The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-12-07

TuRxtsu FrRgMES. Pera, opposite Con-
stantinople, suffered greatly by ire IN
Angust last. DESTROYING all the residences
If f6s Foreirn ambassadors at the Sublime
port. who reside Mt Pera, and 10000 other
houses. with a great loss of property. An
eve witness giving an account VI 'lie he'
says" You will ask, are there no nrenis"
or engines in place where ihere Is suci AZ
awful loss of life and properly Amos. every
year? | answer, that there 10 numerous
corps Of Trombadgs, the most active 81, ana
efficient iremen in the WORM. ney are
naked 10 the waist, and wear on tneH hea"s
inverted copper basins as their oaiy pre'ec-
lion YOU see them in the streets rushing
to the fires with their engines and' IN in're-
pitlity, skill and muscular vlgor' they are I'M
equalled. one day saw a number OF them
on a burning wall directing their pipes
against a house they were determined to
save and while they played on the tire,
another set below were wholly employed IN
PLAYING on them, to keep them cool and wet
in the midst Of the flames. If these fellows
were under proper regulation, they would
be the most efficient body i'll the world; but
they have no law hut their own will and
cupidity. They sit idly OH their engines
before the burning houses, with their max
ed arms folded on their breasts, and the
tubes of their implements decorated with
flowers, and if no one offers them money,
they will continue their inactivity in the
Iudst of the fire. l one day saw man
who was exceedingly anxious about his
property, earnestly entreat them to play
upon his house, that was Just opposite.
They continued insensible and ipiexible,
till one of them whispered in the mans ear
his whisper was returned !; they Immediate
ly started and with a fierce and frightful
energy, rushed into the fire and soon sub
dued il. The man had promised them
10000 piastres.
at is supposed that, if similar offers had
been made BY the respective missions, all
the palaces would have been saved hut
there was no one 10 Pera to make the offer,
and the Trombadgis did not, and would not,
expend spoonful of water to put them out.
Indeed, it is generally considered that the
Turks were really well pleased at this con-
flagration of the Franks property. They
did not seem disposed to give the slightest
aid to extinguish it. The Seraskier and
Galata Effendi, as official persons, were
riding TRANQUILITY about. They entered the
English palace gardens, quietly looked on
the fire, and walked out again. They
went into several Frank houses in Pera
street, where they sat smoking and drink
ing coffee till the FIRE drove them out, and
no entreaty of the owners could induce
them to direct the Trombadgis to exercise
their engines.
at is rather remarkable that most of the
fires which happen here, occur in the day
time, and occur from smoking morning
pipes-the contents of which The Turks Of
ten throw out on dry mat. and leave it to
itself. From this circumstance it happens,
that comparatively few lives are lost. In
this present confagration, which consumed
the residences of eighty thousand people, but
twelve lost their lives, and half of then
were killed by the falling in Of the walls
after the fire had burnt down."