On the morning of September 23, the town looked as if it had undergone a terrific bombardment. Thousands of European and Chinese dwellings were in ruins, large trees had been torn up by the roots and most of the streets were impassable, being obstructed by fallen trees, roof timber, and mounds of soil thrown up by bursting drains. Business was at a complete standstill for several days. It is estimated that over 2,000 lives were lost in the harbour within six hours.
The Hospital ship, Mesnee, was the only ship in the harbour to hold her anchors, and these, when hoisted, were found to have been twisted into a tangled mass of iron.
The following list of shipping losses is by no means complete, but it gives some idea of the damage done in the Harbour.
The Sea Bird, a British schooner, went ashore near the Commissariat wharf, but was later refloated.
H.M.S. Falmer, gunboat, was wrecked near the V.R.C. and later sold for scrap.
The Leonor and Albay, two Spanish schooners, collided and sank near the Douglas Wharf.
The P.M.S.S. Alaska was left high and dry at Aberdeen,
The Mindanao, a British barque, sank after wrecking the Pacific Mail Steamship Company's wharf.
The Courier, a British barque, capsized and sank.
The Imogen (see photo) went down off Possession Point.
The Malvern, a British barque, sank close to the Imogen.
The Lizzie and Rosa, a British barque, was left high and dry at West Point. The Blue Bell, a British tug, suffered the same fate at Belcher's Bay.
The following ships were reported missing and pieces of their wreckage were subsequently washed ashore: Low-tow (Siamese), Dudu (Siamese), Amoy (Siamese), Early Bird (British steam tug), A.E. Vidal (German barque), Aldebran (German barque) and Macao (Peruvian barque).
Dozens of other ships were badly damaged.
The only survivor of the Dudu was a seaman who was serving ten days in prison for attempting to stab the captain.
The bravery of the Tauffer Brothers (see 6/7/34) was not rewarded until January 7, 1876, when they received from the hands of the Governor a testimonial from the Royal Humane Society.
Little appears to have been done to utilise the lessons taught by this typhoon. A Humane Society was formed in Hongkong in July, 1875, for the special purpose of preventing the frequent loss of life in the harbour and particularly to give assistance during typhoons. The Society, under the Presidency of the Hon. Phineas Ryrie entered upon its labours with great enthusiasm. Officers were appointed, stations fixed and funds were raised. All the necessary apparatus was purchased and a large sum was still left in hand. A lifeboat was talked of, additional funds were voted by the Legislative Council, but after that the whole scheme was allowed to drop.
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