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Q. Do you think that the typhoon you encountered was the same as that which passed over Hongkong on the 18th ?
A. Yes; I am quite positive it was.
Q.
When did you commence to have very bad weather?
A. About 40 miles off Breaker Point, the bad weather was after passing Breaker Point about 100 miles from Hongkong. At midnight when within 100 miles of Hongkong I was on the outer edge of the typhoon and experienced very bad weather.
Q. Do you think at midnight that there would be any sea at Gap Rock or Waglan? A. At that time I should say there must have been heavy sea at both Waglan and Gap Rock.
Dr. DOBERCK said:-
The area of the storm on the 18th instant was so small, its diameter being only about one eighth of the usual diameter of a typhoon, and the wind rose so suddenly that it was more like a tornado than a typhoon.
The centre of a typhoon has never before passed across the Colony, while the centre of this passed over Shatin, 6 miles to the North of the Observatory. The weather in Hong- kong appears not to have been so bad as in Kowloon, and at Gap Rock it appears to have been very moderate. No damage was suffered there on the 18th. The damage was done there during the following typhoon on the 20th. The centre passed subsequently between Canton and Macao giving only, as far as I have gathered, strong breezes and squally weather.
Examined by Sir Henry Berkeley:
Q.-Was the Observatory in telegraphic communication with Hongkong?
A. Yes, on the 17th and until the storm of the 18th.
Q. Have you a station on the Peak ?
A. Yes. It works from 6 a.m. to 8. p.m.
Q.-Had you any reports from the Peak on the 17th?
A. Yes. (Produced-marked A and B.)
17th?
What was the force and direction of the wind on the Peak on the afternoon of the
A.-Morning-NW force 3 or 4. Afternoon :--NE, NW or SW force 1.
Q. What was the wind at the Observatory?
A.-4 p.m.-ESE force 2.
Q.-Was there anything in the reports from the Peak or Observatory to indicate a
storm?
A.-No. The barometer at 1 a.m. and 10 pm. were the same. E force 1 at the Observatory.
Wind at 10 p.m. was