HongKong
W. ISS.
12th November, 1801.
Governor
li
Sir Richard Graves Mac Damell. CB. Right Honorable
The Ent of Carnarvon?
Aire
in Victoria - 36th October,
Destruction of portion of the Chinese Quarter of the Town. Reports details of
1 Encome
1
The Evening Mail
AND
Hongkong Shipping Xist
AONGKONG, WEDNESDAY, 5th OCTOBER, 1866,
THE FIRE.
ONE of the most disastrous fires with which Hongkong has been visited since the great conflagration in 1851, took place last night.
It commenced about 6.30 P.M. in an unoccupied house opposite the British Hotel, Queen's Road West, and gradually extended thence to the Praya and in a westerly direction as far as Mr Riach's timber yard, the whole mass of houses—over two hundred in number—being completely gutted.
The fire appears to have been the work of an incendiary as a pile of stuff in the centre of a room had been ignited, and the attention of Inspector da Silva and some soldiers passing at the time was called to it before even the whole of the room in which it originated was consumed.
No water could however be procured and in the few minutes which necessarily elapsed between its discovery and the arrival of a supply it had spread to the adjoining houses whose flimsily built inflammable verandahs offered every encouragement to the flames.
With praiseworthy promptitude the police were at once despatched to the scene, nearly every European, official and unofficial in the Colony hastening there also as soon as they learned of the threatened danger.
A strong detachment of troops was immediately marched to the ground with engines, and armed sentries were placed at every available corner to repress riot, while a detachment of the Ceylon rifles consisting of 50 rank and file, 2 Sergeants and one native officer under the command of Captain Macdonald and Ensign Collens was despatched to the mint to guard against any attempt at looting that establishment.
Shortly after the fire had begun to assume alarming proportions, His Excellency the Governor and his Aide de camp arrived at the spot, and not content with directing others gave manual help encouraging every one to the utmost exertion.
It is impossible to speak in too high terms of the zeal and energy displayed by every European present.
The acting Superintendent of Police and his officers were especially active.
Those who could do nothing else pulled at the ropes fastened to buildings it was desirable to remove; Others relieved the soldiers at the pumps and some whose conduct is deserving of the highest praise went into dangerous places to break out verandahs or hitch ropes to their supports.
We simply refrain from mentioning the names of several well-known residents who distinguished themselves by their courage and energy.
$2
our own attention was necessarily confined to one portion of the fire and we should unavoidably omit the names of many who in other parts of the town rendered equal help.
The navy was in no way behind the sister service.
Every ship present sent its fire brigade and Jack rendered good aid.
The European prisoners were also marched out of the Gaol and manned a powerful engine in good style.
Afloat, the P. & O. Company's steam fire engine was brought into play and till one o'clock A.M., proved most useful being ably backed by the personal efforts of the employés of that company.
The further extension of the fire to the westward of the point we have mentioned was mainly prevented by the effective way in which the Royal Engineers blew up a corner house next to Mr Riach's wood yard while a similar service was performed by another detachment somewhat more to the Eastward.
Had Mr Riach's yard caught fire the loss would have been infinitely greater than it was.
The P. & O. Company's coal, amounting to some thousands of tons, was lying to the Eastward of the yard and had it begun to blaze nothing could have been done to extinguish it.
The scene, looking down the principal street gutted, was of a description to which the pen of a reporter can do but faint justice.
It presented the appearance of a magnificent furnace blazing on both sides, and a quarter of a mile in length.
Every now and then as some oil store caught fire bursts of vivid flame, would dart upwards actually illuminating the Peak, and reflecting their lurid light on the vessels in the harbour.
At 3 A.M. the fire burst out with renewed fury, and it was soon found that the engine jets were but mere squirts to stop the progress of the flames, and, very properly, attention was chiefly devoted to pulling down, and blowing up houses at different points.
It is reported that three Chinese were severely injured by the falling in of a wall and it is suspected that some were killed.
The loss of life if any is however as yet uncertain.
We notice that the report furnished by the Mercury alludes to the want of organization, and uselessness of the black police.
As none were stationed near the Praya end of the blazing houses, the defects it alludes to did not come under our observation.
Some of the sailors, probably men on leave, were intoxicated but were not riotous to any extent.
In conclusion while heartily congratulating our fellow colonists on the courage and zeal shown by all classes of Europeans, we cannot but draw attention to the churlish refusal of help or material on the part of the natives.
After seeing the utter selfishness and disregard of the interests of their fellow countrymen exhibited by all the Chinese looking on, the looting and pillaging going forward and the utter uselessness of those who were, in some cases, compelled to lend a hand, we cannot but hope that some regulations will be made making it a punishable offence to refuse the use of their strength or their property in a similar case.
Messrs Quok Acheong and Woheng are we believe the chief losers by the fire.
We learn that their property was only partially insured.
We may add that it is stated on good authority that natives were seen running about with firebrands and deliberately setting fire to houses which the flames had left untouched.
The British Hotel was only saved from destruction by its verandahs being torn down;
7 P.M. The fire is still smouldering amongst the ruins.
During the afternoon a party of Royal engineers have been engaged in blowing up portions of the walls still standing.
The 3 Chinamen taken to the hospital are not expected to live.
It is believed that no lives had been lost.
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