Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-17
LATE FOREIGN NEWS.
INCIDENTS or rss rsrR.
The Insult to the German Flag In Paris
An ALARMING r,,.

An Alarming Fire.
The Herd'dS cable dispatch Of Yesterday
gives the following additional particulars
OF tue national Jffe In Paris: Doubt was
felt almost up TO the last moment whether
the national Jtte would he held, and the
melancholy causes which had suggested its
postponement were the reasons why the
festival aroused very little enthusiasm yes
terdny. The decorations. however, were
~ brilliant as ever. The weather was love-
~. the great heat OF the day before being
tempered by a fresh breeze. The streets
were crowded with boliday.folk, for,
with the exception Of the cafes and res
taurints, not single shop could be seen
open. The general harmony OF the day
was disturbed by riot which at che time,
II was thought, might have serious conse-
quences. About II O'Clock. as the Asa
iians and Lorralners were making their
annual patriotic demonstration in front Of
The statue OF The Vile de strasbourg. in the
Place de Ia COncorde, suddenly an I'M
toward incident occurred. A German,
who appeared 10 De a theological student,
about thirty years OF age, insuted the
French bag by splitting on Il. He was i'm
mediately hOOted and chased across the
Place de Ia Concorde by the Indignant
crowd and compelled 10 take shelter at the
Ministry Of Marine. but not before he had
been soundly thrashed. The only wonder
Is that he escaped so well.
HE PRUssIAN FLAG TORN DOWN.
Immediately aiterward crowd, were seen
rushing toward the Hotel Continental.
Somebody had seen a Prussian flag among
the trophies hung from the hotel windows.
The exasperated populace ordered the
hotel-keeper TO remove the obnoxious bunt-
ing. Instead Of complying he ordered the
iron gates OF the hotel to be closed. Some
German visitors in the building foolishly
went ont on the balcony. and still further
enraged the people by making show Of de
Tending their colors. On tins the crowd
smashed several windows. forced their way
into toe hotel, and under the protection Of
the local Commissaire de Police, tore down
banners and threw them TO the mob, who
tore them into a thousand pieces and dis
tributed the fragments TO the patriots and
broke the fagStaifs in the street amid wild
shouts Of "Vive Is France! bas Ia Prus.
!" Sessieurs Cookery. Minister OF Posts
and Telegraphs, and CamescaSse. Project
Of Police. were instantly summoned, but
before they arrived the affair was over.
The German Ambassador, who was dining
in the country, was at once informed OF the
incident. Fresh demonstrations were ex-
Iected after dark, but did not take place.
COEFLAGRATION THREATENED.
About 10 in the evening the Parisians
were much frightened by whit appeared 10
be terrible cOnflagration, extending over
a large quarter Of Paris. Some rockets,
sent of from the Place DE- Ia Nation, had
set fire to an omnibus station. The sticks,
It'll burning, had fallen on and penetrated
tlrc ugh the tiles Of the roof and set fire to
an immense quantity Of forage stored in
the loft. For q time an Undesirable
panic prevailed near the scene. There was
large crowd gathered together on the
Pace de Ia Nation. and q great rush took
Place to escape he torrents OF flame which
poured forth from the building and cover
ed the ground with lighted pieces Of straw
and hay. Nobody, however, was seriously
hurt in the stampede. The horses were all
saved 10y the heroism of the tremen and
employees Of the omnibus company. At
midnight the roof fell in, filling the air
with millions Of sparks for few moments,
then all was dark. The fire was still smOul-
dcring in heaps Of forage, but all danger
yy9s CVov