A fire, which quickly grew to considerable size, broke out at Japanese cotton mill m Wuchow Road early on the 6th instant, and was not extinguished until four hours hard work had been put in by the Fire Brigade. The call was received shortly after half-past two, the Hongkew bell tower reporting a fire in the direction East Yalu Road. At the time the message was received, the glare could be seen from the Central Station—the Brigade receiving a very late call. It was difficult to get to the fire, as the premises were off the very narrow portion of Wuchow Road, and, to make matters) more complicated, the nearest hydrant was about 1,200 ft, distant, and the heavy gear of the Brigad: was hindered by the un-made and narrow roads.
It was found that " number of small houses, with inter-communication between each, which were used as a cotton carding and cleaning mill, were in flames, with the fire making rapid headway in a northerly direction, No. 2 company got to work from a hydrant near the corner of East Yuhang and. Dixwell Roads, but the men were, handicapped by having to work from such a long line of hose, as were also the Nos. 1 and 4 companies, who were working from the motor pump, drawing water from the Bawgin Creek. Owing to the buildings being wood-fronted and the quantity of loose cotton in the mill, together with the inadequate water
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.