Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-11
Million Dollar Loss Suffered at
the Canadian Capitol Sun
day Afternoon
HUNDRED FAMILIES HOMELESS
Water Mains Burst and Render the
Fire Companies Absolutely Helpless
For an Hour-Milions of Feet of
Lumber Burned and Hundreds of
Residences Destroyed.

ottawa, Ont, May 11.-Hundreds OF
houses and millions of feet of lumber
were destroyed and several thousand
people were rendered homeless by a
fire which swept over Ottawa Sunday
afternoon and evening. No accurate
estimate can be made of the property
loss, but it is believed that it will
amount to nearly $1,000000.
1t is suspected that the fire was of
incendiary origin, and John White,
who has just been released from the
penitenitary after serving term OF
imprisonment for arson, has been
placed under arrest charged with start
ing the contlagration. He was found
near the spot where the fire originated,
when the first blaze was discovered.
The fire originated within a stones
throw of where the great Hull fire of
April 26, 1890, was checked. The Hull
fire started to the Ottawa side, de-
stroying millions of dollars worth of
property. 1t burned out near where
the Ottawa & Parry Sound railway en-
terS the western part OF the city, ana
it was in the lumber yards near the
railroad that yesterdays fire origi-
mated.
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 1880 when the
third was discovered. When the bri-
gade arrived on 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 it's control.
The blaze 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 Mar
garet 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
done so. nothing would have saved the
city.
The fire was confined to the following
area: The ottawa & Parry Sound
railway on the south, Division street
on the east First avenue on the west.
and the Richmond road on the north.
From the Ottawa & Parry Sound road
to the Richmond road is about one
mile, and from First avenue to Divis
sionN street is about one-quarter of a
mile
While the fire was burning fiercely
among the lumber piles, the whole bril-
gade of the city, which had been sum-
moned. was forced to remain idle. For
an hour not drop OF water was
thrown into the flames. A stiff south
time the water main had been repaired
the lumber yards were a mass of glow
ing embers. From the lumber yards
the flames spread to a group of frame
houses on the outskirts of the city
formerly known as Rochesterville, but
which is now united to the city. Every
house in the little settlement was des-
troyed
After leaving the lumber piles the
flames swept over Pine street. which
runs east and west, down Willow, Pop
lar, Anderson, Eckles, Somerset,
Spruce, Elm, Maple, Albert, and on to
the Richmond road. or, properly speak
ing. Wellington street. where it was
stopped short distance from the
Canadian Pacific railway depot.
Fifteen million feet of lumber was
destroyed. 1t belonged chiefly to j. r.
Booth and was sold. The loss on the |
lumber will be about 100000. The
buildings burned were principally |
dwelling houses and stores. They |
were all built since the last great fire, |
and were either solid brick or brick
as the city would not permit I
of any other kind being erected. The |
loss on the buildings is estimated at |
various figures tonight. Mayor Cook /
said that there were from 500 to 600
families homeless. All the parties are
to be we'll insured.
The mayor said the city would OPP
pose any aid being asked from out
side Canada, and personally he thought
that the city should grapple with the
situation without any appeal for out
side help.
ST. Louis-The Commercial Tele-