Year: 1872

In less than couple of hours from the
time when the flames began to spread be-
yond their first contracted limit, they had
flown over distance of about two miles,
in direct line, leaving vacant tract
averaging over half mile in breadth.


In no other place, probably, would so
swift and sweeping transformation have
been possible. The dryness of the at
mosphere, the force of the wind, which
rapidly rose to almost u hurricane, and
the inflammable nature of the houses,
combined to make the destruction as rapid
as it was vast and ruinous Attempting,
lust at nightfall to walk through region
every food of which had been familiar to
me, | repeatedly lost my way, and dis
covered, on asking to be set right, that
the very inhabitants were as much astray
as myself. Excepting the heavy line OF
the wall and canal, not a landmark was
left. The only buildings spared were the
little fire-proof 'go-downs"-narow, one
story STRUCTURES of clay-in which the
well-to do citizens store their valuables,
and which, although they would not re-
sst a long gcontinued heat, generally with
stand the brief ferocity of japanese
conflagration. All others had vanished.
Government offices, the finest mansions OF



mercial warehouses, and superb old tenn
pies, with thousands of humber dwell
ings, were totally obliterated. Not
vestige of them was discernable an hour
after the flames had touched them. Even
their ashes were whirled away into the
waters of the bay. 1t is impossible to
conceive of another such scene OF over
whelming and instantaneous desolation.
Within less than three hours district OF
two square miles was laid waste, 5000
edifices were destroyed, and 10000 people
were turned homeless into the streets.


The behavior of the populace at the
time of and after this almost unparalleled
calamity was again such as to justify all
that has ever been said of their perfect
order, patient fortitude, and vigorous
energy. Long after all reasonable hope
of checking the course of the fire had
been abandoned, they labored valiantly
and heroically to keepit within the closest
possible range, and displayed persistent
courage and insensibility to peril which
have never known equaled IN any similar
emergency. From an elevated part OF
one of the walls l could see groups OF
| firemen standing upon and in the midst
of burning houses, grasping their stand
ards until the woodwork literally blaZed
| in their hands. These singular emblems
are generally looked upon as a species of
" fire-gOd " in which a superstitious faith
is repOsed, and the apparent reliance of
| the multitude upon them is duly derided
by superior cities of Caucasian hue. The
fact is, that they have precisely the same
purpose as the banners of an army, and
! are planted by their bearers in spots OF
peculiar danger, from which it is point
of honor not to retreat while nature has
the power to endure. Scores of these
! daring fellows were successively prostrat-
ed, and were borne away, insensible from
wounds or suffocation, while others eager
ly pressed forward to take their places.
There was no interruption, as there was
no limit, to their hardihood. AT no mo-
ment was the least sign of hesitation or
indicision apparent. For the mere chance
Of rescuing single house, dozen men


would f0arlessly risk their lives. Every
disposition to second their endeavors was
shown by the multitude. How such per


feet order could have prevailed in so
dense and excited a mass it Is difficult to
understand No sign of turbulence was
anywhere visible. All whose possessions


were not in immediate danger seemed
ready and anxious to assist their less for


tunate neighboIs, and even among stran


gers the most perfect confidence appeared


to prevail. i have been since INFORMED


blythe authorities of Yeddo that not q


single case of loss by theft during the fire


was brought to their notice, and that the


condition of the city was, throughout the


night and the few days closely following,


more than ordinarily quiet and free from


disorder. Having myself passed many


hours among that part of the community


whose sufferings were greatest, car


readily believe this statement, and an


glad to give it concurrence, so far as &
single observer can do.


BY eleven o'clock at night the fire hae
burnt itself out, At midnight groups Of
laborers were at work, with lanterns anC
torches, putting together rough sheds anC


shanties, which might serve as temporary
refugees for the houseless women and
children. At sunrise, the next morning
the burnt plain was dotted over with littl'


rude villages of huts, and all idea of use
less dspair seemed to have given way t.
a vigorous impulse of restoration. Blu
the amount of misery though not con
spieuously visible must have been yer,
great. The Government contributed larg
stores of rice for the relief of the sufferers