The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-20
SYDNEY FIRE SWEPT
THRIVING NOVA SCOTIA TOWN AL
MOST WIPED OUT.
BUSINESS SECTION IN ASHES.
HEAVY RAINsToRM ONLY AVERT
ED TOTAL DESTRUCTION.


Swept Through the Principal Bus
mess Portion of the Town-Fire-
men Responded From other
Towns, Hut Could Do LittIe-water
supply Gave Ont and Engines
Pumped From the Harbor-Miners
Blew UP buildings with Dyna-
mite-The Loss About S5OOOOO.
Halifax. N. s.. Oct. 19.--The prosper
Gus and thriving town of Sydney was
almost swept out of existence to-day
by fierce conhagration, which started
about 2 o'clock. The flames, which
were famed by fortyfive mile gale.
swept through the principal business
portions of the town, causing ruin and
devastation. Four blocks Of the finest
business buildings are in ashes.
The only thing that saved the city
from total destruction was a heavy
rain storm, which set in after dark.
and, as the wind decreased in fury the
firemen and hundreds of miners sue
ceeded in getting the fire under con-
troll.
Over sixty buildings are in ashes and
many more badly scorched. The build
ings were nearly all large wooden
structures, and Ghey burned so fierce
ly that it was impossible to save any
of their contents.
The firemen were greatly handicap
ped at the outset by the poor supply
of water.
The fire started in a three-story
frame building on Charlotte street, oc-
cupied by A. D. ellis and Gordon and
Keith. When the firemen arrived on
the scene the building was burning
fiercely and the wind was blowing the
flames over the tops of the adjoining
buildings. In a very short time the fire
spread to the buildings occupied by
Carr, jeweler; Blanchard, Bentley G.
Co., and the Maritime Premium Com
pany. Then it spread to some small
buildings on the opposite side of the
street and jumped to the large depart
| ment store of Prowse Brothers and
| Crowell, which was soon doomed. The
whole town was then threatened.
| other Towns Responded.
Assistance was sent for and the fire
/
! Glace Bay responded, and on arrival
| got quickly to work, but every effort
| to stay tke flames was of no avail
| The fire swept from Charlotte to
Prince street and as far south as
George street, carrying everything be-
fore 1t. Half an hour after the fire
! started one-quarter of the business
portion of the town was in flames.
| The towns water supply now gave
| out and the engines had to 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 Beptick street, and half an
hour later, Bruce George, Bentick and
Charlotte streets were a mass of fire
The miners resorted to the use of
dynamite and several buildings were
blown up, but with little effect, the
wind having carried the burning en-
bers to other buildings.
Banks and Churches Burned.
The fine building belonging to the
Union Bank of Halifax, and the Bap-
tist and Presbyterian Churches were
soon destroyed.
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 were de-
stroyed.
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
insurance.