On Saturday, 27th September, at about half-past two in the afternoon, begin one of the destructive fires which have cause it such devastation in this city during the past few years. It began in a fire-cracker shop, it being reported that they w testing the powd i The result was: two more. Immediately the fire had come one of some size. and everything doing so dry it spread like wildfire. By the time the stall manuals began to arrive it was already out of control of the means that this city possesses of euxbing Fortunately there was no wind, ise it would have cquadied the wreat South Street fire of last autumn, As it was the fire burnt over three hundred houses, which included two sections of the main street, viz, the Ho Fu Kiai and the T Tsing Teo, and was finally brought to a finish by pawnshops in either dir. ection. En the east and west it hounded by a luge pond and the trate's yuman. "Tt will be remembered that Jat year's fire swept down the other side of this same yamen; in fne', all along ither boundary this fire almost reached the northera limits of the previous une.
The remarkable thing about the fire was the wonderfal salvation of the Al'iance Mission premises, which consist of an ord ary Chinese house, whose walls are by no canis fire-proof or as good as these "f some neighbouring houses. At the time of the outbreak no missionaries were present, one being out itinerating, and the other at the Church Mission house, which is a mile and a-half away. When Fanirer, the missionary in question, with a member of the Church Mission, did reach the scene of the fire, there was noapproaching the place by the main stree', but after some long time they were able to work round the back and got in by a back way through a house at the rear. Imay say th: the only people in the house were the runners and another man. When th ed they found a'l had fled, the front pre ing chapel burnt to the ground, the dividing door down and the flames pouring through fon to the guest-halls, which were catch fire. They tore down the windows and burning boards and splashed a little water about." One of them then thought that it would be well to see to the way of escape, as it seemed hopeless, and retiring to the rear found the lane in flames, They therefore heat a quick retreat, lea 1g the place in trade and general business. The hope is Some hours afterwards, in the|express-d by many that Dr. Marin may was thought well to send men to also come to Nanking with the Viceroy.
pots and pans, e'c., had stood the The Late Viceroy. fire. and collect them' before the petty The foreign community have decided to thieves got them, when what was our sur-give some substantial expression to their Bamt!> The fire lad gone out of itself, rise to hear that the place had not been respect and regard for the deceased Vice-rey Liu, the form of which is still under and another place that had subsequently consideration. caught fire and was burning slowly in the roof of the dwelling rooms was extingui-The Triennial Examination. shed by one of the returning men. Here Last Sunday at midnight the 290 names was great cause for thanksgiving to God, of the lucky men in the last Ohiijén Who was not forgotten. the place now examination were posted before the Pro-stands alone in the midst of tiles and Vincial Treasurer's yamen. Four members tottering walls. of the Li Hung-chang family were amon; the lucky number (only four had enter Fatalities.
The questions given seemed to indicate In the fire there were several people killed, that the examiner was " progressive man who going into their houses to save things, ud would welcome a thorough discussion were unable to get out again. How many of foreign affairs. But the Dragon Tiger Thave not yet heard definitely. A great Board tells a differen' story. Many who val of property was lost as there was so faithfully studied to understand foreign little warning, the fire being large from the affairs and thought an honest discussion commencement. One of the extraordinary was wanted are now sadder but wiser men, sights of the fire was a large pond of many 'The confidence of the sticklers for the nores' extent filled with household goods, old having been restored, that no. radical with their possessors sitting on them. The change is seriously meant, we may look for water was shallow. much larger attendance at the regular A Robbery. examination next year.
I forgot to say that from the Alliance The Farmers Jubilant. house some goods were stolen by thieves On Thursday and Friday there was a apparently just before the return of the servants, for they left much through a hurried flight.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.