Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-21
SWEPT BY FIRE.
Terrible ConAagration in Pros
porous Sydney, N. S.
Over 60 Buildings Destroyed and
Loss Will Be About $500, 900.
Flames Famed by Fierce Galleries Of Town
Saved BY Heavy Rain.

Halifax. y. s.. Oct. 20.-The prosper
Gus and thriving town of Sydney was
almost swept out of existence, Satur-
day. By a fierce contlagration. which
started about . o'clock. The flames.
which We're famed by a 45-mle gale.
swept through the principal business
portion of the town. leaving ruin and
devastation in its track. Four blocks
of the finest business buildings are in
ashes. and the town presents a sorry
plight.
The only thing that saved the Iron
city from total destruction was heavy
rain storm which set in after dark,
and as the wind decreased in fury the
firemen and hundreds Of miners sue
cecded in getting the fire under control.
over 50 buildings are i'll ashes and
many more are badly scorched. The
buildings We're nearly all large wooden
structures. and burned SO fiercely that
| it was impossible TO save any of their
contents.
The fremen We're greatly handi-
capped at the outset by the poor sup
| ply Of water. and the fire soon got be
ycnd their control. The flames started
| in three-story frame building on
Charlotte street. occupied by \. ID.
ellis and Gordon & Keith. When the
firemen arrived on The scene the build
! ing was a mass Of flames. and the wind
was blowing the flames over the tops
of adjoining buildings.
Soon the flames spread to the build :
ngs occupied by Carr. jeweller: A. d.
GiHis.--eaker; Blanchard Bentley &
90. ana the Maritime Premium Co.
and from these to some buildings
across the street. The flames had BY
this time taken in the large depart
ment store Of Prowse Bros. & Crowell.
which We're soon doomed to deStruc-
ZION and the whole town was threat
ened.
Assistance was sent for. and the fire
departments of North Sydney and
Glace BAY We're summoned and. on ar
rival got quickly to work. but every
effort put forth to stay the progress
Of the flames seemed Of on avail. The
fire swept from Charlotte to Prince
street and as far south as George
street. carrying everything before it..
Half an hour after the fire started one
quarter of the business portion of the
town was mass of ruins. The towns
water supply gave out and the steam
engines had to be sent to the harbor
to pump the water up.
At $50. two of the business blocks
We're destroyed. and the fire spread to
BentiCk street, licking up all in its
wake. and half an hour later Bruce.
George. Bentick and Charlotte streets
were a seething mass Of fire.
The miners now resorted To the use
of dynamite to stay the progress Of the
yames. and several buildings We're
blown up. with but little effect. as a
strong wind carried the burning en-
bers to other buildings.
The block between Prince and Pitt
streets now ignted, and the buildings
rapidly succumbed to the elements.
The fine building belonging to the
Union Bank Of Halifax and the Bap-
fist and Presbyterian churches next
caught and were soon doomed.
At ! o'clock the fire had reached the
east end Of Charlotte street, and here
its progress was stayed. The blocks
on Wentworth. Prince and Pitt streets
and half block on George street We're
destroyed.
The fire is supposed to have been
started by the bursting Of an oil stove.
1t is impossible to estimate the loss
at present. but it is roughly placed at
between 100000 and $500. 900. of which
not more than half is covered by in
Surance.
Following is n partial list Of the
places burned;
Gordon & Keith. furniture: A. r.
Carr. iewelry: A. D. ellis. groceries,
Blanchard. Bentley & Co. dry goods
A. Haget. bakery: F. F'alcOner. har-
ness: James Shaw. confectionery; A.
ID. Ingraham. groceries; John Mcken-
.ie: Prowse Bros & Crowen. depart
lnent store: II. Ball & Co. butchers:
Isaac Greenwich. stoves and tinware:
t'happell d Warren: John McLennan,
residence: Maritime Premium Co; NJ.
Bates. baker: Mcdonald. Hanrahan &
Co: o. f. Weeks: J. p. Conway. hotel:
F. A. Crowell. residence; John Mckin-
non, residence: A. McQuarrie. house
ana barn: Conductor Mum, residence:
L. W. HILL residence: the Rev. J. A.
Vincent residence: Mrs. G. l.. ingra-
ham. residence: Burns drug store;
JOYS restaurant Mcleod. dry goods:
Stanfield hardware: Presbyterian ana
Baptist churches: Union Bank Of Hall
fax: Hills. hardware.
4 number of families We're rendered
scmeless Several fremen ana citizens
we're injured but none seriously.
Tine animal meeting of thp Nlip4.