FIRES AND FIRE BRIGADE
CONTINUATION.
In the meantime a detachment of troops from the Ceylon Rifles, consisting of 50 men, under the command of Capt. Macedon and Ensign Collens, was sent to the Mint to guard it against looting.
When the fire assumed grave proportions and threatened to wipe out the whole business section of the city, His Excellency the Governor (Sir Richard MacDonnell) accompanied by his A.D.C. arrived at the spot and not content with directing others, His Excellency gave manual help and encouraged the hundreds of volunteers to the utmost exertions.
"It is impossible" said a contemporary newspaper, referring to the fire "to speak in too high terms of the zeal and energy displayed by every European present.
Naval and military detachments did splendid work.
Every warship in the harbour sent its fire-fighting equipment; even the European prisoners in the gaol were marched to the fire and it is stated they manned a powerful engine in fine style".
309
At 1 a.m., when a disaster of the first magnitude threatened the P. and O. Company's fire float was brought into action, but like all the other fire-fighting units it was unable to stop the onwards rush of the flames.
About 2 a.m., the exhausted fire fighters imagined they saw victory ahead, but they were soon disappointed. Stocks of oil in some of the shops lent fresh vigour to the flames.
It was an awe-inspiring, terrifying but magnificent sight. Every ship in the harbour was discernible in the terrific glare and Victoria Peak was literally bathed in light.
It was not until 3 a.m., when the fire threatened Riach's timber yards at the eastern extremity and the P. and O. Company's coal dump in a westerly direction, that the Royal Engineers decided to take drastic action. Charges of explosive were laid under two houses adjoining the timber yards and coal dump, and an effective fire break was established by blowing both houses to pieces.
Efforts were then concentrated on saving the timber and the coal, for it was realised that if the fire secured a hold on these highly inflammable materials, there would be little hope of saving the rest of the city.
The fire break was successful. As dawn broke, jets of water were extinguishing the last dying embers in a ruined street.
Several Chinese lost their lives in the fire and a number of fire-fighters were injured by falling debris. The damage is stated to have exceeded one million dollars.
The drawing of the fire published below, appeared in the Illustrated London News in 1866. It gives a good idea of the type of building destroyed.
ILLUSTRATION
Page 40
Page 41
FIRES AND FIRE BRIGADE
CONTINUATION.
In the meantime a detachment of troops from the Ceylon Rifles, consisting of 50 men, under the command of Capt. Macedon and Ensign Collens, was sent to the Mint to guard it against loot- ing.
When the fire assumed grave proportions and threatened to wipe out the whole business section of the city, His Excellency the Governor ( Sir Richard MacDonnell ) accompanied by his A.D.C. a rrived at the spot and not content, with directing others His Excellency gave manual help and encouraged the hun- dreds of volunteers to the uhmost exertions.
"It is impossible " said a contemporary newspaper, refer- ring to the fire" to speak in too high terms of the zeal and energy displayed by every European present.
Naval and military detachments did splendid work.
Every warship in the harbour sent its fire-fighting equipment; even the European prisoners in the gaol were marched to the fire and it is stated they manned a powerful engine in fine style ".
309
At 1 a.m., when a disaster of the first magnitude threatened the P. and 0. Čompany's fire float was brought into action, but like all the other fire-fighting units it was unable to stop the onwards rush of the flames.
About 2 a.m., the exhausted fire fighters imagined they saw victory ahead, but they were soon disappointed. Stocks of oil in some of the shops lent fresh vigour to the flames.
It was an awe-shspiring, terrifying but magnificent sight. Every ship in the harbour was discernible in the terrific glare and Victoria Peak was literally bathed in light.
It was not until 3 a.m., when the fire threatened Riach's timber yards at the eastern extremity and the P. and P. Company's coal dump in a westerly direction, that the Royal Engineers decided to the take drastic action. Charges of explosive were laid under two houses adjoining the timber yards and coal dump, and an effective fire break was established by blowing both houses to pieces.
Efforts' were then concentrated on saving the timber and the coal, for it was realised that if the fire secured a hold on these highly inflammable materials, there would be little hope of saing the rest of the city.
The fire break was successful. As dawn broke, jets of water. were extinguishing the last dying embers in a ruined street.
Several Chinese lest their lives in the fire and a number offire-fighters were injured by falling debris. The dandge is stated to have exceeded one million dollar.
The drawing of the fire k published below, appeared in the Illustrated London News in 1866. It gives a good idea of the type of building destroyed.
IL L LU
$
ni
T R A TI O O N
Page 40Page 41
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