that some of these people lost
their lives.
While dwelling houses were burning
unhindered it was found that the new
Methodist college was on fire. Efforts
were made to save the building but they
were fruitless. The college was the edu-
cational headquarters of the Me5hodists of
New Foundland, and its loss will be
severely felt by the denomination. By
this time the wind was blowing gale and
the fire was spreading with terrible rapid
ity. Buildings situated Some distance
from the burning structure caught
fire from the burning embers
snd were destroyed without hand being
raisd to save them The fremen and
people were completely paralyzed and the
fire did its work of destruction without
stay.
It was now growing dark and the scene
was magnifcentIy beautiful though
appalling Building after buildi ng
caught fire and the whole city
was as light as day, and
the roar of 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 immense masses of burning en-
bers soar upward to be caught up by the
gale and carried elsewhere to add other
buildings to the confagration. Men,
women and children ran about in terror
and thieves, taking advantage of the con-
fusion, entered houses that had been de-
serted by their occupants and stole what
ever they could lay their hands On and
carry off.
The Masonic temple, Orange hall, the
Roman Catholic cathedral and the bishop
palace, st. Patrick'3 hall, the English
cathedral, the Atheneum, the Commercial
bank, the Union bank, the Atlantic hotel
and Lindburg's brewery, all fell prey to
the devouring element. The English ca
thedral was a magnificent structure and
was considered to be the finest piece of
gothic architecture on this continent.
It was not yet complete though it has
been fifty years building. Nearly all
of these buildings were In the center
of the city and before long were masses of
ruins. In addition to this are the court
house, police headquarters and the govern
ment savings bank were destroyed, as
were also 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 short
time we're eating up the warehouses along
the warf. Shipping lying at the wharves
had been warned of the danger and the
crews of the vessels hastily cast of their
lines and took their crafts outside the
harbor.
The fire burned out the telegraph office
and for time all communication with st.
Johns was cut off. This morning, how
ever, the telegraph officials established
temporary Office in what they considered
safe part of the city and further details
have been received. These later dis
patches state that the fire had ragged all
night and threatened to destroy the whole
city. It is known positively that one man
and six children persisted, but it is
thought that when the terrible
excitement that now prevails sub
sides it will be found that the loss of
life is much greater Many of the six
hundred buildings burned up to this morn
ing were dwelling houses and their occu
pants have been compelled to seek refuge
in the fields. The military authorities
furnised as many tents as possible and
the civil authorities are doing everything
in their power to alleviate distress. Many
of the unfortunates lost everything they
bod IN Tho world and imparafivo caItc