The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-05-03
SWEPT BY FIRE.
News of the Great Canadian Dis
aSter.
$500 BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED.
A Belt of Flames Fully Four Miles
in Length and Half Mile Wide Af-
fords Terrible Spectacle.

Toronto, Special.-DispatcheS from OF
tawa summarize the situation at OF
tawa and Hull as follows: Ottawa,
buildings destroyed, 1000; Hull, bull
dings destroyed, 1900; total loss, both
cities, $2O,0O0,OOO; lives lost as far as
known, four.
A special to the Montreal Star from
Ottawa says: "The greatest fire in his
tory of Canada was that which visited
Hull and the western district Of Otta-
wa Thursday. The loss is roughly es-
timated at from s16,O0O,000 to $1,000
600. Over 5000 families have been rem
dered homeless. The major part OF
Hull, with its immense industrial es-
tablishments and the home Of their OPP
eratives, was swept clean, as well as
Victoria and Dalhousie wards, in OF
tawa. The loss on lumber alone can
not be less than 100000. The fire
broke out in the center Of Hull, early
in the forenoon. That is common
occurrence there, and attracted little
attention. Before noon it had devas-
tated a great part of Hull, and spread
towards the river, famed by strong
wind; ultimately destroying five mills.
Nothing more grand could be imag-
ined as spectacle. Considered as to
its consequences no greater calamity
has visited Canada in years. There
was a belt of flame fully four
miles in length and at least half
mile wide. Dark clouds Of smoke
streamed southwestward from the bur-
ming district all day, while beneath it
was a long line Of fame, fierce and ir-
repressible. All night long the city
was lit up by the glare. The Dominion
government is among the heavy losers,
the Chaudiere bridge having toppled
into the river from the warping effects
Of the heat.
Fireman John Watkins, Of No. sta.
ton, was smothered in a house in
Queen street, west; Mrs. Bessie Cook,
an invalid, was suffocated in her bed
before help arrived; man unknown
was found dead on the Canadian Pa
cific railroad track in Rochesteryille;
John Navan a builder, was taken to
ST. Luke's Hospital, badly burned aGd
hurt; an unknown man was found fF
Broad street, charred beyond recogni-
ton; John Matthews is reported dead;
James Merryfield was seriously in jur-
ed by falling building; Daoust,
watchman, is reported dead; John
Temple, a fireman of Hull, is missing,
and Engineer Peter Hamilton, Of
Hull, is also missing.
The Export Lumber Company had
all its big stock destroyed and it is es-
timated that their less will foot up
nearly 100000, covered by insurance.
1t is estimated that 25O,000,00O feet Of
lumber has been burned in Hull and
Ottawa. Half dozen churches and
schools have been burned; the Eddy
Companys paper and pulp mills and
match factory, and E. B. Eddy's resi-
dence have been destroyed. Bronzons
and Weston's mill, the Hull Lumber
Company's Mill, one of Booths mills,
and the Mckay CCmpany's premises,
one Of the power houses Of the Ottawa
Electric Company, the Hull water
works and the Hull court house and
Jail, the postofice, the convent, almost
every business place, and about 1000
dwellings and shops have been de-
stroyed. Indeed, practically nothing
of Hull is left but a church and few
houses beyond it. The steel suspension
bridge which connected the city Of OF
tawa with Hull was also destroyed. On
the Ottawa side many fine residences
were destroyed.