The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-04-27
GREAT FIRE IN CANADA Hull About Wiped Out and aSection of Ottawa
 Destroyed. 12,ooo RENDERED HOMELESS
LOSSES WILL AMOUNT TO MANY
 MILLION DOLLARS.

Parliament Compelled to Adjourn-Th'
 Militia Called Ont anu Aid Summoned
 from Several Cities-The Fire Started
 in Hull and Swept Across the River to
 Oftawa-Is stiIl Burning.
 Ottawa, Ontario, April 26-S:30 p. m.- The city of Hull has been burning since noon to-day and all that remains at ths present time is a small corner in the east end of the city and before long it, too, will be in ashes. There are a few houses standing in the suburbs of the burned city. Hull has a population of about 12,O00 people, and more than half of them are homeless tonight. The en- tire business part of the city, including the courthouse, postoffice and public buildings and newspaper offices, is one mass of ruins. The population is almost entirely composed of people who work in the mills or who derive their business from those works.
 Crosses to Ottawa.
 The fire crossed the Ottawa river in the afternoon, took hold among the
 
 and extended to the lumber yards and mills The result is that the whole of that part of Ottawa known as the Caudiere flats, surrounding the Canadi- an Pacific railway depot, where the lumber mills are all located, is fire swept. The only building standing in the whole area is that of the Ottawa carbide factory, which is newly erected and f1reproof. From the flats the fire extended across the Richmond road on to Rochesterville and as far as the ex perimental farm. Westerly the fire took in Hurtonburgh and Mechanicsville, so that on the Ottawa side of the river there is larger area covered by fire than on the Hull side. It is estimated that at the present time the number of people homeless in the two cities and suburban towns is not less than 12,000 and may reach 15,O0O.
 Aiding she Oistrcsard.
 The government has given the drill hall and the city the large exhibition buildings to accommodate the sufferers. All the institutions in the city which have any accommodation at all have lent a hand to aid the distressed. The
 
 the Goulmer and Houston lumber mills at the extreme end beyond the city linn it's, near Gatineau Point, and it is still in danger. The large Roman Catholic cathedral is still standing, but the flames are surrounding it. Nothing can be done to stop the fire. It simply has got to burn itself out to the waters edge. The Hull Lumber company's mills, the extensive works of E. B. Ed dy, both match and paper factories, and MT. Eddys residence are in ruins, as well as the provincial bridge, which connects the city of Ottawa with Hull.
 Flames Spread Quickly. On the Ottawa side of the river the loss is still greater. There are in ashes the Bronson & Weston Lumber con- pany's mills, the J. R. Booth lumber mills, the Mckay Milling company, the Ottawa Electric railway power house, the Martin & Warneck mills, the Vic toria foundry the Ottawa saw works, the Ottawa Speciality company, the Pain blaming mills and several other indus tries. There are also some fine resi- dences included in this area. Among IHeIIl are tHdL OI J. H. IoOOlli, WHICH was valued at $1OO,OOO. the residence of his son-in-law, A. w. Fleck, that of Hon. George Foster, Lewis Runnell, for MT. Bronson, and MT. Pain of the Pain mills, the latter two beau tiful houses out of which their owners were not able to take anything, so quickly did the flames extend to them
 Aid Called For. As soon as the members of the govern ment saw that the fire was to be dis astrous one. the acting minister of pub lie works telegraphed to Montreal, Pe- terboro and Broekville for fire engines and all assistance that could be sent But although these arrived speedily they were of no avail. Nothing could | stop the ravages of the fire which l leaped over whole blocks and broke out In all directions.
 Ottawa's Danger.
 The Canadian Pacific railway depot, | which is on the Chaudiere flats, was | among the first buildings to go, as it | was wooden structure. The large cliff | which extends from the Ottawa river | back by Christ church and St. John the Baptist church on to Rochesterville was
  ,ity of Ottawa becoming a prey to the ire Shortly after noon the wind, which was blowing previously in northwes- .erly direction, changed to southeast ,rly direction and in this way what re- nained of Ottawa was saved. It is al- most loie to talk of losses while the fire yet burns and with change of wind t would certainly sweep the city, but moderate calculation would be some where between $15, 900, ,000 and s20,O0O0O0. The government had the militia called ut and adjourned the house of com mons until Tuesday on account of the disastrous conf1agration.
 The fire started in dirty chimney. Five square miles of territory burned 'ver, more than 2,500 dwellings, facto- ies. mills stores and other buildings de- troyed, entailing a loss estimated at ,etween $15,000.O00 and $20,000,0OO, and between 12,000 and 15,000 men, women md children homeless, is a rough sum- ming up early this morning of the re- ults of the fire. l.