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Caroline Daley - Yesteryear

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Fire

Article from The Commercial World, 10 October 1911

A fire which might very easily and would probably, have resulted in a very disastrous conflagration, but for the ready means of holding it in check, broke out at the Miramichi Pulp Mill on Friday morning. About 11:30 flames were seen burning in the shed at the top of the acid tower and an alarm was at once raised. Immediately the powerful pump was set to work and the enormous force of water which it poured through the series of sprinklers alone kept the fiery element under control. The great height at which the fire was burning made it impossible for the firemen to reach the seat of the flames with water from the town mains, the pressure not being sufficient to reach more than halfway up the tower. A strong gale of wind was blowing at the time, and but for the deluge of water which was being poured out from the sprinklers the whole of the top of the tower would have gone up in smoke in five minutes, and burning embers would have been carried in all directions. As it was, thanks to its saturated condition, the erection was only partially destroyed and it took three hours to do what damage was done.

Both steam fire engines were called into play and took care of the surrounding houses, which it was feared might take fire from some of the burning embers flying around. The whole of the top of the tower will have to be rebuilt, and the upper portion of the acid tanks renewed. It is believed the fire was caused by burning sparks from the waste furnace at the Snowball Mill, which in consequence of the high winds that were blowing about in all directions. During the previous afternoon a smaller fire had been started in a shed in the pulp mill yard, presumably from the same source, but was quickly put out. Appraisers were at work yesterday on behalf of the Insurance Companies involved.

Fire In Chatham

Article from The Gleaner, October 1845

About eleven o'clock on the morning of Monday last, the large building in the ship yard of Messrs. Cunards in Chatham, occupied as a moulding loft etc., was discovered to be on fire. The alarm was given, and in a short time a large concourse of people had assembled near the premises. Every exertion was made to stop the progress of the flames, but it proved unsuccessful, and the building was consumed. A large portion of its contents, however, was saved. The inhabitants as is their practice on such occasions, worked well and willingly, by which means the fire was confined to the building in which it originated, although it was surrounded with very combustible materials which are to be found at all times in timber and ship yards. We cannot refrain from speaking of the manner in which the wives of the men employed in the steam mill and ship yard turned out; they brought water in their washing tubs, buckets and the boilers belonging to their cooking stoves, and performed other essential services. We would recommend to the immediate attention of the Fire wards the necessity there exists for procuring a large supply of buckets, the small wooden American pails would answer most admirably, for supplying the engine, and the cost would be trifling. We would also suggest to them the propriety of at once adopting measures for procuring another engine of greater power than the one we have at present service to the public.

There is another thing which should be done, and one we consider of paramount importance, namely, the sinking of wells in the streets of the town. Every year, two or three reservoirs or wells should be sunk, for what is the use of buckets or engines if water cannot be procured. We give them the credit to say, that this season some progress has been made in this business, and the beneficial effects were sensibly felt when the Methodist Chapel was threatened with destruction. These improvements, we are aware, will cost money, and though some parties will grumble not a little, when the tax gatherer calls to collect their portion of the expenses — but this should not retard them in performing works so necessary, which becomes more apparent every time we are visited with this dreadful scourge, and which must prove of essential service to the public.

There's Work For All At Home

Article from The Commercial, 14 May 1907

A stranger has been in town for some days endeavoring to hire young men and women to go to Halifax and Quebec to work in cotton factories. Sixteen boys left for the north last night, but before any more decide to go they should consider the matter carefully. Some man, we are informed, lately worked Rogersville and Bathurst on the same lines as here, painting rosy scenes of a start at $1.25 per day, and a sudden jump from an apprentice to an $18.00 per week workman.

Several young women were taken from Bathurst, and this paper learned that they have since written their parents for money enough to carry them back home. Some were secured in Rogersville, and the mother of one girl, seventeen years old, can get no trace of her since she left home. There is an abundance of work and good wages here for all of our boys and girls, and they should not allow any stranger to talk them into leaving home for places and work they know nothing about.

Caroline Daley's weekly history column provides readers a look back at the history our area through old newspaper articles.