THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 14TH SEPTEMBER, 1895. 1015
The typhoon indicated above appears to have been recurving in the Pacific in about 20°, 125° - on the 17th and thence to have moved slowly to the NNE. On the 23rd it was approaching S. Kiushui (Japan). It passed to the E of Nagasaki on the 25th and crossed the Inland Sea in about 132° Long. The disturbance apparently continued to move in a NNE direction in the Sea of Japan on the 26th. The S.S. Nuestra Senora de Loreto on the voyage from Manila to Yokohama, which occupied 13 days, encountered this typhoon and was hove to from the 19th to the 21st in about 24°, 127°.
On the 28th at 10.55 a.
"A depression is probably forming in NE part of China Sea." At 11.40 a. Forecast:-" barometer falling: moderate N to NE winds, probably increasing: fair to unsettled, some rain."
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"The depression barometer falling: moderate N and
On the 29th at 1.20 a. Two lanterns hoisted vertically. At 11.55 a. appears to be situated to the NW of Bolinao." Forecast:- NE winds, probably increasing: unsettled, squally, some rain."
On the 29th at 4.50 p. Red Drum hoisted. On the 30th at 11.20 a. "The depression seems to be almost stationary at present." Forecast --" barometer unsteady: moderate or fresh N winds: unsettled, squally."
On the 30th at 10.10 p. Two lanterns hoisted vertically. On the 31st at 4.15 a. Black South Cone hoisted. At 10.15 a. "Typhoon moving westward to the South of Hongkong in about 19° degrees latitude." At 11.0 a. Forecast:- := “barometer rising: fresh E breezes: squally and showery."
At 6.10 p. Black South Cone lowered.
The above depression seems to have been forming in about 18° to 20° Lat. and 117° to 118° Long. between the 28th and 30th. During this interval pressure was about 0.1 inch below the normal at Hongkong and along the SE coast of China, moderate to fresh NE to N breezes, accom- panied by squally weather, prevailing in these districts. The barometer was also low, to the extent of about 0.1 inch and upwards, at Bolinao and Manila where light to moderate S and SW breezes prevailed.
On the 30th the depression commenced to move towards WNW and W. The S. S. Sungkiang in 19° 54', 116° 07' at 4 p. on this day and steering for Hongkong experienced a strong NW backing breeze during the evening. At midnight the barometer had fallen to its lowest point, 29.57, with the wind at SW, a moderate breeze. The bark Matterhorn was at noon situated in 21° 27′, 114° 23′ when the wind began to increase from NW. At 6 p. they had a strong gale which veered to NE at 8 p. At 10 p the wind fell calm, but a little later it sprang up from SE but quickly moderated to a fresh breeze at midnight. Barometer readings were not recorded. The centre was situated in 21° 00', 114° 15′ at midnight of the 30th and it passed to the South of Gap Rock near 4 a. of the 31st. A strong breeze veering from NNE at 1 a. to ESE at 7 a. was experienced at this station with the lowest recorded barometer reading, 29.54, at 4 a. The S. S. Devawonyse was in the left-hand semi-circle. This vessel had been steered N 33° E from her noon position (19° 20′, 112° 03′) on the 30th, but at 2.30 a. on the 31st her commander found it advisable to put her head to the Southward, as the barometer had begun to fall sharply and the wind had increased to a strong NW breeze accompanied by torrential rain. The wind direction quickly backed towards W as they steered southward, but it increased to a moderate and fresh gale at 5 a. from W by S, accompanied by incessant rain and lightning. The lowest barometer reading, 29.50, was made at 4 a. and at 6.30 a. they steered N 21° E. At 7 a. in 20° 48′, 113° 15', the barometer had risen to 29.58 with the wind at SW by W decreasing and continuing to back as they proceeded northwards. The bark W. le Lacheur situated in about 21°, 113°, also experienced a strong N backing to W gale between 3 a. and 7 a. of the 31st, the wind suddenly decreasing to a fresh breeze at 8 a. and backing to SW at 10 a. The barometric minimum, 29.48, occurred at 6 a.
These observations together with those made at Gap Rock show that the area comprised by strong winds was exceedingly small.
At noon on the 31st the centre was situated in 21° 15', 112° 30'. The S. S. Frejr, in 20° 30′, 111° 19′ at noon had a fresh NNE breeze with squally weather. The wind direction was backing, and between 3 p. and 4 p., the vessel being situated in 20° 38', 111° 50′ at the latter hour, a strong W gale was experienced, the barometer falling to 29.64. The wind continued to back as they steered towards NE, and at 8 p. it had come to ESE of force 3, the barometer having risen, in the meantime, to 29.69. The S. S. Hongkong had taken shelter in St. John's barbour during the morning and they there experienced strong NE winds, the barometer reading 29.62 at 4 p. At this hour the centre was passing between the anchorage and the position of the Frejr. Moving towards about W by N, it must have entered the coast a few hours later.
In this depression strong gales were not experienced at a greater distance than 30 miles from the centre and then only in the front or W semi-circle. In rear the winds were particularly light and did not exceed a strong breeze at the same distance. Moreover in rear the wind quickly re-gained a NE direction off the S Coast of China as pressure remained low over the N part of the China Sea.
Hongkong Observatory, 12th September, 1895.
W. DOBERCK,
Director.