The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-07-14
SWEPT BY FIRE.

SWEPT BY FIRE.
Five Hundred Buildings Destroyed in St.
Johns, the Capital Of Newfoundland
The Flames still Raging At Last Ac-
counts.
ST.. JOHNS, N. F., July g., 2 a. m.--
This city is being practically wiped off
the face of the earth by an extensive
fire which is now raging. A high wind
is blowing and sweeping the flames
with a force and rapidity which can
not be checked by any power within
the city, and it is impossible to obtain
help from any other place.
Five hundred houses are already de-
stroyed and from fifty to 100 others are
on fire in various parts of the city,
with chances strongly against any of
them being saved. The city has one of
the most excellent water systems
on the face of the earth, but
it has proven powerless to stem
the awful march of the fire fend.
Firemen have fallen exhausted, citi-
zens who volunteered have been taken
away fainting to be kept from being
crushed to death by falling buildings,
while others are powerless to save even
the contents of their own homes. Hun
dreds of women and children have fed
to the hills in terror and the bluffs pre-.
sent wonr.srfui sight, brilliantly il
Illuminated by the rolling flames from
the streets below.
At last the most destructive feature
of the fire has shown up. The flames
h,- lo ,l,, H.,
ping has been hauled out into the bay
to be beyond the reach of TIE consum-
ing element. 1t is here that the great
est losses will occur, as the shipping in
terests of St. Johns are on most ex-
tensive scale, and the loss in this part
of the city alone will reach into the
millions of dollars.
The high wind, carrying live embers
in every direction, ignited a score of
fires at once, so that within half an
hour from the first outbreak the fire
department and people were utterly
helpless and the center of the city was
abandoned to its fate.
The first large building to become
prey to the fiery flames was the new
Methodist college and boarding hall.
recently erected at cost of $40, 900,
and the educational headquarters of
Methodism in the colony. From here
the flames leaped to the magnificent
Masonic temple, erected at cost of
$50, 900, and portion of which was
used as the general Protestant academy.
Sweeping down the hill the flames
next licked up the Cover Street Meth
odist brick church, the oldest and
largest in the city. Then across the
street to the superb cathedral of the
English church, l2o feet in length and
Sc feet broad. This was designed by
Sir Gilbert Scott, was conceded to be
the finest piece of Gothic architecture
on the continent, a large portion Of
the stone for which was imported
from Europe. 1t has been half q
century in building and not yet COM
pleted, though S25O,OOO has been spent
on it. Next Orange hall and the palace
Of Bishop Jones were consumed. Con-
tinuing its swath the next victim of its
prey was the supreme courthouse on
i Duckworth street; the police head
/ quarters, the magnificent Athenaum
building. containing the government
offices, law Offices government savings
bank, large public hall and reading
room.
Proceeding along Duckworth street
the Union bank building, an institution
which has paid nearly 20 per cent to
its shareholders for years; the CONNER
cial bank, the fine brick and stone
D,.1r ~
gram newspaper office were quickly
destroyed. Then the flames took COM
plete possession of the great business
establishments and fish warehouses on
Water street, soon extending to the
wharves, from which the shipping had
to haul out into the harbor for safety.
But long before this and while the
fire was rushing with irresistible fury
towards the water front it was also
spreading easterly from its original
starting point, and before the peo-
pie were aware of it the
majestic pile Of freestone with its
twin towers, the Catholic cathedral,
was ablaze. Two-thirds of the popula-
tion of st. Johns are Catholic and are
worshipers in this vast structure. 1t
was one of the largest and most mag
nifcent places of worship in the new
world, and was built of cut limestone
and Irish granite. Its towers were 1873
feet high, length, 237 feet, with tran
septs 1870 feet long, while it's nave was
60 feet long with an am bulatory 12 feet
in breadth, connected with the main
building by a screen of massive pillars
and semi-circular arches. 1t was built
in 1850.
At 8 o'clock the operators were driven
the flames, which soon claimed those
buildings At that hour over 500 build
ings had been destroyed, including all
the principal structures in the city.
and the flames were spreading in all
directions, being carried with great
velocity east and south. 1t is feared
that the governors palace, the par
Lament buildings and colonial Offices
will also be swept away. The city
presents weird sight, enveloped as it
is in lurid and roaring flames and black
smoke. Already 5000 people are
homeless and will be absolutely de-
pendent upon public assistance.
This is the fourth great fire which
has visited st. Johns. In February,
1916, large part of the town was de-
stroyed. In the following year there
was another big fire, with losses of 80,
100000. But the greatest confagration
of all was June 10. 1S46, when 2,O0o
houses were destroyed, involving a loss
| Of s. OOO,00