The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-04-25
GREAT FIRES OF THE PAST.

tlOn IN the world: cities have beef
destroyed and builded anew, says tn
Anaconda Standard. Every precau
ton that human ingenuity can devise
has been taken to prevent the spread
OF fire in cities. but the fire fiend, once
aroused, defies the strongest effor'
and battles the most carefully ar.
ranged plans of man..
Insurance statistics of wholes ale
damage wrought by fire generally
have their beginning with the data
OF the burning of Rome, which DC.
Cured in the year "a. This fire
burned eight days and :wo.thirds OF
the city vent up in smoke: this is the
fire that Emperor Nero is credited
with having started.
In 1866 London's great fire burned
three days before it exhausted itself.
1t had its origin in a wooden building
in Pudding lane and laid waste about
436 acres, destroying Ii, 200 buildings
and entailing a loss that is estimated
at s53, 0OO, 900. Only six lives were
lost.
The burning of Moscow, which
turned the tide of European history,
was done by the Russians in the face
OF the advancing army OF the French.
This vas in 1872. The fire burned it.
self out in three days; the loss was
$3.50. 900, 600.
New York had a visitation of fire in
1889, when its business district was
swept by flame. Most of the large
mercantile firms of the city lost their
places Of business, the loss being Sl5,.
600, 600.
In 1912, the city Of Hamburg was
seriously damaged by a fire started
by a mob. More than one fifth OF the
population of the city was rendered
homeless, more than 1000 buildings
were destroyed, 100 persons were
killed and the loss on property was
So, 600, 600.
Canada has suffered three destruc.
tive conhagrations. In 1916, Quebec
lost one third Of its buildings and
sustained a loss of more than 81, co.,.
600. In 1852, in the city OF Montreal,
fire destroyed a space one mile in
length and a half a mile wide, leaving
10000 people destitute and costing !
more than s., 600, 600. In 1904, To.
rOntO was visited by q million.dollar
fire.
Pera. a suburb of Constantinople,
occupied by foreigners, was destroyed
by fire in 1870. More than 1000 build.
ings were burned and the loss
amounted to s25, O0O. 900.
Until San Francisco's awful calam.
ity, Chicago's fire in 1871, was the
greatest in history. The loss of life
was $50; the number OF buildings de.
l7,430; the loss, 1896, 600, 600,
representing half the value of the
buildings in the city.
The next year, 1872, Bostou's richest
district was wiped out by fire. The
area was more than 65 acres.
in the center Of the city, and the loss
was s75, 900, 600.
The city Of St. Johns, New Bruins.
wick, was destroyed by fire in June,
1877. An area OF POO acres was burned
and 10 miles of streets were laid
The loss of life was IS and the
iamage to property reached 81, O0O,-
300.
Early in 1892, Paterson, N. j., was
seriously damaged, the property loss
amounting to $4,000, 900. Shortly
this, jacksonville, Fla, was en-.
irely destroyed. A few months later
still, the town Of Aalesund, Norway,
was damaged to the extent of 81, OOO.-
100.
Ia February. 1904, Baltimore's ia.
nous fire occurred, entailing a loss of
800, 600, 900. Soon after Ro-
N. Y, suffered damage to the
'xtcnt Of seven million dollars. The
'ear 1908, while it was a year OF acct.
tents and casualties, was not credited
With any largo cOrNauwntiCrS