Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-26
FIRE AT ST. JOHN.
Over 100 Buildings Burned
Loss, Over $500,OOO.
Largest Area Burned and Heaviest Loss
for Over 20 Years.
Water Supply insufficient and Fire Rapidly
Spreads Through Wooden District.

st. John, n. B., May pa fire broke
out. this afternoon, in a house owned
by John Porter, adjoining the general
warehouse of p. Nase & Sons, Main
street, North end Its progress was
rapid and for several hours unchecked.
insufficient water supply, a long term
| OF dry weather. and brisk gale con-
| trlbuted to cause conflagration
| which for a time threatened annihila-
/ uon to the wooden district where it
| originated.
At 10 o'clock tonight, however, the
! fire is dying out. and as the wind has
fallen there is no fear of any further
| loss. But though the fire has been con-
| fined to smaller limits than was at one
time hoped for. it is the most consid-
cradle, both with regard to the area
| burned over and to financial loss.
which has visited this neighborhood for
| over 20 years
II was 1.15 when the first alarm was
sent in. and two more in rapid success
sion called the entire department to the
scene.
Masses warehouse is within a few
feet of the river, separated therefrom
by the wharves and warehouse of the
Star Line Steamship Co. which manages
the steamers plying between Frederic
ton and st. John on the st. John river
The course Of the fire was at first away
from the water, and in half an hour
from the first alarm 10 buildings on
Main and Bridge streets We're in flames.
Tenants of houses either on fire or IN
immediate danger, moved out their furni-
ture and piled it in places of supposed
safety, only TO see it burn on the street
or 70 pc compelled to again move il. Many
OF the inhabitants Of the district were
poor and their possessions few and mean.
ana these could be seen scrambling to the
fields not far from their dwellings with
articles Of clothing or household effects
in their arms. Piles of goods heaped up
on the wharves and at first deemed secure
soon began to shoulder and blaze. ignitei
rather by the fierce heat than by actual
contact with the flames.
At 3 o'clock the wharves and ware
houses of the Star Line took fire. ana sew
eral of the steamers arriving from up
river had to dock elsewhere. The bulk of
the fire department was concentrated to
the east of the burning building, striving
to check the progress of the fire up In
diantown hill and towards the heart OF
the city. The water supply proved insult
ficient: 50 many streams were put on
that the pressure was reduced and even
with the aid Of the engines the streams
We're ineffective.
Building after building on Main street
caught and were presently in ruins, while
several blocks in the rear of Main street
on both sides were soon blazing.
At o'clock the destruction Of several
buildings on Main street by the use of
dynamite stayed the progress of the
flames along the line of the street rail-
way and the tiremen were able TO direct
their efforts more particularly to the dis
trict north Of Main street and including
blocks of dwellings bounded by Victoria,
Metcalf. Bridge. Holly, Cunard and AL
bert streets. The spread of the flames
was soon stopped and all this evening the
ruins have been gradually burning out.
The department is stil on the ground
and the locality has been visited by i'm
mense crowds. this evening.
One of the leading underwriters est-
mates the total loss a $500 900 and the in
surance at $500 600. The area burned over
comprises Is BLOCKS or portions Of blocks
and the buildings destroyed number 800
The district ravaged by the fire was
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