8.
Incidentally, a Humane Society, which did rescue work during typhoons, was formed as a direct result of this disaster (see 9-9-33).
It might be noted also that the original St. Joseph's Church, in Garden Road, erected in 1872, was practically destroyed by this typhoon and was rebuilt in 1876 (see 11-10-33). In the local Naval records appears a notification from the Admiralty dated August 25, 1876, that they had decided to contribute from Naval funds a sum of £50 towards "the rebuilding of the Roman Catholic Church destroyed at Hongkong by the typhoon in the autumn of 1874".
Owing to a printer's error in the article on typhoons, the date of the second big typhoon which affected Hongkong after its foundation, was given in a portion of yesterday's issue as 1884. This was a transposition of figures, the correct date being, of course, 1848, and the seven-year cycle being maintained for a long period, severe gales occurring in 1841, 1848, 1855 and 1862.
11803
Since it was founded in 1841, Hongkong has experienced two disastrous rain-storms, each involving a heavy loss of life and enormous damage to property. The first occurred on May 7, 1845, and has already been fully described (see 21-9-33). The second occurred on May 29, 1889. The first part of it was comparatively unimportant. It started about 2 a.m. and continued till noon, being accompanied by thunder from mid-daylight. Up to that time it was a steady driving downpour, covering every level with debris and sand and effectively stopping all traffic.
X: By 7 a.m. a strong wind was blowing and the sea was breaking over the Praya Wall, smashing junks and sampans.
By 11 a.m., Queen's Road was impassable. No-one could walk over to the Club or the Barracks. The huge drains became surcharged: and every small lane to the Praya was transformed into a channel washed by rushing yellow water. The rainfall between 7 a.m. and 10.20 a.m. was 5.2 inches and between 10.20 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. it was 6.4 inches, or 11.6 inches in all over two inches an hour!
Towards noon the great drain which led down Peel Street under the Praya, and received the flood waters of two large sewers, became congested and lifted up the crown for some yards throwing great blocks of stone aside as if they were straws. In Pedder Street between the Clock Tower and the Post Office, the water heaved up the roadway for many yards, the huge drain showing like a swift brook and flooding the roadway.
The Peak Tramway was smashed by the rushing torrents which provoked a landslide about one hundred yards higher than the point where the cars cross. About a quarter to twelve, the cars at each end were empty and stationary, when suddenly, without any signal being given, the lower car began to run swiftly up the slight incline and at the same time the car at the top began to move downwards. An investigation was at once made and it was found that an immense mass of earth – thousands of tons had slipped down the hillside, pressing the cable out and causing the movement of the cars. The cable had been broken but the emergency brakes prevented serious damage to the cars.
At the Peak near Mr. Hughes' house, eight men were killed by a flash of lightning about noon. They were lying in a matshed – four in the top room and four below. The lightning struck the roof, penetrated the floor, and killed every one of them without leaving a single external mark on their bodies.
At the large building next to the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank on the Praya, a verandah collapsed but no one was injured. The scaffolding fell against the telegraph wires and stopped communication for a time.
Glenealy Road at the top of Lower Wyndham Street, had to be blocked at mid-day on account of the heaving up of the whole roadway, caused by the immense volume of water that ultimately wrecked Pedder Street.