Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-07-10


HALIFAX, n. s., July s.-Forty-slx
years and one month ago to-day fire
broke out In St. Johns, the capitol OF
New Foundland, that destroyed great
part OF ths citv. Damage was done
amounting to one million pounds and
several lives were lost in the flames.
Yesterday afternoon fire broke out in
St. Johns that threatens 70 far exceed
in extent OF money damage and loss of
life that OF the disastrous cOnfagratiOn
Of 1916.
About 4 o'clock q house on Longs
hill was discovered 10 be on FIRE. The
firemen responded promptly TO the alarm
but when they arrived the southwest
wind that was prevailing had caused the
fire TO spread to an adjoining building
which was then burning furiOUsly. Des-
perate efforts were made TO stay the
progress OF the fire, but it was soon seen
that these would prove frutlesS. Most
Of the houses on Longs hill were very
old wooden ones and they caught fire
aud burned with great rapidity. Large
burning brands were caught up by the
wind and carried 20 the roofs OF other
structures which were soon burning
fur, ,OuSly.
II was seen that the fire department
was helpless, and In the path that the
frew was destined t0.take, people began
10 remove their portable household ef-
fects and valuables. It IS feared that
some OF these people lost their lives by
their foOlhardinesS in returning TO their
homes when the flames were close upon
them.
While these dwelling houses were
burning unhinIered, il was found that
THE NEW METHODIST COLLEGE
was on fire. Efforts were made to save
this building, but they were fruitless.
The college was the educational head
quarters of the MethOdiSts in 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 rapidity. Buildings situated
some distance from the burning struc-
lures caught fire from the bnrning en-
bers, and were destroyed without
hand being raised 20 attempt to save
them. The fremen and the people were
completely paralyZed, and the fire did
It's work OF destruction without stay.
1t was now growing dark and the scene
was magnifcently beautiful, though
dreadfully appalling. Building after
building caught fire and the whole city
was as light as day. The roar OF the
flames was terrible and the heat was so
intense that 10 was impossible 20 get
|anYwhere near the burning buildings.
Now and then high and heavy walls
would fall and then immense masses Of
burning embers would soar upward to
be caught by the gale and carried else
where to add other buildings to the
conhagration.
MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN
ran about in terror, and thieves, taking
advantage of the confusion, entered
houses that had been deserted by their
occupants and stole whatever they
could carry of. The Masonic Temple,
Orange Hail, the Roman Catholic cathe-
dral and Bishops palace, st. Patrick's
Hall, the English cathedral, the al
theaneum, the Kirk, the Commercial
bank, the Union bank, the Atlantic
brewery, the Atlantic hotel aud Lin
berg's brewery al fell prey 10 the de-
v0uring element
The English Cathedral was magnih-
cent structure, and was considered TO
be the finest piece of Gothic architect
ure on this continent. II was yet in
complete, though it had been nifty years
in building.
Nearly all these buildings were in the
center OF the city, and before long they
were nothing but masses Of smoking
ruins. In addition 10 these, the court
house, police headquarters and the Gov
ernment Savings Bank were destroyed,
as was also the Presbyterian church and
the o1hes Of the Telegram.
The, lanes ragged with increasing Wig