New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-12
TOWN DESTROYED BY FIRE
NEW WESTMINSTER OK THE FRAZER
RIVER. WIPED OUT-FOUR
LIVES LOST


Vancouver. p. c.. Sept. II (speciaD.-New-
Westminster. on the Frazer River, was entirely
destroyed by fire to-day, Only a fringe or
houses the outer edge Of the town. show the
boundaries of what was yesterday the third
city in the province. Not business house re-
mains and hundreds of homes were burned.
Three river steamers-the Edgar. the Gladys
and the Bon Accord-were burned at their
wharves.
Three women and a fireman named Campbell
are dead One woman who had typhoid fever
was moved three times from burning houses. be-
fore she died. Another woman vas burned 70
death, and the third died from fright. The fire.
man fell from the top Of burning business
building The loss is estimated at S2JOoOO0;
insurance 81, 100000
Returning to Vancouver from burning West
minister Is like coming from land Of desolation
and ruin to another OF smiling plenty In New
Westminster not stone Of the business houses
remains standing. Despair and suffering are
the lot Of hundreds Of poor, homeless folk Food,
clothing and ard being dispatched from
Vancouver to the ill-fated city.
At the time Of writing 1t is not known how
many people lost their lives. but it is feared that
several must have been burned to death. The
three river steamers destroyed are the Edgar
the Gladys and the Bon Accord.
New Westminster to-day is without store OF
any kind without newspapers and without food,
ave that which IS being hurrio1 over from mere.
Every industry except the big planning mills
and n cove-canning company has been wiped
out. Every merchants office has been burned
bankers clothiers. hotel men. sawmill men ana
Gamers end merchants of all descriptions nave
nothing left 70 them.
WHERE THE FIRE BROKE OUT.
The fire was first noticed at BRAKEMAN &.
Kerrs wharf on Front-st. From there 1t spread
down to the Canadian Pacific Railway station
II did not cross the street till that point was
reached From there 1t went up. taking in the
other side OF Front-st.. and also Coumba-st'
the chief business thoroughfares of the city
Block after block caught fire rapidly and In
few minutes there was nothing left OF what had
been the business portion OF New-W estmlnster
From Coumbus-s st. 1t spread uphiIl, ana ,he
great centre of the iire became a huge building
built on piles in a gully brdged by CarnaVoh-
st. There was great space under tnls pullulhs
filed with dry seasoned lumber. The air got
in with the fire. ard gave II great pay. lher.
was here a whirwind OF flames which belched
forth destruction. From this point the nre
spread all around. The English Cathedral
quickly caught fire, the Baptist Church foi-
lowed. and the Central Methodist Church went
next. All destroyed.
At this point a large number OF residences
were situated They all went up In smoke, ana
the Inhabitants had to flee for their lives; The
fire swept down CarnarNOn-st. anu QulChly
compassed the big brick courthouse and the
wooden city Hall. Fortunately there was
big open space there, ard the flames were not
able to lean far enough 10 take in the central
school. Agnes-st, however. caught fire. and one
side OF Royal-ave. all the houses there being
completely destroyed.
The fire gained great headway. owing 70 the
fact tha, the hremen lost n great deal of hose
by burning. This morning there was no water
supply for the private use of the burned-'ut
citizens There was not a single butcher shop.
bakers or provision shop that was not de-
stroyed, and there only one small hotel
saved
The Columbian" newspaper has not a single
lire Of type left Soma OF the burned-out people
retired in the early hours Of the morning TO the
open front opposite the schOOlhouse. They COW
cred themselves with blankets End lay down 10
sleep. All that they had was lost