, 1891-04-08

dDoutS some as spectators, ana a great many
as workers. With commendable promptiCude
a posse of Police, a detachment of Military,
with engine, the Brandmaior, officers and
pompiers appeared, their numbers being mo-
mentIy augmented by fresh accessions of fe-
male assistants. The number of The latter,
carrying water from far and near, appeared
unusually large and the cheerful and steady
way in which they helped entities them to-
much more than mere words of praise.
Although assistance was quick in following
the alarm it was by no means too soon, as
the Fire was about a few minutes in taking
complete possession of the house wherein it
originated-that of Mr.: G. Delinois, better
known as 'Abbott's white house. Breaking
out in the upstairs, it burned fiercely, emitting
dense clouds of black smoke, which caused
workers more Inconvenience than even the
rapidly spreading flames.
The situation of the burning house-in the
centre of a number of other wooden ones
and the marvellous swiftness With which tho
the Fire was spreading, OF a certain time made.
people quite apprehensive Tor the safety of
the Lutheran Church and indeed Of the other
buildings in the vicinity, but fortunately their
apprehensions did not have the sad realization
that seemed so imminent. That the Church
was not destroyed is owing to it's being con-
structed mainly of brick, as also to the we'll
directed efforts of the Brand corps. Inte-
riorly it has sustained no damage save the
breaking of some panes of glass and one or
two jalOusIes. The altar furniture, chairs and
other inventory having been removed the
deluge of water poured into the building did
no harm.
But though the Church, which stands to
the west of the now totally destroyed house
of Mr.. Delinois was saved, the southerly di-
rection of the wind and proximity to each
other of the wooden houses on the northern
side furnished the devouring flames with easy
prey. In consequence, the property known
as Hjern0's, and tenanted by Consul Lucchetti,
was attacked and quickly destroyed, togo Their
with all its valuable contents. Thence it
spread to the rooms, and soon these, too, were
reduced to a heap Of ruins, together with a
beautiful garden. Here, too, a fine brood of
poultry were Generated; and in the small
orchard but the charred trunks Of trees are left
standing. The reported falling ofsparks on
two or three houses in the Garden" was a
serious fact, but the casualty of a burnt child
proves to have been incorrect she was, how
ever, only rescued from a horrible death by
the sentry at Governments House, who con.
veyed her to a place of safety.
Now that the Fire is over, and the danger
of an extensive confagration happily passed, .
investigations will doubtless be opened to
ascertain the cause of the disaster but we.
dareSay that, as IN similar occurrences, mys.
terry will enwrap this fresh one. Up to this
writing we have ascertained nothing thatmay
be accepted as reliable. and are only able to
state that the fire did actually break out in
the upstairs of the said house of Delinois-
Therein several carpenters and painters were
engaged in giving the finishing touches to the
house, which had undergone thorough repara-
ton, but even they did not appear to know
of the danger that threatened them, as one or
two who were downstairs had barely time to-
escape when the flames enveloped the place.
The falling of a lighted match Or cigarette
into some infammable oils or into a pile Of
wood shaving are allegations that the wonder
fully quick progress of the fire confirm. The
alarm, as we have said, was sounded at about
four o'clock, and in just a little over one hour
two large dwellings and four two-roomed
houses with a couple of yard rooms, kitchens
and outhouses, were totally consumed, the
embers continuing to burn slowly throughout
the night, necessitating the application of
water, with which the women supplied the
engines. Military and Police guards we're
kept on duty, and co-operated with the officers
and men OF the Brandcorps,
And just here we desire to express our
approval at the manner In which every man
who assisted worked. Such a display of
energy, and occasionally of heroism. ia sell
don, q hara and If furthar 6octrncti0n