Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-08-21
HAnMrREEsr nunNsD.
Sad Fate of tho WORLDS Most North.
ern Town.

o&u Y Ato Bt thu FOFt"h NtOht NOltnS
ern Town.
According to telegraphio sdvioes re.
ceived IN Ohristiana on July 2lst, the
greater portion OF Hammerfest, the most
northerly town not only in Norway, but
in the world, hes been destroyed by fire.
1t appears, says correspondent Of the
Paris GGlgndni Messenger, that "ths
whole OF the strsngads ss far as the
Roman Catholic church, the market
place, the custom-house, the school, the
town hall, the prison, the post-office, the
spothe sry's OPP, the public otiioas aud
tue piers have been burned down. The
damage 10 estimated at 5000, 000kr., Of
which only small portion is said to be
covered by insurance. The official
archives were saved. Great distress pre-
walls, and provisions and help have been
dispatched by one of the tourist steamers
from Tromso. News, however, is rather
scanty, az the telegraphic communication
has been interrupted by the fire. 1t is,
luckily, come time since we have had
such disastrous FIRE in Norway, where
in years gone by they we're 80 sadly fire.
quent, but stone houses are now in many
places being substituted for wooden ones.
"Hamme fest is, of course, no large
town; still its inhabitants number about
2, 400 souls, rud the place has certain
importance apart from the interest that
attaches to it from q commercial point OF
view. Hammerfest does considerable
trade with the Russians in the Archan-
gelsk government, and large feet of
sealing and whaling vessels belong to it.
1t 10 situated on the Island of Kvalo, on
the western side, on tine border OF the
region of the birch tres. The northern
most birch forest ia a little wood at the
Akkatfjord, some four miles to the south
Of Hammerfest, in the immediate neigh
Dorhood OF which there is not single
tree. From May 18th to July 26th the
sun is permanently above the horizon,
but it does not make it's appearance be-
tween November Goth and January 2lst.
The principal street in the town is 'Stor-
gaden, with the church, the town hall,
the higher school and the national school,
which ere probably all burned down.
Perpendicular upon this street is the
Gronnevoldgade, where q number of
train-oil boiling establishments are stu
ated, and very unpleasant neighbors they
are.
The houses Of Hammerfess are modest
wooden edifices, the tops of which are
often covered with a comparatively
thriving vegetation. The town hall was
rather prettily decorated inside and the
two churches OF which IL would appear
that the Lutheran has been destroyed,
possessed certain unambitious cosine 8.
There are, or were, two hotels, and there
is often good deal OF life going on, both
il the harbor and on shore, where Lap
lRnders aud Kvanes are always about In
their peculiar dresses. The trade, as a
good many things about Hammerfest, is
somewhat primitive, being mostly done
by exchange. The Russians bring tea,
-four and other merchandise, for which
they receive fish and salt, but only very
rarely coins of the reslm.
Civilization has been somewhat slow in
reaching Hammerfest, and about as late
as the middle Of this century there was
but one national school, whore the Nor
wegian children sat on one side Of the
only room and the children Of the Lap.
landsrs and the Kvanei on the other.
The access to the sohoolroom was
through an outer apartment, which was
used as mortusry for the remains of
such hapless Laplanders as should be
buried In the town. This remote posi-
ton has, however, also its advantages,
among which I may mention that the
Salvation Army has not yet attacked
HammerfeBt."