FIRES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14276, 17 August 1910, Page 5

FIRES.

CAUSE OF THE OUTBREAK. THE BRITISH LOSSES. Pi-ess Association-liy Telegraph-Copyright BRUSSELS, August 15. The fire at the Exhibition originated through a. short circuit in an illuminated device at the entrance to the Belgian section. Sparks fell on to some splendid needlework and artificial silk exhibits Large portions of the Belgian and British sections and French Alimentation Court were wholly d est roy ed Very few of Bostock's animals were lost The British loss (which is under £100,000), is chiefly old furniture from Kensington Museum, specimens of porcelain, unique furniture from private! collections, reproductions of British plate and many pottery and textile exhibits.

The French newspapers exaggerate the entire loss to milliards of francs. There was no loss of life, but twentyfive persons were injured. The Exhibition remains open.

MACHINERY AND JEWELS. SAVED. The machinery hall was saved. Safes containing jewels to the value of £GOO,OOO were recovered intact in the Belgian section. THE SECTIONS DESTROYED. UNFORTUNATE" ANIAIALS. THE ANXIETY. Received 11.3 p.m., August 16th. BRUSSELS, August IC. The British section, the principal at the Exhibition, was completely destroyed. The French wine court perished iu eight minutes. Tho Dutch and Spanish sections were seriously damaged ; others less so. Priceless pictures that were in a separate building were unharmed.

A safe containing 140,000 francs of the Exhibition takings was recovered from among the charred and twisted masses of ironwork. Domes and minarets were reduced to broken masonry. Troops are preventing further looting. The fire spread with terrifying rapidity. There were frequent deafening reports of explosions of chemicals. The fire invaded the menagerie and eight gendarmes armed with rifles were ordered to shoQt the animals, but the order was countermanded for fear tho men would shoot people in the crowd. An elephant, white asses and monkeys were freed and escaped. The lions, tigers, and other animals were burnt. The firemen were prompt, but many of the houses had no water service. The people of Brussels were in pitiable anxiety throughout the night, and there were rumours of hundreds dead. Lloyd's do not believe that their loss will'exceed half a. million; their total insurance, is one. million.

A GRAND HOTEL BURNED. . LONDON, August 16. Hie luxurious Karersee Hotel in Southern Tyrol, has been burnt. Visitors (including many English, and American society leaders), were without shelter for hours, awaiting conveyances to Botzen.