Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-11
OTTAWA'S BIG BLAZE
Incendiary Causes Great Loss of Buildings and Lumber.
FIRE AREA IN RAILWAY YARDS.

Originated Close to the Site of tho
 Great Hull Fire of 1900 on the Banks of the Ottawa River.
 Water Supply Deficient. OTTAWA, Ont, May LA fire sus- rected of being of incendiary origin yesterday afternoon and evening de stroyed hundreds of houses and mill lions of feet of lumber in this city. John White, who has just been re- leased from the penitentiary after serv- ing a term of imprisonment for arson, was caught near where the fire was first discovered. He was taken to the police station and will be charged with starting the confagration.
 The fire originated within a stones throw of where the great Hull fire of April 26, 1900, was checked. The Hull fire started on the opposite side of the river and spread to the Ottawa side, destroying millions of dollars worth of property It burned out near where the Ottawa and Parry Sound railway enters the western part of the city, and 1t was in the lumber yards near the railroad that this fire originated. WO DGACAC ahC PALASAPAA DAoNS started two smaller blazes were discov- cred and quickly extinguished in the lumber yards near the Canadian Pa cific railway. It was 3:3O when the third fire was discovered. When the brigade arrived at the scene it was found that the water main had been 1 damaged and no water could be Ob- | tained.
 When the brigade did get water the Are was utterly beyond its control. 1t swept along over the same ground that the former fire had gone. the only diff | ference being that 1t was going in the | opposite direction. There is a large cliff which extends from the Ottawa river on to the corner of Margaret and Preston streets.
 The fire area was on the flats below the cliff At two or three points it came very near getting over the cliff, and had it dcna 50 nothing would have saved the city. At 9:30 last night the Gre was thoroughly under control.
 While the fire was burning fiereely among the lumber piles the whole brigade of the city, which had been summoned, was 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 the | time the water main had been repaired the lumber yards were mass of glow ing coals. From the lumber yards the flames spread to a group of frame houses on the outskirts of the city for merly known as Rochssterville, but which is now united to the city. Ev- cry house in the little settlement was | destroyed.
 l Another lumber yard in thinly set tied section northeast of Rochesterville was swept by the fire in an incredibly short time. This brought the fire to the more thickly settled sections. After leaving the lumber piles the flames swept over Pine street, which runs east and west; down Willow, Poplar, Anderson, Eckles. Somerset Spruce, Elm, Maple, Albert and on to the Richmond road, or, properly speak Ing, Wellington street, where 1t was stopped, short distance from the Ga nadian Pacific railway depot.
 It was feared that the fire would get over the cliff, on the top of which is St Jeanne Baptist church. In the rear and short distance back from the church is the residence of the late Hon David Mills, whose body lay unburied In the house. s
 The family began moving out, and the hearse was in readiness to move the refnains of the distinguished Cana. dian should the necessity arise. The Bremen, however, succeeded in keeping back the flames. .-r
 Fifteen million feet of lumber were destroyed. The loss on the lumber will be about $3OO,OOO. The buildings burned were principally dwelling houses and stores. The loss on the buildings is es, timated at various figures. Mayor Cook said that there were from 800 to 600 families homeless, or about 2,OOC Individuals.
 The mayor said the city would op, pose any aid being asked from outside Canada, and personally he thought that the city should grapple with the situa tion without any appeal for outside help.