St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-10
HUNDREDS HOMELESS.
600 Buildings Burned in the
Capital City Of Newfound-
land.
10000 Unfortunate Persons
Rendered Houseless and
Homeless.
Several Lives Lost and the
Lovely City Buried in
Grief.
Geographic Communication
Cut Off--Aid Rendered by
the Government.

the Government.
HALIFAX, n. s., July 9.-Forty-six
years ago month ago today fires broke
out in ST. Johns, capital OF New Found
land, that destroyed Il great part Of the
city. Damage was done amounting to
S1,000C0o and several lives were lost in
the flames. Yesterday another fire
broke out IN st. Johns that threatens to
far exceed in extent of money damage
and loss of life that of the disastrous
conflagration of 1916. About o'clock
house OH Long street was dis
covered to be on fire., The tiremen
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.
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 Long street were very
old wooden ones, and they caught fire
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 DeDar3 Was HELPLESS
and people living in the path that the
fire was destined TO take began
to remove !. their portable household
effects and yaiuables. 1t is feared that
some of these people lost their lives by
homes when the flames were close upon
them. While these dwelling houses
were burning unhindeled it was found
that the new Methodist college was on
fire. Efforts were made to save this build
ing, but they were fruitieSS. The college
was the educational Headquarters of
the MethodIsts in New Foundiand, and
its loss will be severely felt by the de-
nomination. BY this time the wind was
blowing gale and the nre was spread
ing with terrible rapidity. Buildings
situated some distance from the burn
ing structures caught fire from the
burning emberS and destroyed without
hand being raised to attempt 10 save
them. The firemen and the people
were =
Completely Paralyzed.
the fire did its work OF destruction
without stay. 1t was now growing
dark, and the scene was Il magnifcentiy
beautiful though appalling one. Build
ing 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 it was impos-
sible to get anywhere near the
burning buildings. Now and then
high and heavy walls would fall
and the immense masses of burning
embers would soar upward to be caught
by the gale and carried elsewhere to
add other buildings to the confederation.
Men, women and children ran about in
in terror, 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 carry off.
Prominent Buildings Burned.
The Masonic temple. Orange hall, the
Roman Catholic cathedral apd arch
bishops palace, ST. Patrick's hall, the
English cathedral. the athenaeium, the
Kirk, the Commercial bank, the Union
bank. the Atlantic hotel and LIndberg's
brewery all fell prey to the devouring
element. The English cathedral was a
magnificent structure and was CON
sIdered to be the finest piece
OF gothic architecture on this
continent. 1t was yet incomplete,
though ii had been fifty years in build
ing. Nearly ali these buildings were in
the center Of the city. ana before long
they were nothing but masses of Smok-
ing rims. In addition to these, the
court house, police headquarters and
the government savings bank were
destroyed. as were also the Presbyterian
church and the office of the Telegram.
The flames cri will, in,
creaSing vigor i'll the direction of the
water front, and in a very short time
were eating UP the warehouses along
the wharyes. The shipping lying at the
Wharves had been warned of Its danger.
and the crews OF the various vessels
hastily cast eff their lines and took their
craft
Outside the Earbor.
On one side of the bay are the Steam
Seal oil factories and the warehouse in
which their product is stored. 1t was
catch tre. 1t was also feared that the
dry dock and Marine railway would be
destroyed. The fire burned out the
telegraph office, and for time
ali comm unication with st. Johns was
cut off. This morning. however.
the telegraph officials established tenn
porary offices ill what they considered
Sa1e part or the city, and further details
were received. These latter dispatches
stated that the fire had ragged all night,
and threatened to destroy the whole
city. 1t is known positively that one
man and six children have persisted,
but it is thought that when tie terrible
excitement that now prevails subsidies
1T will be found that the loss of life is
much greater. A later dispatch states
that the parliament buildings have
been destroyed and that at the time the
dispatch was sent fully 600 buildings
had been burned. Many of these were
dwelling houses, and their occupants
have been compelled to seek refuge in
the fields. The military authorities
have furnished them with as MANY
tents as possible. and the civil authorl-
ties are doing everything in their power
to alleviate the distress. Many of these
Il Unfortunate people
Have Lost Everything.
they had in the world, and imperative
calls will be made Oh charity in their
behalf. This morning the fire commu-
nlcated to the seal oil factories and
stores. and the whole south side of the
city was burning. a large fire was
coming down the fresh water valley,
and the Whole population of St. Johns
were III despair. seeing before them
tie complete extinction of their city.
A private dispatch received here states
that the fire has swept Water. Cover
and DuckwOrth streets. From Bandy
RankinS to Signal Hill the only build
ings standing are the Union bank. the
Roman Catholic cathedral and college.
and the Devon row railway depot
About 800 houses are burned. The
loss is thought to be about $4,000. 900.
Another dispatch says that the
fire has broken out in Monk street. on
which are situated the residences of the
most wealthy inhabitants of the town.
The street is more than mile in length