Burk's Falls fire-swept; over thirty buildings gone.
In a high windstorm flames rushed over main street of town.
Many people are homeless.
The fire believed to have started in drying kiln of the Knight Co.
Two hotels, many business houses and dwelling and the Anglican Church destroyed—Telegraph wires in the town were burned—An appeal for aid to Huntsville, which sent up its fire brigade on a special train—No estimate on losses, but they will be heavy, while the insurance, it is believed, is light.
The burned out.
Knight lime kiln.
Burk's Hotel.
Clifton Hotel.
Burk's Falls Transfer Co.'s Livery.
Lamb & Smith, butchers.
Glibert shoe store.
F. W. Clark, hardware.
Clubert & Blyth, butchers.
C. W. Coulter, general store.
Kirk & McDougall, barbers.
S. T. Vanstone, jeweller.
F. Reavellin, restaurant.
J. J. Mitchell, confectioner.
J. Davidovitch, general store.
Stewart's livery.
H. A. Sydin, general store.
J. N. Dodds, harnessmaker.
E. E. Siebers, photo gallery.
Canadian Express and G. N. W.
George Veal, shoemaker.
J. W. Harris, merchant tailor.
G. C. Church & Co., general store.
The English church and ten other buildings, including some dwellers, all on the main street.
Burk's Falls, June 21.—By a fire which broke out yesterday afternon a large portion of this little town was wiped out of existence and damage running into many thousands of dollars caused. The fire is supposed to have originated in the drying kiln of the Knight Company, Limited.
High Wind Blowing.
There was a high wind blowing at the time and the flames swept rapidly along the main street, eating up everything before them. The efforts of the people themseves were utterly unavailing to stop the progress of the fire, which before it was got under control had completely consumed over thirty business places and dwellings.
Huntsville to the Rescue.
An emergency message was sent to Huntsville and a special train was rushed out from there with the fire brigade and equipment. They did good work in assisting and stopping the progress of the conflagration, and by about 9 o'clock at night the fire was practically over. The telegraph wires leading into the town were burned early in the course of the fire, so that no direct messages could be sent out. The Grand Trunk wire at the station, however, was utilized in getting messages to those who had business interests in Burk's Falls.
Losses Are Heavy.
While no accurate estimate of the loss could be ascertained to-night it will undoubtedly be very heavy, though it is understood that in most cases the insurance is light. Many of those whose places of business were burned out lived over their stores, and they have not only lost everything, but are rendered homeless beside.
Worst in Town's History.
Burk's Falls, June 21.—(G.N.W. Press Despatch.)—The worst fire in the history of Burk's Falls occured yesterday, when property to the value of $150,000 went up in smoke. There is insurance of about $70,000. The fire orginated in the drying kiln of Knight Bros.' factory, the factory itself being saved by the good work of the fire brigade and employees. A heavy northwest wind was blowing, and the whole town was in danger of destruction until the wind subsided in the evening. The heaviest losses are the Burke House, the Clifton House, C. W. Coulter's general store, Burk's Falls Hardware Co., McDougall & Kirk's barber shop and pool-room and the Canadian Express and the G. N. W. office, E. E. Sieber's photography gallery, All Saints' Church of England, Culbert & Bligh's butcher shop, Lamb & Smith's butcher shop, J. W. Harris' tailor shop, J. N. Dodds' harness shop, G. C. Church, general merchant, J. J. Mitchell, confectionary store, J. Davidovich, general merchant, S. T. Vanstone's jewellery store and residence, Stewart's livery and the Burk's Falls Transfer Co., also half a dozen dwellings, all completely destroyed.
Suffered Damage.
W. Sharp Co.'s general store, Dr. Partridge's drug store, The Arrow printing office, J. P. Fowler, general merchant, the postoffice and C. P. R. ticket office, and many other buildings caught on fire, but owing to the good work done by the citizens and the fire brigade were saved.
The fire brigade came up from
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Burk's Falls fire-swept.
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Huntsville, but arrived too late to be of any use.
Wm. Schroeter was badly burned on the face and hands and was taken to the hospital on Sunday.
Burk's Falls in a village of about nine hundred population in the Parry Sound district, situated on the G. T. R. line running to North Bay. The selection of the town site was an extremely happy one, being right at the beautiful falls from which it obtains its names. Not far above the village is the junction of the two branches of the Magnetewan River, both of which come from Algonqin Park. The falls provide by far the most important water power on the entire river, and this power was partially developed before the advent of the railway into the district. The Magnetewan is navigable from Georgian Bay as far as the village, and the place forms the terminus of a flourishing summer boat route. A few years ago several large sawmills carried an extensive business there, but some of them have moved back nearer the woods. Burk's Falls has been a favourite rendezvous for huntsmen in the autum, and many hunting parties have been organized there. Because of the rough scenery in the near vicinity and the abundance of lakes and little streams the summer tourist traffic has been of great importance for years.
The village had about twenty stores, three hotels, two sawmills, one sash and door factory, one woodworking factory, one tannery and other minor industries.
Ref: Burk's Falls
For Muskoka, Lake of Bays and Parry Sound.
The 10 a.m. Grand Trunk vestibule train, with Broiler Buffet parlor car, now running to Muskoka and Lake of Bays, has proved a decided success, and commencing Saturday, June 27th, the Muskoka Navigation Company's steamers will leave Muskoka Wharf at 1.30 p.m., direct for Royal Muskoka and Rosseau, etc. On same date new trains will leave Toronto at 2 a.m. (sleeper open at 10 p.m.), making connection with the flag ship Sagamo, leaving Muskoka Wharf 7 a.m. for Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph. Also at 12 noon, arriving Muskoka Wharf 3.30 p.m., making independent connection for Port Carling, Rosseau, Windermere, Port Sanfield, etc. This train will carry Penetang parlor car, connecting with Northern Navigation Co.'s steamer City of Toronto for the beautiful inland trip through the 30,000 Island scenery to Rose Point and Parry Sound. The three trains, viz., 2 a.m., 10 a.m. and 12 noon, will make direct connection at Huntsville for points on Lake of Bays, including the new hotel Wawa at Norway Point. All the foregoing trains are available from Toronto. Full information at the city office, northwest corner King and Yonge streets.
Ref:
A train cancelled.
Accident on Temiskaming & Northern Ontario.
Cobalt special, due in Toronto on Sunday morning, failed to arrive—New G. T. R. timetable not popular with North Bay people.
North Bay, June 21.—The derailment of a steel gondola, loaded with fifty tons of coal, in a clay bank tied up the T. & N. O. Railway on Saturday night, and the Cobalt special, due in Toronto at 8 o'clock on Sunday morning, was cancelled and the passengers transferred to the new tourist train, which arrives at Toronto in the evening.
The new G. T. R. time-table in effect on the Toronto-North Bay line does not meet with the approval of the North Bay business men, particularly the cancelling of the express arriving at 6 p.m., known as the newspaper train, which is very convenient for fruit and produce shippers, and permits merchants to place perishable goods in cold storage immediately upon arrival. The cancelling of this train will mean that fruit and produce will have to remain in the express warehouse all night. The newspaper train was also very convenient for shoppers from nearby towns. who could visit North Bay, make their purchases and return their homes the same evening.
The Board of Trade considered the matter on Saturday evening, and a telegram of protest was sent to General Manager Charles M. Hays, which will be followed by a delegation in the endeavor to secure a better train service.
The opening of the new C. P. R. Toronto-Sudbury line is responsible for the new time bill of the G. T. R. During the tourist season Toronto morning papers will reach North Bay before noon on the tourist special, but after that, if the time-table is not changed, the paper will not be delivered until the following.
Ref: North Bay