The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-10
THE CITY Is II ASHES.
Utter Destruction Of the Town Of st.
Johns, Newfoundland.
LESS ESTIHiTED At Twenty HILLIONS
Fire, Beyond Centred, Swept Everything Before 1t,
and Thousands Of People Ire Homeless
and Utterly Destitute.
Special to THE MoRNING CALL

HALIFAX. \. S, July 9.-Forty-six years
and one month 20 today a broke ont
in St Johns, the capital Of Newfoundland.
that destroyed a great part Of the city.
Damage was done amounting to 81. 100000
and several lives were lost. Yesterday
afternoon fire again broke out in St. Johns
that threatens to far exceed in extent the
money damage and the loss of life of that
disastrous confiagraton. About O'Clock
house on Longs Hill was discovered on
fire, and when the fremen arrived the south
west wind that was prevailing had caused
the fire to spread to The adjoining building.
Desperate efforts were made to stop the
progress Of the fire. but soon most of the
houses on Longs Hill were burning, and
burning brands were caught up by the
wind and carried to rows Of other struc-
lures, which were soon burning furiousy.
1t was soon seen that the fire department.
was helpless, and people living in the path
of the fire began to remove their portable
household effects and valuabes. 1t is
feared that some of these people lost their
lives. While the dwelling houses were
burning unhindered it was found that the
new Methodist College was on fire. Efforts
were made TO save the building, but they
were fruitiess. The college was the educa-
tional headquarters of the Methodists in
Newfoundland, 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
raploity. Buildings situated some distance
from the burning structure caught fie from
burning embers and were DESTROYED with
out hand being raised to attempt to save
them. The hremen and the people were
completely para!yzed, and the fire did It's
work of destruction without stay. II was
now growing dark, and the sight was a
magni6cently beautiful though appalling
one. Building after building caught fire,
and the whole city was as light as day.
The roar of the flames were terrible and
the heat so intense that it was impossible to
get anywhere near the buildings. Now and
then high and heavy walls would fall, and
Immense masses or burning embers soar
upward to be caught by the gale and carried
elsewhere to add other buildings to the
cont1agration. Men, women and children
ran about in terror. and thieves. taking ad-
vantage of the confusion, entered houses
that had been deserted by their occupants
and stole whatever they could lay their
hands on and carry off.
Roman Catholic Cathedral, the AtheDeum,
the Bishops palace. St Patrick's
Hall, the English Cathedral the
KIRK. the Commercial Bank. Union
Bank, the Atlantic Hotel and Lindberg's
Brewery, all fell a prey to the deyourng
element.
This morning the fire communicated TO
the seal oil factories and stores and the
whole south side of the city was burning.
A large fire was coming down Fresh Water
Valley aud the whole population Of ST.
Johns were in an agony of despair, seeing
before them the complete extinction OF the
city. Later in the forenoon fire broke
out in Monk stown. in which are situated
the residences of the wealthy inhabitants
OF the town.
The loss mp to noon was fully six mil
lions. and it is estimated that 1900 persons
are homeless.
soon after noon the wires again failed, the
A committee of Halifax citizens to-day
purchased $4,000 worth Of provisions aud
lumber. which are to be sent to st. Johns by