Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1877 — SUFFERING ST. JOHN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SUFFERING ST. JOHN.

TheCUr •rn.Jobm W. Nearly »e----■Crojrod by gir» Fifteen to Twenty Thousand People Hendered Hoaao-leso-Uroat Lon of UTe and Property. From the dispatches of June 21, we glean the following particulars in regard to the terrible fire at Bt. John, N. 8., on the night of the 20th; - The fire was discovered in a building owned by Mr. Fairweather, on the south of York's paint-shop, next to McLaughlin’s boiier-sliop. To the Utter building the flames had spread before the firemen had reached the scene. The engines arrived and did their best to stop the flames, but all efforts were iu vain. Nothing could be done. The flames then spreaa to various buildings on Howe’s Wharf, which were quickly consumed, and tbe fire broke out with a roar, into Smith street, carrying everything before it. From there the flames spread into Drury lane and Mill street, following that into Dock street, taking both sides. Ere this, however, the rear of the London House and adjacent buildings had been attacked,

when it was seen that the first fire would | inevitably sweep along Dock or Mill streets. Aid came frbmTortland in the shape of the town engine and firemen. The tinder boxes on fire, aided by the wind, formed a combination too much for the gallant workers, and almost in despair they saw the flames advancing upon them with a rapidity that appalled the stoutest hearts. The buildings were a mass of flames at the end of Smith street and Drury lane, and while the workers were vainly endeavoring to have the fire end there a momentary gale took the flames across Union street to the opposite houses, and then they receded, but their touch had been fatal, and in less than five minutes the buildings were doomed to destruction. Both sides of the street were soon in the grasp of the devouring element, and the men were soon obliged to drop their branch pipes and run up the street, dragging tbe hose after them. Another lot of men were working at the foot of Union street, and by placing boards in front of their faces managed to battle with the flames until their clothing became singed. Proceeding along Smith street in a southerly direction the fire soon reached Nelson street and then Robertson’s place. It then extended to Robertson’s Wharf, and then up couth Wharf. As it gained Nelson street, on the south, it met Atones coming up that street, and the combination made such terrific heat that, allied with the strong wind from tbe northwest, it did not take long for the entire wharf .to be in a blaze. Half a dozen wood boats 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 outbreak to receive attention before the vessels had been well on fire. The flames passed above their masts, that soon offered a stepping-stone to the shops on South WhartV Not sac of these west of Ward street was capable of withstanding" the intense heat and sparks, all being of wood, but the schooners in front had been hauled to a place of safety. Many of the occupants of stores were off helping their unfortunate brother merchants, and some arrived just in time to save their books. Others were just enabled to witness the destruction of their stocks. Some of the embers lodged in the steeple of Trinity Church, on Germain street, and the flames were left to pursue their own way. As the news spread that some wooden houses on Horsefleld street, as well as others on Duke street, near Victoria, were on fire, it was soon seen that the fire was spreading north, south, east and west, to Germain, Charlotte, Duke and Horsefleld streets, everything going down before the unrelenting flames. In naif an nour all but the Germain street side ot the square was in ashes. About the same time St. Andrew’s Church took fire and was speedily consumed. The buildings at the southern corner of Dock and Union streets, and on the opposite corner, caught almost simultaneously. It also spread along the western part of Mill street, crossing over to the opposite side, and igniting Rankin & Sons’ biscuit manufactory, then following onward toward North street. From South Wharf the flames entered into Ward street and extended to Peter’s Wharf. Then they proceeded to Water street, and from thence soon made their way to the southern part, the Market Square, making a jump up to Prince William street. A wooden house on Canterbury street took the flames, and Church street buildings were soon imperiled. Then the flames advanced to Princess and King streets and Germain street, and the front of Trinity Church began to take fire very rapidly. The stores in the Academy of Music were occupied, and toe Knights of Pythias had a hall in front, up-stairs. The fire entered King street on the western side from Germain to Canterbury streets, extending near thereby on Chester street to St. John Hotel, bnraing Trinity School in its course, went up the south

side of Laing’s Square, leveled to the ground the Lyceum, destroying tbe marble works of 8. P. Osgood and Messrs. Milligan, proceeded to Robertson’s stables, across to St. Malachi’s Hall, up Linster street, and then back to King street east down nearly to Pitta. From there all the buildings south of KTng street have been burned. In the other part of the city the conflagration was stopped about North street, having exter ded as far up Union street as Messrs. J. & T. Robinson’s. The Bank of British North America was saved. Tho police office and Btation-house opposite were burned. The shippingffioated down the harbor to places of safety at an eat ly stage of tbe Are. No losses of shipping by fire except tbe schooners in Market slip. During the early part of the day the Western Union Telegraph Company’s office was burned. The following newspaper offices were completely swept away: Freeman, Evening Globe, Daily Telagraph, Daily Newt, Watchman, and Religiovs Intelligencer. The Globe, Telegraph, Newt, Intelligencer and Watchman bad job-offices attached.

The following are among tbe list of public buildings burnt: Tbe Postofflce, Bank of New Brunswick, City Building, Custom House, Maritime Bank Building (in which are this bank, that of Montreal and Nova Scotia, office of School Trustees, etc.,) Bank of Nova Scotia, Academy of Music, Victoria Hall, Odd Fellows’ Hall, No. 1 Engine House, Orange Hall, King-Street Temperance Hall, KingStreet East Dramatic Lyceum, Victoria School House, Temple-of-Honor Hall, Barnes’ Hotel, Royal Hotel, St. John Hotel, Accordia Hotel, Brunswick House, Bayview Hotel, International Hotel, Wiggins Orphan Asylum, and the Deaf and Dumb Institution. The churches burned are Trinity, St. Andrew’s, Germain * Street Methodist, Germain Street Baptist, Germain Street Christian, Duke Street St. James, Leinster Street Baptist, Centenary, St. Phillipi, Carmarthen Mission, Methodist, Pitts ’ Street Mission, St. David’s Reformed, Presbyterian, Sheffield Street Mission House. Several persons are reported to have lost their lives in the fire, and many others are still missing. The entire business portion of the city is destroyed. Not a leading establishment has escaped. Forty odd blocks, or nearly 200 acres south of King street have not six buildings remaining. There are no regular postal headquarters iu the city proper. Every street, square and alley is filled with furniture, aud thousands of people are without either food or shelter. The International Company’s steamer New York sheltered and fed 1,000 persons, last night, and vessels in the stream have large numbers of people on board. Thousands had to get away from tbe lower part of the city by boats. In 1871, the population of St. John was 29,000, and the outlying suburb of Portland, 12,0Q0~

The barnt district is represented ia tbe black space: 1. Fire started. 2. Bank. 8. Old Trinity Church and school. 4. Varley School. 5. Postothce and Bank

6. Bank; Ritchie Building; Academy of Music. 7. Gi rmain-Street Methodist Church. 8. Custom-House. ■ !l, 10. 11. Hotels. 12. Old Kirk. 13. Baptist Church. 14. Military Building.

MAP SHOWING THE BURNT DISTRICT.