The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-10-18

Halifax, n. s., Oct. I.-Historie
Windsor, one of the most beautiful
towns in the province, was devastated
by frye this morning. For six hours,
beginning shortly before a. M the fire,
famed by 4 violent northwest gale.
RACED SO fercely that the local fire de-
partnent was absolutely helpless to
\ cope with II, and within half an hour
Eafter its discovery the mayor began 60
cRn for outside assistance. Long be
fdye noon the town had been eaten up
almost completely: the area covered by
the flames being nearly q mile square
OF the 400 or more buildings occupying
the sections barely half a dozen sc0fch-
ed structures remain. among the build
inEs that escaped we're the Windsor
Cotton Factory, Kings college, the An
glican church, the EdgehiN school for
girls. and the Buffron hotel. The lat
Ter Is the only hotel left standing
UNEQuALLED IN HISTORY.
10 Nova Scotia town has ever been
visited by q coniiagration of such di-
mansions OF the 8 800 people that in
habited the place few have homes of
their own tonight over 5000 have been
taken by the residents Of the surround
ms country and neighboring towns,
while the remainder of the sufferers
have gone to Halifax or are sheltered
in tents erected in the vacant plots by
q detachment of British troops from
e the Garrison City. The disaster is ap-
paling in its extent.
/ The fire started in q barn behind til
Marine block, IN the heart of the bust
mess district. The high gale prevailing
carried the flames 10 other buildings
before the fireme-. had time to get at
work, and IL . short time the show
eIs of sparks, carried in all directions
had ignited score OF buildings The
occupants of the dwellings had time 10
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 removed quick
enough TO save il from being destroyed
or damaged.
AREA OF DISASTER.
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 handsome
brick structures have been erected. but
these We're generally contiguous to old
wooden buildings. and an went to-
gether before the furious flames. The
origin of the fire is somewhat mys-
FERROUS. 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 lightning, but many strongly
suspect that the contiagration origin
ated through the carelessness of some
4 drunken men
SCENE OF DESOLATION.
When morning broke the site of
Windsor WAS q scene of dasolation,
With hundreds OF frantic, thinly clad
and destitute men. women and chill
dren rushing back and forth through
the smoky streets. Fortunately no
lives wore lost, although the streets
We're periIous with flying bricks and
slabs which the fierce hurricane drove
from the roof like thunder bolts. In
the hurry and excitement horses and
cattle in the stables We're forgotten and
many persisted in the flames or were
suffocated from smoke
The ruins of the fire are ablaze to-
night, the smoldering embers having
been famed into blaze. and the hea-
Nesls are lit with the flames which
cast their reflection across the river on
either side as far as the eye can see.
fThe occupants Of the few houses that
remain are keeping awake tonight fear
ful that the fire viii spring up again.
The fire has moderated somewhat and
there is no likelihood OF further dis
&ster.
RELIEF MEASURES.
Relief measures were started in Hail
fax al IN early hour and this afternoon
4 trainload Of provisions, tents. bIan-
kets. etc, arrived from the provincial
capital. Aboard the train were Gen.
eral Montgomery Moore Governor
DAILY, Mayor stephen and 100 men OF
the Royal Berkshire regiment and
Royal Engineers, who were brought to
attend to the erection Of tents and aid
in the relief work The total loss is es-
timated at 100000. Many among the
heaviest losers are partially insured
The total insurance is calculated to be
not more than half q million