Fire Utterly Destroys Riding Academy Pandemonium reigned in th vicinity of the juncture of Great Western Road and Edinburgh Road about, a.m. last Saturday when the outbreak of a fire at the Great Western Riding Academy caused over 80 ponies to stampede, More unfortunate, however, was the destruction of 18 of them, 17 being Uterally roosted alive and the other being shot in order to end its agony.
The stables of the school comprised—they are now razed to the ground—two main sections of stalls, and were constructed of "bamboo, and matting, with straw roofs. The fire is supposed to have origi-mated in the fodder room, and in 10 minutes had completed its work, Yeaving nothing but charred debris the bodies of 18 unfortunate beasts, Detachments of the Fire Brigade from Bubbling Well and other districts were soon on the scene, but the blaze was beyond submission. een later on Saturday morning, the school presented a very de-elate appearance. The saddlery' and boot shops, together. with thi office—and all the Acadeiny's book had disappeared. The sight of the remains of the poor animals wae a gruesome one. In. most care oe nnd tals bad boomed fied davotred all leet lege?
completely, In others the, Bames, director of the Academy, told a representative of the "North-China
there were just 100 ponies in stables. When tHe fire alarm was sounded every effort, he said, was made to the animals out of their stalls, fand special efforts were made—although he did not explain his Teasoning—to save those belonging to customers before dealing with academy's animals. Great cliff jeulty was experienced when the ponies had been eventually.released from the blazing buildings, some dashing madly along the Great Western Road and Edinburgh Road. Those that gave the most trouble—apart from those which were not saved—were two or three small herds which did their utmost to rush back into the flames. The ponies which succumbed were so frenzied that all attempts to get them from their stalls were fruit-Some of them simply sat down and resisted repeated efforts to drag them out with ropes. It was impossible to get near enough to blindfold them. Others plunged into the centre of the flames and }danced among them until they fell.
The 100 ponies, said Capt Kui zeff, comprised 30 belonging to the Academy, another 30 belonging to the American Troop of the Shanghai Volunteers, and 40 the property of of private customers. Only two of the last named category were lost, whilst the Academy's quota auf: fered to the extent of 13. The other three belonged to the American' cop.
Practically all the Academy's riding gear was destroyed, and the total damage is estimated to be around $14,000. It is understood that the Toss was fully covered by insurance,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.