Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-05-03
MILES OF FLAMES.
Two Canadian Cities Almost
Wiped Out Of Existence.
COnfia.ratiOn Began In ahe Eown OF
Huh and swept Across "a River to
OttaVVa-Loss Way Reach S2O-
100000 - Twelve Thou
sand People Made
Homeless.

miles of territory burned over; more
tnau $500 dwellings, factories, mills,
stores and other buildings destroyed,
entailing a loss estimated to- reach
100000, 900, and between 1000 and
$4,000 men, women and children
homeless, is summing up of the
havoc wrought by the fire which rag
ed at Hull and in Ottawa since II
o'clock yesterday morning. but at
midnight was completely under con-
troll.
Most of the lumber piles in Ottawa
and Hull have disappeared and are
now mere heaps of charred wood and
ashes. Half dozen churches and
schools. a number of mills, the Hull
waterworls, the Huh court house and
Jail. the post office, the convent-al-
most every business place, and about
1000 dwellings and shops in Hull
have been destroyed. Indeed, prac-
tically nothing in Hull is left but a
church and a few houses beyond it.
The spot where the fire originated
is about quarter of n mile from the
main street of Hull, and as gale
was blowing from the northwest,
right in the direction of the lumber
piles and mills on both the Hull and
Ottawa shores of the Ottawa river
and Chaudiere Falls. it was soon seen
that the fire was almost sure to be
large one. BY 1880 the fire had got
a good hold of Main street and the
entire street, with dozens of cross
streets. was burned. Practically
there is not a house left on the
street. About this time the fire made
a jump of nearly half mile and ig-
nited Eddy's wood yard, near the
match factory. 1t was soon in flames
and the 5O-mile an hour gale which
was blowing drove high column Of
flame across Bridge street and set
fire to the Eddy paper mill and the
other buildings of the company. The
fire at this time also sprang across
the Ottawa river and caught the
sheds in the rear of the Mackay Mill
ing Co. on Victoria island. and in
few minutes the lumber piles on Vic
toria and Chaudiere islands, one of
the power houses of the Ottawa Elec-
trio Co.. the Victoria foundry and
half the buildings on the two islands
were in flames.
In Hull the fire has about burned
out. The business portion is all gone,
and over half of the residences. The
Catholic cathedral has been saved. to-
gether with Eddy's sulphite works.
Gilmour d Hughson's mills are also
standing. The only means of com
munication between Ottawa and Hull
is by boat. From . O'Clock the only
water to be had in Hull was from the
river.
Chief Benoit, of the Hull fire brig
ade. was injured and taken to a hos
pital in Ottawa. The fire originated
through a fire in dirty chimney and
the high wind caused the flames to
spread rapidly Coming to the OF
tawa side of the river and that por-
tion of the city east of Division
street, the old boundary line of the
city before Rochesterville was annex
ed was almost entirely burned down
Here and there a building remains.
The village of Hintonburg, still fur
ther east, in close proximity to the
city, has. not been destroyed, as re-
ported. The greater part remains.
Mechanicsville, too. which was report
ed to have been entirely swept away,
still remains.
Miss Cook, an old woman who lived
near the French church, and who
was burned in her house to a crisp.
An unknown man was found dead on
the Canadian Pacific railroad track.
James Mavan is reported to be fatal
ly injured and some pieces of timber
fell on James Merrifeld. who was
taken to a hospital. The government
is supplying blankets and doing all
in it's power for the sufferers.
The Ottawa Insurance Co., a new
institution, will be heavy loser in
the fire. All the Canadian companies
and some of the English and Ameri-
can companies are interested.
A. T. Wood. NJ. p, of Hamilton, a
prominent business man, considers
that when all the losses were made
up they would be nearer $3O,00O,OOO.
Ths large cliff which extends to OF
tawa river on to Rochesterville wss
the only thing which stopped the
whole city of Ottawa becoming a
prey to the fire. Shortly after noon
the wind which was blowing pre-
viously in u northwesterly direction.
cha. ged to a southeasterly direction
and in this way what remained of
Ottawa was saved.
As soon as the members of the gov
ernment saw that the fire was to be
IT disastrous one, the minister of pub
lie works telegraphed to Montreal,
Peterboro and Brockville for fire APP
pliances and all assistance that could
he sent. But although they arrived
speedily they were of no avail. Moth
ing could stop the ravages of the fire,
when leaped over whole blocks and
broke out in all directions.
The government has given the drill
hall and the city the large exhibition
buildings to accommodate the suffer
ers All the institutions in the city
which have any accommodations at
all have lent hand to aid the dis
tressed.
A woman Sold at Auction.
Galvesto on. Tex, April 27.-A woman
known harp1rpt Cpppntta