New-York tribune., 1901-10-20
FLAMES SWEEP SYDNEY. C. B.
AN ENTERPRISING CANADIAN CITY
THREATENED WITH DESTRUCTION

Halifax, n. S. Oct 19-The thriving town of
Sydney was almost swept out OF existence to-
day by conhagration which started about 2
o'clock The flames, which were famed by
45-mile gale swept through the principal bust
ness portions of the town. leaving ruin in their
track. Four blocks Of the finest business build
ings are in ashes. The only thing that saved
the town from destruction was heavy rain
storm which set in after dark, and. as the wind
decreased in fury the fremen and hundreds Of
miners succeeded in getting the fire under con
troll Over sixty buildings are in ashes and
many more are badly scorched. The buildings
were nearly all large wooden structures. and
they burned iercey that it impossible to
save any Of their contents.
The fremen were greatly handicapped at the
outset by the poor supply Of water and the fire
soon got beyond their control. The fire started
In a three-story frame building on Charlotte
ST. occupied by A. D. Gillis and Gordon & Keith.
In short time the flames spread to the buHd-
ings occupied by Carr. jeweller; A D. Gillis,
baker; Blanchard, Bentley & Co. and the Mari
time Premium Company From these buildings
the flames spread to some small buildings on
the opposite side of the street and jumped to
the large department store Of Prowse Brothers
& Crowell. which soon doomed. The fire
was then beyond control. and the whole town
was threatened.
Assistance was sent for. and the fire depart
ments Of North Sydney and Glace Bay respond
ed and on arrival got quickly to work but every
effort to stay the flames was Of no avail The
fire swept from Charlotte to Prince-st and as
far south as George-st, carrying everything
before 1t. Half an hour after the fire started
one-quarter Of the business portion of the town
was in flames and a mass of ruins
The towns water supply now gave out, and
the steam engines had be sent to the harbor
to pump water.
At 4:30 o'clock two of the business blocks
were destroyed and the fire spread to Bentick-
st. licking up all IN Its wake. and half an hour
later Bruce, George. Bentick and Charlotte SITS
were a seething mass OF fire. The miners re-
sorted to the use of dynamite. and several build
ings were blown up, with but little effect as
the strong wind carried the burning embers to
/ other buildings. The block between Prince and
Pitt SITS. quickly ignited, and the buildings rap
/ idly went down.
/ The fine building belonging to the Union Bank
! of Halifax and the Baptist and Presbyterian
/ churches then caught, and were soon DESTROYED
! At o'clock the fire had reached the east end
1 OF Charlotte-st and here its progress fwas
stayed.
! lotte-st. up Pitt-st.. and the side up
! 10 Wentworth-st The blocks Wentworth
/ Prince and Pitt SITS, and half block George
ST. destroyed.
sydney. c. b.. is a town of probably fifteen thou
sand inhabitants. and is the of extensive iron
and steel operations conducted by the Dominion
Iron and Steel Company. and the Dominion Coal
Company corporations in which Henry NJ. Whit
ney of Boston. and other American capitalists are
largely interested. Plans have been under way for
some time make Sydney the Pttsburg of Can
ada