The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-18 00:00:00

GREAT FIRE IN CONSTANTINOPLE.

One of the most extensive and disastrous fires
that have visited Constantinople for many mouths
past broke out on Monday, the 9th inst., in an old
flour mill in lumar-Bazaar, Kassim Pasha, and,
under the influence of a brisk north-west wind,
spread rapidly to the adjoining houses, the whole of
which were wooden, and speedily became enveloped
in flame. In little more than twenty minutes the
conflagration had extended to the large baths and
the flour mills of the quarter, and from them to
Chiatmamedjid, Yahya-kehaja, and Uzoun7yol—
literally licking up house after house, as the blaz-
ing tide rolled on before the wind. The extreme
narrowness of the streets, or rather alleys—
which at many points were literally only wide
enough for two persons to pass at a time—im-
mensely aided the progress of the flames, and the
houses being—owing both to their age and the long
summer heat—as dry as tinder, the engulphment of
the whole in the fiery flood was the work of almost
less time than we have taken to tell it. Half a
score of the miserable engines which form the only
provision of the kind as yet known to the capital,
were speedily on the spot, but in spite of their
puny irrigation the flames rapidly advanced to-
wards the quadrangle facing the marine barracks,
and seized on the local station of the toluombafres
(fire-men) and the large depot of charcoal imme-
diately behind the barracks. A few minutes suf-
ficed to consume this couple of buildings, and it
speedily became evident that little short of a miracle
could save the barracks themselves. So intense
was the heat that the lead on the dome of the
small mosque attached to the latter melted, an d
ran down the walls in a stream of liquid fire,
which severely scalded more than one of
the dense crowd of would.be salvors of the
building. At this juncture, when the barracks
were virtually resigned as a prey to the
flames, two figures were seen on the roof of the
building, so near to the rolling flood of fire that it
coruscated round them like a nimbus, threatening
at each moment to suck one or both into the blazing
abyss. They were instantly recognised as the Sul-
tan and the Capitan Pasha, and the effect on the
labouring crowd of soldiers, sailors, and firemen
was absolutely electrical. In a few seconds the
roof of the barracks was covered with eager com-
batants of the flames, and his Majesty was actually
forced back out of the imminent danger into which
his humane zeal had thus drawn him. The whole
force of the engines was then turned on the bar-
racks and the adjoining provision stores, and in
less than half an hour all danger to this important
pile of buildings was averted. From that point the
Sultan proceeded up the valley to the scene of
the disaster's more successful activity amongst the
dwellings of the poor people who were doomed to
lose their all by the calamity. It is no courtly
exaggeration to say that his Majesty literally ex-
posed himself like a common fireman, and largely
contributed, by his example and his directions, to
the ultimate reduction of the conflagration. Seve-
ral of the chief Ministers were also on the spot
soon after the outbreak of the flames, his Highness
the Grand Vizier being the first, followed speedily
by the Seraskier, and Admiral Mustapha Pasha,
the reit; of the Arsenal. Though the fire broke
out about 1 p.m. the Sultan did not leave the
scene of the disaster till nearly 7 o'clock, when
the demolition of several houses in the line
of the flames finally arrested their progres s
The usual happy peculiarity of Constanti-
nople fires has, fortunately, to be here again
reported ; great as was the destruction of houses,
no lives were lost. In the falling down of one of
the houses demolished to stop the flames, the
Seraskier, Mehemet Ruchdi Pasha, was struck by
a falling beam, and wounded in the head. His
Highness was promptly carried up to Mr. Ottoni's,
and there received all needful attention. The in-
jury, we are now happy to learn, was but slight,
and the Pasha was yesterday able to resume his
duties at the Seraskeriat. The official returns of
the calamity report 352 houses, 318 shops, 2 baths,
3 schools, 2 flour mills, 1 oil do., 3 mosques, 1 fire-
men's barrack, and,one charcoal store, as destroyed
by the fire. The sufferers from the calamity are
for the present camped in the Petit Champs, in
tents provided by the Government, by which also
supplies of food and other necessaries have also been
furnished by the Sultan's orders."

A LIFEBOAT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

ORMSBY, NEAR GREAT YARMOUTH,
July 17.
The Caistor, lifeboat, belonging to the National
Lifeboat Institution, was yesterday lying on the
beachrreadyfor immediate service duringthis stormy
weather. About 2 p.m. we were visited by a very
heavy lthunderstorm, accompanied by terrific
flashes of lightning, which struck the lifeboat. The
electric fluid appears to have entered, at the mizen-
masthead, and proceeded downwards to the iron
keel. No injury is done to the boat. The mast-
-25ft. long—appears as if burst from head to heel,
and a long splinter driven out of it. Two men.
Robert George, age about 73, and James Webster,
about 36, and also two boys, Wickerson and
Goulden, between five and six yews old, were
taking shelter under the bow of the boat from a
very heavy shower of rain and hail, and were ren-
dered insensible for a short time. Mr. Palmer, of
Yarmouth, and Dr. Woodman, of Ormsby,. were
shortly in attendance, and under their care the
sufferers are likely to do well. George's injuries
are in the leg and foot, which are scorched in
several places. This morning he is able to leave
his bed. Webster's arm is lacerated, and the sleeve
of his coat was torn to some extent. He is well
enough to visit Yarmouth this morning.
seemed stunned more than hurt. Some hair on the
top of Wickerson's head was singe Thed
and his
cap boys
o different
past winter and spring, ren.
mportant services ever
driven off. This valuable lidfeebroeadtonhats, during
wi the
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occasions come of the most
1 suffering hum,
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tahnei t yb,r
iags
the crews of sixteen men
performed by a lifeboat to
schooner
Sisters, of Whitby, andhooner Trial, of Poole,Bbueffloeiri
can testif:

The eon of the late Prince of Capua, uncle to the
,is about to enter the Italian army. The
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S:veirtewill be remembered, gave in his adhesion to
Victor Emmanuel soon after his nephew was-forced to quit
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daetpeo Ps deposed
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and amply recompensed,