The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-02-23


One ofhe destructive reswhich occur almost annually
in Canton during the cold and dry season. occurred on
Tuesday last and regret to entirely
destroy ed the Danish and Spanish hong and portion oil
the French The fire first observed from the factories
between six and o'clock of Tuesday evenings 1t
then at considerable distance in ,urec-
ton from the factories, but the wind blowing also from
that quarter il assumed threatening appearance
The flames spread with great rapdity and extended
vast extent of the suburbs of the city. The foreign
hongs by about midnight in imminent danger and it
at time feared that the whole Of them wOnld be
destroyed little alter midnight the fire reached the
northwestern most factory and soon spread along the
whole of the Danish and Spanish hongs and new China
street. which totally destroyed and had the direc-
ton ofthe wind not most providenaly changed TO due
north, little doubt can be entertained that all the other
hongs would have shared the fate The wind avert
ed This calamity and drove the fire towards the river de-
srcy ing ything in its way until exhausted from want
of further fuel tho rivers hank At about six
o'clock Of Wednesday morning it had nearly burnt
itself out, and was got completely under by eight
said to have been destroyed with vast amount Of pro-
perty The ancient temple OF PAX taimcun, dedicated to
the God of the Norihpole shared the fate ofs humber
neighbors. Fortunately the fire had given sufficient
timely notice to the inmates Of the foreign factories TO
able them to their treasure and most valuable effects
boats tho river which was effected with little
moesatioD, some pilferng Of course excepted. From
the shipping Mt Whampoa the flames had been seen and
| the boats Of II Dido, under the command Of the
Hon Capt Keppell without loss Of time sent to the
scene oil the disaster containing about60 including %
marines Most of tho merchant ships also their no
and the first of which American vessels reach
ed Canton at about three O'Clock in the morning The
Ddo's and othor ships employed In pro-
tectng the Property that being shipped off there
Of course As always the such occasions
in China great number Of thieves present. who tried to
profit during the confusion; of them caught by
marine in carrying off plumber but being seized
struck the marine with dagger. slightly wounding him
in the face, and was shot dead by the marine The Chi
soldery and police mustered also very strong and
summary punishment is said TO have been inflicted by
them considerable number of offenders BY this "a
lamity the foreign community at Canton is now reduced
between six Hongs only, which Of
altogether insufficient for their necessities. II is much
be hoped that great portion of the ground cleared BY
the FIRE will be bought by foreign merchants, and their
houses erected thereon particularly that part where
stood formerly the many eating houses leading down
the rivers edge, and which have all been destroyed
Tho British Consulate burnt out but the papers were
saved
fFrom Canton Press Nov. Al
Since the great fire in Canton Of which gave an 40
last week several smaller fires have taken place
One occurred in the night OF 29h to 30h u and caused
considerable anxiety to The inmates Of the six factories
still lef standing About 100 houses destroyed.
dreadful accident happened to Cochn.Chinese ship
anchored of Howquas fort about midway between
Whampoa and Canton II seems she had laden great
quantity Of Chinsss fireworks and powder and by some