CHAPTER XIX.

The Books we have Lost--"The Lost Arts"--The Libraries of St. John which were Burned--The Pictures which were Lost--The Few that were Saved--A Talk about Books and Pictures--The Future--What St. John men must Do--Acknowledgments--Conclusion of the Story of the Fire.

It is only when we come to look around us that we can discover how much we have lost. In one's lifetime a thousand little things are gathered and put away, and we find ourselves turning to them every now and then. Money cannot supply these. Many of them are endeared to us through association. Some are the gifts of friends who have since passed away, never to return, and others again came into our possession in various ways. We may supply, with a portion of our insurance money, a few books, copies of the ones which we have lost, but these will not be the same. They will not be our copies. We love to read our own books. No Suckling can be the same as the one we lost the other day. It was not a rich copy, but it was a whole-souled, generous old fashioned volume, full of the old Knights daintiest bits of melody. We used to love to linger over the little age-stained page, and recover lines we had lost. And dear old Shenstone, too, is gone. We can easily get another Shenstone, but it won't seem at all like the old copy. In our own books we know just where to find what we want, and new copies never seem the same. And then there are books we like to take up now and then, just to fill in the odd moments of our lives; books of engravings and the like, and volumes of _Punch_, and great volumes of cartoons of say forty and fifty years ago. These are all gone now and few can be replaced.

What great inroads the fire has caused among our private libraries, what a wreck it has made of those precious books we all loved so dearly. And those pamphlets, too, upon which we placed so much value, and the thousand little odds and ends of literature which we so tenderly gathered year in and year out. And our scrap-books--great, good-natured fellows, with broad sides and liberal pages, ready to take in all sorts of matter. These are no more. And whole hosts of unbound magazines, which we had tied together, and expected every day to send off to the binders. These are ashes too. We hesitate before we turn over the books we rescued from the burning, lest we discover greater losses, and miss fairer treasures. How many sets of books have been destroyed, how many massive tomes have been withered by the heat, how many dainty books of poetry have been swept away!

What lovely companions books are. What glorious friends they make. How kindly they speak to us and tell us what they think. We read gruff Tom Carlyle, and pause at his estimate of Cromwell, and hunt through the histories of England to see what Smollett and Hume have to say about the same grim protector. We run through a few pages of Taine and discover how grandly he criticises the masters of English literature, but after all we go back fondly to our own Arnold, and read what he has to tell us before we quite make up our mind that the clever Frenchman is right. We sit at the feet of Holmes and read a chapter or two of his matchless Autocrat, and then with our mind full of the delicious sweets, we get down our copy of Hunt and after skimming a page or two of his "Seer," dip into the crisp and sparkling pages of Hazlitt's _Round Table_. Ah, yes! the fire may take all else we have if it will only leave us our books. True, a man, as the bard hath it--

"May live without books--what is knowledge but grieving? He may live without hope--what is hope but deceiving? He may live without love--what is passion but pining? But where is the man who can live without dining?"

But after all the mind craves as much for food of its kind, as the stomach does for meats and bread.

Though in St. John we had no public library, there were very many private collections of books in the city. Some of them were very large and well-selected. Dr. Wm. Bayard's collection, not one volume of which was saved, was beyond all question the fullest and ripest medical library in the Dominion. It was the accumulation of many years. The collection was begun by his father and added to largely by the Doctor himself. Some rare medical works, rich in plates, costing as high as £30 sterling each, were to be found here, besides books covering the whole range of medical thought and practice. The English classics, exhibiting the very cream of letters, and some fine specimens of modern literature filled acceptably the doctors shelves. Not a volume was saved. Indeed a photograph album was the only article rescued from the burning house. Mr. James R. Ruel, the Collector of Customs had a fine library, rich in theology and literature of the higher class. Controversial works, books of science, and the whole range of British Poetry, ever found a welcome on Mr. Ruel's library table. In the departments of History and Geography this library was especially rich and full, and every work of character about the Reformation in England could here be consulted. Mr. Ruel's reading in this department was extensive, and he made writings of this kind his especial study. His whole collection, rare and costly as it was, and representing the labour of many years, perished before a hand could be raised in its defence. Mr. B. Lester Peters's library showed great care and culture in its selection. It too was very complete in History, Biography, Belles-lettres and Theology. Mr. Peters's fine literary taste served him well in making his collection of books, and nearly all his volumes displayed wonderful skill in rich bindings. In old play-wrights, such as Shakespeare, Jonson, Massinger, Beaumont and Fletcher, and the other famous ones of that glorious age in literature--The Elizabethan--Mr. Peters's library was ample. Indeed, in works of this class no finer collection existed in the city. And in poetry which exhibited the rarest thoughts of the bards, in the works of such poets as Milton, Chaucer, Spenser, Dryden, Pope and Clough, Mr. Peters's shelves contained a perfect mine of wealth. His collection of pamphlets, the labour of thirty years, was unique and full. He had the whole of the famous Connolly and Wilmot controversy, the scattered papers of the late Dr. Gray, the Maturin pamphlets, the Colenso pamphlets, the notes on the Lost Tribes of Israel, and a thousand others, neatly and carefully put away in cases specially prepared for them. Those are all gone, and not a fragment remains. The gorgeous library of John Boyd, Esq., of Queen Square, with its enormous collection of works belonging to modern literature, its rare list of old books, its magnificent sets of presentation volumes from the authors, its numberless volumes that come from the publishers to Mr. Boyd as gifts, were swept away in an instant. The books in Mr. Boyd's cases were a reflex of the owner's taste and judgment. He had not a poor book among the whole. The entire range of English and American essayists, the whole course of British and American poetry, the cream of historical books, the ripest thoughts of the philosopher, the most delightful gems of fiction, the works of the scientists, and the great tomes of biography, clad in the most luxuriant of luxurious bindings, were the companions of Mr. Boyd's study. His lectures, common-place books, scrap-books, in fact everything which he possessed of a literary character were burned. Even the literary notes which he made from time to time in his record books during the odd moments of his too unfrequent leisure, and the bits of criticism on new poems which he occasionally made for future use on the platform and elsewhere, perished in his desk. His entire intellectual labour vanished in an hour. Mr. A. L. Palmer's splendid library with his own valuable annotations, Mr. A. A. Stockton's voluminous and admirable library, begun by his late uncle, and Mr. Chas. W. Weldon's Law and general library were destroyed before their owners could save a single book. The Rev. Dr. Watters's library, so rich in theology and biography, was burned almost entirely. Lately large additions had been made to this delightful collection. A good many of the late Judge Chipman's best books found their way here, and the most of these were lost. Rev. Mr. Stavely's books were all burned, and not one of Rev. Mr. Carey's fine collection escaped. Some of his books were very rare and high-priced. Mr. Robert Britain's books were of general and private interest. The former embraced almost the whole range of English literature, and the latter included the best books on chemistry and science. Indeed in books belonging to the latter class, it will be difficult to find so large a collection anywhere. Mr. J. D. Underhill possessed a library of rare beauty and value. It was very large in historical works and the writings of the principal British, American and French authors. In biography and fiction of the higher order there was a good supply. Mr. Underhill, for several years, had been a great book-buyer, and hardly a trunkfull was saved. For costly books, handsomely bound, no richer collection existed in St. John than the splendid library of Mr. Fred. R. Fairweather. He had the entire set of Balzac's works in the original, luxuriously and massively bound. His Shakespeares, for he had several editions, copiously illustrated and exquisitely finished, were bound in heavy antique morocco. His books of plates, his dramatic library, his collection of plays of the Cumberland edition, his books on costumes from the time of the Saxons to our own day, represented large value, and a refined and cultured taste. In dramatic literature alone, Mr. Fairweather's library was probably the fullest in the Dominion. Indeed his loss in this department is a positive loss to literature, and a collection such as he owned can never be again supplied. Many of the books are out of print, and cannot be purchased to-day at any price. The books lost in the city, on the day of the fire, will number many thousands of volumes. No city of the size of St. John could boast of finer private collections of books, anywhere. It will be many years before collections as rich, as unique, and as delightful can be procured again.

In pictures, the loss met with is really irreparable. We had no public gallery, because our citizens, whose means admitted it, purchased for the walls of their own houses a charming bit of colour now and then, or a delicate engraving or a drawing. A few of the masterpieces of the English and American artists found their way here from time to time, and in the way of engravings the collection was really quite large. We can only give a tithe of the pictures lost. Dr. McAvenney possessed a decided gem in water-colour, by Birket Foster, and a charming landscape in oil from the brush of Mayner, an Irish artist. The latter was a twenty pounds' picture, and one of the prizes which came to St. John last year from the Irish Art Union. It was exceedingly vigorous, and, though small in size, every detail was perfect. In addition to these, Dr. McAvenney lost several fine engravings and one or two exquisite drawings. Dr. Wm. Bayard's loss in pictures is quite large. He owned a capital landscape, _The Vale of Strathmore_, by John Cairns, of Edinburgh. This was burned, with some others of lesser note, together with a good many engravings, chiefly London Art Union subjects. Mr. R. M. Longmaid lost all but one of his pictures. Some of these were of great value, and included, among a number of others, _Francis I. and Henry VIII. on the Field of the Cloth of Gold_, by the late G. F. Mulvany, R.H.A., and one of Cairns' Scotch subjects, showing a striking bit of Highland scenery, called _Glen Cairn_. The one picture saved was a Welsh Landscape, by A. Vickers. This had been lent to a friend in the upper part of the town, and was accordingly not burned. Mr. Charles Campbell managed to preserve a number of his pictures; among them the bold _Coast Scene_, by John Cairns, which will be remembered by many who saw it as a very striking study. Mr. W. C. Perley, among the very few articles rescued from his house, saved two very pretty little landscapes, one an Irish scene and the other a delicious specimen of C. C. Ward's art. Mr. B. Lester Peters lost nearly all of his engravings, but succeeded in rescuing a study by F. W. Hulme, and a little gem by A. Vickers. Hon. George E. King saved a few water colours by eminent British artists, which he had. Mr. Donald G. MacKenzie, who had half-a-dozen striking oil paintings, recovered them all a few days after the fire. Mr. John Sears lost heavily in the Department of Art, but saved his one great picture, a portrait which is an undoubted Rubens, and one or two family likenesses. Mr. Stephen J. King, whose treasures consist in drawings by McKewan, Philps and others, and some oil-paintings, saved them all. Mr. W. P. Dole lost a pair of very beautiful water-colour drawings of Canadian scenery, by D. Gale, and three or four excellent engravings. He was fortunate in saving however, two charming works by Hulme, two small bits by Vickers, two by G. A. Williams, one of C. C. Ward's pieces, and one of the late John T. Stanton's best works. Mr. Stanton was a New Brunswick artist of fine taste and decided skill. Mr. Dole also saved some of his water-colours, notably those by Bell Smith and Frantz. The author lost an excellent drawing illustrating an idea in Thackeray, and a number of clever caricatures from the pencil of an amateur artist, Mr. Forbes Torrance, of Como, besides several engravings of merit, and a massive bronze figure representing Painting. Mr. Henry Vaughan lost his large costly painting from the John Miller collection, of Liverpool, England. Mr. James Stewart lost his whole collection of paintings; several of these were of his own work, while a number were by foreign artists. Mr. Stewart copied a landscape painting by an English artist which came out here as a prize, some years ago, and when his work was finished and the two paintings hung side by side, the owner did not know which was his own picture. This copy was for some days in Mr. Notman's studio before the fire, and it is believed that it is lost, as no trace has been had of it. The reader will see from this scanty enumeration of known losses, how great has been the destruction in art-treasures alone. We have not even hinted at the wholesale destruction of bronzes, bas reliefs and bits of sculpture and statuary. In these departments the loss has been also very severe. No money can replace these treasures. These were the things which rendered home bright and happy. It is the love of art and literature which refines and beautifies mankind. It is the book and the picture, and the figure of pale marble which rouse a thousand new delights. They take away the brutal in our nature. They lift us up as it were. We look around the room and the eye rests on something beautiful. We feed our tastes. The picture on the wall refines us, the open book fills the mind with a hundred delicate, footless fancies. We breathe a new air. The etchings on the table, the portfolio of drawings and the books of engravings give to our mind a delight as wonderful as it is delicate and delicious. Can money replace these? Can money buy for us these pictures and books which have been for so many years our companions and friends? Can money replace the bronze figure? Can money bring to us again the portrait of the dear one who lies out there in the green wood buried? Can money supply us with that precious volume of poetry which the author gave us just a year before he died? We may make our homes bright again. We may hang pictures on the walls. We may fill to the full our book-cases and hanging-shelves once more with the great things in literature, but our thoughts will wander back to the days before the fire came and robbed us of all those delights which peopled and filled our homes. But we must not give way altogether to gloom and despondency. We must try and forget the past and devote all our energies, all our brains and skill to the rebuilding of the homes and workshops which have been scattered to the winds. We must never rest till the great end is accomplished; we must never cease working. As Christians, as men, as the proud descendants of a sturdy and stalwart race, we must show the world that we are not a generation of pigmies, and that from these very ashes and ruins a brighter, a more glorious and more prosperous city will arise and resume her old place as the metropolis of the Lower Provinces.

I have told the story of the great fire in St. John in my own way. I have tried to do justice to my theme. Like many others I have passed through the flames, and received as it were my first "baptism of fire." My book has many imperfections. It was necessary that it should be hastily prepared. My publishers demanded this, and gave me a fortnight to write it in. I can therefore claim nothing in favour of the book from a literary point of view, but this I can claim--the history is reliable in every particular. Not a statement within its pages was committed to paper until it was thoroughly and reliably avouched for. I have verified every word which this volume contains; and while the haste in which it was prepared precluded my paying much attention to style, the book is a complete record of the fire as it was, and not as a lively imagination might like it to be. Before taking leave of my readers, I must publicly thank Mr. Joseph W. Lawrence for the splendid aid which he gave me in furnishing the data and historical information about our old churches and other edifices. I had full access to his records and commonplace books, and through these means was enabled to verify much that had come to me in an imperfect condition. To Mr. Gilbert Murdoch, C.E., and Mr. Wm. Murdoch, C.E., of the Water Works and Sewerage Departments, I must also return my thanks, for valuable information about the water supply, for the capital map which accompanies this volume, and for facts connected with the acreage and streetage of the district burned. General Warner, Mayor Earle, Mr. A. C. Smith, Mr. John Boyd, Mr. A. P. Rolph, Mr. Dole, Mr. Hiram Betts, Mr. Elder, Mr. J. L. Stewart, Mr. McDade, Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Stanley, Mr. G. B. Hegan and others, also largely rendered me assistance in collecting information, and to these gentlemen I return my grateful thanks.

The little picture of the ruins, by moonlight, of the Germain street Baptist Church, was very kindly supplied by Mr. John C. Miles, a St. John artist of good reputation. I have great pleasure in acknowledging his politeness here, and at this time.

In conclusion, I might add, that to Mr. E. Lantalum belongs the credit of sounding the first alarm of our great fire.

ADDITIONAL LIST OF DONATIONS.

MONEY.

A friend $2 00 Ailsa Craig Presbyterian Church, Ont. 18 60 Ayr Knox Church and Sacred Concert 76 00 Allendale, Ont. Methodist Church 6 60 Augusta, Me. 820 40 Barrie, Ont. 166 00 Baltimore, Md. 80 62 Bobcaygeon Orangemen 15 00 Bangor, Me. 5,000 00 Belfast, Ireland £300 Stg Buffalo, N. Y. $179 83 Chicago Union Stock Yards 105 25 Chippawa, Ont. Trinity Church 38 65 Chicago Apollo Musical Club, Concert 990 75 Chicago, Ill. 2,050 00 Chatham, N. B. 250 00 Capt. Thompson, ss. "Britannia," 500 00 Charlottetown, P. E. I. 500 00 Charlottetown Odd Fellows' Entertainment 208 00 Departmental Clerks, Ottawa 445 53 Edinburgh, Scotland £100 Stg Ed. L. Evans, Rondeau, Ont. $2 00 E. & J. Burke, Dublin, Ireland 250 00 Fredericton, N. B. 2,000 00 Fergus, Ont. 20 50 Geo. M. Fowler, British Consul, Aènfuegos $100 00 Glasgow, Scotland £1,000 Stg Great Western Railway Employees $450 00 G. W. Davis, Boston, Mass. 14 11 Galt, Ont., Churches 114 69 Greenville, Nova Scotia 16 00 Huron Co. Council, Ont. 2,000 00 Hayden, Gere & Co., New York 25 00 Hastings Co. Council Ont. 1,000 00 Jacob E. Klotz, Hamburg, Ont. 25 00 Mackenzie, Flatlands, N. B. 2 00 M. McLeod, Cardigan, P. E. I. 18 20 Miss Logan, Orillia, Ont. 10 00 Mansfield, P. E. I. 55 50 New York 2,105 90 Oshawa Benevolent Society 30 00 Petrolia, Penn. 200 00 Presbyterian Churches, Wentworth, N. S. 13 00 Pictou, N. S. 5 00 Portland, Me. 4,500 00 Philadelphia, Penn. 1,109 80 Picton, Ont. 300 00 P. E. I. R. R. Employees 62 45 Stewiacké 40 00 St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Chelsea, Mass. 5 00 Springhill Mines, U. S. 18 95 Toronto 400 00 Uxbridge, Ont. 51 40 Victoria Co. Council, Ont. 400 00 Wingham, Ont. 15 50 Woodstock, Ont. Literary Institute 37 25 Waterloo Co. Council, Ont. 1,000 00 Woodstock, N. B. 151 00 Wm. Ingalls, Bolton, England £5 Stg. Wroxeter and Fardwick Presbyterian Churches $55 24 Windsor, Ont. 500 00 Yorkville, Ont. 300 00

SUPPLIES.

Augusta, Me, clothing. Brunswick, Me, clothing. Carter & Co., Elora, Ont., potatoes. Chicago Union Stock Yards, large quantity supplies. C. Fawcett, Sackville, N. B., stoves. D. Fiske, Fredericton, N. B. tracts. D. G. Smith, Chatham, N. B. clothing. Isaac M. Bragg, Bangor, Me., clothing. J. Borland, Bowmanville, stoves. James Stewart & Co., Hamilton, Ont., stoves. J. C. Risteen, Fredericton, supplies. James Hamilton, Port Elgin, potatoes. J. L. Goodhue, plasterers' hair. Milwaukee, Wis., supplies. Montreal, supplies. Mount Stewart, P. E. I., supplies. Prof. John Owen, Cambridge, Mass., offers books and magazines for a library. Salem, Mass., supplies. Stewiacké, clothing. Thurston Hall & Co., Cambridgeport, supplies. Wm. Openheim & Son, New York, clothing.

ADDENDA.

SUPPLEMENTARY DONATIONS.

MONEY.

Bridgetown, Maine $70 00 Dungannon 29 10 Cornwall, Ontario 300 00 Portsmouth, N. H. 697 00 Salem 70 00 Newfoundland Government 2,000 00 Kingston, N. B. 20 00 Stayner, Ontario 75 00 Detroit, Michigan 427 81 Baden, Ontario 2 00 Stewart Henry, Montreal 25 00 Bear River, Nova Scotia 105 00 Hughes, Thomas, London, England £10 00 St. George's Church, Trenton, Ontario $15 00 St. John County Agricultural Society 400 00 Winnipeg _Free Press_ 53 05 Chesterfield, Ontario, Presbyterian Church 57 00 Bailey & Noyes, Portland, Maine 25 00 Port Hope 8 00 Sydney, C. B. 295 40 Musquodoboit 5 25 Listowel, Ontario 140 35 Coristine, James & Co., Montreal 100 00 " " Employés 71 60 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 100 00 Bark "Cedar Croft," Captain and Crew £5 3 0 Mayor of Brooklyn, New York $50 00 Loeser & Co., Brooklyn, New York 50 00 Winnipeg 300 00 Bridgewater, Nova Scotia 128 25 Norfolk County Council, Ontario 500 00 Ward & Payne, Sheffield, England £10 0 0 Kingston, Ontario $340 00 Oakville Odd Fellows' Open-air Concert 75 00 Victoria, British Columbia 800 00 Caledonia Restaurant, Winnipeg 21 50 Mount Stewart, P. E. I. 25 50 Virginia City, Nevada 250 00 Thomas Frith & Sons, Sheffield, England 250 00 Nellie H. Carleton, St. John, N. B. 3 64 Chicago, Illinois 601 75 Windsor, Nova Scotia 23 00 Attleboro 15 21 Westmoreland and Botsford Parishes, New Brunswick 95 25 J. J. Ronaldson & Sons, Sheffield, England 97 76 Diocese of Huron, Ontario 2,000 00 Toronto "Sons of England," Kent Lodge 30 00 Trenton Concert 61 00 Quebec 4,558 85 Great Western Railroad Employés 300 00 Methodist and Baptist Churches of Caledonia, N. S. 3 37 Sent to G. Sidney Smith, Esq., for distribution, from Major-General and Mrs. Beauchamp Walker £15 0 0 Mrs. A. G. Foley, Peterboro', Ontario $5 00 Sent to Rev. Dr. Maclise for distribution:-- From Houlton, Maine, by John McMaster 250 05 From Goodwill Church, Montgomery, New York, by Rev. J. M. Dickson 20 00 Sent to Oddfellows' Fund:-- Lynn, Mass., Providence Lodge 50 07 Clinton, Ontario, Warriner Lodge--Per J. B. King 75 00 Westville, Nova Scotia, Scotia Lodge 50 00 Boston Oddfellows--Per Grand Master Perkins 340 00 Humboldt Bay, Cal., Eureka Lodge 20 00 Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Woonsocket Lodge 20 00 Empire Lodge, St. Catharines, Ontario 50 00 Sarnia Lodge, Sarnia, do. 43 00 Cuyahoga Lodge, Cleveland, Ohio 50 00 Romeo Lodge, Stratford 25 00 Monami Lodge, Mechanics' Falls, Maine 25 00 Crystal Wave Lodge, Pugwash, Nova Scotia 11 00 E. Ashley, Wilmot, C. E. 20 00 Engineering Department I. C. Railway 492 67 Locomotive Do 1,281 68 Traffic and other Do 347 70 J. S. Fry & Son, Bristol, England £10 Stg. John Carruthers, Kingston, Ont. 100 00

From returns in detail, just furnished by the Oddfellows' Lodges, the results of the fire, in relation to its effects on individual members appears to have been as follows:--

---------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME OF | Present |No. of | Dependents | Total Suffer-| Approximate LODGE. | Member- |Suf- | on | ers and | value of | ship. |ferers.| Sufferers. | Depend's. | Property lost | | | | | by Sufferers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer, | | | | | No. 9 | 198 | 78 | 182 | 260 | $392,860 00 Beacon, | | | | | No. 12 | 118 | 36 | 94 | 130 | 113,550 00 Peerless,| | | | | No. 19 | 83 | 10 | 34 | 44 | 26,560 00 Siloam, | | | | | No. 29 | 44 | 28 | 28 | 56 | 24,440 00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals | 443 | 152 | 338 | 490 | $557,410 00 Less Insurance | 140,052 00 --------------- Net approximate Loss | $417,358 00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Many of the sufferers had _no_ insurance. The supposed superiority of the fire department, and general efficiency of the water supply, having led to a false security--to a popular belief that it was impossible for St. John to be scourged by fire, as Boston and Chicago had been.

SENT TO MASONIC FUND.

Grand Lodge of Quebec $200 00 A Brother, Newcastle, N. B. 4 00 National Lodge, Chicago 23 62 Knights Templars, Portland, Maine 117 00 Germania Lodge, Baltimore 18 93 Grand Lodge, Louisiana 189 00 Carleton Union Lodge of Carleton, N. B. 50 00 Grand Lodge of Wisconsin 94 50 St. John's Lodge, Toronto 150 00 Phoenix Lodge, Nashville, Tenn. 947 00 Grand Lodge, Utah 56 70 St. Andrew's Lodge, Frederickton, N. B. 25 25 Loge des Coeurs Unis, Montreal 50 00 Rising Virtue Lodge, Mount Moriah Chapter, and St. John's Commandery, Bangor, Me. 284 25 Detroit Commandery 94 50 Springfield do. 500 00

SUPPLIES.

Halifax, N. S., 25 Stoves. Boston Y. M. C. Union, Clothing. Montreal, Clothing. Musquodoboit, Clothing. Toronto, Meats. Taylor, Robert, Halifax, N. S., Boots. Peke & Eaton, Halifax, N. S., Tea. Hart, R. T. & Co., " Supplies. Victoria Corner, N. B., 12 pairs Boots. Canterbury Ladies, Bedding. Bridgetown, N. S., Supplies. Rev. C. McMullin, Hartland, N. B., Butter. Norwich, Ontario, Clothing. Philadelphia Maritime Exchange, Clothing. Gibson, Alexander, York County, Supplies.

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE FIRE IN THE TOWN OF PORTLAND, SATURDAY MORNING, 20TH OCTOBER, 1877.

Just four months after the great calamity in St. John, the people of the Town of Portland were called upon to endure a hardship of almost equal dimensions. In one sense their endurance demanded even greater strength, for their trouble came, not in summer when the grass was green, and the air was soft and balmy, but in the very heart of a New Brunswick Fall, when the wind pierced the coarsest garment, and the ground was white with frost. It was in the small hours of the morning too, that men and women, half asleep and palsied by terror, rushed wildly into the street, shivering with cold and trembling with fear, as they heard the mad bell tolling the alarm. They lived in the merest tinder boxes, and in many of these were domiciled three, and sometimes four and five families. It was a fire of terrible importance, and at one time the destruction of the whole town was feared. But the lesson which the fire of June 20th taught had a salutary effect on the people, and, aided by a brave band of firemen, they made every effort to stay the onward march of the flames, and in this, success was partly attained. The fire destroyed seven blocks of buildings, and threw into the street two hundred and ninety-five families, which numbered, in the aggregate, fully three thousand persons. Of buildings swept away, there were ninety-seven dwelling houses, the Methodist Church and the Temperance Hall. The actual loss is estimated at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and the insurance scarcely reaches the sum of seventy thousand dollars. One man suffered a horrible death, and a number of people were injured more or less seriously. The fire was indeed a sore and bitter trial, and had it not been that the community had only a short time before experienced the horrors of the greater conflagration, the present calamity would have ranked as one of the great fires of Canada. Coming so soon after the St. John's scourge, men failed to realize at once the magnitude of destruction which it caused. But those who had twice passed through the flames knew to their cost, and realized in an instant, what it was to be burned out a second time. Seven hundred persons from the burnt district of St. John's had taken up their residence in the suburban town. They were in most cases poor in a pecuniary sense, but their bands were strong, and their hearts were not downcast. The flames had carried away all their earthly possessions, and they found themselves the day after the fire comparatively penniless. But there was work to do, and these men and women sternly resolved to do it. They removed to Portland, secured quarters there, and had just completed their arrangements for the winter, when this fresh trouble broke out, and once more they found themselves, with twenty-three hundred others, in the street without a home, and no sheltering roof over their heads. Their lot was indeed a sad one, and no wonder is it, that some of them were loud in complaint, and that many, women walked down from Fort Home that day, and wept bitterly at the heartrending sight which met their eyes. They saw desolation on the plain below, and tall chimneys kept watch and ward over a field of smouldering embers. The steam engines still continued to play on the dying flames, though the sixth hour of the fire had long since passed away, and men in command hurried along the streets now giving orders, and now working with the rank and file, striving to save what remnants of property yet remained unburned, and caring for the immediate needs of sufferers.

The fire broke out at a quarter to three o'clock in the morning, and originated in a wood-house in the centre of the block, between Main and High Streets. This wood-house was in the rear of Henry Pratt's house, and as fire had been discovered in this locality, twice recently, many believed that it was the fiendish work of an incendiary. The fire spread with great rapidity, though there was little wind at the time, and by three o'clock the entire block, Main Street on the north, Chapel Street on the south, Acadia Street on the east, and Portland Street on the west was one mass of flame. In another hour the fire raged more violently, and was extending to the lower streets. The firemen, who were early on the spot, worked with untiring energy, and displayed almost superhuman endurance and wonderful courage. Aid from the city came very soon after the fire was observed, and the new contingent also worked with admirable nerve, and exhibited splendid skill in preventing the conflagration from spreading. Members of the Town Council, with Chairman Henry Hilyard at their head, made extraordinary efforts to keep the flames back, and indeed the whole arrangements for fighting the fire were excellently conceived and well carried out.

At five o'clock the fire had reached its height. The blocks from Main Street to High Street, inclusive, were completely obliterated, and only gaunt chimneys remained. From High Street to the very water's edge the flames sped on unresisted. Camden Street was burning, the large houses on the foot of Portland Street, the houses from Temperance Hall, in Simonds Street to Thomson's slip were consumed. Rankin's wharf with immense piles of dressed lumber was threatened with immediate extinction. The steamers "Ida Whittier," "Xyphus," and "Victor," were for a time in danger. Three tug boats arrived opportunely, and the water which they threw saved the wharf and lumber. At half-past eight the fire was subdued.

The property destroyed consisted of all the houses in Main Street between Jones's corner and Orange corner; all on Chapel Street, all on Acadia Street except a small block and the greater part of Chapel Street; all along the east side and part of the west side of Portland Street, the east side of Simonds Street from High Street to the water, and both sides of Camden Street. Of course a great deal of drunkenness prevailed and numerous arrests were made. Thieving, as usual, was largely indulged in.

The saddest event of the day was the loss of life. George Baxter, a ship carpenter, who dwelt in High street, was found in a charred state in the ruins of his house. It is thought he went in to save some of his effects, and being unable to make his way out again he was smitten to the ground and suffered one of the most terrible of deaths. The other casualties were John Henry Maher, slightly injured, James Ennis badly cut on the head. Nicholas Ryan fell off Dickinson's house, Chapel Street, and sustained serious bruises. Mrs. Reed was struck by a falling ladder. John Cobalan, jr., had one of his fingers broken, and Mrs. Nowlan was slightly hurt. Wm. Carr and James Kennedy were injured slightly.

The destruction of the Methodist Church is a very serious loss. It was built in the year 1841, and succeeded the structure built in 1828, which was destroyed in the former year. The first trustees were Alex. McLeod, Samuel H. McKee, George Whittaker, William Nesbit, H. Hennigar, Robert Chestnut, Robert Robertson, G. T. Ray, John B. Gaynor, George Lockhart, James Bustin, John Owens and Francis Jordan, Rev. Messrs. R. Williams, J. B. Story, and S. Busby were strong supporters of the church in its young days and were long identified with its interests. On the first Sunday after the fire of 1841 the congregation met in the open air and prayed and sang hymns. The Rev. Mr. Allen addressed the people from a rock. Rev. Mr. Teed was the pastor at the time of the present fire. When he came to preside over its destinies he found the church struggling with a debt, and he worked with great zeal to free it from this burden.

The Temperance Hall was one of the most useful institutions in the town, and many will deplore the destruction of this building.

The following is a complete list of the buildings burned. The first name mentioned in each case is that of the owner, the other, that of the occupants:--

_Main street, south side, from Acadia street to Portland Street._--Mr. Woods, occupied by self as a boarding house, and by R. Jones as a grocery store--two families.

Andrew Pratt, by self as a dwelling; Miss Pratt as millinery store; Henry Pratt, as dwelling; and by Mr. Hopkins as a book store--4.

Chas. Long, James Meally, tin shop; Robt. Adamson, and John W. Perkins--3.

Wm. Gray, by self, Gray & Scott, meat store; Mrs. Cotner--4.

Widow Gordon, by self as a grocery store and dwelling--1.

Widow McJunkin, by self as a boarding house, and by Robert C. Gordon, as a liquor store, and by John S. Mitchell--3.

John Bradley, by A. G. Kearns, as a grocery and liquor store--1.

Thos. McColgan, by T. M. & S. B. Corbett, groceries; Thos. McMasters, hair-dressing saloon; John Carlin, S. R. Lindsay, Wm. Hooper, Messrs. Kyle & Tait--7.

_Portland street, east side, from Chapel to Main street._--Thomas McColgan, by self as a liquor store; Edward Brown, Joshua Russel--3.

_Chapel street, north side, east from the Pond to Portland street._--Wm. Dickson's house (damaged), by self, Robert Currie, Widow McAnulty, Arthur McCauslin--4.

Widow Farson, by self, Wm. Conway, Widow Gallagher, Geo. Kimball, Daniel Leary, John Mohan, Jas. Daley, Mrs. Daley, Mrs. Knowles, Chase & McCallum--11.

Charles Long, by self, John Law--2.

Barn belonging to Wm. Gray.

Barn belonging to Robt. Gordon.

Barn belonging to John McJunkin estate.

Barn belonging to John Bradley.

_Chapel street, south side, from Portland street east to Water._--Miss Mary Long, by Mrs. McArthur, Mr. Appleby and Mrs. Gorral--3.

Chas. Long, by self and son as grocery and dwelling; Chas. Colwell, Alex. Long, Abraham Craig--5.

Mrs. Nancy Lackey, by Local Preacher Oram, Miss McJunkin, John McJunkin--3.

Joseph Reed, by Samuel Baker, Frank Crawford--2.

Barn belonging to Sarah Irvine.

Arthur Rodgers, by self, Mrs. Clancey, Arthur Desmond and Mr. Long--4.

Widow Sullivan, by Thos. Sullivan--1.

John Damary, by self and Thos. Damary--2.

John Corrigan, by self--1.

Thos. Currie, by self and John Quinn--2.

Wm. King's house, damaged considerably.

_Acadia street, east side, from High street to Main street._--Mrs. Sarah Irvine, occupied by self, Thomas Kerr, Nancy Irvine, Messrs. Campbell & Hartt--5.

Geo. McMonagle, by self as a grocery and dwelling; Widow Nelson, William McGuire, John McGuire, David Smith--5.

Mrs. Farson, by Mrs. Gallaher, Mrs. McCacherin--2.

Geo. McMonagle, by Thomas Sharp and Patrick Bogan--2.

Alex. Duff (house damaged considerably), by Thomas McGill and Henry McCarthy--2.

_Acadia street, west side, from High to Main street._--Joseph Reed, by self, Andrew Crawford, Wm. McConnell, Mrs. Wark--4.

Widow Farson, by self as grocery and liquor shop and dwelling; Jeremiah Sullivan, James Brown, David McBurney, Jeremiah Speight, widow Marley--6.

_Portland street, east side, from High street to Main street._--John Connolly, by Messrs. Smith, as a grocery store, Capt. Rawlings, of the Portland Police, and by David Speight, as a boarding house--3.

Methodist Parsonage, occupied by Rev. Mr. Teed, Pastor of the Portland Methodist Church--1.

[The houses of Mr. McColgan are mentioned in connection with buildings on Main and Chapel streets.]

_High street, north side, from Portland street east to water._--John Brooks, by George Wetmore, Wm. C. Dunham--2.

Thomas Polly, by self, John Alcorn, John Humphreys--3.

George Smith (brick cottage), by self and Robert Smith--2.

George Ruddock, by self and George Brown--2.

Widow Ruddock, by Mr. Ellis--1.

Andrew Myles, by self, Messrs. Porter and Rogers--3.

Edward Sergeant, by self and Mr. Stantiford--2.

George Young, by self and Mrs. Upham--2.

Robert Ewing, by self, Walter Brown, R. A. H. Morrow--3.

Edward Elliot, by Geo. Jenkins, John Green, Frank Wallace--3.

Capt. Aubrey, by self and Mr. Reed--2.

Edward Elliott, by self and Mr. McAllister--2.

_Portland street from Rankin's wharf to Camden street._--Alex. -- Ferguson, by self, Captain Buckhard, and Wm. Sleeth.

Hugh Montague, Robert and Joseph Carson--3.

John Irvine, by self and Widow Craig.

John McCachney, by self, mother and Jas. McCachney.

Geo. Carter, by self, Joseph Murphy, Geo. Carter, Jr.--3.

T. Travis, by self, as grocery and liquor store and dwelling. August Mavison, Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Riley and another--5.

_Camden street, south side, from Portland street to Acadia street._--James Bartlett, by self, Henry Bartlett, Archibald Tatton, Capt. Bartlett, James Tubman--5.

John McJunkin, by self, Capt. Charles Harper, Harry Bassett--3.

Arthur Kyle, by self, John Cunningham, John O'Connell, Mr. Rebels, Mrs. McDormott, William, John Hammond--6.

_Acadia street, from Camden South to water._--Daniel O'Hara, by self, and Chas. Hara--2.

Patrick Dawson, by self, Peter Nelson, and a family from the City burnt district--3.

Mrs. Hamilton, by self--1.

Wm. Carter, by self--1.

_Portland street, west side, from Camden to High street._--Wm. McIntyre, by self, Geo. Giggy, Geo. Morgan, James Power, Harry Stephens, Wm. Gillan, and a family from the City burnt district--7. [In rear house belonging to David Breen, occupied by self and N. Frizzle.]

Thomas McMasters, by self, John Boyd, Widow McJunkin, James Ryder, Messrs. Mullay, Brown and Christopher--7.

Widow Kerr, by self--1. [Mr. Murdock's house in rear, by one tenant--1.]

Wm. A. Moore, occupied by self as a dwelling, John Currie, groceries; James Pender, Joseph McIntyre, the Misses Darrah--5.

_Portland street, east side, from Camden to High street._--Richard Anderson, by self and Samuel Devennie--2.

Richard Anderson, by William Hill, as a grocery store and dwelling; John Rubins, tailor shop, James McCord--4.

Robert McIntyre, by Bernard Gallagher, dwelling and grocery store, Samuel ----rett, Richard McIntyre--3.

Robert McIntyre, by self, Ike Munroe, Oliver Colwell, Robert Black, Ca---- ----rrington--5.

Wm. McIntyre, by Wm. Maxwell and Robert McMurray--2.

Wm. McIntyre, by Jacob Brown, Misses Sharp, Duke Brown, Geo. DeLong, Levi DeLong--5. [House in rear occupied by Joseph Lee and John Mullay--2.]

Benj. Lawton, by self and brother--2.

_Camden street, north side, from Simonds east to water._--Thos. W. Peters, by Thomas Mansfield, as a dwelling and a grocery store, John Nowlin, Jeremiah Sullivan and two others--5.

Thos. W. Peters, by Mr. Leonard and Edward Cutten--2.

John Higgins, by self--1.

George Grear, by self, John Ross, John Cooper, Mr. McLean--4.

Richard Anderson, by Harry Laskey, John Thompson, Miss Osborne--3.

Widow Wilson, by self, H. Brockings, Widow Bailey--4. [Unoccupied house in rear.]

Stephen Murphy, by self, Messrs. Hamilton, Ralston and Hoolahan--4.

_Acadia street, west side, from Camden to High street._--Wm. Searle, by Hugh Hutchinson, Wm. Bell--2.

James Bartlett, by David Doherty, Mr. Fitzgerald--2.

Robt. McKay, by self, Messrs. Irvine and Munroe--3.

Mr. Reed, by Thomas Graham and another--2. [Rear house owned by Mr. Reed.]

Thomas Youngclaus, by Messrs. Stayhorn, Kirk and Beaton--3.

James Kyle, by self and Mr. McGee--2.

Widow Ruddock, by self and a family whose name could not be learned--2.

Wm. Elliott, by self, James Smith and John Devennie--3.

_Acadia street, east side, from Camden street to High street._--John H. Crawford, by self, as a grocery and dwelling--1.

Thomas Gillespie, by Mr. Tait, Joseph Allen, Widow Garvey and Widow Boyne--4.

_High street, south side, westward from water._--John McDermott, by self, Patrick Carlin and Thomas Smith--3.

Miss Daley, by Wm. Peacock, Widow Knodell and Joseph Speight--3.

George Baxter, by self as dwelling and grocery store; and by Mr. Dunham--1.

Geo. Baxter, by Messrs. Wilson, and Kirk and another--3.

Widow Young, by self, Wm. Young, and George Easty--3.

Patrick Flynn, by Messrs. Stack and Thompson Kennedy, and Widow Logan--3.

James Scott, by self, and James Barbour--2.

Joseph Sullivan, by self--1.

Joseph Logan, by self, Widow Buchanan, Widow McDermott--3.

Temperance Hall, owned by Governor Tilley, J. C. Edwards, and Portland Division, S. of T.

_Simonds street, east side, from High street to water._--Andrew Johnston's house, occupied by four families--1.

Paul Gillespie, by John Buckley, James Gillespie, and Mr. Akerley--2.

Widow, by self, James Spence, and Charles Brown, and two others--5.

Widow Crawford, by self, as dwelling and grocery shop, and by James Buckley--2.

Alex. Urquhart, by self--1.

Thos. W. Peters, by Widow Morrison, John Morrison and Mrs. Wilson--3.

LOSSES OF INSURANCE COMPANIES.

PROVINCIAL.

Thos. McColgan, $1600 Methodist Church, 3000 Wm. Elliott, 1200 Chas. Long, 1200 Mrs. S. J. Young, 500 R. Jones, 600 ------ Total, $8100

LANCASHIRE.

Capt. Aubrey, $800 Thos. Travis, 800 Other claims about, 1400 ------ Total, $3000

NORTHERN.

Methodist Church, $4000 Mrs. Buchanan, 1000 Geo. Baxter, 800 Robt. McHarg, 800 ------ Total, $6600

NORTH BRITISH AND MERCANTILE.

Mrs. Gordon, $900 John Connolly, 1600 T. W. Peters, 2500 Methodist Church (re-insurance), 1000 ------ Total, $6000

QUEEN.

Geo. Ruddock, $1200 Methodist Mission House, 2400 James Scott, 1700 H. Montague, 800 John McKechnie, 800 Robert Rankin, 2000 Do., 1500 R. Ewing, 1200 E. Sargent, 800 E. Elliott, 1000 A. Johnston, 700 Jas. Pender, 500 Estate Jas. Kerr, 600 ------ $15,200 Partial losses, 1000 ------ Total, $16,200

CITIZENS'.

Messrs. Corbett, 400 Mrs. Farson, 1200 Wm. McIntyre, 1250 Chas. Long, 1100 John Bradley, 400 David Breen, 300 Wm. Gray, 200 Mary Long, 400 Thomas McMaster, 600 R. McIntyre, 700 Arthur Rodgers, 700 Thomas Youngclaus, 800 ------ Total, $8050

ROYAL CANADIAN.

Mary Ann Daley, $600

CANADA FIRE AND MARINE.

Thomas Aubrey, $100 Mary Long, 300 John McDermott, 600 Ann Leckey, 500 Margaret Curry, 200 R. C. Gordon, 1200 G. F. Smith, 800 Gertrude Farson, 1500 F. C. Dunham, 550 G. F. Jenkins, 500 John Greer, 500 John Reed, 200 ------ Total, $6950

ÆTNA.

G. McMonagle, $1000 McIntyre, 600 James Bartlett, 300 A. R. Ferguson, 2000 ------ Total, $3900

HARTFORD.

Jos. Stubbs, $500 Jas. Boyle, 400 John Brook, 1000 Geo. R. Rigby, 300 Richard Anderson, 1000 ------ Total, $3200

IMPERIAL.

R. A. H. Morrow, $200 R. Flynn, 1000 Samuel Gillespie, 1200 John Brook, 1000 Wm. Ruddock, estate, 1400 Mrs. Sarah Irvine, 800 Robert Rankine, 1500 ------ Total, $7100

BRITISH AMERICAN.

James Bartlett, $400 Mrs. S. Osborne, 100 ------ Total, $500

ISOLATED RISK.

R. Jones, $ 500 Chas. Long, 400 ------ Total, $900

The Guardian, $4000 The National, 500 Western, 200

At eleven o'clock the Portland Town Council met to consider the best way in which relief for the sufferers could be administered. The Mayor of St. John, Dr. Earle, the High Sheriff, and Harris Allan, Esq., of the Relief and Aid Society, were present. On motion it was resolved that the council should attend to the wants of the homeless, and committees were immediately appointed to perform the various duties incumbent on them. These were Couns. Chesley and Munro, to look up school-houses; Couns. McLean and Holly, clearing engine house; Couns. Puddington and Cochran, securing cooking stoves; Couns. Purdy and Hamilton, supplying provisions; Couns. Gilbert and Austin, straw mattrasses; Chairman, H. Hilyard and Couns. Chesley, Shelter, His Lordship Bishop Sweeny, and Messrs. Robert H. Flaherty, and F. Hazen having offered the committee the use of their buildings, were publicly thanked for their kindly forethought. On the night of the fire upwards of fifty families were provided with shelter by the authorities.

On Monday, 22nd October, at a general meeting of St. John Relief Committee, it was decided that temporary relief should be at once given to the poor. This lasted one week. At the expiration of that time the Board of Directors, consisting of the whole Council of the Town of Portland were in a position to administer their own relief. The committees of the societies are as follows:--

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

The Chairman, and Messrs. Chesley, Duff, Puddington and Cochran.

SHELTER COMMITTEE.

Messrs. Gilbert, Austin, Purdy and J. H. Parks.

VISITING COMMITTEE.

Chairman, and Messrs. Holly and Maher.

SUBSCRIPTION COMMITTEE.

Messrs. Puddington, Cochran, Maher and Holly.

A very efficient ladies' committee was promptly organized, and through their noble efforts a vast deal of suffering was prevented, Mrs. Simon Baizley, Mrs. Barnhill, Mrs. D. B. Roberts, Mrs. Thomas Hilyard, Mrs. Teed, Mrs. Almon and others comprised this committee.

Up to November 28th, 1877, the following donations have been received in aid of the people who were burnt out:--

CASH.

St. John Relief Committee $5,000 00 Hon. Isaac Burpee 100 00 Rev. Wm. Armstrong 25 00 Rev. Geo. Armstrong 20 00 George A. Schofield 10 00 A. Cochran, Halifax, N. S. 1 00 Mrs. Parnther 5 00 Rev. T. Partridge, collection taken at Rothsay 30 50 G. Sidney Smith, Esq., 10 00 Draft from Wheelright, Anderson & Co. Boston, Mass., $50 American currency 48 50 Norman Robertson 10 00 Wm. Wright, Esq., Liverpool, England, £100 stg. 479 32 Wm. Shives Fisher 4 00 Proceeds of entertainment at Fairville 50 70 Proceeds lectures by Bishop Fallowes of the Reformed Episcopal Church 45 00 Collection from St. Jude's Church, S. S. Thanksgiving Day 12 75 George W. Roberts, Liverpool 100 00

SUPPLIES.

P. Nase & Son, twenty barrels potatoes, one chest tea. Vroom & Arnold, thirty barrels potatoes. James J. Follows, two barrels cabbages. Chas., Fawcett, (Sackville, N. B.) four stoves. Manchester, Robertson & Allison, goods to amount of one hundred dollars. Geo J. Fisher, thirty rolls roofing paper. Thomas Cusack, blankets to value of $75.

Transcriber's Note

Illustrations have been moved near the relevant section of the text.

I have used "=" in the text to denote use of an ornamental font.

Inconsistencies have been retained in hyphenation, punctuation, spacing between initials, spacing between alphabetic sections in lists, italicization and capitalization except where indicated in the list below. Alphabetization of list items has been left as-is as has double punctuation such as ".:". The author has stated that this book "has many imperfections" due to the speed in which it was prepared in order to meet the publisher's timeline. It is clear that some sections of the text were more carefully edited than others prior to publishing. Consequently, I have made (and notated) typographical corrections only for sections in which the majority of the text adheres to a general standard of hyphenation, punctuation, etc.

Within Footnote "M," there is a picture of a pointing hand within the text. Instead of the hand symbol, I used "==>".

Here is a list of the minor typographical corrections made:

- "1831" changed to "1841" on Page iv - "Palace" changed to "Place" on Page v - "Andrews" changed to "Andrew's" on Page v - Period added after "Cent" on Page vi - "Elgir" changed to "Elgin" on Page 32 - Period removed ampersand on Page 32 - "D. D." changed to "D.D." on Page 43 - "to day" changed to "to-day" on Page 45 - "hun" changed to "hundred" on Page 57 - Text before "Legislature" is unclear and has been replaced by a long dash for Footnote E at the end of Chapter V - Long space removed between "priests" and "who" on Page 75 - Period added after "Friary" on for Footnote E at the end of