A devastating fire, said to be one lof the largest which has occurred in the West Hongkew District for a long time past, took place in Tong Dong Ka Loong, near North Shanse Road, on Tuesday afternoon when some 35 Chinese building's were destroyed.
Tt appears that the blaze broke i;|out in a Chinese lodging house at about 1.80 pin. and caught on to neighbouring buildings with great rapidity, but the exact cause has up to the present, not been ascertain:
The alarm was at once raised and) within a few minutes the Hongkew Division of the Municipal Fire Brigade arrived and were at work. In spite of thick volumes of smoke, the unbearable heat and vieiour fumes, the fire fighters set to work in their usual efficient manner and by 5.30 p.m. the blaze was brought thoroughly under control, only a little flame being seen at a couple of, places at that time.
According to onlookers, the fire spread with such rapidity that within three minutes at least half a dozen shops were reduced to cinders. This was supported by a fairly good breeze and the result was that, when the brigade left, only the bare walls of several of the 35 buildings remained standing.
From inquiries we learn that the buildings accommodated two schools (which fortunately were closed for the summer holidays), two candle godowns, a furniture shop, a earpenter's shop, a sugar godown, a bag hong, two' cigarette shops, a hotel, Scotland where the retiring Superintendent hopes to join them at a early date. Mr. Cruickshank is sti! comparatively a young man. He i fuse over the Afty mark, and hi nian friends in the Settlement will gi wish him. many years, of happy life]
his firewood shop, a salt fish shop, general store, and a wool shop.
Although it was officially stated that there were no casualties attendant on the fire, we are informed that at least one man died from the shock received while a rumour was Jeixculated among the Chinese that two children were burnt to death, However, this remains to be cor-
Hardly had the machines, some were still damping down, returned from the fire, when another report was received from Connaught and Singapore Roads, that a large fire was in progress there. This burned quickly and raised high flames de-cause straw huts were ablaze. Bub-
Hing Well Division responded and in a short time had it under control.
On Monday evening at 7.20 o'clock Large motor' lorry caught fire on Boundary Road. Hongkew "A" turned out, but the front of the 1s badly burned before Tuesday Night's Blaze The cooking of food by two children in the absence of their elders was responsible for another outbreak which occured in Avenue Edward VII, near Mohawk Road, shortly after 11 o'clock on Tuesday night, 'A Chinese shop facing the street was soon in flames and the two ad-
Joining shops suffered slight damage. The Sinz: Division of the Fire Brigade turned out and after 15 minutes work were successful in controlling the outbreak.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.