, 1896-01-01

narrow ESCAPES. The cause Of the fire was
the igniling Of q large Christmas tree given
by Mr.. ami Mrs. Rise for the amusement
Of the children. Much sympathy is extended
to the family.
The Apothecary Hall DESTROYED. One Of
the best building and IL landmark Of St.
Thomas consumed. Heroic work by the
Brandcorps and the Naval Brigades. Inval-
liable assistance by the female Watercarriers.
Just as we were preparing to 90 to press
this afternoon an alarm Of fire was heard.
1t broke out after four O'clock IN the dwelling
Of MIR. V. Rise. known as the Apothecary
Hall, and in It short time the BEAUTIFUL house
with its fine furnishings was reduced 10
ruins. The Apothecary Hall and the store
of VIM. White on the basement were also
consumed, and what was once the finest drug
store IL the West Indies, and even beyond, il
now a deSOlate MASS Of Charred wood and
blackened walls.
It was not long after the alarm was given
that the p~ompiers ana the military were on
the spot, followed by brigad,s from tho
cruisers 'Fyen' and "Gueisenau', and with
the voluntary aid Of the women, who worked
willingly and we'll, emptyins and carrying
cisterns of water to fed The engines, all did
splendid heroic work and deserve unstinted
praise. It was beyond the power Of the work
ers to save the doomed building, but it was
through their unHlagging e~Xertion8 that q
widespread disaster was ayertcd.
The fire was by them confined to the house
wherein it originated and Trough their we'll
directed efforts did not 20 much farther.
The iewelry store Of MIR. Corneito next door
had its roof partly burnt, but the contents
were saved, and the damage sustained by
the adjoining houses was through partial de
%molition. Mrs. MitcAeIls shop at the cor.
ner was emptied.
G. Thraen's shoemaker shop was another of
the places emptied. and Sutflain's row of
rooms at the corner had windows and doors.
removed.
Rowlan's Did shoemaker shop familiar
but quaint little ro"kery. and in which y
cobbler worked, is ~ more, having been razeI,
and many poor people therepbout suffered
great loss in moving effects from one place to
anot her.
The flames deVoured the building ana it.
contents in about one hour, AID ut eight
O'clock ut night the fire was only su}ould-
ering: as, however. streaks Of fame Shot
up at inter ~ lis, streams of water were kept
on.
The spect rcle Of the burning house was
awful. and one experienced a sensation at
seeing the work of destruction so rapidly
c~onsummated. The sight Of the burning
mass after the roofs fell in was terrible. and
as the flames rose, cracked, and lashed tho
massive walls With THEN mighty tongues tho
power of the destroying element was vivid
" brought home to the onlookers.
Among the officers assisting was Prince
Carl, who was busy doing all he could to help,
but little did H.R.H. think When he sat the
previous evening in the drawing room Of the
house that it would have been his expert
eace TO see it reduced to ashes next day.
This fire with the Prince assisting recalls the
famous "FIre burn" disaster when Prince
Valdemar was here and in which some II
houses were destroyed. The Dagmar was
then here. $3.50, and the Prince worked
side by side with The people and his own
brigade.
To-dny's terrible accident, which has
brought distress to a happy home and cast "a
gloom over the community at this holiday
time, appeared in the western wing of the
house in what was known as the Cabinet
There. as we understands Chris tmas tree was
erected, aud a children's party going on,
when the tree, which was lighted up by can
dies. took fire and quickly caught the ceiling
and tapestry near by. Efforts were of course
promptly made to extinguish the fire, but it
spread with marvellous swiftness, and in al
most the twinkling of an eye the room which
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