Since the fire on the French Concession on the morning of Qist February, 1884, there has been no similar catastrophe till Wednesday morning. At the former fire seven people lost their lives, and at Weduesunber met broad daylight. so many people should lose their lives. Tt was reported at hi eight o'clock (hat one person was missing, but as similar reports ure spread at most fires, not much credence was given to it. Three women, wan, and a child were afterwards stated Ww be missing and one was in the hospital suffering from burns. I was, however, all Woo. true, for while th ruins were being searched the remains of some bodies were found. These remains were entirely beyond recognition, but what appear to be four budless were dug up. According to the latest report, there are atill w wean and n buy missing,
ing at 8 o'clock in Houxn Road a little to Thofirewasdis-overed Weinesday morn-the north of Nanking Road, but before the alarinwasgiven, some of the tremen had seen the smoke and got to their engine hunses befure the bells rang, Some daly was caused at the scene of the fire, for after the Deluge" men had Jaid two lines ut hose, it was found that the water could not be turned on at the hydrant. owing to the ordinary key being too large to fit the valve spindle, After an interval of several mutes, come of the other companies arrived and. tonk water from hydeanteia Nanking, Honan and Kisngeo Roads, that ina quarter of an hour there were eightatreaus playing. Under the circum. stances, there was not much danger of the flames spreading beyond the walls. Some dozen houses altogether were destroy ed, the contents being mostly insured, the Northern being the heaviest sufferers. A Chinaman, the occupant of one of the houses, was severely burnt and has since died, and one of the coolies attached to the "Deluge" was injured by a burning beam falling on his legs. Both wen ware taken to the Shantung Road Hospital.
There are two reports as to the origin of the fire, one being that some matches ignited and set fire to a quantity of combustible materials, and the other that a lamp exploded.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.