"Why not quench the fire at its start with water? Alas! there was no water, and this expedient was a hopeless one. The s which carried the precious fluid under the city streets were broken or injured so that no quenching streams were to be had. In some cases the s had been so damaged that the fire-fighting apparatus could not be taken out, though even if it had it would have been useless. A sweeping conflagration and not an ounce of water to throw upon it!"