The Japan Herald (Yokohama) - December 26, 1863

The Japan Herald (Yokohama) - December 26, 1863

Destructive Fire

It is our painful duty to record that yesterday (Tuesday) the new residence of Messrs. Louis Kniffler & Co., situated in the centre of the Main street of this Settlement, was totally destroyed by fire.

The house was a handsome two-storied building, and had been only a very short time completed. 

About half-past-one o'clock in the afternoon the attention of some passers-by was attracted by the issue of large volumes of smoke from the roof; on ascending into the drawing-room and tearing down a portion of the ceiling, the rafters of the entire side of the roof were discovered to be more or less enveloped in flames. Every effort was made by the few who had assembled to crush them out, but in the absence of ladders or other means of ascending into the roof this was soon found to be impossible. When the alarm had spread and the various engines began to arrive (led we believe by that of Messrs. Fletcher and Co.) the flames had obtained such a hold as, under the most advantageous circumstances, to leave but little chance of their being extinguished. The supply of water was bare, there was no organization of means for obtaining it, and soon, even the most sanguine were convinced that the devouring element could not be balked of its prey. Attention therefore was turned to the removal of the furniture and valuables; which was accomplished with much vigorous application, but this again without any organization, and therefore its utility much destroyed. To save elegant chairs, or even lamps and other like articles from the fire, they would be thrown violently on the ground, and satin-covered couches left to be saturated with dirty water.

These things we mention not in depreciation of the judgment of those who exerted themselves but in the hopes that the keeping of these facts prominently forward may aid in bringing about one great desideratum, the formation of an effective Fire Brigade. We have no hesitation in asserting that had such a body been present at an early stage of yesterday's calamity, it would have been greatly averted.

The ravages of the flames were confined to the house of Messrs Knifller & Co. itself; the adjoining go-down, occupied by Mr. Boyle, was at one time in great danger, but was happily preserved intact. The wind too at the time was so high as to carry large and heavy strongly ignited particles of wood etc. considerable distance and the whole of buildings on the leeward side were at all times in danger from this cause: indeed a small house in the rear premises, and we are told also the residence of Dr. Visser, were both at one time actually ignited.

The commercial offices of Messrs. Kniffler escaped, and we are glad to say that all the books and papers were so far carefully removed as to cause but comparatively little inconvenience; and the furniture of the house--or the greater part of it, has been saved, in a more or less perfect condition. As to the services rendered by the officers and men of the Naval squadrons, the land forces of all nationalities; the residents, from the Foreign Ministers (one of whom we saw aiding as one of a bucket-gang) to the humblest individual, we must leave the representatives of Messrs. Kniffler & Co. to speak--and they will be found to do so in another column: like them, where all were so energetic, we think it would be ungracious and invidious to particularize any one, or anybody. The native Firemen assembled in great force, and ranged themselves to witness the proceedings, on a vacant piece of ground to the number of perhaps 300, but as they pertinaciously refused to bring water, or to pump, or to place their ladders, or to do anything but look on, they were asked to remove away--this even they were too lazy to do, until the bayonet of a single marine on guard was brought to the charge, when they skeltered away as though the spirit of Gongensama or whoever else answers to our own Gentlemen in black was after them.   

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Keywords: Fire; Kniffler & Co.; Fletcher & Co.; Fire brigade