Adventurous Journey to" Nanziang Ends Unhappily: Not Least for Burnt-out Town Until Tuesday, we were quite unaware of the fact that Quinsan city la the proud possessor of three fire brigades—or rather was, for the city's best and brightest engine is now part of a certain commander's military equipment.
During the occupation of Nan-jong by the Kiangsu troops there thave been a great number of fires, Jand the biggest of all broke out on Thursday last and consumed a great portion of the centre of the city. When the blaze was at its height a telegram was despatched to Quinsan asking for the kind assistance Jof the local fire fighters, and the Fesponse was a ready The three local brigades gathered their gear together, rushed the railway station, and set off for Nanziang, meeting' with the first cheek at Anting, where nonchalant military men ignored—them and said they Kad no instructions about a fire. It was a cool, even cold reception, for the gallant firemen were all crowded into an open truck, were drenched by the pouring rain, were not even given the cus: tomary hospitality of a bow! of tea. However, after waiting for two or three hours, orders were given for the train to move on, and the contingent arrived at Nanziang when was dark, By that time most of the damage had been done, but there was still a great glow in the sky and fresh outbreaks were occur-fon the fringe of the destroyed The firemen at once received peremptory orders to get to work, and this they did, but it was not to their liking when soldiers took up sticks and beat some of the men who they considered were not sufficiently energetic in pumping. Indignant but, in the circumstances, tactically industrious, the firemen Jcontinued their efforts and by about 3am. completed their work Prepared to enjoy the hospitality which they felt reasonably sure a grateful commanding officer had in store for them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.