GREAT FIRE NEAR QUEBEC.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 726, 17 October 1876, Page 3

GREAT FIRE NEAR QUEBEC.

St Hyacinths (Quebec), September 2. A fire, which proved moat disastrous, broke out here this afternoon in a bakery kept by M. Chaput, near the post office. The flames spread rapidly till they reached the river, near the Grand Trunk railroad bridge. In about two hours the entire business portion of the town was in ruins. Six hundred houses have been burned, and not one hundred left standing. St Hyacinths (Quebec), September 3. The fire commenced in the west end of the city, at 1.30 p.m, and, favored by a high wind, the flames soon totally swept the lower part of the city, taking in their course the St Hyacinthe, Quebec, and National Banks, the post office, markets, court house, factories, and over eighty wholesale and retail stores. At 3 p.m. the fire had spread, by means of burning cinders, to three parallel streets, and burned everything up. People had not time to save anything. At 7 p.m 600 houses had been burned. A steam fireengine arrived from Montreal by special train at 5.30 p.m—too late to be of much service. Hundreds of families are homeless, having nothing to eat. The loss is roughly estimated at 2,000,000 dollars. The Royal Stadocana, Quebec, Provincial, and Royal Canadian Insurance companies are heavily interested. Chicago, September 4. The Tribune's special says of the Saint Hyacinthe fire : It destroyed the Quebec and National Banks, the Post Office, markets, Court Houses, factories, and over eighty wholesale and retail stores, sweeping with lightning rapidity and devoring everything before it, despite the frantic exertions of firemen and citizens. The houses were mostly built of wood, and swept off like chaff, people not having time to save even a stitch of clothing. The Montreal fire brigade was summoned at two o’clock, and responded promptly, but only reached there at halfpast five, too late to save much, Hundreds of families are unhoused, and out of employment. Food is urgently needed. The loss is roughly estimated at two millions. A despatch to Montreal, just received, says : “Not a mouthful of bread in the city. We are in a terrible condition.” St Hyacinthe, Canada, September 12. Building is progressing rapidly, night and day. The Roman Catholic Bishop has granted the privilege to his people to work on Sundays. Relief is coming from all quarters.