Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-05-29
AUGUSTA ME. WEDNESDAY MORNING. MAY 90. 1872
Mistellameons.
THE GREAT FIRE IN YEDO.

Aooo' thc eaPltdi VI japan, ON tue ou OF
April:
"On the afternoon of the Sd inst. at
about 8 80 o'clock-the hour when the
little foreign community of the centre of
7 edo finds itself at leisure each day.
fire broke ont in building formerly oc-
cupied by one of the great Daimios, but
more recently used as barracks for the
soldiers who guard the inner entrances to
the Alikado's castle. At this season of the
year fires are of altogether too frequent
occurrence to attract particular attention,
unless they appear to threaten an unusual
amount Of destruction; and in this case,
although high wind was blowing, there
was little reason to appreciate especial
danger. The yasiki, in which it originat-
ed, was separated on three sides by mas
sive walls and broad moats from all other
buildings, and under ordinary circumstan-
ces, might have been entirely consumed
without peril to the neghborhood Part
of 1t, indeed. as it happens, is still stand.
| ing. Solely because it was very near my
own residence, and not with anv suspicion
| that it would lead to any serious results,
! walked over at 2 l2 o'clock to see in
what manner it would be dealt with by the
native firemen. A few bystanders gazed
indifierently at the apparently expiring
flames, and laborers We're leisurely pulling g
apart the burning joisls and timbers and
scattering them at safe intervals from each
other. Having an engagement in dis
tant part of the city, soon Withdrew,
convinced that in the artistic sense des-
cribed by De Quincy, the whole thing
would be a failure.
An hour later. on my return, was sur
prised to find the thoroughfare almost
choked with crowds of people hurrving
from every direction toward point con-
siderably beyond that where the flames
had first appeared. 1t seemed probable
that second fire, of more imposing di-
mensions. had burst out in another quar-
ter, but that the little blaze of the early
afternoon had succeeded in spreading to
any extent was almost beyond calculation
1t was not long. however, before the real
state of affairs revealed itself. Although
the buildings first ignted were almost is
olated, as have mentioned. the violence
of the wind had been sufficient to carry
sparks and embers over all artificial OBJ
structions. and to kindle new flames in a
score of places. By 1-2 o'clock a dozen
of the largest yasikis of the old aristo-
cratic ward were leveled, and, although
the most energetic efforts We're made by
the pOpulace to cOntne the devastation
within the exterior walls Of the castle, the
masses of shops and citizens dwellings
beyond We're soon seized, and the entire
space between the eastern boundary of the
Notifications and the Bay of YedO was
doomed. In less than couple of hours
from the time when the flames began to
spread beyond their first contracted limit,
they had flown over distance of about
two miles, in direct line, leaving va
cant tract averaging over half a mile in
breadth
In no other place, probably, would so
swift and sweeping transformation have
been possible. The dryness OF the atmos-
phere, the force of the wind, which rapid
ly rose to almost hurricane, and the in
ilammable nature of the house, combined
to make the destruction rs rapid as it was
vast and ruinous. Attempting, just at
midnight, TO walk through region, every
foot OF which had been familiar to me, /
repeatedly lost my way, and discovered
on asking to be set right, that the very in
habitants were as much astray as myself.
Excepting the heavy line of the wall and
| canal, not landmark was left. The only
Cpilrt NtiC tuC iilIC III PtOOl
"go-doWns, narrow, one-stOry struc-
| lures Of clay-in which the well-to-do cit
| izens store their valuables, and which, al
| though they would not resist long con-
tinued heat, generally withstand the brief
ferocity of Il japanese confagration. All
others had vanished. Government offices,
the finest mansions of the higher class OF
residents, great commercial warehouses,
nd nj, oil tnn,nlac with no H.
of humber dwellings, We're totally oblit-
Grated. Not a vestige of them was dis
cernibe an hour after the flames had
whred away into the waters of the bay.
1t is impossible to conceive of another
such scene Of overwhelming and instan-
taneous desolaton. Within less than
three hours distance of two square miles
was laid waste, 5000 edifices were de.
stroyed, and 10000 people We're turned
homeless into the streets.
The behavior of the populace at the
time and after this almost unparalleled ca
lamty, was again such as to Justify all
that has ever been said of their perfect
order. patient forttude, and vigorous en-
ergy. Long after all reasonable hope OF
checking the course of the fire had been
| abandoned, they laooreu Nallntly ana
heroicaly to keep it within the closest
possible range, and displayed Il persistent
courage and insensbility to peril which |
have never known equaled in any similar
emersenc From an elevated part OF
one Of the walls | could see groups OF
firemen standing upon and in the midst OF
burning houses, grasping their standards
until the woodwork literally blazed in
their hands. These singular emblems are
generally looked upon as species OF
"fre-god." in which supersttious faith
is reposed. and the apparent reliance o.
the multitude upon them is duly deridet
by superior critics of Caucasian hue. ThS
fact is, they have precisely the same pur
pose as the banners of an army, and ar,
planted by their bearers in spots of pecu
liar danger, from which it is point O
honor not to retreat while nature has tn
power to endure.
Scores of these daring fellows were sue
/ cessively prostrated, and were borne ava
insensible from wounds or suffocation
while others eagerly pressed forward t
take their places. There was no interrup