Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-05-13
BIG BLAZE
IN OTTAWA
Hundreds Of Houses and Millions Of
Feet Of Lumber Destroyed in
Canadian City.
THE WORK OF AN INcENDIARy
John Smith, an Old Fire Bug, Arrest.
ed-Two Thousand People Are
Without Homes.

Ottawa, Ont, May 10.-A fire. sus.
pected OF being Of incendiary origin.
this afternoon and evening DESTROYED
hundreds OF houses and millions of
feet of lumber in this city.
John Smith, who had Just been re.
leased from the penitentiary after
serving term of Imprisonment for
arson. was caught near where the fire
was first discovered. He was taken
TO the police station and will be charg.
ed with starting today's coniiagra-
tiOn.
The fire originated within a stones
throw OF where the great Hull fire of
April %, 1900, was checked. The Hull
ilrc started on the opposite side of
The river and spread to the Ottawa
SIDE destroying millions of dollars
worm OF property. II burned near
where the Ottawa a. Parry Sound Rail-
way enters the western part of the
city, and II was in the lumber yards
near the railroad that today's fire or
| iginated
TWO hours before the principal fire
started two smaller blazes were dis
covered and quickly extinguished in
the lumber yards near the Canadian
Pacific railroad. II was $3.50 o'clock
when the third fire was discovered.
When the fire brigade arrived at the
scene II was found that the Waterman
had been damaged and no water could
ha
get water the fire was utterly beyond
It's control. II swept along over the
same ground that the former fire had
gone. the only difference being that
II was going in the opposite direction.
There Is a large cliff which extends
from the Ottawa river into the corner
of Margaret and Preston streets.
The fire today was on the flats be-
low the cliff. At two or three points
II came very near getting over the
clin and had 1t done so nothing would
have saved the city.
At 1880 o'clock tonight the fire was
under control and was confined to the
following area:
Ottawa a Parry Sound railway on
the south division street on the east,
First avenue on the west, and Rich
mond road on the north.
From Parry Sound road to Rich.
mond road is about one mile and to
FIRST avenue to Division street ia
ABOUT one-quarter OF a mile.
While the fire was burning fierceIy
among the lumber piles the whole
brigade OF the city had been summon.
ed and were forced to remain idle
For an hour not drop OF water was
thrown into the flames. A stiff south.
west wind was blowing and by ths
time the water main had been re-
paired the lumber yards were n mass
OF glowing embers. From the lum.
Der yards the flames spread to a
group OF frame houses on the out.
skirts OF the city. formerly known as
Rochesterville, but which is now unit.
ed to the city. Every house In the
little settlement was destroyed. An.
other lumber yard in a thinly settled
section northeast OF Rochesteryille
was swept by fire In an incredibly
short time. This brought the fire 10
more thickly settled sections.
After leaving the lumber piles the
flames swept over Pine street east
and west. down Willow. Poplar. Ander.
son, Somerset, Spruce, Elm, Maple.
Albert and on the Richmond road. or.
properly speaking. Wellington street.
where II was stopped. short dis.
tance from the Canadian Pacific rail.
way depot.
Al 6 p. m. 1t was feared the fire
would get over the cliff on top of
which is st. jeans Baptist church. In
the rear and short distance from the
church is the residence of the late
Hon. David Mills. The family began
moving out at 6 p. m. and a hearse
was In readiness to remove the re-
mains OF the distinguished Canadian
should necessity arise. The firemen.
however, succeeded in keeping back
the flames.
Fifteen million feet of lumber were
destroyed. II belonged chiefly TO ].
X. Booth and was sold. The loss on
lumber will be about 100000 The
buildings burned were principally
dwelling houses and stores. They
were all built since the last great fire
and we're either solid brick structures
or brick veneered, as the city would
not permit OF any other kind being
erected. The loss on buildings is es.
timated at various figures tonight.
Mayor Cook says there were from
300 to 600 families homeless. or about
1000 individuals. All parties are SUD
posed to be well insured. The NAV.
or said the city would oppose any aid
being asked from outside of Canada.
and personally that the city should
grapple with the situation without apy
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