The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-12
BURNED TO THE GROUND
Fire Destroys Business Portion
of New Westminster.
HUNDREDS OF HOMELESS
1t Is Feared That Several People Have
Been Burned to Death-One Woman
Dropped Dead From
Fright.

Vancouver, b. c., Sept. 1.-THE busi-
ness portion of New Westminster was
totally destroyed by fire this morning.
1t is impossible to estimate the proper
ty loss at this writing, but 1t will run
up into the hundreds of thousands.
Despair and suffering are the lot of
hundreds of homeless people. Food,
clothing and aid of all kinds is being
hurriedly dispatched from Vancouver
to the fll-fated royal" city. 1t is not
known how many people lost their lives,
but it is feared several have been
burned to death. Campbell, a fireman.
fell off the roof OF a burning building
and was killed. A woman dropped
dead from fright. One woman, who
had been confined two weeks ago, died
while they were moving her from a
burning house. while another suffering
from TYPHOID fever, who mad been twice
removed from residences wnlcn were in
the burning zone, aid not survive Ine
shock. 30 extremely fierce were the
names that apples on the trees on the
side OF the street opposite the burning
houses We're roasted. Three rlvel
Il,
Gladys ana Bon Acoru. Every inuus-
try save the big Royal City plamua
mills and Cfeve Canning company was
wiped out. The CdnduIam PaClIc rail-
way station and bridge across fraser
river were burned.
The fire started about midnight on
the river front ana was caused py a
spark from a steamer. Famed by a
nerce gale, the names spread with sucn
1dDlUlIX thar HI
streets were ablaze. The tire was first
noticed at brakeman * herr's wharf ON
front street. From there il spread
down 10 the Canadian Pacific railroad
depot. 1t crossed the street al that
point. From there 1t went up the street
taking in the other side OF front street
ana Columbia street, the chief busIuyss
thoroughIare of the city. Block after
block caught fire and in a few minutes
there was nothing lett Of what had been
the business portion OF New Nestmlus-
ter.
From Columbia street it spread w
the hill to huge building butt upon
poles in gully briused by CarnaNon
street. There was great space under
TINS BUILDING filled with dry seasoned
lumber. The air got in with the nre
and save 1t great play. There was a
Whlrlwind of iiame which belched forth
destruction. From this point the fire
spread. The English cathedral was
quickly attacked. The Baptist church
followed and the Central Methodist, and
all were destroyed. A large number of
residences followed. The inhabitants
had to flee for their lives. The fire
swept down Carnovan street and quick
ly enveloped the big court mouse ana
the wooden city hall. Fortunately
there was big open space here and
the hames were not able to leap far
enough to take in the big central schoo.
Agnes street. however, had got alight
ana one side of Royal avenue. All the
houses On THAI street were completely
burned. The wind was blowing furi-
ous!' down Fraser river toward the
mouth. If it had been blowing the
&ther way the whole of the Catholic
church buildings, convent and hospital
and other structures would have been
burned.
This morning there was no water sup
ply for the use Of the burned-out citi-
zens. There was not a single butcher,
baker or provision shop that was not
destroyed and there was only one small
hotel saved.
Some of the burned out people re-
tired in the early hours this morning
in the open air in front of the school
house. They covered themselves with
blankets and lay down to sleep under
the sky.
The loss is roughly estimated at So
100000; insurance, $1,500. 600. Bank
vaults withstood the fire. One insurance
company's vault was blown up by gun
powder.
n Citizens committee has been formed
IN Vancouver to give relief to the suffer-
ers. The provincial government is as
sisting. Finance Minister Cotton re-
ceived the news in Victoria about noon.
He got blankets and supplies loaded
on special train, which reached Nam
aimo. "a miles distant, in less than two
hours. The steamer Joan was in readi-
ness there and reached Vancouver i'm
record time. Here a special c. F. r.
fro ~ -''T- 77v and the supplies were
loaded and sent to We