New-York tribune., 1900-04-27
CITIES SWEPT BY FIRE.
ENORMOUS LOSS IN OTIA VA
AND HULL, CANADA.
PROPERTY WORTH MORE THAN s15, 900 900
DESTROYED AND FIFTEEN THOU
SAND PEOPLE HOMELESS.

Ottawa, Ont, April 26-The city of Hull
that remains at late hour this evening is
small corner in the east end of the place, and
before long II, too, will be in ashes There are
a few houses standing in the suburbs of the
burned city. Hull has population of about
twelve thousand people, and more than half of
them are homeless tonight. The entire busi-
ness part of the CITY, including the courthouse
postoffice and public buildings and newspaper
offices, is mass of ruins The population
Is almost entirely composed Of people who work
in the mills or who derive their business from
those works
The fire crossed the Ottawa River In the
afternoon. took hold among the lumber piles
the brink of the river and extended TO the
lumber yards and mills. The result is that
the whole of that part of Ottawa known
the Chaudiere Flats. surrounding the Canadian
Pacific Railway station, where the lumber mills
all located is fire swept. The only build
ing standing in the whole area is that OF the
Ottawa Carbide Factory, which is newly erected
and freproof. From the flats the fire extended
across the Richmond Road on to Rochester
Vile and as far as the experimental farm.
Westerly the fire took In Huntonburg and
Mechanicville. that the Ottawa side of
the river there is a larger covered by
fire than on the Hull side.
THOUSANDS LOSE THEIR HOMES.
1t is estimated that at the present time the
number of people homeless in the two cities and
suburban towns is not less than $1,000, and
may reach $4,000. The Government has given
the drill hall and the city the large Ex-
position buildings to accommodate the unfort-
innate sufferers All the institutions in the city
which have any accommodations at all have lent
a hand to aid the distressed The only industry
left standing in Hull is the Goulmer & Houston
Lumber Mills at the extreme end beyond the
city limits near Gatineau Point. and it is still
in danger this evening. 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
to the waters edge The Hull Lumber Com
pany's mills. the extensive works of E. B.
Eddy both watch and paper factories we'll
interprovincial bridge which connects the city
of ottawa with Hull.
On the ottawa side of the river the loss is
still greater. There are in ashes the Bronson
& Weston Lumber Companys mills, the ]. r.
Booth Lumber Mills the Mckay Milling Com
pany, the Ottawa Electric Railway power
house, the Martin s; Warnock mills. the Vic
toria Foundry. the ottawa Saw Works the OF
tawa Specially Company. the Pain Planning
Mills and several other industries. There
also some fine residences included in this
Among them are that of J. r. Booth. which was
valued at 100000; that of his son-in-law. A
W. Fleck: the homec of the Hon. George Foster
Of Lewis Runnell, manager for Mr.. Bronson, and
of Mr. Pain of the Pain Mills the latter two
beautiful houses out of which their owners
were not able to take anything, so quickly did
the flames extend them.
HELP FROM NEIGHBORING CITIES
As soon as the members of the Government
saw that the fire was TO be a disastrous one the
Acting Minister of Public Works telegraphed
TO Montreal, Peterboro and Brockville for fire
appliances and all assistance that could be sent.
But although they arrived speedily, they were
of avail. Nothing could stop the ravages
of the fire which leaped over whole blocks. and
broke out in all directions
The Canadian Pacific Railway depot, which
is on the Chaudiere Flats. among OF
the first buildings to CO. as II was a 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 the
only thing which stopped the whole - OF OF
tawa becoming prey 10 the fire. Shortly after
noon the wind which was blowing previously
in a northwesterly direction changed to a south
easterly direction. and In this way what remains
of Ottawa saved. 1t is almost idle to talk