The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-11


Upward Of Twenty Million Dollars.
Like the Chicago Destroyer, the
Blaze Started in a Stable.
ST. JOINS, N. F., July 1O.-on Friday
last about 3 p. m., a stable at the head
Of Longs Hill caught fro. At the time
the wind was blowing strong gallo
from the west. Rain had not fallen for
three weeks and tho buildings OF the
town, which were of wood with the ex.
ceptiou Of those on Water street, were
extremely infammable. The adjoining
houses rapidly caught and in q few
minutes Longs Hill was n sen of flames.
Human efforts were powerless to cope
with the fire.
Two-thirds OF the business part OF the
town, and three-fourths OF tho value oi
the town has been obliterated. The
Angelical Cathedral, cost $4,000, is
among the destroyed buildings. Some
10000 persons are sheltered in the
Parliament House and under sheds and
tents in Bannerman Park aud other
open places.
Today (Snnday) the town is enveloped
in a dense smoke from the surrounding
wooden country. which seems to be oil
on fire. The. Kilbrie Catholic church,
three miles out toward Bay Bulls, was
destroyed today. The wind continues
westerly and there is no appearance OF
rain, which is badly needed:
The thermometer is high up in the
seventies.
IL. NJ. S. Blake is due herc at daylight
Monday with tents, lumber and other
neCessaries.
TIE EARLIER REPORTS.
Friday afternoon FIRE broke out in
st. Johns that threatens to far exceed
in extent OF money damage and loss Of
life that OF tho disastrous conilagration
OF lS45. About 4 o'clock house on
Longs Hill was discovered to be on
fire. Owing to q southwest wind the
fire spread to an adjoining building.
Desperate efforts were made to stay
the progress OF the fire, but it was soon
seen that these would prove fruitless.
Most OF the houses on Longs Hill were
very old wooden ones, and they caught
fire and burned with great rapidity.
Large burning brands were caught up
by the wind and carried to the roofs of
other structures, which were soon
burning furiously. 1t was seen that
the fire department was helpless, and
the residents in the path that the fire
was destined to take began to remove
their portable household eaects and
valuableS.
NEW METHODIST CoILEGE BURNED.
1t is feared these people lost their
lives by their foolhardiness In return
ing to their homes when the flames
were close upon them. While these
dwelling houses we're burning unhin-
dered, It was found that the now Meth
odist college was on fire. Efforts were
made TO save this building, but they
were frnit!ess The college was the
educational headquarters OF the Metho.
dists in Newfoundland.
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 TIE burning en-
bers, and were destroyed without a
hand being raised to save them. The
flremen and the populace were COM
pletely paralyzed, and the fro did its
work OF destruction without stay.
1t was now growing dark aud the
scene was magnificent and appalling
one. Building after building caught
fire. The whole city was as light as
dag. The roar of the flames was terri
bic, and the heat was SO intense that it
was impossible to got anywhere near
the burning buildings. Men, women
and children ran about in terror, and
thieves, taking advantage OF the contus-
ion, entered houses that had been de-
serted by their occupants and stole
whatever they could lay their hands on.
MAGNIFICENT BUILDINGS DESTROYED.
The Masonic Temple, Orange Hall,
the Roman Catholic Cathedral and
Bishops palace, st. Patrick's Hall, the
English Cathedral, the Atheneum, the
Kirk, the Commercial Bank, tho Union
Bank, the Atlantic Brewery, the Attain
tic Hotel and LtnbeFg's brewery, all fell
prey to the flames. The English Gu
thedral was magnificent structure,
considered to be the finest piece OF
Gothic architecture on this continent.
It was yet incomplete. though it had
been fifty years in building Nearly all
these buildings were in tho center Of
the city.
In addition to these the court house,
police headquarters and tho Govern
ment Savings bank were destroyed, as
was also the Presbyterian church and
the office Of the TSiegrdm. The flames
are now raging with increasing vigor in
the direction of the water front, in a
very short time eating up the ware
houses along the wharves. The ship
ping lying nt tho whRrves had been
warned OF Its danger, and tho crews OF
the various vessels hastily took their
craft outside tho harbor.
On one side of the bay are the steam
seal oil factories and warehouses. 1t
was feared these buildings would catch
fire and that the dry dock and marine
railroad would be destroyed.
ALL OUTSIDE COMMUNICATION CUT OFF.
The fro burnod out the telegraph
Office, hencn for a time all communion
ton with the outer world was cut of.
Saturday the telegraph officials es.
tablished temporary Office in what
they considered a pate part Of tho city,
and further details were received.
A later dispatch states that the Par
lament buildings have been destroyed,
and that at tho time tho dispatch was
sent out fully 600 buildings had been
burned. Many OF these wero dwelling
houses, aud their occupants have been
compelled to seek refuge in the fields.
Tho military authorities have furnished