Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-10-20
NOVA SCOTIA TOWN
ALMOST BLOTTEO OUT.
SIDNEY SWEET ny FLAMES YES.
TERpAS MORNING. WITH
HEAVY Loss.
THE WATER SUPPLY FAILED,
AND ENGINES MAD TO RE SENT TO
THE H<RBOH.
Dynamite Was Vscd 10 Hiow In
building I'm the Hope of stopping
the Progress OF, the ftre-Tbe
bursting Of an OIL stoye started "a
Most Serious ConHagstiop.

HALIFAX, N. s., October 1e.-The
prosperous and thriving town of sgd
ney was almost swept out of exist
ence today by a fierce oonhagration
which started about o'clock The
flames which were famed by 40 mile
gale swept through the principal bust
ness portion 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 heavy
rain storm which set in after dark and
as the wind decreased in fury the fire
men and hundreds OF miners succeeded
In getting the fire under control.
over sixty buildings are in ashes and
many more are badly seorched. The
buildings were nearly all large wooden
structures and they burned so fiercely
that IL was impossible to save any or
their contents.
The firemen were greatly handicap
ped at the outset by the poor supply OF
water.
The fire started in three-story
frame building on Charlotte street, oc-
eupied by A. D. ellis and Gordon &c
Keith. When the firemen arrived on
the scene the building was. burning
fercely and the wind was blowing the
flames over the tops of the adjoining
buildings.
In q very short time the fire spread
to the buildings occupied by Carr, jew
eler; Blanchard. Bentley & Co. and the
Maritime Premium Co. Then II spread
to some small buildings on the oppo-
SIZE side of the street and jumped to
the large department store of Prowse
Bros. & Crowell, which was soon DOOM
ed The whole town was then threat
ened.
Assistance was sent for and the fire
department OF North sydney and Glace
Bay responded and on arrival got
quickly to work, but every effort to
stay the flames was of no avail. The
| fire swept troni Charlotte 70 Pr'n9n
stueet and az far south as George street.
carrying everything before II. 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 400 two of the business blocks were
destroyed and the fire spread to Bentick
street and half an hour later Bruse,
George. Bentick and Charlotte streets
were mass of fire. The miners resorted
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 fine building belonging to the
Union Bank of Halifax and the Baptist
and Presbyterian churches were soon de-
stroyed.
Al I o'clock the fire had reached the east
end of Charlotte street and here its pro
gress was stayed
The blocks on Wentworth, Prince and
Pitt streets and half a block on George
street were destroyed.
The fire Is supposed to have been start
ed by the bursting of an oil stove. 1t Is
impossible to estimate the loss at pres
ent, but II is roughly placed at between
100000 and s5O0,0o0 OF which not more
than half Is covered by insurance.