New-York tribune., 1885-07-12
RUSSIAN TOPICS.
pnr 1r1cs FIRE AND SUICIDE.

Sr PETERSBURG, june 30-from tne mo"ions '"o
news of Mr. Gladstone's defeat reached st. feters-
burg. the political atmosphere changed as II oy
magic Tbetalk Of war. which duringth last month
had quite ceased. is everywhere renewed, ana 'no
coming struggle again forms the subject OF conver-
cation 10 the exclusion even of the cholera and the
inoculation of bacillae There is doubt that the
nreuaratons for war, which have been carried on
lately in the careless ackadaiscal way peculiar 10
tho Russians will be resumed with more energy.
II England bring no serious obstacle 10 tho pre'on.
project for the line which gives ZuihKar anu
Mcruchak to the Russians most likely hostihtics
will DO postponed. Russia is accused OF encroach.
Ing mora and more, but if any one is interesteo
enough in the subject to 90 into all the de'ais no
will DO convinced that without the territoiy
claimed by Russia her acquisitions In Cen'rai Asia
would be almost useless to her.
Another complication. however, arises now IN tne
revolutionary state of Afghanistan, which stu
ron,lers inevitable the mediation Of Russia. The
rumor of the death of Abdurrahmau was not cred
tied here for ono moment and it is now known tiat
tho Ameer has been busy all this time concentrating
no inconsderable number of chosen warriors az
Eharshambc. seventyfve Russian versts from 'ho
town Of Mainlen on the road to Herat. Ihis army
A. commanded by the Amcer in person. who Is no
doubt forced to this extreme measure by the ever
Increasing discomfort of his subjects 1t IS easy 10
understand that this army Is gathered In tha1 par
ticular place to cut OF the communications
between the Russian fore posts near ten)deh'
Meruchak and Zulfkar and at the 0same,time to
menace the Turkestan divisions in case they
approach the Amou Dari. This step OF the Ameer IS
TOO bold not to be supported and even directed by
the English such at least is the opinion OF the
Russian press In view Of the debates now taking
place. which on the part of Russia continue to be OF
= pcaceful character and especially in view OF the
retreat of the Russian army from the Immediate
vicinity Of Penjdeh the concentration near tnc
Russian frontier of such largo army, menac'hg
Msrv and Sarakhs, will most likely beconsidered by
Gsnerai Komaroh rs bold provocation. which
may lead to another bloody struggle 1t Is th'nght
here that Abdurrahman. once the change IN the
Ministry became imminent finds it useless to dis
giise his projects.
To affirm that Russia desires to begin ruinous
and endless war with such an opponent az England
in the prcscnt dcplorabe state of the Russian
finances is to prove ones self strangely ignorant OF
affairs in this country. and greatly to exaggerate
tho Importance attributed to tho Central Asian
csnauests The real interests of Russia are In the
Black Sea. and her dreams arc OF Constantinopie'
not of Herat or even India. But Russia. though
not thirsting for war. in case she be drawn int"
struggle for her predomnance In Central Asia will
prove no mcan-spirited opponent
In no country in the world docs fire commit such
dread devastation as in Russia This is owing 10
the almost total absence Except in the captals OF
any proper and rational means to struggle with this
elements to tho proverbial carelessness OF the
nxtivee to the now common crime Of cheating tho
insurance companies by purposcy burning down
houses, insured for double Of their value; to
yevenge, the most ordinary manifestation OF which
a. 70 mako the red cock crow on an cncmys roof'
Ever since the time when the Empress Catherine
wrote that " half of Russia burns every year." the
destroying element has been at work, and the sum
Of property yearly sacrificed to the Arcadian SIM
plicity of Russian manners and customs Is incred-
ablA Summer is characterized as the fire season.
The opening of the fire season this year was
unusually effective. as it consisted In the almost
total destruction of tho ancieut town of Grolno.
This time the fre,appcars to have originated by
accident in small wooden house inhabited by a
jewish family. and owing to a strong wind it
sprcad with great rapdity. But at the outset the
enmmonest means of resistance might have mas
tcycd or at least localized It, The Grodno engines,
however. were ont of order, water scarce IN that
part of the town. there no proper organization
Of volunteers; in short. the usual neglect OF every
precauton. until danger IS ut the gate resulting in
tho destruction of a flourishing city. Grodno
burned during two days aud nights Being at
Warsaw on the day of the catastrophe. stopped at
regretted having given.way to my curiosity. as the
sights saw won Id have upset the strongest nerves
and brought away impressions that will haunt me
for long time to come. OF all that largo town
nothing remains but one Catholic church and two
Or three streets surrounded by a vast area of
smoking runs. with here and there backened
house. ALI these ruins were covered with half
naked hnman creatures. madly digging among the
ashes OF their homes. 1t was the third day after
the fire. Many of these people. mostly Jews were
hungry and snatched greedy at the pieces Of bread
distributed to them. They foughtand tore the food
away from each other, the provisions being
Insufficient for 10000 men, women and children
reslacei to starvation. Some of the more fortunate
had saved some articles of furniture. and made for
themselves temporary shelters under tables or
ensconccl themselves between presses and chests
SOW two children asleep in an upset cradle. The
most revolving scenes of violence and robbery took
place; thieves appropriated whatever they could
find without any fear of the helpless and stupehe1
police. Groups Of Jewish women went about
screaming and looking for tho remains of their
barned children the whole horrd place was filed
With cry of despair which rings in my oars even
now Here were 5000 people suddenly deprived
of shelter and bread. If misfortune is frequent in
Russia it must DO acknowledged that nowhere is
charity moro liberal. Help is being sent from all
quarters to the sufferers. and money is equally dis
NibutoI to Jews and Christians Tho number Of
victims must be great, though no official accounts
have yet appeared.
The storm Of tho Goth Of MAY was an i'll wind
that blew nobody any good" 1t caused the wreck
OF the ironcad KroInlin in the Baltic, IL caused
great u,iscLcf in the military port of Cronstadt
and it made the Neya cover the streets Of the
capital The equipago of the KrerIlin was savcf
and that luckcss vessel is being taken OF the sand
bank wl.crc il struck AMI g3omnousy tuggcd
hack into port. Tho Kremlin has q queer reputa-
tim; it never goes out IT harhor but it gets into
some terrific scrape OF all ships built it s the
uglisst aml except perhaps the famous yacht
Jivadia. certainly the most unwicldy. Since the
opening the canal which permits the largest ships