TERRIBLE BUSH FIRE IN CANADA.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 175, 23 November 1880, Page 4

TERRIBLE BUSH FIRE IN CANADA.

DESTRUCTION OF A TOWN. Canada has recently .suffered from one of the largest forest lives on record. I t was at Upton, in the Province of Quehee. In these parts bush fires have been very prevalent. (treat quantities of valuable timber have been destroyed, but as eonflae'ration is deemed an easy and expeditions plan of clearance, little notice was takou'of (lie damage done. Rut after a severe dromdit such a Ine broke out in the vicinity of Upton that the whole place was consumed. 'Flic scene is described as appall ins/. Fire had been hovering about the outskirts for some days, but suddenly a broad wall of flame was seen approaching the doomed town with rapid strides. The wind was high, and increasing by degrees to a perfect hurricane, so fanned the flames that the progress of the destructive element became faster and faster, the conflagration inoic fierce. I 1 arm-house after farm-house was attacked, enveloped, consumed. Their inmates—men, women, and children—fled foi their lives in their scanty clothing juntas they snatched it up. The cattle ran helplessly to and fro, jumping fences, impeding each others movements, overtaken often by the flames, and succumbing to a terrible death with the most piteous moans. At nightfall the scene was awful. The lire extended a length of twelve miffs, it was fiom tinec to four miles broad, and the tierce, bright flames lit up the dark heavens tor a distance of twenty miles. Every effort was made to stay the advance of destruction, but with ‘little avail. Men worked furiously, battling bravely with the all-devouring flames, tearing up cordurov roads, breaking down fences, seeking to isolate points by lieaping up earth and dirt. It is impossible as yet to estimate the whole mischief done, or ascertain exactly the number of lives lost.