The San Francisco call., 1897-10-18
Historic Town in Nova
Scotia Destroyed
by Fire.
Over Three Thousand Resi-
dents Made Homeless by
the Flames.
Relief Measures Taken and Many
Provided With Tents-LoSs Is
About So, 100000.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

HALIFAX, Nova SCOTIA. Oct. Hills
toric Windsor, one of the most beautiful
towns in the province, was devastated by
fire this morning. For six hours, begin
ming shortly before 3 A. NJ, the fire, famed
by a violent northwest gale, ragged to
tiercely that the local fire department was
absolutely helpless to cope with it, and
within half an hour after its 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. Of
the 400 or more buildings occupying the
section barely half a dozen structures re-
main. Among the buildings that escaped
were the Windsor cotton factory, Kings
College, the Anglican Church. the Edge
Hill School for Girls and the Buffrin Ho-
tel. The latter is the only hotel left
standing.
No Nova Scotia town has ever been Wis
tied by CONFEDERATION of such dimensions.
OF the $500 people that inhabited the
place few have homes of their own to-
night. Over 5000 have been taken in by
the residents OF the surrounding country
and neighboring towns, while The re-
mainder of the sufferers have gone to
Halifax or are sheltered in army tents
erected in the vacant plats tonight by a
detachment OF British troops from the
garrison city.
The disaster is appalling in its extent.
The fire started in a barn behind the Ma
rine block, IN the heart OF the business
district. The high gale prevailing carried
the flames to other building before the
tiremen had time to get at work, ana in
short time the showers of sparks, carried
in all directions, had ignited score Of
buildings. The occupants OF dwellings
had time to hurry on some clothing ana
to drag some household goods into the
streets, but there was no place of safety to
which any thing could be removed quickly
enough to save ii from being destroyed or
damaged. The flames 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
some brick structures have been erected,
but these were generally contiguous 10
old wooden buildings, and all went to-
gether before the furious flames. The
origin of the fire is somewhat mysterious.
A severe 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 light
ming, but many strongly suspect that the
contiagra;ion origin ated through the care
lessness OF some drunken men.
w en- morning b. oke The site OF Wind
sore was scene of desolation, with hun
dreds OF frantic, thinly clad and destitute
men and women and children rushing
back and forth through the smoky streets
Fortunately no lives were lost, although
the streets were perllous with flying
bricks and slabs which the fierce hurri-
cane drove from the roofs like thunder
bolts. In the hurry and excitement horses
and cattle in the stables were forgotten
and many perished in the flames or were
suffocated from smoke.
The ruins of the fire are ablaZe to. light,
the smoldering bers having been
fanne into a blaze, and the heavens are
lit with the flames, which cast their retiec-
ton across the river on either side as far
as the eve can see. The occupants of the
few houses that remain are keeping awake
tonight, fearful that the fire will spri:g
up again. The fire has moderated some
what and there is no Likelihood of further
disaster.
Relief measures were started in Halifax
at an early hour and this afternoon
trainload of provisions. tents, blankets.
etc, arrived from the provincial capital.
Aboard the train were General Montoom-
cry Moore, Governor Daily, Mayor Stephen
and 100 men OF the Royal Berkshire Regi-
ment and Royal Engineers, who were
brought to attend to the erection of tents
and aid in the relief work.
The total loss is estimated roughly at
So. 000 600. While number of the heay-
lest io-ers are partially insured and some
OF them pretty well covered, the total in
surance is calculated to be not more than
half a million.