The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-21 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY FIRE AT THE IMPERIAL

CIRCUS.
(rsoir ova ow. 0011111SPONDIXT.)

PARIS, FRIDAY Eviwuco.

The note in the Mfmiteur;though studiously
barren of dates, is generally understood in Paris as
referring to proposals of peace subsequent to, and
differing from, those which the Prussian Moniker,
according to the telegrams of the day, states to have
been already refused by Prusia. What is now in
question are bases of peace accepted by Prussia
and tendered to Austria. Great confidence is ex-
pressed at the Foreign-office that Austria will
yield, and there are rumours this evening that she
has already agreed to the armistice.
The Bourse, under the favourable impression of
the news of the day, was buoyant. Rente rose
45c. for cash, and 40c. for account, closing at
68fr. 70c. in each case. Mobilier rose 22fr. 50c. ;
and Italian, lfr. 55c. Railways were from 2fr. 50c.
to sfr. higher.
The Champs Klys4es to-day, at the hour when it
is thronged by nursery maids and children taking
their morning airing, was the scene of a frightful
catastrophe. At 10 o'clock a vast body of flame
and smoke was seen to issue from the
west front of the well-known circus called
the Cirque de l'lmpemtrice, and a moment
after it seemed as if the whole building
were on fire. Simultaneously the roar of horses
in intense agony was heard. A few momenta after-
wards several horses broke loose from their stalls,
galloped wildly about the Champs Elys4es, scaring
the promenaders. Mr. Batty's troop of wild
beasts was in the building, and it is
fearful to think what might have been the conse-
quences had the old lions got loose. They happily
remained in their iron cage. But the spectators
attracted by the flames were astonished to see
grooms running across the causeway carrying in
their arms six lion cubs who were consigned for
safe custody to the care of a tavern-keeper oppo.
site. The cause of the accident was that a barrel
of carburet, a substance used to purify and improve
gas, while being rolled downstairs into the cellars
of the circus, broke, and the contents run.
ning out, by some means caught fire. The
consequence was an explosion which in a moment
set fire to the straw, hay, and all the combustible
materials in the stable. Several men, women, and
children (some say as many as 14, but the reports
vary) were injured and carried to the Hopital
Beaujon. Two children are not expected to live.
Five horses were dreadfully burnt. Their flesh
was seen peeling off them in lumps of several pounds
weight. Four were taken off and shot at once.
The fire was soon got under, and the damage to the
building is not very great. The performances are
expected to be resumed to-morrow.

Several cases of cholera have recently occurred
in Paris. One awful instance has greatly
afflicted American residents. Miss Harback, a
young lady from New York, who on Wed-
nesday evening was riding in the Bois
do Boulogne full of health and spirit., was seized
with cholera in the course of the night at the
Hotel Wagram, in the Rne de Rivoli.
Drs. Trosaaeau and Beylard were called
in, but in spite of their efforts the
patient died in 24 hours. She was engaged to be
married to a Mr. Lockwood, who is now in St.
Petersburg, and can only know his loss by tele-
graph. The funeral took place to-day. A vast
number of American resident., including Mrs.
Bigelow, attended.

" Faaraionat Wu."—The following obituary

announcement appears in the lice Gazette of Hanover,
signed by Madame Heinichen :—" My youngest son, Her-
mann Heinichen, captain in the 3rd Regiment of Hano-
verian Infantry, died the death of a hero at Langenaalas
on the 27th of June ; and my second son, Chas. Heinichen,
lieutenant-oolonel of Dragoons in the Prussian army, was

killed by a b►ll ►t the head of his regiment in a cavalry
encotuitar."