Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-07-16
DOOM oE ST. Johns.

tire1y Destroyed by Flrc-Over 600
Buildings Burned-Twenty Lives Lost
Property Valued at S12,OOO,OOO swept
Away by the Flames.
ST. JOINS, N. f., July 11.-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
stable at the head of Longs hill. No
rair. had fallen for several weeks pre-
viously and the flames, carried by
strong wind, made rapid head
way. So rapidly did the flames
spread that hardly was there tiu.e
for the people to flee for their
lives, while buildings hundreds of
yards off were being fred in every di-
| rection by the flying embers. The
| burned area extends from Beck's cove
| to Hoylestown, every business house
| in this section being destroyed. From
| the military road to the waters edge
nine-tenths of the houses are
burned.
1t is known positively that twenty
persons perished Six were drowned,
while eight men and six children were
| burned to death. Probably the fatal
tiles amount to 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 Si2,-
100000 Hhe insurance will cover about
one-half the loss
The flames ragged all of Saturday,
sweeping on before the wind and claim
ing for prey everything in their path.
| At 10 n. m it seemed to have ceased,
but again started and ragged through
out the day more tiercely 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. 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-
ceiysd much sickness and death will re-
suit.
The following streets We're wiped out:
Military road, Duckworth street, Pres
colt street, Queens road Cochranc
street, Cover street, Kings road Ca
thedral hill. Longs hill. The principal
buildings, houses and hotels burned are
as follows:
Bryden's, Bowrng Bros. J. s. W. Pitts.
Goodfellow & Co 5, Ayre & Sons G.. knowlton.
Baine, johnson s. Co; Baird's, Thornburnets,
Tessier, Cliftwood & Co, Hearns & Co, the
City club, Harvey Co, Stott's grocery, Nc
Murdoc & Co, chemists; Atlantic hotel tho
American consul orfce, the Gordon house, II. p
Welsh, Ryan s. Co. the Army and Navy
depot, Bearnes Co, AldridSes hotel, tho
Royal hotel, the Market house, tha
courthouse, custom house, March s. Sons,
Shea s. Co, Bookings premises, Pitts steamer
wharf, soap and tobacco factory, St Johns tam
merry, Costal steam wharf, LindbergS brewery.
| Union and Commercial banks Commercial ex-
change all the law offices and doctors resi-
dences, the school OF art the principal homo
mission, and merchants offices and insurance
| agents offices.
The fire stopped on Water street west
of Brownings. From Cochrane street
west of Browning's, once thicllly stud
ded with dwellings, there is now moth
ing but forest of chimneys. 1t is es-
timated that the insurance on the buildN
ings destroyed and on stock will
amount to 81, 900, 900.
Ha ~ tl,.. +,Nl, 4
in Saturday mornings dispatches. Men,
, 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 $4,000 people absolutely
homeless, with no shed even to shelter
! them and no food to eat. The men are
suffering most, for they have fought for
hours the terrible flames without food
} to eat or second to rest, and that in a
5 heat so frightfully intense that hun
dreds of them brawny, brave, seafar-
) ing men have tainted from exhaustion
t | Physicians cannot attend the suffering
4 men, they are SO numerous, and unless
5 some one sends food to the people at
t once the terrors of the calamity will be
even greater
i From Hearts's Content, the cable sta
Y ton on Newfoundland, comes word
e that village called Cats Cove, consist.
: ing of twenty-eight houses, and miles
! from st. Johns was wiped out of exist
ence Saturday night The flames had
| been carried there by the burning for
t ests.
d The fires in the forests are sweeping
: with terrible effect along the country
s and the villages in the path of the flame:
Y cannot be saved. The condition of af
t fairs is thus made terrible To contem
< plate. Nowhere is there anything like
c order, and the passing vessels are
i anchoring off the coast and send
ing their crews ashore to assist the
h people, who are so thoroughly demoral