Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-18

Halifax, n. S., October 17.-Historic
Windsor, one of the most beautiful
towns in the province, was devastated
by fire this morning. For six hours,
beginning shortly before a. m, the
fire, famed by a violent northwest
gale, ragged so fiercely that the local
fire department was absolutely help
less to cope with it, and within half
an hour after it's discovery the mayor
began to call for outside assistance.
Long before noon the town had been
eaten up almost completely, the area
covered by the flames being nearly a
mile square, and of the four hundred
or more buildings occupying the sec
ton, barely half a dozen scorched
structures remain. Among the build
ings that escaped are the Windsor
cotton factory, Kings College, the
Anglican church, the Edge Hill school
for girls, and the Buffrin Hotel
The latter is the only hotel left
standing. No Nova Scotia town has
ever been visited by a confagration of
such dimensions Of the $500 people
that inhabit the place,
ONLY A FEW HAVE HOMES
of their own tonight
Over 5000 have been taken in by the
residents of the surrounding country
and neighboring towns, while the re
mainder of the sufferers have gene to
Halifax or are sheltered in army tents
erected in the vacant plots tonight by
detachment of British troops from
the garrison city. The disaster is APP
palling in its extent.
The fire started in a barn behind the
Marine Block, in the heart OF the
business district. The high gale pre-
vaiing carried the flames to other
buildings before the fremen had time
to get to work, and in a short time
THE SHOWER OF SPARKS
carried in all directions and ignited q
score Of buildings. The occupants Of
dwellings had time to hurry on some
clothing and TO drag some household goods
into the streets. but there was no place
Of safety to which anything could be re
moved quickly enough to save it from
being destroyed or damaged. The fam 5
cut clean gap from the waters edge on
the business front to the forests in the
rear, bounded by Ferry Hill on the south
side and by Fort Edwards on the north.
During the past few years many hand
bur these were generally contiguous to
old wooden buildings and all went togeth-
er before the furious flames. The origin
of the fire is somewhat mysterious. a Sc
we're lightning storm passed over the town
before the flames burst forth, and some
think the barn in which the fire started
may have been
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
hut ,,crI,- ba 1,o
hagration originated through the care, ess-
ness of some drunken man. When morn
ing broke the site of Windsor was scene
Of desolation, with hundreds of frantic
thinly clad and destitute mon and women
and children rushing back and forth
through the smoky streets. Fortunately
no lives were lost, although the streets
were perilous with flying bricks and
states, which the ferce hurricane drove
like thunderbolts from the roofs. In The
hurry and excitement. horses and cattle
in the stables were forgotten and many
persisted in the flames. or were suffocated
from the smoke. The ruins Of The fire are
ablaze tonight. the smouldzring embers
having been famed into a blaze and the
heavens are lighted with the flames which
east their reflection across the river as
effort has been made TO qucnch these
fires, and naturally the occupants Of the
few houses that remain are afraid that
the fire
WILL SPRING UP AGAIN.
The fire has moderated somewhat and
there is no likelihood of further disaster
Relief measures were started in Halifax
at an early hour and this afternoon
train load OF provisions. tents, blankets.
e,c., arrived from the provincial capital
Aboard the train were General Montgom-
cry Moore, Governor DAILY. Mayor Ste
phen and one hundred men of the Royal
Berkshire regiment and Royal Engin-
GERS who were brought to attend to the
erection Of tents. and aid in the relief
work
The total loss is estimated roughly at
81 ooo0 CO. While a number Of the heaviest
losers are partially insured. and some Of
them pretty wen covered. the total insur-
auce is calculated to be not more than
half a million.