The Fire Which Destroyed Quai de Seujet, Geneve -1864 Engraving

Incendie du Quai du Seujet à Genève – Night of 24 September 1864

Fine 19th century engraving depicting the fire at the Quai du Seujet, Geneva, 24 September 1864, likely issued in an illustrated newspaper or journal of the period. Dramatic night scene showing early firefighting efforts and a recorded rescue by local citizens. The scene unfolds along the Rhône, where tightly packed riverside buildings are engulfed in flames, their upper stories emitting towering plumes of smoke that dominate the night sky.

The composition captures both the scale of the disaster and the immediacy of the response. Crowds gather densely along the quay, forming human chains at the water’s edge while early firefighting equipment is brought into action. Figures lean from windows, and rescuers climb precariously onto rooftops. At the center of the scene, a daring rescue is underway using a long pole, reflecting the pre-modern techniques employed before the widespread use of mechanical ladders.

The caption identifies the principal rescuer, Carraz, assisted by citizens Mégevand, Joigne, Pourroy, and the firefighter Viquerat. Their actions are memorialized here as an example of civic courage and collective effort, characteristic of mid-19th century firefighting, when organized brigades worked alongside local residents.

Artistically, the engraving relies on strong contrasts between illuminated windows, dense smoke, and the reflective surface of the river to heighten the sense of urgency and spectacle. It serves both as a documentary record and as a vivid visual narrative of Geneva’s urban life and vulnerability during this period.

Texts below image:

French (original):
INCENDIE DU QUAI DU SEUJET À GENÈVE,
dans la nuit du 24 Septembre 1864.
Sauvetage à la perche par Carraz, aidé des Citoyens Mégevand, Joigne, Pourroy et Viquerat sapeur-pompier.

English (translation):
Fire at the Quai du Seujet in Geneva,
on the night of 24 September 1864.
Rescue by pole by Carraz, assisted by the citizens Mégevand, Joigne, Pourroy, and Viquerat, firefighter.

Attractively presented in a traditional gold frame with a hand-drawn French mat, finished with subtle gold ruled lines.