The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-08-23
HELPING AT A FIRE IN CHINA.
Travellers Gene Upon . Burning Bridge
and Find strange Slghts.

Following the main road We found 1t
only thirty miles. northwest. to the Flu
city of Yuencheo, but several passes had
TO DO climbed, the days were hot. and in
spite Of the 1000 or more feet Of altitude
We were nearly roasted. entirely tired out
aud looking for a couple OF days OF rest
with fellow foreigners.
Little did we dream Of getting into the most
unusual FIRE experience that we did. says
q correspondent Of the Shanghai Mercury.
1t was q Saturday morning and the first
day Of the Chinese fifth month or moon
when everybody must have out a lighted
candle and incense for some one. no
knows who II you ask them. 1t Is ancient
CUSTOM and that settles II. We had Just
crossed the long fourteen span bridge which
connects the city with its busy western
suburb, called Kiangsi Street. and had
noticed blazing candles, one or more in
front Of each Of the los shops or booths lin
ing the bridge IN both sides.
The bridge and booths seemed to be all
of wood, and Il was remarked that this
looked somewhat dangerous. However,a
nice inn was found at the end Of the bridge
which had q back veranda facing the river
and giving q good view Of the bridge. As
usual with sights seemingly worth 1t. We
took q snapshot Of the bridge. put the
camera back in the box. were o more
p~resentable for city life and found our way
to the hospitabls mission compound in the
middle Of the city. As usual q warm well
como was found at the hands Of the six or
seven foreigners here. These were all OF
the German branch Of the c. I. NJ, and we
were lust enjoying breakfast and telling
and receiving all the news when the
Ere trumpets were sounded.
Soldiers we're Psr .S q d sns s s,see on, and
that they should be watchful., This Is
doubly necessary here. as so much wood rs
used IN construction. being the cheapest
material at hand. and hres get fearful
headway and burn out very rapld,y. Inc
self-protection. sometimes 60 to big hres,
where they can be Of help.
In this case breakfast was forgotten by
every one, the pump and hose got ready.
and by this time some one SAID II was the
the personal effects OF the writer, and OF
special interest now. q hurried visit was
made, in the wake Of the Gospel Hall Fire
Department and sure enough. there was
the great crowded bridge q mass Of flames
In the centre, where the candles had been
thickest, in front Of the idol, and there
seemed no hope Of saving the 100 odd shops,
or the bridge itself.
The pump and hose were Boon got TO
work, and did splendid work for their size.
hut there were three Men to manage that,
and the writer seemed to be OF no use.
Hearing that the Hsien Mandarin who
should come to such fires and supervise
some effective measures was absent on
business in tie country, and that the two
other pumps native owned) In the city were
not coming, and also noting that there was
but one small official helping to quell the
fire. and that with only about twenty sol.
diers. the writer hurried to them. snapped
two more pictures Of the bridge burning,
sent the goods and the coolies into the city
and himself appeared on the scene In straw
sandals, short clothes, and with a large
wat towel wound around the head, held
in place by the useful queue. A great
Gre brigade we all WERE. not an axe.
Jaw or hardly a pail among US all! !,
A raid was again made on my friend
the innkeeper. and down in the basement
q two foot GOAL poker was found, while
NEXT door we commandeeroi q small pail
from an old lady. The poker was not
much for power and the pail was small
and lonesome, but a big noise was made
on the light woodw ork az the -four booths
1.-TWO on each sidey we were trying to get
out, and the tiles few as well. The pump
and poker inspired the soldiers. and the
Are was stoppod at the cast end OF the
bridge, to the good wetting Of the flooring
by the q. r. D. In three hours all that
could be seen was the fourteen stone pillars.
and the blackened debris covered the river
for miles, and told it's w story until the
last piece was dragged ashore by the hun-