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Daily Colonist. MONDAY, JUNE. 18, 1888. TERRIBLE SCENES AND INCIDENTS. The Valley, which was the scene of the catas trophe of the 6th inst., lies distant about three quarters of a mile from the water of Indian Bight. Indeed, the land upon which the town of Little Bay stands, is itself but an expansion of the interval whose greatest breadth cannot be than a thousand yards. The walls of doleritic rock gradually converge as they extend Westwards, almost meeting about a mile from the seaside. They are from six hun dred to eight hundred feet in height. The north ern one is supported by many buttresses on its southern flank, and these buttresses are in turn propped by others, until the filled in intervals is reached. The southern wall shows similar fea tures, buttress on buttress, until the crystalline foundation of both is attained. The interval is cut through along the base of the southern wall on its northern flank by a stream of water, which, after the manner of mor tals, runs an erring course until it pours itself into the waters of Indian Bight. It is not long since the Valley presented all the features of a vast natural park, here a thicket, then a copse, on the one side the glade, on the other the dingle. The southern wall was especially charming. The sloping buttresses rejoiced in the possession of many stately trees. An imposing cornice of softest white decked the wall in winter, one of greenest moss did similar duty in summer. Above very thousand shafts of pine, fir, birch and spruce sprung up towards the sky ,and gracefully upheld the great arch of blue. Successive fires had indeed deprived the valley of much of its beauty, but much remained. The fire of the 6th inst has robbed it of all. The pleasing, mingling shades of the trees no longer greet the eye from the inclining heads of the mountain buttresses. The genius of ugliness has invaded and possessed the place, and the sylvan beauty of a few years since has given way to the deformity of burnt stumps, withered and fallen trees. Last year a road was run in on the northern side of the Valley, and this spring most of the available interval was brought under cultivation. The little cabins were beginning to look neat. Humbler efforts at flower-growing had begun to The future . Bleamed fair and hopeful to the humble dwellers in the V Valley. The settlers to the number of thirty had built for the most part upon the southern side of the poate — Byrne, John Osmond, Patrick Shelley, Edwan William Cantwell, pad and Jon Connors lived on the ene road. _ James Stamp, Thos. McAllister, James McAllister, eon ‘and Joseph he southern side. The road ter 1 chords. But inside of the latter's ve an irregular footpath through the stumps ed on se kiee Glavine’s, John Edward's, Man ning’s and Carpenter's, and Patrick Sexton's. ‘The latter's cabin stood about two hundred yards to the westward of Manning’s and Carpenter's. Some of these poor people came here last ‘Autumn from the French Shore, and had been eking out a miserable existence during the win ter, by cutting wood and selling it by the cord to the miners; some came from Fortune Harbor, and others from Fogos Island's circumstance which it would be well for the Messrs. McKay, Knight and Goodridge to bear in mind, as it is cult to see that much of the moneys for schools, etc., is going to other localities, lek injustice should be coming here. I re turn, however, to my subject, craving pardon for the political allusion. Some of the inhabitants of the Valley came also from other districts. The fire raged with greatest fury over the interval occupied by the above named persons, and implied in some of the foregoing expressions, though many other parts of the settlement were also afflicted with the terrible scourge. ‘The Origin of the Fire. The southern wall of the Valley described slopes on its southern flank to the water of Little Bay. The Hall's Bay road tops the area lying between the ridge and the water of the bay for about five miles, and many settlers have comfortable home steads along the road. This portion of the settle ment has grown so rapidly that a school had be come a necessity. Hence, about ten weeks since, I succeeded in getting s school commenced. It was rough and much of the material to complete it was placed upon the ground. All was accomplished by the hardy settlers them selves. Its ‘appesis that the trp began in this neighbor hood. Thomas Connard, Michael Bezaine, Thos. Read and Wi Hayes were the sufferers here. It is said to hve been originated by some men clearing ground. Three-Quarters of a Mile of Fire. Fire! Fire! Over the moss-clad cornice rolled the wreathing smoke. Out of the pines and birches shot up ten thou sand gothic spires of flame. How it blew. How it burned ! About 3 p.m., Sexton saw a little blue smoke. Warned by a former experience, he at once com menced removing his furniture. When he re turned for more, he saw tremendous masses of white smoke even hanging over the southern wall. The inhabitants were endeavoring to save their beds—some bringing them out on the main road, some throwing them into the little rivers. Just about this time William Richards passed out with his horse and dray; he was getting out a load of wood. It may have taken him a quarter of an hour to accomplish his whole pur pose. Having unloaded—a work of five min utes—he pushed back with all speed , but he found it impossible to penetrate the smoke. His animal fell at Stamp’s, and he was obliged to re turn. The scene, at this moment baffles desription. Women and children were running in all direc tions. The air was rent with shrieks. Some excited mothers were looking for their little ones. The poor children were crying piteously on all sides. But the worst was yet to come. The danger of suffocation from smoke soon gave way to that of death by fire. For a moment a mass of black smoke was seen to rest over the length of the southern wall. Then it was projected a wards with great force, expanding rapidly as it ascended, and revealing, as it did, to the terrified people countless spires of fierce, red flames. A gale of south-west wind soon united their flaming tops, and the awful spectacle of three-quarters of a mile of fire was beheld. The vanward of the awful array was about two hundred yards in a southwestern direction from Stamp’s house. It shot up blazing flankers until the sky seemed alive with flame, and these were poured with relentless fury upon Stamp’s doomed house. ‘*’Tis raining, Stamp,” said his wife as the poor fellow dragged her away. ‘* For God's sake, Kitty Manning, come.” The danger for the inside people was now com plete. ‘Stamp’s house, his wood-pile, his garden fences and Samuel Byrne’s house on the northern side of the road were all ablaze. Both sides of the road now took fire. It was about this time that Mrs. Carpenter, who lived in the same house with Mrs. Manning, made her escape. The two women had thought to save some things from the fire. Both had been engaged in getting their beds out, but the fire came so quick that they were obliged to desist. A young lad named Troy, who lived with Mrs. Manning, was sent down by her to throw his box in the stream. This stream is not more than twenty yards from where her house stood. She and Mrs. Carpenter with three children, began their way out. Just where Alice Glavine’s house stood, about thirty yards from her own, she recollected something which it was desirable to save. She asked Mrs. Carpenter to return with her. Mrs. Carpenter declined,and endeavored to dissuade her from her desire to re turn. She could not prevail. Poor Mrs. Car penter's last words to her were: ‘‘ For_God’s sake, Kitty Manning, come.” The poor woman over-estimated her strength. An active woman, she fancied the distance was so trifling she would not be overtaken. Kitty Manning was never seen alive afterwards. It is thought that having ob tained what she went back for, she was on her way out with her children when she was caught by the devouring element and so perished. When found, the bodies of the children were with that of the mother, one on each side. The boy was seven years of age, the little girl four. Mrs. Man ning herself was about forty-two. The Stuf that Heroes are Made of, Patrick Carpenter is seventeen years of age. He saved his mother and a little brother. After Mrs. Manning returned to his house, young Car penter saw he must fight for the lives of his mother, his brother, and his own. After going about thirty yards, the poor woman lay down by Richards’s fence, resigning herself to death. The young fellow cheered her on , sometimes induc ing her to walk, sometimes dragging her. She and the little boy fell more than once. Once she thought Pat was going to leave her, and said: ‘Bare your not going to leave me, Pat? ‘No, mother, I'll either bring you through or die with you,”’ was the response. No words of mine can add to the heroic grandeur of this reply. He took his mother in his arms, wrapped some old clothes around her head, got his brother's head under his jumper and struck out for life. When I mention that the wrappings were burnt off the woman's head, renewed and again burnt off, the readers of the ** Coronists will realize what that struggle for life must have been. I wonder will that young hero get the Cross of the Legion of Honor, or will he be awfully thankful this sum mer if he get enough to allow him to prosecute the fishery. Ah, me! ah, me! Upwards the Flames Roll, Mrs. E. McCarthy, deserves a mention, in the roll of honor. She is a very poor woman, the mother of three children. Her husband was at work at the loading wharf when the fire took place. She quickly realised that no furniture could be saved. She saw that if she could save the chil dren, it was all that she could hope for. She got the biggest on her back, his arms around her neck ; she took another under each arm, and thus loaded, started on a quarter-of-a-mile jour ney, through fire and smoke. Her clothing caught as she was passing . Stamp’ s place. She sustained no personal injury, and seems uncon scious of having done any great deed. (concluded to-morrow.)
Newspaper Details
Saint Johns Colonist
Saint Johns, Newfoundland, CA
Mon, Jun 18, 1888
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Lori M.
CA 29 Jul 2026
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