Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-07-11
ST. JOHNS DESTROYED.
Fifteen Thousand People Homeless
Loss $40, 100000.

Longs hill was discovered to De Oh
fire. When the firemen arrived
southwest wiud that was prevailing
had caused the fire to spread to ad
Joining buildings. Desperate ef1orti
were made to stop the progress o
fire, but soon most Of the houses OF
Longs hill were burning. Larg'
burning brands were caught up by
the wind and carried to rows o
other structures, which were soor
burning furiously, 1t was seen tha
the fire department was helpless
and people living in the path of thu
fire began to remove their portable
household effects and valuables. i
is feared that some Of these people
lost their lives. While dwelling
houses were burning unhindered, j
was found that the new Methods
college was on fire. Efforts wer'
made to save the building, but they
were fruitless. The college was the
educational 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 spreading with terrible rapidly
Buildings situated some distance
from the burning structures caught
fire from burning embers and were
destroyed without a hand being
raised to attempt to save them,
Fireman and people were complete
ly paralized, and fire did the work
of destruction without stay.
1t was now growing dark, and
the scene was magnificently beauti
ful, though an appalling one.
Building after building caught fire
and the whole city was as light rs
day. The roar of the flames was ter
rible, and the heat so intense that it
was impossible to get any where
near the burning buildings. Now
and then high and heavy walls
would fall and immense masses OF
burning embers soar upward to be
caught by the gale and carried else
where to add other buildings to the
conhagration. Men, women and
children ran about In terror, and
thieves taking advantage of the con.
fusion, entered houses that had been
deserted by the occupants and stole
whatever they could lay their hands
on and carry of. The Masonic
temple, Orange hall, Roman Catho-
lie cathedral and bishops palace,
st. Patrick's hall, and the English
cathedral, were all burned. The
English cathedral was considered
to be the finest piece of Gothic archi'
lecture on this continent. 1t was
yet incomplete, though 1t has been
fifty years in building. Nearly all
of these buildings were in the cen.
ire of the city. The flames were
now raging with increasing yigor In
the direction of the water front, and
in short time eating up warehouses
along the wharves. Shipping lying
at wharves had been warned of its
danger, and the crews of various
vessels hastily cast off lines and took
the crafts outside the harbor.
The fire burned out the telegraph
office, and for Il time all communities
ton with st. Johns was cut off. In
the morning, however, the telegraph
established temporary Of
flee in what they consider safe part
Of the city, and further details were
received. These later dispatches
stated that the fire had ragged all
night and threatened to destroy the
whole city. 1t is known positively
hat one man and six children per-
shed, but it is thought that the loss
Of life Is much greater. AS many az
six hundred buildings were burned
up to this morning. Many are
dwelling houses, and their occupants
have been compelled to seek refuge
In the fields.
The military authorities furnished
army tents as far as possible,aDd the
,ivil authorities are doing everything
In their power to alleviate the dis
tress, Many unfortunates lost every
thing they had in the world,an I'M
peratiye calls will be made upon
charity in their behalf. Burning fire
communicated to seal oil factories
and stores and the whole south side
Of the city was burning. "A large fire
was coming down Fresh Water val
ey,and the whole population of St,
Johns were In the agony of de.
spair, seeing before them the COM
plete extinction OF the city. Fire later
In the forenoon broke out In Monks
town, In which are situated the re-
sidences of wealthy inhabitants of
the town, The loss up to noon was
from five to six millions, and 1t is
that fifteen thousand peo-
Pile are homeless, Soon after noon
the wires again failed, fire probably
reached the new telegraph Of
flee, A committee Of Halifax citizens
purchased six thousand dollars
worth Of provisions and lumber,
which We're sent to st. Johns 10y
steamer last night. The military
and naval authorities also sent a lot
OF tents,
HALIFAX, n. s., July l0.-At
O'clock last night telegrsphic CON-
with ST. Johns was re-
stored. The first dispatch received