GREAT FIRE

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 707, 30 July 1870, Page 1 (Supplement)

GREAT FIRE

Constantinople, June 6. About one o'clock yesterday afternoon, a fire broke out which spread with alarming rapidity through the richest quarters of the city. The flames were first discovered in an old building on the north side of the Golden Horn. A strong wind was blowing at the time, and the fire quickly commuuicated to the adjoining buildings. The efforts of the firemen and citizens to stop its progress were of no avail, and in a few hours the residences of the English, American and Portugese Ambassadors' Consulates, the National Theatre, many churches aud mosques, and thousands of houses, and the richest stores and shops in the city, were reduced to ashes. The loss of life by the falling walls is fearful. It is estimated that at least 30 people were killed or injured by this cause alone. The loss of property is incalculable. The fire at this hour is still burning furiously, and the excitement of the people beggars description. • June 9. _^^ . The great fire in the Pera district is^* subdued. Over seven thousand buildings of all sorts were destroyed, many of the best in the city. The loss of life has greatly exceeded the estimate. Some days ago the remains of one hundred and fifty human beings were found ; it is supposed that this number represents onehalf the actual loss. The total pecuniary loss is computed at twenty-five million pounds sterling. The English Underwriters suffer heavy losses. The Archives of the British Embassy were saved. The American Church of the linniaculate Conception was on fire several times, and considerably damaged, but the Gobelin tapestry, the gift of the" 'Suipress Eugenic, with which the church was decorated, was saved uninjured. The loss of life by the conflagration is ! frightful ; some families was hemmed in by the flames and perished iv full view of the spectators. The panic among the people was terrible ; many lost all prei sence of mind and were "unable to save ! them?&lYea \ others, in despair^ jnade no effort to fly ; some Turks shut themselves in burning houses, refused assistance, and met their fate without a murmur. Two hundred and fifty persons were burned to ! death or killed by falling wall's ; many j more are missing. - .'