The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-12-09
Distorital.
THE GREAT FIRES OF THE WORLD.

The following account is from Walford's
Cyclop@dia, and is a chronology running
through 3,773 years, and enumerating
1875 conaagrations
AsIA.-Sodom and Gomorrah, b. c.
about 1897. Genesis XIX
Paesttne-Jerusalem. Three large fires.
The first was the entire destruction Of the
city (or town by the Israelites, b. c. 400;
the second was the burning of Solomon's S
temple by the Chaldeans, d. c. $50; aud
the third, the entire destruction of the
city by the Roman army under Titus, A.
d. 20, when, during the siege and conha-
grafton, 100000 Jews perished by the
sword and 6re.
The "Holy Places (Jcrusalem,) burn
ed by the Saracens, a. d, 1914. During
5G4 years thereafter, no considerable fire
is recorded in Jerusalem, or until A. d.
1908, when one broke out in the chapel
Of the Armenians, and nearly the whole
of the sacred edifices were destroyed.
There is no record of fire in Palestine
since A. d. 1903.
Arabiu-Medina, A. d. 150S-the cele-
brated mosque containing the tomb Of
Mohammcd, entirely destroyed.
asia Minor-Tarsus, A. d. 1876, Janu-
Jury 26; loss, s75O,OOO.
Smyrna, July, 1S4l, 10000 buildings
burned. July 3, 1915, 1000 houses,
many shops and much merchandise. Aug.
.27, 1860, 700 houses, ETC., destroyed.
Hindostan.- to A. d. 1900,
four large fires are recorded; between
1900 and 1887, three. A fire in Surat,
in 1887, destroyed 5000 buildings and
800 lives Bombay had 200 houses burn
ed, October, 1915 and Peschawur was al
most destroyed in 1875.
Assom-Ghergong, February 2S, 1903,
earthquake, fire, explosion, and loss of life.
~Incredibe damage"
Barmah-Ummempoora, March, 1910,
city destroyed.
Chihd-Canton. The first FIRE recorded
was A. D. 1903, when the palace, harem,
and 200 adjoining houses were burned, the
fire arising from lightning. March 3,
1920, $4,000 houses, factories, and tenn
pies destroyed. November 2, 1922, 1000
buildings burned, including the East India
Company's and other European factories,
and 10000 chests of tea 500 lives were
lost Loss to the East India Company
alone, s5,000,000. In 1885, FIRE de-
stroyed 1900 buildings. December ID,
1856, the foreign factories were burned
by the natives.
Hong Kong, December 28, 1851, part
of the Chinese quarter destroyed. Nov.
%, 1867, fire caused the loss of S750, 900.
Hankow, A. D, 1864, 1900 houses and
much other property destroyed.
Japan--Jeddo. The great conhagra-
tion Of 1856 destroyed, in two days, l0O,-
900 buildings, including many costly pala-
ces and temples.
Yokohama, November 80, 1866, so acres
were burned over in the European quarter;
loss, s2,500,000.
Batauia-Moxudabath destroyed March
A. D. 1853.
Sumatria--Beencolcn, great fire, 1853
Observation-Disclosures and Ballarat.
Many large fires (mostly incendiary) in
these towns, and throughout Australia,
during 1860. Jackson Town, 1868; Bris
bane, 1864; Sidney, June 20, 1864; New
port, 1S4S;-the loss in the last case was
100000.
Neto Zealand--Auckland. The place
nearly destroyed by FIRE, 1858, and there
were two conhagrations there in 1874
Dunedin, two large fires, 1964-1S66.
Tunaru, nearly destroyed Dec. z, 1868.
Philippine Lsiaads-Manilla. Many
storehouses burned in 1893; 10000 huts
burned, 1888; large fire, 1864; 60OO
houses destroyed, 1865; and an extensive
conhagration, 1870.
Ma@itius-Port Luis. Two great fires,
1S16-1817.
AFRIoA.-Egypt.-Five large fires are
recorded previous to A. D. 1900, commen-
cling with the destruction of the larger
library at Alexandria, b. c. 4S, during the
occupation by Julius Caesar. Seneca states
that the number of volumes was 100000,
and A. Gellus 100000. This fire appears
to have occurred accidentally, through
burning vessels drifting on shore. A fire,
January, 1875, destroyed cotton stores in
Alexandria, value, sl50,OOO.
Cairo, March 30, 1924, palace, maga-
sines, and stores burned followed by ex-
posions, and the loss of 4, 900 lives.
Ramle, April 27, 1870, the new palace
Of the viceroy destroyed; loss, 81 800, 900.
Besides those here enumerated, there
are recorded two great fires in Africa pre-
vious to A. D. 1900, and four since that
J date, mostly in the southern part of the
continent; one of them, at Cape Town, in
1875, destroyed so houses.
CtiHary Lslands-Teneriffe. In 1915
n large convent was burned, and many
lives lost.
EuRoPE.-Haly--Rome. Fifteen con
aagrations previous to A. D. 1900. The
first was B. 9. 800, when the city was
burned by the Gauls. In 1874, b. Q. q
fearful fire followed Immediately the falling
of an amphitheatre, by which latter acct
dent 10000 persons we're either killed oil
maimed. The most memorable conAagra
tion Of Rome was that in the reign oil
Nero, July 1924, A. D. GA, which burned
1 out of IA districts A FIRE, A. D. so
lasted three days. Since A. D. 1900, n,
fire Is recorded in Rome, except Sigh
one in 1928.
Other parts Of Italy. Nine large fire.
previous to 1900, of which one at Florence
in 1867 was remarkable, through me
nagerie being burned, and the liberated
animals killing 100 persons. No oihe
tircs are recorded in Italy, outside Of Rome
since 1900.
Greece. -Four large fires previous 4
1900; none recorded since