The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-10

HALIFAX, n. s., July 9.-Forty-six years
and one mouth ago today fire broke out
in ST. Johns. the capital of Newfoundland
that destroyed a great part OF the city, the
damage done amounting TO &, o00, 900, and
several lives being lost. Yesterday after
noon fire broke out in st. Johns which
threatened to far exceed in extent, in
money and loss of life. that of the disas-
trous contiagration of 1916. Desperate
efforts were made to stop the progress of
the fire, but it was soon seen that they
would prove fruitless. It was seen that
the fire department was helpless, and peo-
pie living in the path that the fire WAS
portable household effects. 1t is feared
that some people lost their lives by their
foolhardiness in returning to their homes
when the flames were close upon them
The wind was blowing gale and the
fire spread with terrible rapidity. Build
lngs situated some distance from the burn
ing structure caught fire from the burn
ing embers and were destroyed without n
hand being raised to save them. The fire.
men and the people were completely para
lyzed. Ii was growing dark, aud the
scene was magnificently beautiful
though appalling one. Building after
building caught fire, and The whole city
was rs light as day. The roar OF The
flames was terrible, and the heat was SO
where near the burning buildings. Men.
women aud children ran about in terror,
and thieves, taking advantage of the Con-
fusion, entered the houses deserted bv
their occupants, and stole whatever they
could lay their hands on.
The Methodist college, the Masonic tenn
Pile, the Orange hail, the Roman Catholic
cathedral and the bishops palace, ST. Pat
rick's hall, the English cathedral. the Ath-
eneum, the Commercial bank. the Union
bank, the Atlantic brewery, the Atlantic
hotel and Limberg's brewery, all fell
prey TO the devouring element. The Eng
lish cathedral was magnificent structure
and was considered to be the finest piece
of Gothic architectural work on this con-
tinent. 1t was yet incomplete, though it
had been fifty years in building Nearly
all Of these buildings were in the center of
the city, and before long they were moth
ing but masses of smoking ruins. In ad-
dition the court house, the police head
quarters and the government Savings
bank were destroyed, as was also the Pres
byterian church and the office of the Tele-
gram. The flames were now raging with
increasing, vigor in the direction of the
water front, and in short time were eat
ing the warehouses along the wharves.
The fire burned out the telegraph office,
and for some time all communication with
ST. Johns was cut off. This morning
however, the telegraph officials established
temporary offices in what they considered
a safe part of the city, aud further details
were received. These dispatches stated
that the fire ragged all night and threat
ened to destroy the whole city. 1t is
known positively that one man and six
children perished, but it is thought that
when the terrible excitement that now
prevails subsidies it will be found that the
loss of life is much greater.
a lat a n hat ha
ment buildings were destroyed, and that
at the time the dispatch was sent fully 600
buildings had been burned up. Many of
these were dwelling bou,es, and the occu-
pants were compelled to seek refuge in the
fields. The military authorities furnished
them with as many tents as possible, and
the civil aut horities are doing everything |
IN their power to alleviate the distress !
Many of these unfortunate people lost
everything they had in the world, and i'm |
Fortunate calls will be made on charity in
their behalf.
This morning the fire communicated to |
the seal Oil factories and stores, and the |
whole south side of the city was burning.
The people of st. Johns were in an agony !
of despair, seeing before them the complete |
extinction of their city.
dispatch received here states that the |
fire swept Water, Cover and Dnckworth |
streets, from Rankins to Signal hill Six
hundred houses were burned The loss /
will be about Sc, ,00C, eco.
Another dispatch says the fire has brok- !
en- out in Monkstown, Ill which are situ- /
ated the residences OF the most wealthy
inhabitants of the town. The principal /
street of St. Johns Is more than mile in !
length, and every building on 1t was of
stone or brick. This street was practically |
destroyed.
AT 1:30 o'clock p m. the telegraph |
officials reported it impossible TO raise" 1
ST. Johns, and stated tnat they thought /
The temporary Office had been burned. IL 4
is known that everything has been de- 4
stroyed from Birch's Cove east TO the ;
wharves of the Allan Steamship company. /
over this distance the flames made a clean /
sweep. From what eau be CLEANED from I
the reports received here. it Is estimated /
that Is ,00O persons are homeless. The city 4
Of Halifax has already sent s., 900 worth OF +
provisions and lumber for the relief of the /
destitute
THE LATEST.
HALIFAX, y. s, July 9-Telegraphic ,
with st. Johns was re-
stored about S o'clock tonight. The first I.
Dispatch received places the loss by the +
Iire at so, 00O, 600