The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-05-13
TWO THOUSAND HOMELESS.
Destructive Fire in Ottawa, Canada,
Sunday Afternoon.

VuiINoy aII9iAoVlis
Ottawa, Ont, May 10.-This after
noon and this evening fire suspected
of being of incendiary origin destroyed
hundreds Of houses and millions of
feet of lumber in this city. John
White who has just been released from
the penitentiary, after serving a term
of imprisonment for arson, was
caught near where the fire was first
discovered. He was taken to the po-
lice station and will be charged with
starting the disastrous confagrat;on.
The fire originated within a stones
throw of where the great Hull fire of
April 25, 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. 1t burned out near
where the Ottawa and Parry Sound
Railway enters the western part of the
city, and it was in the lumber yards
near the railroad that today's fire
originated.
Two hours before the principal fire
started two smaller blazes were dis
covered and quickly extinguished in
the lumber yards near the Canadian
Pacific Railway. 1t was $50 O'Clock
when the third fire was discovered.
When the brigade arrived at the scene
it was found that the water main had
been damaged and no water could be
| obtained. When the brigade did get
water the FIRE was utterly beyond its
control. It swept along over the
same ground that the former fire had
gone, the only difference being that
it was going in the opposite direction.
There is large cliff, which extends
from the Ottawa River into the corner
of Margaret and Preston streets. The
fire area was on the fats below the
cliff. At two or three points it came
very near getting over the elf and
had it done so nothing would have
saved the city. At $50 tonight the
fire was under control and was con-
fined to the following area: The
| Ottawa and Parry Sound Railway on
/ the south, Division street on the east,
1st avenue On the west and the Rich
mond road on the north. From the
Parry Sound Road to the Richmond
Road is about one mile, and from 1st
avenue to District street is a quarter
of mile.
While the fire was burning fercely
among the lumber piles, the whole
brigade, which had been summoned,
were forced to remain idle. For more
than 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 repair
ed the lumber yards were. a mass of
glowing embers. From the lumber
yards the flames spread to a group Of
frame houses on the outskirts of the
city, formerly known as Rochester
vile, but which is now part of tie
city. Every house in the little settle
ment was destroyed.
Another lumber yard in thinly
settled section, northeast of Roches-
terville, was swept by the fire in an
incredibly short time. This brought
the fire to the more thickly settled
section.
After leaving the lumber piles, the
flames swept over Pine street, which
runs east and west, down Willow,
Polar, Anderson, Eckles, Somerset,
Spruce, Elm, Maple, Albert and on 10
the Richmond Road, or, properly
speaking, Wellington street, where it
was stopped short distance from the
Canadian Pacific Railroad depot.
At 6 p. m. it was feared that the
fire would get over the cliff, on the
top of which is St. Jeanne Eaptiste
Church. In the rear and a short dis
tance back from the church is the resi-
dence of the late David Mills. The
family began moving out at p. m.,
and the hearse was in readiness to
move the remains of the distinguish
ed Canadian shonld the necessity arise.
The fremen succeeded in keeping back
the flames.
Fourteen million feet of lumber were
destroyed. It belonged to j. R. Booth
and was sold. The loss on the lumter
will be about $500, 900. The buildings
burned were principally dwelling hous-
es and stores. They were all built
since the last fire. The loss On the
buildings is estimated at various fgur-
es tonight. Mayor Cook said that there
we're from 500 to 900 families homeless
or about 1000 individuals. All the
parties are supposed to be we'll insur-
ed.
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
situation without any appeal for out
side help.