Disastrous Fire at Ningpo.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 276, 31 March 1894, Page 4

Disastrous Fire at Ningpo.

Tbe Eastern and Australian line steamer Airlie, from Japanese and Chinese ports, arriTed in Sydney harbour some time ago, bringing lengthy reports of the fatal fire that occurred at Ningpo recently, resulting in the death of between 200 and 300 women and children. It appears that the annual theatrical performance of the first of 11th moon, in honor of the gods, was being given in a temple on the settlement, and was attended by upwards of 400 people. As most people in China know, there is fre quently a permanent stage in the courtyard of large Chinese temples. It is situated between the temple and the gate, while the audience, when there is a representation, is between the temple and the stage. The temple at Ningpo. where the accident happened, was called the Zau-tsu-ching miao, a two-storied building, and both stories were monopolised by womeu and children to witness the performance. The people were enjoying themselves generally, smoking, eating, chatting, and drinking tea. Among the crowd was a boy who was smokin^ a ci-jarette, which he threw a »ay in a heap of straw at the foot of the staircase, wbtch was soon envoi oped in flames, preventing, the peop <■ Letting • ut. Of course, there was a gr^i.. R.i rush to escape, ."omf were trampled t<> death, others jumped out ol the windows iind were either killed or -o tin- iy injured that thoy were ona'le to > .»cape tin; flames, and so pi-i ivi <1 "he others |i:».*sivelv uwaitei! th ■ wh U " «j- not iur^ in 07 1 1 ) Lh: • y " they ».->•« roi t.-.i ui.ve si.i'Caie'i by tb< tDI/hfi.