The casualties consequent upon the fire were not very serious, when the extent of the conflagration is taken into consideration. Among dismantling houses, over 100 received slight injuries from burns and falling timber. In addition to this the silver refiner, on whose premises the fire started, lost his life. In the case of the latter, it seems as if retribution followed him. At the first alarm, his wife and family rushed out of the burning house, but the refiner, loth to lose his silver, stayed behind to save what he could before making his escape. In respect to Mission property, the loss is considerable. Five buildings, including the "Chinese Church, School, Tibetan Chapel and Preaching Hall, have been totally destroyed. The loss involved is not far short of Tls. 10,000. The Commissioner and chief civil official were very considerate towards us. Both called to inquire the extent of our loss, and to express their sympathy. The townspeople ing their sympathy according to an established custom, by sending gifts of eggs and confectionery.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.