Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-16
Emperor of Korea So Believes and
Refuses to Return to the
RyOng Box.
RECEIVES DIPLOMATIC CORPS.
lie Seems TO Have Recovered From the
Shock Of the Fire hut Is a
Little Nervous.

Seoul. Korea, April 10, friday p.
m.-The emperor received in audience
this evening the members OF the dipio-
matte corps, The emperor had appar-
emily recovered from the shock caused
by the burning Of the palace and was
calm, making Inquiries as to the health
OF the ladies' OF the legations, etc His
intimates report that he is still nervous,
however. Many Koreans believe that
the burning OF the palace has a politi-
cal significance in that 1t will force the
emperor TO return to the Kyong Box
palace, In the outskirts Of the city,
where the queen was assassinated In
1885, and from which the emperor lied
to the Russian legation. The emperor,
however, refuses to return, claiming
that the palace is haunted by the MUIR
dered queen. He prefers to remain in
the imperial library, In the Kuseiken
building, where he took refuge during
the fire, until the palace Is rebuilt The
electric plant which was totally de-
strOyed together with thousands of dol
lars worth of instruments and ma
Ghlnery will be re-installed.
The heaps OF smouldering ruins are
being guarded by q Gordon Of Vigilant
soldiers stationed one foot and half
apart around the palace walls, The
supersttious population is excited and
depressed over the fire, regarding II as
an evil portend. The fire furnished a
wonderful spectacle. The steep noun
tains about the city We're lighted up as
though II were day, hurrylng crowds Of
frantic Koreans and Japanese troops
arrived on the scene In double quick
time. There was extreme fear for the
American legation for time. Ameri-
can marines formed a bucket brigade
and United States Minister Allen took
extreme precautions to prevent the
flames reaching the legation, All the
Korean government records and ac-
counts We're lost, together with much
treasure, The loss Is estimated at
100000.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
London, April l5.-The Japanese le-
count OF the fire which destroyed the
imperial palace at Seoul;
THE fire broke out at 10 o'clock on
the evening Of April IL, With the eX-
ceptlon Of the kiuseiken building, which
Is in the European style, all the other
palace buildings were consumed. The
emperor took refuge In the library OF
the Kuseiken building.
1T is believed that the fire originated
In the heating apparatus Of the kau-
vel palace, which was undergoing re-
pairs.
japanese soldiers took a prominent
part in guarding the person Of the en-
neror, as we'll as In extingulshing the
fire, and this produced an excellent feel
ing among the court circle. our troops
also did their best to guard the foreign
legations, and the foreign representa-
tiyes afterwards expressed to US their
sincere thanks"
Other reports say that all the arch
ives, treasures and jewels were destroy
ed:
According TO the Daily Chronicles
Seoul correspondent, the fire may have
been lncendiary, although II is said to
have been due to the upsettng OF
brasier Of servant.
The fact that the palace buildings
were vigorously watched accounted for
their entire destruction, for the soldiers
prevented the entrance of the Japanese
fire brigade, which was early on the
spot and might have prevented the
spread OF the fire but for the obstinancy
Of the guards.
Apparently there were no fire appll-
ances within the enclosure, and. there-
fore, the fire spread at furious rapidly,
scattering millions Of sparks as the
tiled roofs and low wooden buildings
came crashing to the ground.
Japanese soldiers and other legation
plckets kept order In the constantly m
creaslng crowd, While the Japanese
were parleylng with the Korean guards
the fire began TO spread In the direo-
ton Of the legations. Al this Juncture
British and French marines effected an
entrance by the back gates, but II was
too late TO save anything.
The correspondent continues "The
fire viii cease only IN the morning,
when there Is nothing else to burn. The
emperor behaved with remarkable cool
ness and personally superintended the
escape Of his retinue. II Is doubtful II
the palace will ever be rebuilt"
Later Seoul dispatches say that all Is
quiet,
The emperor received the members OF
the diplomatic corps Thursday after
noon In stone house outside the pal
ace,