Year: 1877




A telegram from st. Johns, N. B., of
June 21st, gives the following account of
the destruction Of that city by fire: Yes
terday was the most ca1amitous day ever
known in the annals Of st. Johns. Moth
ing could have burst more suddenly on
the unexpected citizens than the fire
which destroyed SO many valuable lives,
wasted property by millions, laid an ar
rest on SO many and varied forms of in
dustry, and spread not only desolation
but terror and CONSERVATION all around
Public buildings, palaces of commerce,
temples of religion, banks, palatial resi-
dences, newspaper and telegraph Offices,
school houses, and almost everything Of
which the citizens of st. Johns felt proud
were in few hours laid in ruins. The
loss of our hotels, churches, school houses,
banks, etc., was made a thousand times
more lamentable by the lamentable de-
struction of life accompanying it. The
fire was discovered in the building owned
by Mr.. Fairwcathcr, on the south of York
point, the shop next to Mclaughlin g
boiler shop. TO the latter building the
flames had passed before the fremcn had
reached the scene. Engines arrived and
did their best to stop the flames, but all
efforts were in vain: Nothing could be
done. The flames then spread to various
buildings on Have's wharf, which were
also quickly consumed, and the fire broke
out into Smith street with roar, carrying
everything before it. From there the
flames spread into Drury lane and Mill
street, following that into the dock, ta-
king both sides. Ere this, however,
the rear of the London house and
adjacent buildings had been at
tackled, when it was seen that the
fire would eventually sweep along the
Dock or Mill streets Aid came from
Portland in the shape Of town engine
and firemen. The tinder boxes on fire,
aided by the wind, proved combination
too much for the gallant workers, and al
most in despair they saw the flames ad-
vance upon them, not slowly, but with
rapidity that appalled, the stoutest heart
The Carleton engine came on the ferry
boat and lent its aid. One engine had
been stationed at the corner of Mill and
Union streets, opposite Drury lane. The
buildings were mass of flames at tue
end of Smith street and Drury lane, and
while the workers were vainly endeavor-
ing to have the flames end there, mo-
mentary gale took the flames across Union
street to the opposite houses, and there
they needed but their touch to be fatal,
and in less than five minutes the build
ings were doomed to destruction. Both
sides OF the street were soon in the grasp
of the devouring element and men were
obliged to drop their branch pipes and
run up the street, after which they drag
ged the hose after them. Another lot of
men were working at the foot of Union
street, and by placing boards in front Of
flames until their clothing became singcd.
Proceeding along Smith street in a
southerly direction, the fire soon reached
Nelson street and then Robertson place;
then extended to Robcrtson's wharf and
then up south wharf.


AS it gained Nelson street on the south
1t met the flames coming up that street
and the combination made terrific heat
that could not be borne. Allied with a
strong wind from the northwest, it did not
take long for the entire wharf to be in q
blaze. Half dozen wood boats were at
the head Of market slip, and at the end of
the wharves about the same number of
schooncrs. Before the fire had assumed
formidable shape on the north wharf, the
men in the vessels began to pour pals of
water on the decks. The water was low
just then, and something like this was
necessary to extinguish the sparks that
were continually showcred down on them.
Those at the head Of the slip were in a
quarter of an hour on fire in so many
places that it was impossible for each out
break to receive attention. Before the
vessels had been we'll on fire, the flames
passed above their masts that soon offered
stepping stone to the shops on south
wharf. Not one of these west of Ward
street was capable of withstanding the in
tense heat and sparks. All being of wood
they went down as if felled by hurri-
cane. The schooners in front having been
hauled to place of safety, many Of the
occupants Of the stores were off helping
their brother merchants, and SOME ar
rived just in time to save their books.
Others were just enabled to witness the
destruction of their stock.


Some of the embers lodged in the
steeple Of the Trinity church, German
street, and with nothing to save it, for the
fire was SO high as 10 be almost beyond
reach, the flames were left to pursue their
own way. AS the news spread that some
wooden houses in Horsefield street, as
we'll as others on Duke street near the
Victoria hotel were on fire, thousands
were alarmed, as it twas soon seen that this
fire was spreading north, south, east and
west to German, Charlotte, Duke and
Horsefeld streets, and not an engine to
be had and everything going down before
the unrelenting flames. A building on
Charlotte street had hardly become prey
to the flames when others on either side
followed. In half an hour all but the
German street side of the square was in
ashes. When the fire had reached Mar
ket square and had obtained strong
hold on many fine buildings thereon stu
ated, several explosions were heard COM
ing from one of the hardware stores. They
caused general scattering of people, and
the report reached as far as the court house.
Office was burned and its valuable bat
cries and apparatus destroyed. The of
fec is now established at the Inter- Colo
nial railway station. Some Of the wires
arc cut off. A great quantity Of goods
saved fell into the hands of the thieves,
who eagerly availed themselves of any
opportunity that offered to carry of. what