New-York tribune., 1867-01-07
JAPAN.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT YoKoHAMA-GREAr LOSS OF
LIFE AND pRoPERTY-THE AMERICAN CONSULATE
puupING AND ARCHIVES CoNsUMED-SCARcIfY
OF FOoD-THE NEW TYCOON AS RULER.
BY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE
SAN Francisco, JAM 2-The bark Archibald, from
Yokohama, JAPAN arrived last night. Files of The
Japan Herald and Times Of Dec have been received
Roth papers give accounts OF great fire which oe-
Cured at Yokohama on the %th OF November by
which two-thirds of the native town and quarters
and the best and most important part Vi 'no ioi0s"
settlement were destroyed. ..u4
The fire commenced in q cook shop, in street
leading from Beutch dori to TOshlwarra the IaIler
place is on the Peninsula and contained great ians
hahitations of Japanese women The fire spread
rapidly and there being only one bridge eamihg rom rom
il great destruction OF life took place; as al ouo ewo
isolated buildings were destroyed: lhe Japanese
report finding 35 bodies, but further examination
of the burned district adds largely TO the humpeI @
The greatest confusion prevailed uuilhe uie & nv,
store-keepers in some instances literally. baIr1cadng
the streets in front of their premises WITH gOOds
thereby putting stop TO travel and causing many
deaths from crushing among the eiI%S OTS Sronsv "
the fire swept rapidly through the native setted por
tion of Yokohama, and thence communicated 10 tne
foreign quarters. .s .,.o
flames by the use of water and by blowing up Dhh-
ii0s but in vain until nearly onethlrd OF tne stores
and dwellings of the business firms were desii0ySu.
The "go-downs," or store houses OF many Oh tne
principal business firms were destroyed as Wen as
many public dwellings, Early i'll the day detaen-
menfs of sailors and marines were landed nom lhe
Vessels of the British fleet lying in the harbor, who
at first worked well under the control OF tDelr OIL
GERS but getting access 10 liquor, became peIie@Jy LILY
mnanageabe. From striving to save properly, tney
turned their attention to pundenng; and roDDeries
of the bOldest nature We're committed while the own
ers of property were standing helpless to prevent
Among the losses by the fire and destruction were
the archives of the United States Consulate lnese
were rescued by Consul FISHER from his office ana
al al IN hou doll wa which
also DESTROYED. A large portion OF the archiNes OF
other Consuates well as the French oice were de
Tie bonded warehouse filled with goods, under the
suDerintendence of Mr.. SeaTle, was destroyed loss
100000 The new house built for the American con,
sulate was also consumed The whole range ol oIl
Consulate bnildimgs-French, American, prusslan
and Engsi--the ost-Officc, with nearly all the ya-
liable private residences-Jardin, Matthews " 20. 8
and otheIs--were destroyed by the conllagIatlon'
Among the sufferers Augustine Heard & 20. r.
NJ Van Reed, Jardin Mathewson q Co.,, ana I@oi' @
Fisher TIE fire-proof buildings OF lex ler N 70.
and the French Hospital are among the Duhdnlgs
mentioned az saved. . g.
The fire put an end to all business for time Some
articles had advanced on account Oh the aige g;,- ;,
ings yarns comie etc. The latter IS Deld at ~ 10
SD 900 picus of tea were burnt The agents OF the
fire insurance companies held meeting, when u was
ascertained that the aggregate losses amounted ~ 70
81 100000 The Herald estimates the tOal loss ol te
natives and foreigners at between three ana -FOUR li
lions of dollars. The Times remarks that III woulu DO
folly TO sneak of the disaster overwhelming be-
conse fhe trade of the town is too elastic. and the
merchants are too energetic to justify any such eA-
preston. -,
Owing 10 the unsuccessful harvest of rice the lower
class OF the people suffering for food The Gov
ernment has removed the monopoly ON the sale, py
allowing foreign merchants to sell direct to con,
suIners Ii is believed that this permission 10 SeiI
food and importing largely of rice to save the liVes
of the common people, would do much 10 Deeet Il
better feeling between the Japanese and foreigners.
A smart shock of earthquake was felt at iokohama
the morning OF the 9th Ot November last pul Only
| trlfling damage was done
The war in South Japan had been stopped Tor the
present by the orders of Mikado. Chosln oDeyed
ihe order, declaring he had never fought against
Mikado but party unjustly opposed to HIM, 4.
slatabasbi the now Tycoon, Was devotlng ms time
TO the public business of Japan with an amount oi
ntelligence energy and earnestness seldom III ever
exhibited by the rulers Of japan. lie Was TO appear
before meeting of the great Dannos having telilo,
rial rights of their own. and define his purpose ana
policy to them He is in favor OF faithfully carrying
out the stpulations of treaties with foreign powers
Great benefits are expected tO be derived from the
meeting, as definite policy viii probably be de-
ternined OH. ~
A movement is being made 10 establish free hos
nital for foreigners at Yokohama. Considerable Ill
ness from low fyers and smallpox had been prevail
ing among the foreigners ut that port. =
Prince Satsuma had sent large collection OF curl
osies and specimens OF produce III his IIONlhce 10
the Worlds Fair at Paris. m
The Owaris ad number of other sailing vessels
have been bought by the Government for the purpose
of taking rice from the South 10 Vsaki where 'ne
people are suffering for the want OF food.
Gen. Van Valkenburgh had gone TO Nagasaki, and
would shortly return in the Wyoming.
The Hartford had gone to visit Chinese ports anu
would not return under one year.
CHINA