The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-17 00:00:00

CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

[lt is clearly established, beyond the shadow of a doubt
that the unfortunate people themselves have been the
principal and only cause of this terrible calamity over-
taking them.. Had our municipal authorities earned out
the law, relating to the construction of wooden buildings
with effect, this burning would not assuredly have taken
place. The moment the fire commenced to gain headway
it would exceed superhuman effort to control or check it.
The streets in some places exhibited the most awful
appearance. Perfect whirlwinds of fire might be seen in
every direction—there being no efficient obstacle to offer
as a barrier to the progress of the terrible devastation.
The fire can be traced to but one cause—wooden buildings;
and while this particular description of tenement is
tolerated, we must only expect occasional occurrences
such as the one we are called upon to relate.
A correspondent, writing on May 27, adds the following
details :—" I learn through Mr. Tremblay, M.P., for
Chicoutimi, who has just returned from the burning dis-
trict at Saguenay, that the fire in its ravages swept every-
thing before it, and has left the large number of families
already reported in absolute poverty and ruin. The fire
travelled in a circuitous direction, covering over 1,500
miles in superficies, and 100 miles from one extreme point
to the other, from Lake St. John to Chicoutimi. Poor
people who were so unexpectedly driven from their happy
and comfortable homes, had to seek shelter in swamps
and underground places, as every building standing within
the march of the fire was levelled to the ground. Some
instances of the suffering which the inhabitants had to
endure are painful to contemplate. One poor
woman who had only passed through the ,pains
of child-birth a few hours before the fire reach-
ed her domicile, was removed, with her new-born
infant, by her husband to a swamp, where she
[ passed the night alone. Her husband had returned to
) the house to save some of his wearing apparel, but found
in the meantime the . fire had cut off the communication
with the swamp where his wife had sought shelter.
Another man, finding escape impossible, jumped into his
well, where he passed the whole night and part of the
following day, while the fire swept over his head, where
the heat at times became so intense that he was compelled
occasionally to slip below the surface of the water to
avoid being scorched. A number of families sought shel-
ter on the lake shore, but were compelled to wade into
it over the waist, as the fire in its ravages had burnt up
everything down to the very edge of the water. The
Ministers of the local government have been applied to
for assistance, and it is probable that a steamer
will be despatched to the scene of the fire with provisions
and other necessaries to supply the temporary wants of
the unfortunate people. Mr. Tremblay states that, as
far as can be ascertained, six grown up persons and two
children have lost their lives."

The rumour that the Small Arms Factory at
Enfield is to be removed to Woolwich turns out to be
unfounded. The present situation of the factory, where
it has grown from a mere workshop is most incon-
venient ; but the expense of removing its enormous and
intricate machinery will not permit of the proposed
change.

AN AUDACIOUS ROBBERY.
One evening at the end of May two foreigners registered
at the St. Nicholas Hotel as Carlo Dejalis and Josef
Cheval, Philadelphia, and the first being assigned t°
Room No. 450, the latter was given No. 449, both on the
fifth floor. The men were travel-stained, and had no bag'
gage except a common black carpet-bag. Both spoke
with a foreign accent, and both were of about the same
height, five feet eight inches. Dejalis was about 40, with
dark complexion, and dark moustache and goatee mixed,
with gray, while Cheval was only about 27 years old, h.!-1!
also was of dark complection with jet black moustaeads,
and side whiskers. The next day, about two o'clo
Dejalis called at the office of Joseph E. Isaacs, dianmn,.
broker, at No. 57, East Thirteenth-street, and stated that
he had a lot of diamonds and jewelry at the St. Nichola•,?
Hotel, which he had brought from Cuba, which he desired.
Mr. Isaacs to call and examine with a view to purchasillg
them. This Isaacs promised to do. According to tue
appointment one morninghe went to the hotel, and, shelving
the card which Dejalis had left him, was shewn up to IC°'
450 by one of the hall boys. Dejalis was in the room
when he entered, and, asking him to be seated, went out,
saying he was going to get the stuff. Presently he,re-
turned with a carpet-bag, and fumbling at the lock wit° 34
key, pretended he could not open it, and at last propose
that he should call on Isaacs, at his office, at eleven &cloak.
To this Isaacs answered that, having come there, he pre-
ferred to examine the articles there, whereupon Deialle,_
asking tin be excused for a moment, went out again, "fit
almost stantly returned with Cheval. Isaacs now or
the first time became alarmed, and started for the door
with the intention of leaving, but was intercepted by
Cheval, who displayed a large dagger and threatened to
kill him if he made the least outcry. At the sanle
moment Dejalis seized him, and made any noise upon his
part impossible by thrusting his fingers into his mouth,
while the other man clapped over his mouth Asat
towel, seemingly saturated with chloroform. -3
the same instant he was thrown to the floor,
and stupefaction immediately ensuing, he remembers
nothing more of the proceedings of his assail
ants. When he recovered consciousness, which
was after a lapse of about twenty-five minutes, he was
alone in the room, and lying on the floor, bound hand and
foot. The gag, however, was off his mouth, and W.
making vigorous use of his voice for about ten minutes,
he attracted the attention of the carpenter of the house,
who happened to be on the floor fixing the locks. This
person coming to the door of No. 450, found it locked,
but the cries for assistance continuing, he burst it open,
and found Isaacs in the condition described. Upon an
examination he found that 200 dols. in money and a di
mond ring had been stolen from his person, but the
desperate thieves, singularly enough, lrft him his watch
and chain and a diamond brooch, which was in his pocket.
His personal injuries were not serious, being confined to
a swollen lip and a slightly-injured eye. The case was
immediately reported to the hotel authorities, and Detec-
tive Kealy, the house officer, made instant search for the
desperadoes, but they had long before departed, leavill
their bag behind them, whi4 being opened, was four
to contain nothing of value. The case was reported to
Captain Kelso, of the Central Detectives, who iitune"
diately started experienced officers upon the trail of the
thieves, but as yet without any success.