At about 0.30 am. yesterday the bell-towers rang the alarm for a fire in Yangtsepoo district and soon trucks and ladders wore tearing along the Broo: way and Seward Roads to the scone of the fire—the Camp Hotel. As the Camp Hotel is over two miles from the nearest station it was necessarily some minutes before any trucks were on the scene, and in the meantime the flames, fanned by a fierce breeze, had obtained a firm hold of the building. The Victorias got on the first stream and were rapidly followed by the other Companies. In a few minutes streams were playing from all sides. Owing to the high wind it was soon necessary to requisition the Hongkew engine. The burning building presented a most beautiful spectacle. Tt seemed to be outlined with fire, and the breeze sent forth luge showers of sparks. Spite of all that could be done it was soon seen that very little of the building could be saved and precautions were therefore taken to see that the sparks did not endanger the surrounding property. It was not until nearly 3 am. that the Companies began to reel up, and by that time the outer walls were all that remained of the Hotel. The Hongkews did not leave until nearly 5 am. The damage is believed to be fully covered by insurance.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.