The New York herald., 1922-12-23
Cure of Beautiful NOtre Dame
at Quebec Got Warning
Through Mail.
LOSS ESTIMATED 81, 900, 900
Stranger Seen in Organ Loft
Before Blaze--Valuable Paint
ings Burned.

QUEBEC, Dec 22.-Fire which de-
stroyed the historic $1.0oo,000 Notre
Dame Church early to-day is believed
to have been caused by an incendiary.
according to Daniel Lorrain, chief Of
the provincial police, who said he was
shown a letter. postmarked Montreal
and recently received by Mgr La
| famine, cure OF the church. which
read: II will burn your church down
on December 2S." Other members OF
the Catholic clergy in Quebec are said
to have received similar letters.
Following the destruction by fire Of
hve Catholic institutions in Canada
and attempts against three others in
the last year. the latest fire has stirred
up much excitement and was the sub
ject OF comment on the floor Of the
provincial Legislature to-day. An in
quiry will be opened tomorrow.
Two persons have told OF seeing a
stranger yesterday afternoon In hiding
in the organ gallery, who fled at their
approach. Mgr. Larlanme said that the
caretaker had made a tour of the church
less than an hour before the fire started
and found no sign OF fire.
Since the threatening letters were re.
ceived. he said. extra precautions haC
been taken.
The rectory adjoining the church wal
damaged. The seminary buildings weir
threatened when the fire weA at 81
height and the students we're ordered
out The flames leaped the street sep
\. r.. =
business section OF old Quebec ano
caused damage to several buildings
Only two of the valuable paintings
were saved. the most valuable, "The
Crucifixion." by Van Dyke. being de-
stroyed. There were others by Lebrun
and Murillo Two caskets. containing
the relics offorty martyrs who died In
japan. were consumed. The interior
was redecorated last year. The insur-
ance was s21O50o.
Voices Suspicion fn Legislature.
In the provincial Legislature Premier
Tascherean expressed the Legislatures
sympathy 70 Cardinal Begin. Arthu;
Suave. leader OF the opposition. said
Would II not be well to question
whether this fire is not the work Of q
criminal organization? That Is In the
air. and I call the attention OF the
Il Attorney -AIeneIal 10 Ene IlCI lndL WlLllT
a year we have had TO daplore losses
Of that kind every month"
The church. known az the FreRch
Basllica, was esta blished In Iez7 The
first mass was said on Christmas Day
| IN 1850 and in 1866 IL was consecrated
by the first Bishop OF Quebec. Mgr
de Laval. II underwent Il restoration
Ia 1745 and since had been altered and
| renewed several times.
~. -
the recent fires with suspicion was made
evident II was announced few months
ago that bloodhounds and armed guards
/ would be employed 20 protect church
property and that valuable manuscripts
would be stored In cement vaults.
Recent Fires.
The church and shrine OF 81. Anne
de Beaupre's. called tho "Loardes OF
| America" was destroyed BY fire las,
March 90 six days later the Church
OF the Sacred Heart, IN Montreal. was
/ destroyed.
The Convent OF Notre Dame. in Mon
treal, was destroyed April 10. Sc. Jeans
Hospital for the Insane, In the same
city. was damaged by fires on october
and l.
On November "a. fire starting on the
top floor OF the University OF Montreal
caused $4,000 damage. Sixteen days
later the Laval Dental and Veterinary
, College at the university was destroyed.
Then students lost their lives on No
vember %. when fire dstroyed st. Boni-
face College. one OF the oldest and most
noted OF the Canadian Catholic instl-
tutions. and the famous Jesuit library
adjoining.
The Rest House OF the Gentlemen OF
ST. Sulpice at Okla, part OF which
was used as a presbytery for the parish.
was destroyed a few weeks ago. The
Church OF ST. sulpice was slightly dam
] god