New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-22
HOW THE CALAMITY OCCURRED.
JrOl1 TLe JIudfcd (TfOts

A great calamity has belalen this city.
The Feurtado hre that began in Port ROyal-st, at
o'clock on Monday afternoon last 9th nstJ and
spread itself furousy in every direction burning places
private residences groceries shops and printing Offices
not even sparing human life, will be long remembered
in jamaica 1t has Quilted the business part OF the
city and disngured the residences of rich and poor
alike To such extent that 1t VIII take years OF nara
toll 80 remedy repair the evil Indeed, IL the opn-
ion that Kingston will herself such Is the
devastatOn such the ulin such the losses. We know
that had there been means near al hand when the con
hagraion hogan. tOpu out the fire, II could not have
spread further than few yards fo Tor some time ater
the alarm gwen, but few bundles OF shingles were
in flames. Had Mr.. Fcurtardo the smallest appliances
on premises for arrcstns the ancs, they would have
been suDdued at once nnd me distress Wich mas l'eh
on MS aycrtcd. The brigade arrived on the scene ten
minutes after the report was gycn but there was some
difficulty In attaching the nose 10 the hydrIht Mea-
while the ames assembled and caught tall building to
the north the savpgs bank The water was n9T pr S
house blew wildly ABOUT, and III view minutes nmo
ablaz6 and sending sparks 10 other houses, by winch
the destroying element soon surrounded several
dsiIicts' literally denying Inc enor'S Vi INC ni0
The authorities of the savings bank hurriedly placed
their valuable in a great fire proof Vault recently built
and cleared out. The Audit Ofcc adopted II different
mode. the books and papers were pitched into Duke St.
and some of them placed the fire proof store opposite
In half an hour there several centres OF attraction
for fire was eyeryones ncighborhood so that every
manihad TO stand by ms owI house store or office, to
protect it, No fire brigade, unless IL were nD4qnlous
confa grafton ever Witnessed in this city, not excluding
we arc the great fire OF Sc nor the greater one OF
1913; but the brigade didts BEST ana wneh IL c3uiu
not work ecctuay in direction 1t tried III ancther
For example Mr.. Parry. the superintendent, WIN
desire TO save Metropolitan House, occupied by
Mcssrs. Nathan & CO., pulled down Mr.. McKenzes
warehousing establishment and residence -, 49,.
MIR Parry. accompanied by General Mann, inter,
viewed Mr. Mckenzie in the street MI Nehzc salu
MIR. Parry. will you give us authority 10 pun down yomf
Mace I" Mr.. McKenZie-I haven't got my people OUT
Vet am quite full" Mr.. Parry" Well my dear SIR
shall rive YOU half hour, and II you don't get ont
we shall pull IL down you" This looked Ike Tuth
Garn 10 some bystandcrs but Mr. Mckenzie appeared
In take IL in earnest aud In five minutes the Ratchet was
applied and MetTOp Jtan House was saved Most
oi Inc prOpcrtics destroyed partly insured for IN
stance Charles Levy Co., who are sad TO nave hdh
a stock OF ESQ., 900, insuredsfor about 4loOuO
Business is suspended There Is very little to SELL ana
less money TO buy with When the alarm was gwen the
supreme Court was trying Mcssrs. FinAe's rum case
and the court rose Immediately. The ces that were 10
have been run yesterday, TO morrow ana the next day
were knocked in the head without cerewony ana yestei
day the stores that standing remained closed us III
mourning The brcadstuffs are nearly al burned np
mot fewer than 600 bags Of rice were burned 10 ashe
at Charles Levy & Co Is wharf. The people are lnad
with their losses many removed their best goods
In places that were as safe their own; MI Mac
Phprson of the Bee Hive store, lost hundreds OF pounds
In silks in this way the street cOmpanys once
The people are homeless; hundreds OF them have taken
M lodgings In the open ur nj the Central Park ana race
c,lrsc where the Governors endeavoring TO set the
tents belonging TO the military erected Tor their
covering.