52
The reading of the barometer as set out are as follows:
Shanghai.... Gutzlaff
...3 p.m. Barometer 30.02 Wind
.3
29.97
ENE 1 NNE 5
17
12
""
Pescadores
1
29.82
SE 8
""
""
Koshun
1
29.82
E 6
7"
17
* Swatow
3
29.68
E 2
*
Manila....
4
29.76
NNE I
門
51
"
At the Hongkong Observatory at 4 p.m. on the 17th the barometer read 29.74: wind
ESE 2.
7. These readings point to the conclusion that there was a gale of wind in Formosa Channel on the 17th apparently travelling NNW.
Referring to this disturbance the Shanghai Observatory (Sicawei) published the follow- ing remarks:-"15th September 1906.-Depression.-A new centre is signalled advancing "towards Formosa from the south of the Meiaco Shima Group; it does not yet give signs of "violence but may bring rough weather in the Formosa Channel and north of Formosa.”
L.
16th September 1906.-Depression. The centre in the south is nearly stationary at "Formosa."
"17th September 1906.-The one reported at Formosa (mcaning the depression pre- "viously noted) filling up gradually." (Exhibits I 2 to I 4.)"
In the opinion of the Committee the barometric observations noted above did not call for the hoisting of any typhoon signal in Hongkong on the 17th September.
8. Under the date 18th September the Shanghai Observatory, after the event, and after information received from Hongkong, published locally the following remarks:-" Depression. --A very violent storm of quite limited area raged in Hongkong on Tuesday morning" (18th). (Exhibit I 5.)
9. The evidence as to the appearance and state of the weather on the morning of the 18th, previous to the hoisting of the Black Drum is conflicting. Captain UNSWORTH, of the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, stated that at 6.30 am. he ordered everything to be taken away from the wharves; that at 7.30 a.m. the sea was breaking over the wharves at Kowloon, and that no skiff could have lived in such a sea as was running then: whereas Captain. OUTERBRIDGE, who slept ashore on the night of the 17th, and whose ship was lying in or about the centre of the harbour, did not leave the shore to rejoin his ship till between 8.30 and 8.45 a.m. on the 18th, and H.M.S. Tamar's signal log shows that torpedo boat No. 38 was alongside at 8.5, under orders o proceed to D'Aguilar wireless telegraph station (Exhibit O), and actually left H.M.S. Tamar at 8.15, after the hoisting of the Black Drum, for Kowloon where she safely entered the camber of the torpedo depôt situated to the north of the northern Kowloon wharf and Lieut. BUTTERWORTH (the King's Harbour Master) informed the Committee that at 8 o'clock that morning he ordered his skiff to be alongside H.M.S. Tamar at 8.30.
10. The evidence as to the appearance and state of the weather on the afternoon, even- ing, and night of the 17th is also conflicting.
Monsieur LIEBERT the Consul for France "felt on Sunday September 16th, and on Mon- day 17th, that we were going to have a typhoon very soon and my rough observations were confirmed by several naval people who were in the harbour, especially the commanders of the mail steamer Polynesien and of the French destroyers."
This reading is stated by Mr. Figg of the Observatory to be 0.07 too low, which would make the true reading 29.75.