The Fire at Sarajevo.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume I, Issue 19, 8 November 1879, Page 4

The Fire at Sarajevo.

The latest accounts of the disaster at Serajevo, which occurred on the 9th Aug , represents that 760 houses, exclusive of side houses and shops, have been burned down. The rich Servians are leaving the town with their families for the country. To provide room for the homeless the militia have left their quarters, which are now filled with the poor panic-stricken sufferers. Two explosions followed the outbreak of the fire, supposed to be of spirit casks. One man was killed. The house which first caught, as well as those in its neighborhood, was very favorable to the spreading of the flames, having felt the intense heat of the two preceding months. A high wind was blowing during the time the fire lasted. One hour after the fire started three gunshots from the Gastello called the attention of the inhabitants to their imminent danger. Meanwhile all the ten streets of the Tinman Catholic quarter were on fire, including the Homan Catholic Church, the nuns’ school, and the German school. The fire advanced to the bridge and street known as Tschumurija, and reached a mosque filled with State provisions. On other sides the fire was half an hour later—namely, half past six—before reaching the Latin Bridge and Franz Joseph street, which it immediately swept over, proceeding thence to Tschlihan and the Great Bazaar. It was only at this juncture that the inhabitants gained an idea of the terrible danger which threatened the whole city. The hastened to their dwellings, crying, “ Sanve qui pent.” The soldiers were all this time working indefatigably, but it was found impossble to limit the range of the fire. The commercial quarters called Tschrschiga, then began to burn, and at 8 p.m. Serajevo was one great furnace, extending from Miljaskarivier to Ferhadia street, and from the Great Servian Church to the Begova Mosque. The engines and water supply were totally in adequate to the occasion. The Spanish quarter, with all its wood houses, was set on fire ; also Tschmaltusha street, with the officers’ hospital, the German Consulate, and the Turkish Bath, at 10 p.m. the fire stood at Careva Bridge. From time to time the explodings of cartridges and sharp detonations were beam, but nothing interrupted the gallantry with which the soldiers worked. At midnight the fire reached the Italian Consulate, near Mountainsloles, where it wasstopped, but on the other side it went on to Tschcrncrlanira and Liurawina streets. At 3 o’clock in the morning the commercial quarter could not yet be passed being still partly burning and partly glowing after the expiring flames. The Great Bazaar, in these portions not made of wood, had resisted the flames, as well as the Great Mosque Begovadshamija. Two other mosques were, however, burned. The storm having ceased and the mill-rivulet being led into the streets the fire was limited and more easily extinguished. The next day there were only some little outbreaks, and the chief danger had been overcome, but the interior of Serajevo, which was its most interesting part, exists no more. The danger threatening the Mijaska, on the left bank of which the State buildings are situated, was averted by the cessation of the storm. The relief committee is doing its work energetically, I and its quick help is certainly wanted