The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-07-14
DOOM OF ST. JOHNS.

Buildings Burned-Twenty Lives Lost
Property Valued at 812,OOO,OoO Swept
Away by the Flames.
ST. JOHNS, 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 a worse state of
affairs than even ruinorS 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 carelcssly thrown down in
stable at the head of Longs hill. No
rain had fallen for several weeks pre-
viously and the flames, carried by
a strong wind, made rapid head
way. So rapidly did tile flames
spread that hardly was there tiuc
for the people to fee for their
lives, w lie buildings hundreds of
yards off were being fred in every di-
rection by the flying enbers- The
burned area extends from Becks cove
to Hoylestown, every business house
in this section being destroyed. From
the military road to the waters edge
nine-tenths of tie houses are
burned.
1t is known positively that twenty
persons persisted. 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 very side for PERSONS
| who are missing.
The losses will amount to about ST.
| 100000 The insurance will cover about
| one-half the loss.
The flames ragged all of Saturday,
sweeping on before the wind and eli, m
ing for prey everything in their path
At 10 a. m it seemed to have ceased,
but again started and ragged through
out the day more fiercely than ever.
The shipping was saved by towing it
beyond the confines of the harhor as
soon as the fire was seen to be sweep
ing that way and that it was beyond
control. The waters of the Law
are covered with the charred and hall
burned articles that were carried out
bv the wind, and the air is filled with
blazing particles. \ great pail of
smoke hangs over the site of the
ruined city and adds its dcprc>>in.
influence upon the suffering people
The distress of the pcpulace is ter
rible. and unless relief is at once re-
ceived much sickness and death will re-
suit.
The following streets were wiped out:
Military road. Duckworth street. Pres
! colt street, Queens road. C.:hrane
street. Cover street. Kings road. Ga
thedral hill, Longs hill. The principal
buildings. houses and hotel, burned are
as follows:
Bryden's, Bowring Bros ]. g. W Pitts
! Goodfellow & Co.'S Ayrc & Sons. {; knowl,on,
Baine, johnson & Co.. Baird :, Thurnhuraets
| Tcssier. Cliftwood & Co.. HearnS & Co the
| City club, Harvey Co., Stott's grocery Nc
| Murdcc Co., che mist>: Atlantic E"1tl. the
| American consul office, the Gordon house II F.
| Welsh, Ryan & Co., tho Army ami Navy
depot, Brarncs Co., Aldr:,!:cs hotel. tie
| Royal hotel. II" Market houS". the
| courthouse, custom house. March Sons,
| Shea & Co., Bookings prem Sos. Pitt steamer
| wharf, soap and tobacco factory, St Johns tan
merry, C">ta steam WHAT, Lnd'ergo brewery,
| Union and Commercial banks. Commercial ex-
! change, all the Law offices and doctor, resi-
| dcnccs. the school of art tic principal home
| mission, and merchants Offices and insurance
| agents offices.
The fire stopped on Water street west
of Erowning's. From Cocilrane street
| west of Browning 5, once thcklv stud
ded with dwellings. there is now moth
ing but a forest Of cl:imneys. 1t is r>-
| timatCd that the insurance on thu. build
ings destroyed and on stock will
amount to S., 900, 900.
The progress Of the flames was told
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 5000 people absolutely
homeless, with no shed even to shelter
them and no food to cat. 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
heat so frightfully intense that hun
drcds Of them. brawny. brave. >,afar-
ing men have tainted from exhaustion
Physicians cannot attend the suffering
! men. they are SO numerous. and unless
| 'oAAAS
| once the tcrrors of the calamity will be
even greater.
From Hearts's Content. the cable sta
ton on Newfoundland, comes word
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 b,irFi1inS for
ests.
The fires in the forests are sweeping
with terrible effect along the country.
and the villages in the path Of the flames
cannot be saved. The condition of at
fairs is thus made terrible to contem-
plate. Nowhere is there ANYTHING like
order, and the passing vessels are
anchoring off the coast and >cn:.-
ing their crews ashore to assist the
people, who are so thoroughly ,lcmora.-
lied and exhausted that they cannot
help themselves. There are all about
St. Johns many villages. large and
small. that, if wiped out. will make the
total loss much greater, and the few
reports seem to indicate that nothing
can save them in the path Of the flames
raging in the forests
| KILLED HIS DIVORCED WIFE.
After Murder, Oscar wi..inger Blows Out
| His Own Brains.
SPRINGFIELD. O.. July 11.-Oscar Wis
singer, a wcll-connected timer here, 60
years old, who was divorced three
months ago from his wife at her petit
ton, returned Saturday night from In
dianapolis. where he had been working.
He went to his wife'S house. had Il few
words with her and then shot her twice
with 3S-calibcr revolver once through
the heart. WiSSinScr then put the gun to
| his own head. fired it and fell back dead
| He has been rc gar,cd as insane for some
time. The couple leave eleven children.
Nineteen X ilIed.