GREAT FIRES OF THE WORLD.

Evening Star, Issue 3862, 10 July 1875, Page 3

GREAT FIRES OF THE WORLD.

First, that at Rome under the reign of Nero, a.d, 64. Of the fourteen districts into which the city was divided, four only remained entire. The fire raged with the greatest fury for six days and seven night?, and after it was thought to have been extinguished it burst forth again, and continued for two days longer. The population of the city at that time has keen estimated at two millions. It was generally believed that Nera set fire to the city himself; and it was currently reported that during the conflagration ascended a high tower to witness it, and amused himself with singing the “ Destruction of Troy.”

The “ Great Fire” of London commenced the 2nd of September, 16GG, lasted four days and nights, and in that time reduced to ashes five-sixths cf the whole city within the walls. The ruins covered a span more than a mile long and half*a-mile broad. Out of 370 acres of buildings iu London and 230 in out parishes, only 75 acres were left standing. There were consumed 13,200 dvve’ling-houses, 403 streets, numerous public dwellings, 83 churches, hospitals, schools, and libraries. 200,000 people were left houseless. The loss was rudely estimated at Lll 000,000 sterling. But though seveie at the time, this visitation contributed materially to the impiovement of the city. It wos rebuilt on a more commodious plan by Sir Christopher Wren in about four years. The Great Fire at Moscow in 1812 On Wednesday, September 15, Napoleon took up his head-quarters in the Kremlin, and on Che same day the conflagration broke out and spread rapidly over tbo city. The explosions, and the balloon'} of flame which were seen falling from tie tops of the towers, showed the rmans that were being taken to spread the fire. A A vast sea of flames illuminated the horizon for miles. Two different quarters of the town took fire, burned, and disappeared all at once. The silence of terror was only interrupted by a roaring like that of a stormy sea ; this was produced by the wind, which, driving with violence the torrent of flames, hurried oa, far aud wide, the destructive element. Although a great part of the town was built of wood, it took many days of general conflagration to consume it. At last, in most quarters of the town, there were left so few truces of habitation that the streets could hardly be recognised. Human bodies half burnt, and the carcasses of horses, cow?, and dogs lay in the midst of the ruins. 30,700 houses, besides a great number of palaces, were reduced to ashes ; scarcely sixty buildings (were left The private loss gby the destruction of houses and their contents was calculated at not less than L 30,000,000, and this was probably under the mark. It is thought the fire was kindled by the Russians themselves as a means of driving out the invader. The desolation did not last long; Moscow rose like a Phoenix from her ashes, but in greater beauty and under a newer form.