Page:New Brunswick Magazine Issue 1.djvu/184

dropped dead in the ranks. This was the only life lost that day.

The navy also lost some men, but in a different way. Several of the crew of the "Racer," who were detailed for fire duty, were not to be found when the sailors were recalled to the brig. It was evident that they had taken advantage of the occasion to desert, whereupon the "Racer" at once made sail down the Bay until Lepreau harbor was reached. At the Lepreau mills inquiries were made and a lookout stationed to intercept the fugitives on their way to the border, but so far as appears, with no result.

The fire burned about five hours, and in that time destroyed 53 houses occupied by 200 families. Some 1150 people were turned out of house and home, of whom at least 600 were put in a condition of distress by the loss of their worldly possessions. A rough estimate at the time placed the loss at $30,000, or $120,000, made up as follows:—

There was an insurance of £600 on the chapel, but nothing on the ship and yard. The loss to Owens & Duncan was therefore very heavy. Taking everything into consideration, in the destruction of buildings, and property in the yard, it is believed they suffered to the extent of over $60,000 The total loss by the fire was undoubtedly much greater than was at first supposed. That evening, while some of the men who had been working in the yard, were looking at the ruins Mr. Owens came along, and they bade him good evening. His reply was, "You are pretty fellows, and you