THE DESTRUCTION OF JACKONVILLE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 4 June 1901, Page 4

THE DESTRUCTION OF JACKONVILLE.

A Huge Fire in America. • Shocking ’Scenes-

(Per s.?. Sierra, at Auckland). SAN FRANCISCO, May 9,

The beautiful city of Jacksonville, Florida, suffered a great loss] by the tiro on May 3rd. Tho city has become important as tho winter and spring resort for,tho wealthy residents of New York, Boston, and other regions, which are subject to severe cold weather, and had many

magnilicient hotels. The property lost in the fire, which started in a small factory, presumably from an uncovered fire conveying electric current, is valued at between 10,000,000 and 15,000,000 dollars. At least 10,000 people arc left homeless, and the neighbouring cities had to he called upon for assistance. With regard to the probable loss of life, a curious lack of information prevails. The citizens were cast into a terrible state of panic by the calamity, and thousands tied from the city by outgoing trains. All sorts of rumours regarding the drowning in the river, which flows through the city, of persons who fled to the wharves, arc current, hut few bodies have as yet been recovered. Several persons were crazed by excitement. A man in whose property the fire originated dropped dead after making a tremendous effort at extinguishing the (lames. The homeless people were suffering somewhat from hunger when the relief trains and boats from nearly every city and town began to arrive. The town was placed under martial law, and a commissory was established in the centre of the town. Thousands o? people had to be fed, but fortunately the weather was beautiful, so some suffered from exposure. The railway depots were turned into temporary, hospitals, and lodging-houses, and messages from the President brought the assurance that the Government Departments would do everything possible to relieve the distress. The Masonic and other lodges and trades unions all over the country have been sending on funds for the relief of the members, and Mr Gouk, of Florida, was busy issuing a proclamation of thanks before two days had elapsed after the disaster. The county wid have to be bonded for a largo sum to rebuild the public buildings, and the city of Jacksonville will issue bonds to tide over the difficulty. Tbe lines drawn between the rich and poor have been obliterated, and women accustomed to luxury sat upon kerbstones beside beggars. Boatmen on the river during the fire saved many persons who ran to the waterfront, and were there cut off by the flames, which soon roso on three sides of them. These men believe large numbers of people perished by drowning after being cut off on the shore. The piers and shipyards were destroyed, and the work of destruction went on so rapidly that people were panic striken and unable to save their property, or take proper care of themselves or each other.