River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-07-14
DOOM OF ST. JOHNS.
The Capital of Newfoundland Almost En-
tirely Destroyed by Fire-Over 600
buildings Burned--rYenty Lives Lost
Property Valued Mt sIe,OoO.0 swept
Away by the Flames.


tireiy Destroyed by Fire-over 600
Buildings Burned--r,eenty Lives Lost
Property Valued Mt s12,OOO.O00 swept
Away by the Flames.
ST. JOHNS, n. F., july i1.-Authentic
data relative To the great fire show
that in some respects the previous re-
ports were overrated, while in some
cases the facts disclose worse state of
affairs than even rumors indicated 1t
develops that the magnificent Catholic
cathedral was not destroyed, and the
Union bank is also safe.
The fire was the result of lighted
match being carelessly thrown down in
a stable at the head of Longs HILL No
rain had fallen for several weeks pre-
viously and the flames, carried by
a strong wind, made rapid head
way. So rapidly did the flames
spread that hardly was there time
for the people To flee for their
lives, while buildings hundreds of
yards off were being fired in every di-
rection by the flying embers. Tho
burned area extends from Becks cove
to Hoylestown, every business house
the military road to the waters edge
nine-tenths of the houses are
burned.
1t is known positively that twenty
persons persisted. Six were drowned,
while eight men and six children were
burned to death. Probably the fatal
tiles amount to a great many more. At
this time it is impossible to learn the
names of any of those killed. Inquiry
is being made on every side for persons
who are missing.
The losses will amount TO about Sl2,-
900, 900. The insurance will cover about
one-half the loss.
The flames ragged all of Saturda ?,
sweeping on before the wind and claim
ing for prey everything in their path.
At 10 a. IN. it seemed to have ceased.
but again started and ragged through
out the day more fiercely than ever.
The shipping was saved by towing it
beyond the confines of the harbor as
soon as the fire was seen to be sweep
ing that way and that it was beyond
control The waters of the bay
are covered with the charred and half
burned articles that were carried out
by the wind, and the air is filed with
blazing particles. A great pail of
smoke hangs over the site of the
ruined city and adds its depressing
influence upon the suffering people
The distress of the populace is ter
rible, and unless relief is at once re-
ceived much sickness and death will re-
suit
The following streets were wiped out
Military road, Duckworth street, Pres
colt street, Queens road, Cochrane
street, Cover street, Kings road, Ca
thedral hill, Longs hill. The principal
buildings, houses and hotels burned ara
as follows:
Bryden's, Bowring Bros, ]. s. w. Pitts,
Goodfellow & Co.'S Ayre Sons, G. Knowlton,
Baine, johnson & Co; Bairds, Thornburnets
Tessier, Cliftwood Co, Hearns & Co. the
City club, Harvey & Co, Stotts grocery, Mo,
Murdoc s. Co, chemists; Atlantic hotel. thu
American consul offoe, the Gordon house. H. p
Welsh, Ryan & Co, the Army aud Navy
depot, Bearnes & Co, Aldridge's hotel, tho
Royal hotel, the Market house, tho
courthouse custom house. March g. Sons,
Shea Co, Bookings premises, Pitts steamer
wharf, soap and tobacco factory, st. Johns tan
merry, Costal steam wharf, Lindberg's brewery,
Union and Commercial banks, Commercial ex-
change, all the law offices and doctors resi-.
dences, the school OF art the principal home
mission, and merchants offices and insurance
agents Offices.
The fire stopped on Water street west
of Browning's From Cochrane street
west Of Browning's, once thickly stud
ded with dwellings, there is now moth
iEg but forest of chimneys. II is es-
timated that the insurance on the build
ings destroyed and on stock will
amount TO S6,0oO,0OO.
The progress of the flames was told
women and children ran about in ter
ror, and thieves, taking advantage of
the confusion, entered houses that had
been deserted by their occupants and
stole whatever they could lay their
hands on and carry Off
There are 1900 people absolutely
homeless, with nc shed even to shelter
them and no foodto eat. The men are
suffering most, for they have fought for
hours the terrible flames without food
to eat or a second to rest and that in
heat so frightfuly intense that hum
dreds of them, b-awny, brave, seafar-
ing men have tainted from exhaustion.
Physicians cannot attend the suffering
men, they are so numerous, and unless
some one sends food to the people at
once the terrors Of the calamity will be
even greater.
From Hearts's Content, the cable sta
ton on Newfoundland, comes word
that village called Cats Cove, consist
ing of twenty-eight houses, and 7 miles
from st. Johns was wiped out of exist
ence Saturday night The flames had
been carried there by the burning for
ests
The fires in the forests are sweeping
with terrible effect along the country,
and the villagesin the path of the flames
cannot be saved. The condition of af
fairs is thus made terrible to contem-
plate. Nowhere is there anything like
order, and the passing vessels are
anchoring off tie coast and send
ing their crews ashore to assist the
people, who are 50 thoroughly democrat
lied and exhausted that they cannot
help themselves. There are ali about
st. Johns many villages, large and
small. that, if wiped out, will make the
total loss much greater, and the few
reports seem to Indicate that nothing
can save them in tie path of the flames