The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-31

N1ruy Natives Killed or Ipjured-Fi Fleeing
for Their Lives to the Suburbs, Where
They Are Cnmped without Food-Ap-
penls Sent TO Raneoou for Heip-Thou.
sands VIII Perish Unless Relieved.
CALCUTTA. March 3O.-Despatches from Man.
dalay. the capital Of Burmah. say that FIRE has
been raging there since eleven o'clock last
night. Three-fourths OF the city is in ashes.
and the fire has not been checked. Among the
buildings already gone IRE tho old palace tho
new Government telegraph Office. and two
converts Tho whole business portion Of the
city has been swept away. The loss OF life has
been between seventy-ave anil hundred. as
far as known. and scores Of persons have not
been accounted for
NJ search has been made for bodies. as the
people have been fleeing to the open country
all day trying to save their household goods
and escape the intense heat which envelopes
the ruins.
They are camping at distance from the city
without food or shelter. and calls for help for
them have been sent out by the authorities.
The fire is said to have been caused by the
Goals from n fro in a natives hut In tho
lower quarter Of the city. There is no pro-
vision against fire in the city. and tho
people did not wait to fight it but
fed pnnic stricken before 1t. Tho ronds to
Amarapura are crowded with fugitves. who
will seek help in that city. The suffering will
be intense. as the rest OF the city will be de-
stroyed before morning and about $4,000 fam
lilies will be homeless
Chief Secretary Symes has appealed to the
English In Rangoon for aid. He teegraphs
that thousands will die unless food and medi-
cines for the injured are sent at once. Several
physicians left Rangoon for the city tonight
and food will he sent to. morrow
The residence OF Sir Alexander Mackenzie,
Chief Commissioner. was burned this morn
ing and two of his servants were mortaily in
jurcd. The total number OF those SO.
verely burned is thought to DO about
$500. Latest reports say the loss OF
life was underestimate. 1t may reach
POO and perhaps more. although many
now thought to be dead may have been only
missed in the confusion or may be on their
way to nearby villages in search Of food and
shelter.
Mnndalay fell into the hands OF the British
when they conquered Upper Burmah few
years ago. 1t was tho capital Of King Thebaw.
one OF the most inhuman rulers who ever
sat on throne. Before that conquest
n white man could visit Mnndalay only at the
peril OF his life Now, however. the great city
is connected with the outside world by rail.
Soon after the British troops marched into
tho city 1t was fired by dacoits. as
the robber bands Of Burmah are called,
and thousands of houses were burned. Bam-
boo enters largely into the construction of the
houses. The British have been putting up
some substantial buildings. but the rest Of the
city is and always has been finder box.
In 1896 this city was inundated by great
freshet in the Irrawady River. though an en-
bankment forty feet high is supposed to fur
nish adequate protection. tract five
miles long by two wide was under
water from four to twenty-five feet and SO. 600
people were driven out OF their houses. SO
Mandalay in recent years has had her full
share Of great msfortunes.
The greater part Of the natives lived within
tho walled city. Tho fact that tho palace.
which was outside OF tho walled city.
was burned shows that the Euro
pean buildings put up for official
or commercial purposes were also endan-
gered and very likely destroyed. as they were
all in the nciGhborhood Of the palace. News
papers in English were printed in the city.
The population is shout 100000.