ALARMING FIRE IN QUEBEC.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1605, 9 July 1887, Page 3

ALARMING FIRE IN QUEBEC.

♦ PANIC IN THE CITY. [bXTJTKB's TELEGBAMS r COPYRIGHT.] Ottawa, July 7. Reports are to band from Quebec of a serious fire raging m the Citadel of that city. Many houses and their inmates, quantities of munitions and stbres have been destroyed, and the Government magazine is m serious danger. A panic has arisen, and the people are flying from the city for safety. The citadel of Qaebeo is one of the sights of the city. Before the evacuation of the oountry by great . Britain a fall Infantry regiment was always quartered thsre, besides artillery and engineers. Now It Is held by a small body of Dominion troops. The fortress stands opon Gape Diamond, a peroipltons promontory rising 350 ft perpendicularly from the river, and dominating over the whole surrounding country. From the ramparts li obtained a view of surpassing beauty, and the visitor is enab'ed to gaze upon the historic Plalriß of Abraham, where the grsni decisive battle was fought. He will also see tbe precipitous bank up whioh Wolfe** army climbed " on that Septeraher night so fatal to French power m tbe wwtern world " The citadel is of vary great strength from a military point of view, m construction as well as from its position. The main body of the work la entered across a bridge over a deep ditoh and through a massive gate, called the Dalhoaslo Gate, after the Earl of Dalhoußle, Governor-General la 1829. Here the main guard Is placed, and the officer of the day takes his post. Inside, iha summit of the cliff has been so far levelled as to make a large parade ground for the garriaon. Around, under the walls are the barracks and storehouses. The officers' quarters are m a large stone building, and magazines and armories are also Included within the ramparts. There Is a small arms' ammunition factory at Qaebeo, and there Is generally a very large itere of explosives kept m the citadel. (Beoelved Jnly 9, 12.30 p m.) Ottawa, Jnly 8. The fire m the citadel of Quebec has been extinguished. It was fortunately controlled before it reached the rnagaine. Where large quantities of explosives were stored. The loss of houses, munitions and stores has been immense.