Splendid action on the part of both units prevented the total Joss of the house. Chinese firemen: laid ines of hose through the front. vestibule up the staircase, and i the attic, and had jets playing on the fire' in short order. Others sealed the rear of the house and after tearing off tiles from the root in that portion nearest the road, soon put & stop to flames which ha eaten along joists and rafters under the roof, It was necessary to continue to damp down for several hours and just before five o'clock single line still was in operation tat the immediate seat of the flames, The greatest damage of course, to the beautiful house was caused by water. Although inmates and: servants removed the greater portion of the furniture to the verandah, water dripped and seeped through the Moors above, and in the: billiard room it was several inches deep on the floor. In many rooms water ran over the hand-painted walls. On the first floor, the contents of some of the rooms were damaged beyond repair. Carpets, which cannot be replaced, are sodden messes now. Varnishes and pain's. were ruined. Many of Mrs, Ezra's furs are soaked and spoiled. Clothing belonging to others is no longer usable.
Although the family have lost many unreplaceable objects, they feel fortunate, indeed, that the house was not gutted.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.