We regret very much to have to record. the occurrence of an exceptionally disastrous conflagration, involving the total destruction of the British Consulate.
About midnight on Friday, the Consulate night-watchman observed smoke issuing from the roof over the South-east corner of that building, and immediately communicated the alarm to Mr. Medhurst and other gentlemen in the neighbourhood. The police were soon apprised, and as their informant kept his alarm rattle going as he hastened along the streets to the station, and the hour, was not, yet one, of general slumber, he also attracted the attention of numerous residents, But so cold was the night, and so ordinary is the occurrence of Chinese fires, that in many cases it was not till the repeated and urgent ringing of the bell induced inquiries, that a general knowledge of the catastrophe impending was arrived at, Many residents indeed remained in ignorance till next day, that a fire had occurred—showing how inefficient, except for the immediate neighbourhood, the low position of the fire-bell at present renders it.
Those early on the spot, including Mr. Medhurst with the superintendent of Police and a few gentlemen living near, found, on entering, that the floor-sleepers of the room on the second floor occupied by the Chief Tudge's private secretary, were burning, but the smoke was here so great that their observation was directed. to it from the room below, where its effects were to be seen on the ceiling. The fire, it is conjectured, had been caused by cinders carelessly raked from the grate of the: room dropping on the supports of the floor, which Chinese contractors generally place in dangerous prox-unity to fire-places. At this time, about half an hour after the first alarm, the fire only shouldered, and the room was shrouded in accumulations of smoke; bult slight apprehension was entertained of its spreading beyond where it had originated. Water was to be had with difficulty, but a couple of buckets were secured and dashed on, and proved nearly effectual-in extinguishing it. It was only partially checked, however; and must have had a firmer hold than was at first suspected, for before another supply of water was got, it resumed its sway more strongly than before. Still, it did not look formidable, and though much smoke arose, the careful exclusion of draughts prevented the flames from bursting out for a time. While thus temporising with it till effective assistance should appear, however, the op-Portunity was lost; for before the next supply "of water Was brought, the room became unfit to enter, the flames burst out fiercely and, seizing on everything inflammable, spread with lightning rapidity throughout the room, out by the windows, along the balustrades of the verandah, and with a roar like thunder passed round the building, outside and inside, fanned by the strong frosty wind. The gentlemen in the various departments of the Consulate who were on the spot, with the assistance of others who had come'up, hastened to secure such' property and papers as were' deemed most valuable; and, though much was lost, numerousimportantdocumentsand registers were saved. The duty was one however involving considerable danger to those en: gaged in it, the smoke having densely permeated the whole building, and the rapidity with which the flames were. spreading. threatening to cut off the retreat of those-who had entered the upper rooms. The-Consul, for instance, who was endeavouring: to save some papers from his: own office; and several others, found their way with great difficulty from the dark and smoke-filled rooms; anda couple of Miholoongs, who had to abandon all hope of getting down by the now burning staircase, escaped from the verandah, also burning, bya ladder. Between.the. time the fire was first noticed: and its passing beyond the room in which it broke out, nearly an hour and a half elapsed, while a couple of minutes after it had done so, the fate of the Consulate was sealed.
The Fire engines of the S. F. D. were more tardy than usual in coming up: The Companies from No. 3 District did not arrive till the whole building was in a blaze. Hongkew Engine No. 2, though on the ground early, was not properly officered and did but feeble service. Shanghai No. 1 and Deluge Steamer No. 4 were, with the Mih-ho-loong Hook and Ladder Company, quickly on the spot, but by a strange fatality neither No. 1 nor No. 4 could bring a stream to play on the fire until too late to save property, and it remained for No. 5 French and No. 3 Kin-lee-yuen, which came up as soon as the general alarm sounded, to be of real service and save the newly. erected portion of the Consular buildings, No.4 "Deluge," which promised..so much, and. had even hose laid anda pipe ready-to play: upon the flames, failed to take water at the critical moment, By-the exertions of some of the officers of the 8. F, D. and the police under InspectorStripling, No, 2 was brought into the Consular compound, and placed to take the water from No. 1, but'when the stream was brought to bear on the fire the whole building was ablaze. Fortunately, the lately built portion of the Consulate, with its Court of Justice &c., was connected. by the wings only: with the old building, and here the firemen did good service and saved that portion from destruction by cut: ting off the fire as it approached from either end. The Mih-ho-loong, Kin-lee-yuen No. 3, and French Ca. No. 5, after a gallant struggle with the flames were finally. masters of their ground, and kept the.fire from spreading beyond the original building. Too much credit cannot be awarded to the Firemen who on: this bitter cold night, when the water froze on their clothes as they held the pipes or Inid the hose up the ladders, faithfully toiled away from midnight until dawn. While some thus shivered with cold as they worked, others were on the roofs and in the doorways half stifled with smoke and blistering with the heat, as. they fought the flames. with their hooks and axes... By 3,30°a.m. the fire had done its worst,: the roof of the Consulate had fallen in with' loud crashes, and eddying flames had wrapped the. whole' in one embrace, "Myriads of burnt embers ahd cinders rose' from the snicking mass, and were driven before the north-west gale
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.