The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-11 00:00:00

AN INDIAN TOWN DESTROYED

BY FIRE.
(From the Calcutta Star.)
The following is an extract of a letter from Rangoon,
dated the 29th of January, giving an account of a terri-
ble fire which occurred there o❑ the previous day. It
should perhaps be stated that the edifices are without
exception constructed of wood, end consequently during
the dry season are much more inflammable than at any
ether time:—

" I may in truth say, ' Rangoon is no more!' Yester-
day, at 11 A. 31., a dreadful conflagration broke out-in the
heart of the town, utterly defying every measure put in
force to check its progress. The Custom-house, Main
Wharf, Armenian Church, and the principal merchants'
houses, are tetaliy destroyed; whole streets of great
length present to the view heaps of ashes, and so com-
plete have been the destructive effects of the fire that
old inhabitants have difficulty in pointing out the site of
their former residences. It is estimated on a rough cal-
culation that at least 2,000 houses have been utterly de-
stroyed, aced the loss of property at the lowest estimate
amounts to fully 30 lacs of rupees, while that of
life is incalculable. The Ere extended 'about two
miles in length and one in breadth, and in its
fearfully rapid progress communicated to a number
of country cargo-boats loaded with inflammable goods
of considerable value. From these the fire ex-
tended to the shipping in the river. Nine vessels,
of which five had completed their lading, were burnt to
the water's edge, and the remainder barely escaped de-
struction by slipping their cables and anchoring on the
Dana side of the water. The schooner Thane, the pro-
perty of Messrs. Crisp and Co., had a most narrow
escape, but by the skill and coolness of her commander
and officers was extricated from her dangerous position.
Surrounded by burning vessels, her foresail and top-
gallant sail took fire, and were speedily burning from
their respective yards; her bulwarks also caught in
several places, but the flames were soon extinguished,
and lam happy to say that she escaped in safety. Ia
toe neighbourhood of the Armenian Church the fire
raged with inconceivable fury. Scarcely an article of
any description could be saved, so rapid was the progress
of the flames. A large portion of the natives saved
themselves from destruction by rushing into the river,
where they remained, deaf to every entreaty made to
them to strive to arrest the progress of the devouring
element. At 10 P.N. the Custom-house, in which was
stored a large quantity of gunpowder, blew up with a
tremendious explosion, causing death and destruction
fa: and near; in fact, with the exception of a few mean
huts in the suburbs, scarcely a single house remains of
what once formed the large and thriving town of Ran-
goon. It is out of the power of language to express the
misery and destitution that meet you on every side;
the eye beholds whole families crouching in ab-
ject dispair under the still smoking ruins, and thousands
who have saved scarcely sufficient covering for the pur-
poses of decency. A visitation so terrific in its nature
has never before been experienced in this town. Which-
ever way you turn, the half-consumed carcases of dogs,
pigs, and other domestic animals meet your gaze; it is
altogether the most complete scene of misery and deso-
lation that can be well conceived; and it will be many
years, I fear, ere Rangoon again assumes its former im-
portance as a trading port.
" The origin of this dreadful conflagration is some-
what remarkable. The Burmese ship Yathna ye Mahon
had just dropped anchor on her arrival from Calcutta,
when a native, induced by curiosity to see her, left a
handy of oil on the fire in his house, and betook him-
self to the Main Wharf for that purpose. During his
absence the fire by some means communicated with the
oil, and in an instant the house was in a blaze, which
speedily communicated to the adjoining habitations, and
in an incredibly short space of time the whole town was
wrapt in one body of flame. A strong easterly breeze
blowing at the time greatly aided the progress of the
fire, and rendered its extinction hopeless."

THE EXHIBITION.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.-NEW HIPPODROME

AT KENSINGTON.

The Royal Commissioners have received innumerable
applications from theatrical and equestrian 'managers,
show-folks, &c., for permission to erect in Hyde-park,
daring the " World's Fair," temporary theatres,
circuses, shows, and booths, but the Executive Com-
mittee have positively refused all such requests.
Among other managers who petitioned the Board
was Mr. Batty, the lessee of Astley's, for a site in
the park for the erection of a Hippodrome, after the
style of the celebrated one in the Champs Elysees at
Paris, but on a more extended scale, and tor which pri-
vilege he would contribute to the funds of the Com-
missioners five hundred guineas, but the offer was
declined. Mr. Batty has since become lessee of an ex-
tensive plot of ground admirably adapted for the purpose
at Kensington, near to the turnpike, and within a
few minutes' walk of the Crystal Palace, where a large
number of workmen are now actively employed on the
works, and from the estimates, models, and plans fur-
nisked by the architects, surveyors, builders, artists, and
machinists, it would appear that the Hippodrome will
cost little less than 6,0001. Mr. Batty had previously
made several extensive purchase of thorough-bred
horses, as at least eighty will be required for this new
curriculum, the ordinary trained horses for the circle not
being adapted for this peculiar description of enter-
tainment, so popular on the continent, but so little
known in this country, and he is now engaging a corps
of dashing ecuyires from Paris and the other prin-
cipal continental cities, as female equestrians take
the most prominent parts in the bold and daring
sports of the Hippodrome, and likewise a troupe of
fearless riders, native and foreign, for the Roman
chariot races, Olympian games, &c. Mr. Batty, how-
ever, will not be without rivals, as several well;known
equestrian managers are also in search of sites for
Hippodromes. Offers have been made to Mr. Wardell,
the director of Vauxhall Gardena by a French
troupe of riders, for the use of the Waterloo ground
for a day entertainment, similar to the one produced
some years since by the late Mr. Ducrow, but which
r• Wardell declined. The vacant plot of ground
in the York-road, Waterloo-road,' with the railway
in the rear, has also been eagerly sought after, but it is
understood that the South- Western Company, whose
property it is, have declined to negotiate for any such
purpose;experienced by speculators in obtaining ground in any
desirable locality.
The ilippod„„° at Kensington will, it is understood,
be opened by Mr. Batty,
for thev on the Ist of May, the day ap-
pointed°Petting f the Exhibition.
muZaEl OPERAS.
The en dit in
circles is, that her Majesty's
every
Theatre will be opened
night in the week for the
performance of Italian andgae German
four
operas, and the Royal
Barden, Italian Opera, Covent-
ooltufd
nights.like It was re-
ported that this establishment w
the six nights fur the representation of Italianwise be:°Pened
and French
operas.
THE THEATRES
AND Munct./. SALOONS.
.h
Every theatre and saloon is now let.
Strand Theatre, having been leased by mr.topellaaentd the
well-kn own Liverpool manager, while the
Grecian Saloon,'the
City-road, has been purchased of Mr. Rouse, for a
large sum, by Mr. Benj. Conquest, a very enterprising'?
g
gentleman, formerly lessee of the Garrick Theatre,
who
intends opening it on the 31st inst. in an improved'
style, and with entertainments of a very superior cha-
racter. At some of the " minors " the managers intend
reviving their Christmas pantomimes, a style of per-
formance with which foreigners are but little ac-
quainted.

VAUXHALL GARDENS.
This Methuselah of public gardens will likewise be
opened every night in the week, and on a most extended
scale of splendour, and worthy of the reputation Mr.
WardPli. its spirited director, has acquired. The illumina-
tions and fir=lworks will surpass in brillitney any previous
displays at the " royal property." Those fascinating
ecuyeres Palmyra Alamo, Pauline Cuzmt, and Madame
Lejars will grace the circle of the Rotunda Theatre.
The greet cornet-ii-piston player, M. Arban, from the