FEARFUL FIRE AT BOORHANPORE, IN INDIA.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 385, 24 October 1868, Page 5

FEARFUL FIRE AT BOORHANPORE, IN INDIA.

FOTJR TTIOTJSAND HOUSES DESTROYED AND :SETEN HTJNDBED LIVES LOST. A cob/respondent of the Nagpore Observer of June 10th, sends an account of the recent dreadful fire which has almost made a ruin of this once fine and prosperous town. The following are the particulars : —" On the 30u1t., at noon, a terrible fire broke out in the Itwarra Mahilla. This is a densely populated quarter of the town, and is moreover chiefly inhabited by opulent classes of the bora caste, and other most respectable Hindoos. The flames rapidly spread over the whole of the Mahilla. Nothing could resist the hungry element. The houses of the town semed to catch fire by sympathy ; for they became apparently all ignited at once. I never witnessed so dreadful a scene. The sky was red at noonday with the flames. This fire has caused immense loss of property, and'worse stiU, of human life. It has been ascertained that seven hundred human beings have perished in the flames. There is nothing but weeping and wailing in the town. People are looking for their relatives and friends ; but they cant' find them for they have been calcined to ashes. It is estimated that twenty lacs of rupees worth of property has been destroyed. The police deserve our thanks for their great exertion. They not only exerted themselves energetically to extinguish the fire, but also kept a careful watch, over the property secured from the burning houses. The conduct of the police was most pdmirable on that sad occasion, and having myself been a spectator of their conduct I can justly add tribute of my humble humble commendation. Nothing could exceed their dauntless bravery. They rushed fearlessly into the flames and dragged out burning boxes. They also plunged into the blazing houses and snatched out men, womtn and children, who would otherwise have either been consumed by the fiames or smothered by the smoke. A melancholy circumstance connected with this terrible fire is worthy of notice. An opulent merchant succeeded in rescuing several bags of

rupees, containing on the whole 40,000 : but upon his re-entering his house in order to recover more, the burning roof fell upon him, and he was buried under the fiery ruins of his own residence. It is calculated that at least 4000 houses hvae been^destroyed."