The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-15
DISASTER.
Terrible Conflagration at CaIlao. s. A.

The N. Y. Irlbune's Callao correspondent,
writing under date OF August 10th, says:-
From the dawn OF 1868 Callao has been the
scene of tremendous calamities. The revolution
of January Redeemed her streets with the blood
OF her sons, aud in the following month the
yellow fever broke out with terrible malguity,
leaving many family in the depth of misery
and want. Scarce was she freed from the dread
epidemic which cut off in the midst of useful.
ness many OF her best citizens, when another
and more terrible calamity befel her. While
the people OF the city were yet in the greatest
CONSERVATION consequent upon the earthquake
and inundation, hre broke out, which COM
pleted the chapter of our calamities. 1t is i'm
possible to enter into description of the misery
which has seized the stoutest hearts, of busi-
ness 9araly yzed, and of families entirely ruined.
On the night of August IA, at 81 O'Clock, while
the population was menaced on one side by
repetition OF earthquakes, and on the other by
inUndatlon, and was hurrylng to and fro some
10 Lima and BallaVista, and others to other
points OF comparative safety, the alarm OF fire
was given. In company with few Others was
on the mole taking observations Of the rise and
fall of the sea (Which, let me here remark, still
continues agitated, rising and falling in every
half hour, sometimes to seven feet, and others
to three and four, above it's usual leveD when I
discovered flames issuing from the back part of
the Hotel de ConhanZa, in Commercial street.
This hotel bad been partially destroyed the
night before by the inundation, and was nearly
deserted. Immediately after the alarm was
gated and few of them went to work. The
front doors were forced, and the removal
of the furniture, etc., proceeded with. At this
stage OF the proceedings the military arrived,
and by their ignorance caused the ruin OF
halt the town, and placed the ether in Jeopardy.
The fire, as said, occurred in the back part of
the building, and had there been the simplest
management, the disasters which occurred,
would have been entirely prevented. The peo-
pie were removing the furniture, bedding and,
in fact, all articles that make up the stock OF a
hotel, to the Plaza or square, near by, when the
officer in charge ordered the things to be brought
back and piled up in front of the burning build
ing. number of persons demonstrated at this,
AMI said that as soon as the fire reached the
front part OF the building, the flames and falling
timbeIs would set the turniture in the streets on
IRE, and thereby fire the buildings on the other
side. To this very sensible argument no atten-
ton was paid, but an order was given to drive
back the people. Again and again attempts
were made 10 remove the articles, which now
formed an immense pile, but in vain; the mill
tary would not even allow solitary trunk to be
carried away by It's owner. The cOnse-
quences were just as was expected; in less
than half an hour the flames had complete con-
troll OF the building, and the balcon'e 'es in feW
moments fell into the streets, set fire TO the rub-
bish beneath, which soon communicated the
flames to liquor store on the other side. AT
this time Colonel Balta, the President, accom-
panied by his Ministers and q force OF cavalry
and infantry, arrived, and immediate orders,
when too late, were given TO remove the colec
tOn OF all klnuS OF artlcleS IN the street. Tne
only reason given for the action of the military
is, that 1t was to prevent robberies; but great
many other measures for this purpose could
have been adopted. The conduct OF the military
is strongly condemned. The flames now greatly
increased, and threatened, at one time, the
entire destruction OF the principal part OF the
city, and had it not been for the prompt arrival
of the French and Italian Fire Companies from
Lima, and the assistance from the ships-of.
war, the consequence would have been still
more disastrous. Rapidly the flames extended,
and were not subdued until nearly sixty build
ings were destroyed. To make confusion worse
contounded, there was no water to be had In
consequence of quarrel between the owner OF
the water (Mr. Gallagher) and the Corporation,
and before communication could be had with
| that gentleman we were almost without this
| necessary element. AT A. Nj. the fire was got
| under control, but strong breeze setting IN
| from the south at about 4 A. NJ. carried the
| flames to many other houses. 1t is to be re
marked that all the English fre-proof safes o
| Miner proved TO be OF no use; every book and
paper OF any kind was reduced to clnders and
| The gold and silver melted. l saw Gwo opened
| aud can testify to this as being correct. The
| origin OF the fire cannot be accounted for, but II
| is supposed to have been purely accidental.
,,-,Bismafk eats opium. He also falls from