The Portland daily press., 1877-05-04

all efforts to save the building were useless. 1t
was five stories high and the walls were badly
burned. About six o'clock the walls fell out
ward with terrible crash, breaking through
the roof of coffin store and completely de-
molishing number of sheds and out-houses
Eight firemen under Chief Patten were play
ing upon the roofs of the sheds and coffin store
when the walls fell. They saw the wall begin
to totter and made rush for shed and barely
got inside when they were completely buried
under several feet of hot bricks. Three men,
one OF whom was George Lynch, fireman of
the water works, were killed. After the walls
fell the means of the fremen rent the air, and
band of citizens went to work to dig the
sufferers out. -Four were found beneath a
board fence alive but suffering terribly; five
more were taken out dead; three of them be.
ing recognized as iremen. Their bodies were
terribly disfgured The total number killed
was 8, and wounded 10, two of them fatally.
Many others were slightly injured. The fire is
supposed to be incendiary.
Owing to the extra tax in connection
with the government police, riot occurred
at City Hall, Quebec, Sunday, during
which mob.of 5000 broke in the doors of that
building and of the Recorders Court The
mayor endeavored to address the crowd, but
was met with Kisses. After thus expressing
their indignation, the rioters gradually dis
persed without doing further damage, and the
city is now quiet, though feeling of excite
ment prevails.
THE TURCo-RUSsIAN WAR.
No great battle has yet been fought between
the Turk and Muscovite. Immediately after
the declaration of war the Russian troops
crossed the Turkish frontier in both Europe
and Asia. The Russians opened their cam.
paign in masterly manner, consuming not
over fifteen hours in dashing from the Pruth to
the Danube, seizing the great post of Galatz on
the latter river, and taking possession of the
Roumanian rairoad They now hold the Dan
ube at Galatz and Braila, and the northern, or
Kila branch, to the Black Sea. We shall soon
know whether the Turkish gunboats are able to
hold them from crossing the river. Once on
the southern bank-which soon rises into the
rolling plains of the Dobrudja-it will be diff
cult for the Turks to stay their march south
ward to the rear of the fortress Of Silistria.
The most important question will be the estab-
lishment of secure base of supplies. 1t is
probable that strong force will be massed at
Giurgevo, opposite Rustchuk. The situation
does not admit Of much delay. The Russians
are compelled to make speedy and powerful
effort to break the fortified line of the Danube
at one point or the other, and they will not ac-
complish this without hard fighting.
The latest news of Russian operations simply
indicate that careful preparations are being
made for long campaign, and that active hos
tilities in European Turkey can hardly be ex-
pected for few weeks to come. The roads in
the Dobrudja will be impossible for fort
night, and the Russians are at present en-
ployed in altering the gauge of Roumanian rail-
roads to suit their own, and in constructing
bridge over the Danube at Ibrail.
A convention between Russia and Roumania
has been formed, in which the Prince of Rou-
mania assures free passage and treatment due
a friendly army, and the Gear binds himself to
respect the rights of Roumania. The Roumans
say the convention was to secure respect for
Roumania's position as an individual state in
accordance with the treaty of Paris. 1t imposed
lations nor the duty of lending the cooperation
of her army, Roumania adheriDg to the policy
of attacking no one but defending her frontier
as far as possible. A similar convention has
not been concluded with the Porte because it
had transferred the seat of war to Roumanian
territory and had also persistently refused to
recognize Roumania or settle questions pending
for years. According to the additional conven-
tion the Russians are allowed to use Roumani-
an roads, railways. rivers and telegraphs. The
resources of the coantry are placed at their
disposal for the supply of the army. The Rou-
manian authorities are to assist in erecting
camps and forwarding the baggage Of Russian
military trains and kilograms are to have prece-
dence of ordinary traffic. The Russians are
empowered to complete unfinished railroads
and the necessary ground for the purpose is
ceded. The chief of the Russian military traf-
fc is empowered, subject to the approval of the
Roumanian minister Of works, to dismiss Rou-
manian railway officials, and the Russians are
TO be allowed to establish military stations and
hospitals anywhere except in Bucharest.
Roumania will, if required, provide material
for the construction of boots, ships and bridges.
Articles intended for the Russianlarmy will be
admitted into Roumania Free The Roumanian
authorities will assist in capturing Russian de-
serters. ALI the expenses incurred through the
passage Of the Russians are to be paid in money
within two;months.
The explanatory report annexed to the con-
vention says Russia is obliged to intervene in
Turkey because Mussulman fanaticism and
weakness of the Turkish government allow no
hope of reform, and as Russia desired to re-
spect the inviolability of Roumania, the present
convention was concluded.
Servia is greatly excited, and there is an agi-
tation for war among the members of the
Skuptschina. Servia has received million
roubles, probably from the Sclavonic commit
tee. The permanent committee of the Skupt.
selma has protested against any forced occupa-
ton of Servia territory by the Turks. The
Servian militia, cavalry and artillery have been
ordered to keep the wagons and horses ready.
The brigades of Shumaida, Drina and Valsevo
are ordered to be in readiness. Large numbers
of recruits arrive every day for drill.
As soon as war was declared the Russian
army in Asia, 100000 strong, was set in motion.
The main army left Gunri or Alexandropol,
and advanced in a direct line on Kars, which
is only 36 miles or two days march from the
ANuSotdu lIUuI.CIs LuCIc, dCCOAuIuS " buo 1ecus
ter telegram from Erzeroum (12O miles to the
Southwest), battle began at daybreak on Sun
day. Kars is situated on a rugged plain,
5000 to 1000 feet above the sea on the Kars,
branch of the Arpatchai. 1t is defended by
ramparts surrounded by ditch. and has
strong citadel, and some works on the hills
north Of the city. In the battle the Russians
claim to have been victorious. The Turks
also claim to have defeated Russian dvi-
sion near Erzerum. AT present the Turks
have 900 men in Armenia.
Intense enthusiasm prevails throughout the
Gar dominions. Russia has 3O0,0 900 men on
the Danube and 125,0OO men.in Caucasus, while
the opposing forces of Turks are 100000 along
the Danube and $4,000 or less in Asia Minor
Both sides exhibit weakness in skilled gener-
ais, and the position in Roumania is Eunfortu-
nate Austria and Russia are contemplating
an agreement whereby Bosnia will be ceded to
Austria. The Gar is not desirous to conquer
the territory for himself, but will be guided by