The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-07-13


ST.. JOINS, N. f., July 10.-on last
Friday at about 8 p. m. 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 OF
the town, which were OF wood, with
the exception of those on Water street.
were extremely inhammable. The ad-
Joining houses rapidly caught and In
few minutes Longs hill was a sea OF
flames Human effort was powerless
TO cope with the fire. Flying embers
limited houses hundreds OF yards 10
leeward, and so rapid was the work OF
destruction that there was not time TO
haul down a sufficient number OF houses
10 make the fire break. The people
seemed paralyzed. Water street was
reached at s o'clock. The market house.
the Commercial bank, the Athen@um
buildings, St Andrews church, the
Temple club house, the chamber Oh
commerce., the Telegram building, the
Anglican cathedral (cost s5OO,OOO), the
Methodist college, the Masonic temple
and st. Patricks hall, all fell before the
flames. At about $50 o'clock the water
side mercantile premises were attacked
and the shipping began to get out from
the piers to the middle of the harbor
The Anglo American telegraph Office
became untenable at $50 o'clock and
communication with the outside world
was cut off. The sea of fire which
swept Water street rendered all at
tempts at saving property futile.
A few hundred people who had the
temerity to remain indoors were COM
PEELED to flee TO the rear and make their
escape from piers aboard vessels that
were waiting swinging to their lines
ready to drop out of danger. The air
was filed with blazing embers A ter
rife fire swept Water street, the build
| ings in which were built Of stone and
brick, but those buildings fell almost as
| quickly as the wooden structures IN
other streets. The Atlantic hotel and
custom house, more than half mile
from the stable on the head Of Longs
hill, fell at o'clock. THE Galway
wharf the tobacco factory on Broolsin's
premises, the Terra Nova foundry
works, MaclSay's stores and wharf, John
Woods premises, Harvey's extensive es-
tablishment. consisting of bread fac
tory, the Costal Company's stores and
wharves, were speedily things OF the
past. Signal hill for time caused
lull in the storm, but the residence OF
the American consul, situated well up
on the hill, was doomed, also the large
brewery and the costly residence OF
John Linberg close by.
Having expended its fury TO the east
ward, where there was nothing more to
destroy, the fire began TO edge north
ward up the slope on which the town is
built Cochrane street leading from
the government house to the harbor,
the towns handsomest thoroughfare,
fell victim, only few dwellings at
the top escaping. The Methodist church
on this street also escaped. St Pat
rick's hall, owing to the grave efforts OF
the Christian Brothers, whose schools
were established therein, were for q
long time considered safe, but such
hopes proved vain. Then supreme sf-
forts were made, and successfully, TO
prevent the fire from creeping across 10
the Mercy convent, which II attacked,
would have been the cause OF the de-
struction Of Markstown and OF the
fashionable quarters, composed OF
pretty cottages and substantial
buildings The Congregational church
in this neighborhood could not
be saved. Another gallant stand
was successfully made at Raw
ling Cross and the head Of Kings road
The poor Office, large wooden struct-
ure, west Of the range Of military road,
} was guarded, and II this should Be
, saved that fashionable boulevard wal
, safe. The fremen by this time were
pretty we'll exhausted, but intelligent
action on their part and that Of scores
Of spirited young fellows manning the
roof and fighting the FIRE proved victor
ious.
: Two-thirds of the business part oi
9 the town and one-half Of the entire
h., town and three-fourths Of the value o.
the town has been obliterated. The
loss to property will aggregate s25, 1000,
600. Some 10000 persons are sheltered
in the parliament house and under
sheds and tents in Ban herman park anC
in other open places To-day SUNDAY
the town is enveloped in dense smoke
from the surrounding wooden country
which seems 70 be all on fire. The XII
baide Catholic church, three miles ou
toward Bay Bulls, was destroyed 10
day The wind continues westerly anC
there is no appearance Of rain, which q
badly needed. The thermometer Is higl
up In the seventies