the Alliance has suffered; but we are informed that the Scottish Imperial was fortunate in escaping all loss from the fire.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
The fire which we have just experienced will long be remembered in Hongkong as one of the most disastrous which has ever occurred. It is wholly impossible to give an adequate estimate of the value of the property destroyed, but roughly it may fairly be taken at nearly two millions of dollars, as, independent of the value of the house property-which in itself must have been considerable, we have to take into account the numbers of Chinese whose little all has been destroyed, as well as the more valuable stock of the shop-keepers. The local insurance Offices are sufferers to a considerable amount, about $300,000 a $400,000. Hundreds if not thousands of families bare been rendered house. less and homeless. Independent of the severe los of property, the distress occasioned by this to us unparalleled ca- tastrophe must be tremendous. "The fire originated in a house at the Queen's Road end of Endicott Lane, The house Was ocenpled by ▲ European named Ed- ward Fisher, who was engaged in a small commission business. The alarm was given about 10.40 p.m. last night, at a time, moreover, when nearly all wero doubtless enjoying their Christmas dinner. The brigades nevertheless turned out with alacrity, and about a quarter of an hour after the alarm had been given one of the Government steam engines was got to work and a good stream of water was brought to play on the flames, which by this time had reached the Queen's Road and the adjoining and opposite houses in the laue the flames shooting into the air for several yards and throwing a lurid glare over the neighbourhood. Another engine, a band engine, was got to work on the Queen's Road side, but the puny efforts of the engines proved of no avail and lu was perfectly evident to almost everyone that nothing could save the adjoining buil- dings, but instantly pulling down or mine ing the next few houses. The wind was blowing fresh from the N. E. at the time and therefore the probable di-: rection of the fire could be easily judg- ed. That some one blundered there can be no two opinions, and some one was or ought to have been responsible; and it is scandalous that such gross mismanage- ment should be allowed to occur. The Chinese rabble who carry about lamps creating a disturbance by yelling and shouting, and the crowds of coolies and frightened tenants rushing to and fro carying loads of furniture, who are always to be found at fires in the part of the world, increased the confusion. The flames spread rapidly to the westward the honses in the Queen's Road opposite being in imminent danger, whilst in the lane the fire was creeping its way slowly but surely back towards the Praya. At- tention was at once directed to prevent the opposite honses catching, but the heat was ao intense that it was wholly impossible to stand in front of the burning buildings and direct a hose to the opposite side.
An im- promptu screen was held up so as to abate the glare and heat; this proceeding was however hopeless, and those in authority were strongly advised to pull down some of the adjoining houses or have them blown down. Urders and counter orders were given first by everybody, the fire meanwhile spreading rapidly. It was soon evident that the conflagration, unless some prompt measures were taken to stop its pro- gress, would become a dreadfully serious
Water
almost was
nseless and served but to intensify the heat, yet nothing was done, At 5 minutes past midnight the opposite side of Queen's Road caught fire at No. 98, and it was a mere question of time when the whole of the adjacent houses would be at the mercy of the flames. The direction which the fire took was very irregular, and some houses escap- edinjury most miraculously, This was owing of course in a great measure to the direc tion of the wind which varied considerably, and partly also to the construction of the houses. The fire appears to bave travelled gradually to the Queen's Road in a westerly
one.
aut.
direction and crept through to Tang Man Lane, thence it found its way by the Queen's Road to Wing in Lane and Gilman's Street where it made consider. able havoc, the whole of both streets be- ing nearly destroyed. At Gilman's Bazaar the fire was successfully fought by the tire men. On the south side of Queen's Road from the Stag Hotel to No. 96 was com pletely destroyed; Nos, 92, 94, and 94 A escaped unscathed and Nos. 82, 84, 86, 89 and 90 were free from damage by fire but suffered considerably at the hands of tose who destroyed to save, by baring the wood-work token away, The fire was less merciful to No. 80 although it was to the eastward of the P. & O. Company's gate, the limit of the fire on the south side, and it is only a. other instance of gross mismanagement as had the engines been brought to play on the lee side of the fre the spread of the flames in bis direction could have been easily prevented. Messrs Camasjae Pullarjee & Co.'s house in Put- tinger Street is another instance of fickle- hes on the part of the fiery element, the houses on either side being totally destroyed. Commodore Watson was on the ac-ue in uniform with a number of blus Jackets under Lient. Needham (who worked like a giant) who as usual worked most man- fully, what few there were of them but on account of it being Christmas night moat of the men were on shore on libery and it was impossible to collect them together for joint action under a recognized leader. The men of the Spanish transport Patino rendered good service, as did aleo zumbers of the troops the Artillery and Engineers were in readiness to destroy in order to save and were quite able to do it once they obtained the requisite au- thority it was evident that they were disgusted at the indecision displayed by those whose duty it was to Many of the 74th Highlanders worked splendidly and did good service, but we regret we are unable to say as much for all of them, as many acted most disgracefully, destroying property instead of saving it, looting and rolling about in a beastly state of intoxication from liquor obtained in many instances in a s mewbat doubtful manner during the fire. For the honor of the regiment, than which a better behaved has hitherto never been stationed here, we trust that the black sheep will be The drunkenness dealt severely wiib. might be overlooked as it may in a mea. sure be ascribed to the festive season of the year, but the looting is a matter which, besides tarnishing the good name of the regiment, is calculated to destroy the con fidence which the Chinese are always dis- : posed to place in Europeans on such occa- sions, General Donovan was also present in uuiform, besides many other notables. There was apparently 115
total want of organization throughout, everyone giving orders, and everyone else countermaud- ing them. The fire had the South side of Queen's Road well in hand by 20 minutes past 12, and a bugle was sound. ed to give the alarm to stand clear presum- ably as a warning that powder was about to be used, but unfortunately this was never done. Some would-be swart handa were engaged destroying property and throwing furniture into the street, which however well intentioned served no other purpose than forming a lead for the fire. The indecision displayed as to the advisability of using pow. der was to say the least of it most childish; the only objection appeared to be that a few lives might be lost, but with proper precau- tion such a possibility would be nearly im- possible. Two lives were, we believe, lost on the last occasion on which it was used. Five minutes to one Woo Cheong's photogra- pher's shop was on fire, and the Stag Hotel appeared to be doomed, but most miracu- lously to relate the wind suddenly shifted from N. E. round by N. to N. W., thus clearing the Stag, which got off with very Blight damage. Those in power soon be came aware of the folly they had been guity of in not blowing up sooner, but the fire was by this time licking its way in all directions, everyone appearing staggered at the immensity of the conflagration. The wind continued to blow very fresh with Occasional heavy squalls, and the dry sea- we have lately enjoyed had made every inflammablesubstance easily ignitible. That the brigades worked hard there could
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