Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-07-13
A CITY LAID IN ASHES.

Fire Wipes Out the Capital of Newfoun;l-
1and-Six Hundred Houses Burned.
HALIFAX, N. s., July 9.-The city of
st. Johns, n. F., has been almost wiped
out by confagration which broke out
last evening, and which is still raging.
Up to O'Clock this afternoon over 800
buildings had been destroyed and
seven lives lost The property
destroyed is valued at many millions
Of dollars. Telegraph wires are down
and communication is had with the burn
ing city only infrequently, and chen but
few moments at time. No particulars
OF the origin, spread or extent Of the losses
can be had up to this hour.
1t is learned that the fire broke out back
of the city at place called Monckstown
Road. A high wind was blowing, and half
an hour after the first alarm was given the
fire was beyond control. From house to
house, and block to block the flames
spread, driven along by the fierce gale
After the fire had swept through the
main part of the city, carrying all before
it, and had burned all that was to be burn
ed, the flames died out At clock, how
ever, fire broke out on the South Side,
which was untouched by the first confla-
grafton. In this part of the city are lOcat-
ed the oil retineries, warehouses and stores.
1t is stated that two-thirds of the city
| is entirely destroyed, and it is reported
| that so far as known six children and one
man lost their lives in the fire. A dispatch
received states that the fire destroyed the
Parliament buildings. According 10 the
latest accounts 900 buildings have been
destroyed and six lives been lost Much
suffering exists among the people, who
are homeless, and the mayor has appealed
to other cities for relief.
The latest report. dated ST Johns, l p.
NJ, has 1t that the South Side is now OH
fire and big fire is coming down the
fresh water valley. The South Side con-
tainS Oil factories and Oil stores.
| The relief steamer Ulunda sails at z
| O'Clock tonight for st. Johns with the fol-
lowing cargo: Twenty chests of tea; 275
barrels of -four 100 pounds of cornmeal,
800 pounds of biscuits, 50 barrels of pork.
puncheons of molassasS, $1,000 spruce
boards, loo tents and four marques to be
used to shelter the 1900 people rendered
homeless.
Private advices received here at p NJ.
| say tue nre mas swept " alter, Cover and
Duckworth streets. From Bandy Rankins
to Signal Hill the only buildings stand
ing are the Union Bank, Roman
| Catholic Cathedral College and the
Devon Row railway depot. About 900
| houses are burned. The loss is thought to
be about S6,000000. More fires are now
! raging at Broad Cove and Salmon Cove,
and have stopped al, telegraph connection
with st. Johns, poles and wires having
| been burnt down.
Other adviceS from St. Johns confirm the
reports of loss of life, and state that the VIC
| tins are SIX children and one man. Two
thirds of the buildings in the city
have been destroyed. Everything is de-
| stroyed from Birch's Cove east to the
wharves of the Allan Line. Flames
made clean sweep, and the work
of destruction is appalling. The
conflagratiOn started at o'clock
| yesterday afternoon. At 10 o'clock this
morning the fire ceased burning only for
lack of fuel. The homeless people are
camped in the fields. Admiral Hop
kins is cooperating with the city
| authorities and is holding the
fast cruiser Magicienne in readiness to
| transport supplies. 1t is believed thae
| $4,000 people must be homeless, as the city
| Is tWo-thlrdS burned over.