History of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada

It appears from a letter dated Halifax, October the 18th, that a very calamitous fire has been raging in the woods of this vicinity for some considerable time, and spread upwards of 100 miles. The village of Miramichi, is said to be nearly ruined in its trade, in consequence of the destruction of timber. The fire spread with very great rapidity, destroying houses, barns, timber, and almost every description of property in its way. The inhabitants of Miramichi have been great sufferers. One young man has lost 3,000l, a firm 40,000l, and many commercial houses have lost every thing. The loss of property is great, but the loss of lives is truly deplorable, as will be seen from the following:

"It is most melancholy to think that some thousands of persons have perished in the flames in different parts of the woods; the whole appears to have been done with the rapidity of lightning, only two or three persons have saved their books. - From what I can learn, six or seven hundred houses...

NEWCASTLE or MIRAMICHI a port, of entry and flourishing town of New Brunswick, capital of the co. of Northumberland, beautifully situated on the left bank of the Miramichi, about 18 miles from its entrance into Miramichi Bay, and on the I. R.. 78½ miles from Moncton. Its streets are lighted with gas, and it contains a branch bank, a telegraph office, a printing office issuing a weekly newspaper, a Masonic hall, 3 hotels, about 25 stores, several churches, a tannery, &c. A very large trade is done here in fish and lumber; also in shipbuilding The number of arrivals for 1872 was 68 (tons 27,501), and the clearances 61 (tons 20,591) Total value of imports $109,142; exports $289,467. Pop. 1,309.