THE LATE FIRE AT CONSTANTINOPLE.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 743, 22 October 1870, Page 4

THE LATE FIRE AT CONSTANTINOPLE.

From the papers respecting the destruction by fire of the British Embassy House at Constantinople, it is evident that not only was every step taken which was possible to avert the calamity, but also that in the zeal of all concerned to save the building and the public property in it, they let their own private effects be consumed without an effort to preserve them. When the. five broke out in Pera it was about half a mile from the Embassy — every preparation was, however, made and every precaution taken, as though it were close at hand. The iron shutters on that side of the house were closed, the Hre-angines were got out, the hoso fitted and tried and found to be in an efficient condition. Men were posted on the roof and kept wetting it, but the fierce bLize rolled on towards the fated building. The iron shutters were red-hot and the glass of all the windows inside them became too hot to touch ; still it was felt that if the little garrison who had been reinforced by some seamen from H.M.S. Antelope could hold out one half-hour longer the danger would be past. Once already the roof had beau on fire underneath the slates ; the flame was extinguished, but the he:it made the roof untenable. Men were dri veil' from it, the flames bur3tout again, and then all was over. Nothing remained to be done but to secure as far possible the property in the lower r omp, and to leave the upper story to iis fate. The duty of seeing that a supply of water was kept in every room on the bedroom floor devolved on the women. Lady Elliot, her daughter, and governes3 were engaged in this work when the fire broke out under the roof. Sir Henry told them to go at once to their Towns, and get m\ «srafnl of what things they could lay their hands on, and hurry downstairs. "Although," he says, "I did not allow them more than a minute or two, by the time they reached the staircase farthest from the lire the smoke was so thick that it was as much as they could do to get down. In a very few minutes more not a person on that floor would ever have left it, for the other staircases were still worse, and the melted, lead wad falling like rain." We are sorry to learn from his despatches that

not only has he lost all h's lamps, dessert and dinner services, but also " every article of clothing." Upon this painful phase of his Excellency's misfortunes we will not dwell beyond expressing a hope that Sir Henry has been able to borrow some temporary garments until his own can be replaced. Everybody must sympathise with the members of the Embassy and the domestic servants who seem to have lost every article they possassed. Consul-General Sir T. Francis, in a letter to the late Loi'd Clarendon, dated 9th ultimo, speaking of the staff of the Consulate, says that four of the members have been rendered as destitute as even the laborers who have been burnt out. Their salaries are not more than enough to keep them and their families. Mr Alishan, one of the dragomans, with the exception of a few books which he has since lost, has been deprived of all his furniture and personal property. Mr Medard, clerk of the correspondence and secretary recently arrived from China, has lost the whole of his property, and his sav'n^s during sixteen years' service, as well a3 some bonds which belonged to his sister-in-law ; except L 3, which he had in hi 3 pocket, and the clothes he wore he is without resources. Mr Macenier, a very deserving clerk, appeans to be in the same position, minus the L 3. Giorgio Rossolato, for thirty years messenger to the Consulate, is performing tha arduous task of supporting a large party without any home or furniture. It is satisfactory to learn from the papers that Lord Clarendon before his death expressed his readiness to recommend to the Treasury that compensation should- be awarded to these unfortunate officers of the Consulate, and also to the members of the' Embassy for }he losses they tlni3 sustained from neglecting their own property while exerting to save that of the public.