The Great Fire of Benin destroys most of Benin City. British Expedition Force denies responsibility for this.
Extract from A DIARY OF A SURGEON WITH THE BENIN PUNITIVE EXPEDITION' By FELIX N. ROTH, M.R.C.S., and L.R.C.P.
February 21st.—A great disaster took place to-day, which really will prove a blessing. About 3 p.m. a good breeze sprang up, and while this was blowing, two carriers carelessly set fire to a hut. Unfortunately the wind was blowing towards the part of the town where we were quartered, and although the fire was about a mile away, Allman and myself advised everybody to remove their effects from the native huts, but, not thinking the fire serious, the officers only removed the ammunition to a safe place. The wind blew stronger, and the fire increased frightfully, the flames passing from house to house, and even setting light to the trees. As soon as we noticed it, we removed our medical stores ; the men tried to move their stores, but were too late, and most of them had everything burnt. Even the things which had been placed in the middle of the big compounds caught fire, the heat being very great. In less than an hour the conflagration had burnt itself out, and the whole place was strewn with ashes. The next day we found what a blessing had come to us, for fire, smoke, and charcoal seemed to have removed all the smell, and the city became sweet and pure again.
References
1) Bacon, R. H. Benin City of Blood, 1897
2) Bacon, R. Admiral Sir, Benin Expedition, A Naval Scrap-Book, First Part, 1877 – 1900: 197 – 207
3) Boisragon, A. The Benin Massacre,1897, pages 183 - 184
4) Roth, H. L. 1903 appendix 11 cited Roth N. F. A DIARY OF A SURGEON WITH THE BENIN PUNITIVE EXPEDITION'
Extract from A DIARY OF A SURGEON WITH THE BENIN PUNITIVE EXPEDITION' By FELIX N. ROTH, M.R.C.S., and L.R.C.P.
February 21st.—A great disaster took place to-day, which really will prove a blessing. About 3 p.m. a good breeze sprang up, and while this was blowing, two carriers carelessly set fire to a hut. Unfortunately the wind was blowing towards the part of the town where we were quartered, and although the fire was about a mile away, Allman and myself advised everybody to remove their effects from the native huts, but, not thinking the fire serious, the officers only removed the ammunition to a safe place. The wind blew stronger, and the fire increased frightfully, the flames passing from house to house, and even setting light to the trees. As soon as we noticed it, we removed our medical stores ; the men tried to move their stores, but were too late, and most of them had everything burnt. Even the things which had been placed in the middle of the big compounds caught fire, the heat being very great. In less than an hour the conflagration had burnt itself out, and the whole place was strewn with ashes. The next day we found what a blessing had come to us, for fire, smoke, and charcoal seemed to have removed all the smell, and the city became sweet and pure again.
References
1) Bacon, R. H. Benin City of Blood, 1897
2) Bacon, R. Admiral Sir, Benin Expedition, A Naval Scrap-Book, First Part, 1877 – 1900: 197 – 207
3) Boisragon, A. The Benin Massacre,1897, pages 183 - 184
4) Roth, H. L. 1903 appendix 11 cited Roth N. F. A DIARY OF A SURGEON WITH THE BENIN PUNITIVE EXPEDITION'