The record-union., 1898-09-12
Despair and Suffering the Lot Of Homeless
People.
Several Deaths the Result Of the
Conhagration Fierce Winds
Famed the Flames and Block
After Block Caught Fire Until
the Business Portion of the
Town Was Destroyed.

VANCOUVER (B. c., Sept. 1.-THE
business portion of New Westminster
was totally destroyed by fire this morn
ing. 1t is impossible to estimate the
property loss at this writing, but 1T VIII
run up into the hundreds of thousands.
Despair and suffering are the lot or
hundreds Of homeless people. Food,
clothing and aid of all kinds is being
hurriedly dispatched from Vancouver
to the Inflated 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 burning building
and was killed. A woman dropped dead
from fright. One woman who was Ill
died while they were removing her
from a burning house, while another
suffering from typhoid fever, who had
been twice removed from residences
which were in the burning zone, did
not survive the shock. So extremely
fierce were the flames that apples on
the trees on the side of the street op-
pcsite the burning houses were roasted.
Three river steamers We're destroyed,
the Edgar, Gladys and Bona Concord.
Every industry save the big Royal
City Planning Mills and Cleveland Can
ming Company has been wiped out.
The Canadian Pacific Railway station
and bridge across the Fraser River
We're burned.
The fire started about midnight on
the river front, and was caused by
spark from a steamer. Famed by a;
fierce gale, the flames spread at such
rapid rate that within three hours ten
CT ah hp
noticed at Brakeman & Kerr's wharf
on Front street. From there it spread
down to the Canadian Pacific depot.
1t crossed the street at this point.
From there it went up the street, TAX
ing in the other side of Front street
and Columbia street, the business thor
oughfare of the city. Block after block
caught fire, and in a few minutes there
was nothing left of what had been the
business portion of New Westminster.
From Columbia street it spread up
the hill to a huge building built upon
piles in a gully bridged by Carnavon
street There was great space under
this building filled with dry, seasoned
lumber The air got in with the fire
and gave it great play. There was a
whirlwind of flame which belched forth
spread, and the English Cathedral was
quickly attacked The Baptist and
Central Methodist Churches followed,
all being destroyed. together with
large number of residences. The in
hebitants had to fee for their lives.
The fire swept down Carnavon street
and quickly enveloped the big brick
Courthouse and the wooden City Hall.
G-rN,sft .tr,Ix- ~
space here. and the flames were not
able to leap far enough to take in the
big Central School Agnes street, how
ever, had got alight and one side of
Royal avenue also. All the houses on
that street We're completely burned.
The wind was blowing furiously down
Fraser River toward the mouth. If
it had been blowing the other way the
whole of the Catholic Church, build
ings, convent and hospital and other
structures would have been burned
This morning there was no water sup
ply for the use of the homeless 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-
llIGu III lnc tdIlg lillS IlOfillnS
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, S1,500.000 Bank
vaults withstood the fire. One insur-
ance company's vault was blown up
by gunpowder.
A Citizens Committee has been
formed In Vancouver to give relief to
the sufferers.
The Provincial Government is assist
ing. Financial Secretary Cotton re-
ceived the news in Victoria aboNt noon.
He got blankets, tents and OTHER sup
plies loaded on a special train which
reached Nanaimo, seventy-four miles
distant. in less than two hours.