Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-07-16
SWEPT BY FIRE.


The Flames stni Raging at Last Acc
counts.
ST.. JOHNS, n. F., July o., 9 a. m.--
This city is being practically wiped off
the face of the earth by an extensive
fire which is now raging. A high wind
is blowing and sweeping the flames
with force and rapidity which can
not be checked by any power within
the city, and it is impossible to obtain
help from any other place.
Five hundred houses are already L.e-
stroyed and from fifty to 100 others are
on fire in various parts of the city,
with chances strongly against any of
them being saved. The city has one of
the most excellent water systems
on the face of the earth, but
it has proven powerless to stem
the awful march of the fire fiend.
Firemen have fallen exhausted, citi-
zens who volunteered have been taken
away fainting to be kept from being
crushed to death by falling buildings,
while others are powerless to save even
the contents of their own homes. Hun
dreds of women and children have fled
to the hills in terror and the bluffs pre-
sent wonderful sight, brilliantly il
Illuminated by the rolling flames from
the streets below.
At last the most destructive feature
of the fire has shown up. The flames
have reached the wharves and the ship
| ping has been hauled out into the bay
| to be beyond the reach of the consum-
| ing element. 1t is here that the great
est losses will occur, as the shipping in
terests of St. Johns are on most ex-
tensive scale, and the loss in this part
of the city alone will reach into the
millions of dollars
The high wind, carrying live embers
| in every direction, ignited score of
| fires at once, so that within half an
| hour from the first outbreak the fire
department and people were utterly
helpless and the center of the city was
abandoned to its fate.
The first large building to become a
prey to the fiery flames was the new
Methodist college and boarding hall,
recently erected at a cost of $40, 900,
and the educational headquarters of
Methodism in the colony. From here
the flames leaped to the magnificent
|
$4,000, and a portion of which was
used as the general Protestant academy
Sweeping down the hill the flames
next licked up the Cover Street Meth
odist brick church, the oldest and
largest in the city. Then across the
street to the superb cathedral of the
English church, i20 feet in length and
So feet broad. This was designed by
Sir Gilbert Scott, was conceded to be
the finest piece of Gothic architecture
on the continent large portion of
| the stone for which was imported
from Europe. 1t has been half a
century in building and not yet com.
pleted, though $3.50, 900 has been spent
on it. Next Orange hall and the palace
of Bishop Jones were consumed. Con.
tinuing its swath the next victim of its
prey was the supreme courthouse on
Duckworth street; the police head.
quarters, the magnificent Atheneum
building. containing the governme nj
Offices, law Offices, government savings
bank, large public hall and reading.
room.
Proceeding along Ducliworth stree,
the Union bank building, an institution
which has paid nearly 20 per cent to
its shareholders for years; the CONNER
cial bank, the fine brick and stone
Presbyterian church and the Tele'
gram newspaper Office were quickly
destroyed Then the flames took com
plete possession of the great business
establishments and fish warehouses or
Water street, soon extending to the
wharves, from which the shipping haC
to haul out into the harbor for safety
But long before this and while the
fire was rushing with irresistible fury
towards the water front it was alsc
spreading easterly from its origina
starting point, and before the peo
pie were aware of it the
majestic pile of freestone with it.
twin towers, the Catholic cathedral
was ablaze. Two-thirds of the popula
tion of st. Johns are Catholic and are
worshipers in this vast structure.
was one of the largest and most mag
niticent places of worship in the new
world, and was built of cut limeston
and Irish granite. It's towers were IS
feet high, length, 237 feet, with tran
septs $50 feet long, while its nave wa
60 feet long with an ambulatory II fee
in breadth, connected with the mail
building by a screen of massive pillar
and semi-circular arches. 1t was bull
in 1850.
AT 8 o'clock the operators were driver
from the telegraph and cable offices b.
the flames, which soon claimed thos
buildings. At that hour over 500 build
ings had been destroyed, including al
the principal structures in the city
and the flames were spreading in al
directions, being carried with grea
velocity east and south. 1t is teare
that the governors palace, the pai
lament buildings and colonial Office
win also be swept away. The cit
presents weird sight, enveloped as
is in lurid and roaring flames and blac
smoke. Already 5000 people ar
homeless and will be absolutely de
pendent upon public assistance.
This is the fourth great fire whic
| L ii I I 4.