Page:1898 NB Magazine.djvu/11

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The Fire of Thirty-Seven
5

The number of buildings destroyed in this fire was 115, and the loss was estimated at about a million dollars. Not a third of this was covered by insurance.

The advertisements which appeared in the newspapers of the following week show various moods on the part of the advertisers. Some are new business announcements, others are expressions of thanks to Providence and the public, while a few are in the nature of inquiries for lost articles. Here is an extract from one that is of special interest at this day, in view of the recent fire experience of what is now the firm of J. & A. McMillan:

JOHN McMILLAN begs to acquaint his friends and the public that he has removed to the Store next adjoining Mr. Crozier’s in the Market Square, where he offers for sale the remain) of his Stock of Books and Stationery saved from the conflagration of Saturday last, and respectfully solicits a share of the patronage so liberally bestowed on him.

The McMillan store was on the same lot in Prince William street as it is now. It was after this fire that it adopted the title of "Phoenix House," disused in recent years, but a title very applicable even to this day. The firm has been burned out eight[errata 1] times in the course of its long existence.

The most devoutly expressed notice is that of Mr. Nathan S. Demill, who kept in Water street next to Tisdale's corner, the second Jot from the South wharf. He says:

WITH deep feelings of gratitude to that gracious God, whose controlling hand he desires most explicitly to acknowledge in this and every other event of his life, and, at the same time, with sincere thanks to many kind friends who came to render him their assistance at the last awful visitation that has been permitted to fall upon this city; the subscriber begs to state that he has been enabled to preserve the greater part of his stock of hardware, &c., and also to inform the public that he has re-commenced his business in Dock street, in the store recently occupied by W, A, Robertson, the second door above Messrs. Owens & Duncan.

N. S. DEMILL.

  1. ↑ Correction: eight should be amended to six: detail
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