What threatened to be a big out: break of fire was successfully dealt with by the three local fire brigades! last evening when a large building in the heart of Pristan and opposite the market, caught fire. The big outbreak took place shortly before seven o'clock in the evening, when an explosion occurred ina large shop occupied by a Chinese piece goods hong. The force of the ex-Hlosion which took place in the shop, which had already put up its shutters for the night, blew out all the Targe windows as' well as the iron! window frame, with such force! that a Chinese cigarette hawker on! the pavement immediately outside the shop was killed and some other passers-by wounded. The store was immediately enveloped in flames! which at once.spread to the upper-stories which are occupied by the Palace Hotel. In the hotel a panic conk place when the explosion wag heard, and all the guests rushed into' the corridors, thinking that there was an attempt at an armed robbery and hyateies whilst children yelled. Win dowsron the first floor were shattered and heavy pieces of furniture such a wardrobes, dressing tables, flung labour and overturned, The pandemonium created did not last for long, for people were reassured by the hotel. management and the fire-bridges arrived promptly on the scenes. The fire was got under after an hour's fight, the dry-goods store being completely burnt out. A chemist's shop next door also suffered considerably from the explosion Thanks to the building being of concrete, the damage upstairs was confined' to the rooms on the first floor From Our Own Connssronsent immediately over the store, th occupants of four or five rooms lo Hangchow, Oct. 31. ing most of their belongings. Several'
The Japanese Consul was "At' losses by theft were reported by the Home" from 10.30 to 11.90 this hotel guests, and there was one forenoon to welcome callers in arrest made, that of a well-dressed Aancur, of the Emperor's, birthday: Rassian woman who was carrying away a bag not belonging to her.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.