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

OOOM Of 81. " HNS.
ttrely Destroyed by Tire-Over 600
Buildings Burned-Twenty Lives Lost
Property Valued at 812,OOO,O0O 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 rumorS indicated. 1t
develops that the magnificent Catholic
cathedral was not destroyed, and the
Union bank is also SAFE
The fire was the result of a lighted
match being carelessly thrown down in
stable at the head OF Longs hill No
rain had fallen for several weeks pre-
viously and the flames, carried by
strong wind, made rapid head
way. So rapidly did tile flames
spread that hardly was there tue
for the people to fee for their
lives, w lie buildings hundreds of
yards off were being fired in every di-
rection by the flying enbcrs- The
burned area extends from Beck's cove
to Hoylestown, every business house
in this section being destroyed From
the military road to the waters edge
ninc-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
ltles amount to great many more. At
this time 1t is impossible to learn the
names of any of those killed. Inquiry
is being made on every 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
ont the day more fiercely than ever.
The shipping was saved by towing it
beyond the confines of the harlor as
soon as the fire was seen to be sweep.
ing that way and that it was beyond
la
are covered with the charred and hall
burned articles that were carried ont
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 depressing
influence upon the suffering people
The distress Of the populace 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. Duck worth street. Pres
colt street, Queens road. Cr:hrane
street, Cover street. Kings road Ga
thedral hill. Longs hill. The principal
buildings. houses and hotels burned art.
as follows:
Bryden's Bowring Bros. j. &. w Pitts,
Goodfellow & Co.'S. Ayrc & Sons & knowlton,
Baine, johnson Co.: Ba;rl,S, Thurn!,uracts,
Tcss:er, Cliftwood Co., EearnS & Co. the
City club, Harvey Co.. Sto1t's grocery Nc
MuriCc & Co., che nliSt>: Atlantic ln.tl the
American consul office the Gordon house. II p
Welsh, Ryan Co., the Army ami Navy
depot, Brarnes Co., Ali-:,.-ts hotel tic
Royal hotel. tho Market hou~". the
courthouse, custom house. March & Sons,
Shea 4 Co., Bookings prem So :. Pitt steamer
wharf. soap and tobacco factorv. ST Johns tam
merry, C">tAi steam WHAT. Li1d'.erg'> brewery,
Union and Commercial banks. Commercial ex.
change, all the la" Off Is and DOCTOR resi-
denccs the school of art. tic principal home
mission, and merchants, Office, and insurance
agents Offices.
The fire stopped on Water street west
OF Rrowning's. From Coclrane street
west of RroWningS :, once thic1lv stud
ded with dwellings. there is now moth
ing bnt a forest Of cEimnevS 1t j. e,-
timatcd that the insurance on th. build
ings destroyed and on stock will
amount to 1000, OOO
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 $1,000 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 Il second to rest. and that in a
heat so frightful'y intense that hun
drcds of them. brawny. brave >,afar-
ing men have tainted from exhaustion.
Physicians cannot attend the suffering
men, they arc SO numerous. and unless
some one sends food to the people at
once the terrors of the calamity will be
even greater.
From IIcartss 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 bir1iing for
estS. =
The fires in the forests are sweeping
with terrible effect along the country,
and the villages in the pat, Of the flames
cannot be saved. The condition of af-
fairs is thus made terrible to contem-
plate. Nowhere is there anything like
order, and the passing vessels are
anchoring off the coast and >en;,-
ing their crews ashore to assist the
people, who arc so thoroughly demora,-
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 nrthlny
can save them in the path of the flames
raging in the forests
KILLED HIS DIVORCED WIFE,
After Murder. Oscar Wissinger Blows Out
His Own Brains.
SPRINGFIELD. O.. July 11.-Oscar Wis
singer, a wcll-connected timer here. 50
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 wOr,>inr