July 7, 1897.j
and not have to chance whether or not he can obtain the permission of some one before he can carry out any alterations or even rebuild.
Trusting this may help to cause the members of Council to return the proposed by-law to the Board and to request that some definite by-law may be drawn up which leaves nothing to the opinion of any one. I remain, yours truly,
R. K. LEIGH, M.İ.C.■.
Hongkong, 1st July, 1897.
PEAK CHAIR COOLIES.
· CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. THE HẲNKOW-PEKING RAILWAY.
Shanghai, 28th June. H.E. Sheng Ta-yen returned from Hankow by the Kiangyung on Saturday morning after, we are told, completing the Belgian loan and the preliminary arrangements for proceeding with the work of this railway. At Hankow two Chinese officials named Wang Chiao-Nien and Chang Yen-Hang accompanied by a foreign party have been deputed to make a second survey of the route, commencing with Nikow northwards until Paoting in Chihli is reached, this surveying party is instructed to furnish full details as seen on the route of the line. In joint authority with H.E. Chang Chih-tung the Viceroy and H‚E. Chih-hsun the Governor, Sheng Ta-yen has issued another proclamation reiterating the advantages of the projected railway to the country where it passes through and cammanding the people of Hupeh to give up to the government such lands as may be found wanted for the line in which case the said lands will have flags and other marks posted thereon, at price as follows:---
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
SIR, On three successive evenings between 7 and 8 p.m. there have been no chairs for hire at the Peak, presumably because the weather has been wet and windy and it doesn't suit the comfort of the coolies to turn out under such conditions. This is the customary state of affairs with these men. Given fait weather they will deign to carry you, but the moment things become uncomfortable they retire to their quarters In one sense one cannot blame them, but on the other hand they undertake a public service, they use the public roads as a means of From outside the Ta-chih gate (where the livelihood, and should therefore accept the bad railway station will be) to the Yu-Pai gate with the good. Any way, if they don't care 10,000 cash per mow per cultivated and 4,000 to work in bad weather I would suggest to the for uncultivated lands respectively; from the Authorities interested that there are plenty of Yu-pai gate to the Hwang-Chiang-Tang, and men who, given the opportunity, would beyond 13,000 cash her mow, with a small cheerfully do so. I imagine the Peak chair extra allowance for good productive fields, service is arranged through some contractor houses on the route of the line, to be or "farmer" and that individual energy here, taken over by the government or to be re- as elsewhere in the Colony in the matter of moved away (pulled down) by the owner chairs and 'rickshas, is quashed by the middle-at his option, at prices to be decided upon by man, who receives the licenses and lets those out the inspecting officers; from the Tung-chi at exorbitant rates to the poor wretches who do gate (the southern terminus of the railway) the work.
northwards, all ground in Hupeh wanted for the line is to be paid for at 8,000 and 4,000 cash per mow respectively, for cutivated and unpro- duotive fields.
in some
a
Possibly the Peak coolies, as other districts, share equally the miserable pittance allowed by the "farmer," and this may account for the indifference with which We are further informed that Sheng has they regard a "fare" and their reluctance sent a telegraphic message to the Grand Coun- to carry any but those bound for the Mount|cil at Peking informing his superiors that the Austin Hotel and other short distances.
There is something wrong somewhere; the fares are good and plentiful and yet the service is bad beyond description. The men are continually changing; so much so that I believe a coolie rarely stays at his work more than a month. There ought to be a com- modious and effective shelter to protect the men and chairs from the heavy rains of summer and bitter winds of winter, and if, as I suspect, the profits of this lucrative business are lining the pockets of a middleman the sooner the Government take steps to encourage in- dividual enterprise amongst the men of the chair and 'ricksha persuasion the better it will be for all concerned.-Yours truly,
Hongkong, 2nd July, 1897.
loan is all right and that work may begin with the building of the Lu-Han Railway.-Shang- hai Daily Preas.
THE FOUNDERING OF THE "SRI HONG ANN.”
ARRIVAL OF THE SURVIVORS AT SINGAPORE,
Singapore, 22nd Jane. There is no further telegraphic news from Malacca regarding the terrible disaster to the steamer Sri Hong Ann, though a rumour is current that a steamer going north about the time of the disaster was able to pick up about twenty natives, either passengers or orew, Unfortunately, it is pretty certain that Mr. THE SEAMEN OF THE ROYAL NAVY| Allen, the chief engineer, has been drowned,
AND THE JUBILEE.
PEAKITE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.”,
SIE-Permit me, on behalf of the men of the British Squadron now lying in the harbour, to express our thanks (through your paper) for the kindness and thoughtfulness of those who were so good as to give to each man the sum of 50 cents to drink the Queen's health (for as such we regard the donation) on the most important occasion of the century, viz., the 60th year's reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. Again, I think it both kind and generous, and, more- over, we have absolutely no claim on such ge- nerosity. Therefore we are desirous that this should meet the eye of those concerned.-I re- main, your humble servant.
TOM BOWLINE. Hongkong, 29th June, 1897.
as one of the survivors says that he saw his dead body in the water after the vessel had sunk. At the time that the violent squall struck the steamer, the chief engineer was below. He immediately rushed on deck, but was not seen again alive. If it be true that another vessel has been able to pick up others of those who were thrown into the water, the total mortality may be considerably reduced, though, in any case, the loss of the Sri Hong Ann will rank as one of the most dreadful maritime calamities of recent years in these
waters.
Captain Rawlinson and number of the survivors arrived this morning, at daylight, in the steamer Hebe, which brought them from Deli, where they had been conveyed by the Dutch steamer Reynst, which was fortunately passing the scene of the foundering not long after the Sri Hong Ann was struck by the At the Supreme Court on 3rd inst. Sir John squall. The number of saved, so far as is at Carrington, Chief Justice, directed that Mr. present definitely is known, the Captain, the Seen Wan Tso be approved, admitted, and second engineer, sixteen of the crew, and, enrolled as a solicitar to practise in the of the passengers, 23 Malays, 10 children, women, 6 Chinese, 1 Japanese and Supreme Court of Hongkong. Hon. W. M.| 2 Goodman (Attorney-General) made the applica- 1 Kling, making a total of 53, all told. It is tion and produced the necessary documents. to be hoped that this total will be materially The newly admitted solicitor went to England increased by some further report of others being at the age of sixteen to complete his education | picked up, which is not unlikely, as the sea was at Cheltenham College. He then studied law strewed with floating baggage and deck material, ́and after remaining eleven years in England which proved the salvation of many of those
who have to-day arrived. has returned to the Far East,
|
35
A representative of the Straits Times in- terviewed Captain Rawlinson, shortly after his arrival, this morning. The captain is still suffering from an exposure of nearly two hours in the water and the anxiety and shock necessarily attending the dis aster. In reply to enquiries, he said that the Sri Hong Ann left Singapore on Friday afternoon, about five o'clock, and that all went well until half-past four on the morning of Satar- day. An hour before that time, the sea was per fectly calm, and the moon was shining serenely in a clear sky. Then, it became thick and threatening. Clouds came up from the North West; and after going for some time at half speed, the order was given for dead slow. The vessel's head was put to windward for a time, but, as Malacca was approached, the course was steered for shore. This was about ten minutes past five, as the captain hoped to make Malacca by daylight. Five minutes later, a very heavy squall struck the steamer and, almost in the time that it takes to write it, the vessel heeled to port and shipped a heavy ses, Instantly the passengers and their baggage followeded suit, and, with the whole weight on the upper deck suddenly transferred to the windward side of the ship, and with a furious squall raging, the vessel was on her beam ends, and could not be righted. The chief engineer came on deck, and told the captain that the steamer was rapidly filling, and there was no hope for her. After that he was not seen alive, and it is difficult to believe that he could have been saved. Captain Rawlinson found himself in the water-he was on the bridge at the time of the accident-and he at once struck out from the fast sinking ship in order to avoid the suction. He secured a box and, with the second engineer, hung on to it until the Reynst hove in sight and rescued them with the other persons also supporting themselves in the water. These were then conveyed to Deli, as already stated, and were treated with the greatest kindness, as they were also by the Captain of the llebe, which brought them to Singapore.
The scenes at the time of the foundering are described as particularly harrowing; but so little time was given for those on board to realise the nature of the catastrophe that many must have perished almost unconscious of danger. The men in the engine room could have had little opportunity of effecting their escape, and were drowned like rats. In fact, few escaped who were not on the bridge or the upper deck; and they escaped by a fortunately ample supply of floating material. Of course nothing was saved.
Captain Rawlinson had a very narrow escape. At the time that he was precipitated into the water, he had on two coats and his Sou'Wester; and, during the first quarter of an hour, the weight of these sodden garments was almost too much for him. He was able, however, with the assistance of the second engineer, to divest himself of most of these garments, and he then felt much less exhausted, though the heavy seas put a severe strain on his arm while hanging on to a very small brass handle of the box. Happily, no charks made their appearance, though the waters of that part of the Straits have an unenviable reputation for harbouring great numbers of those sen monsters.
A fortunate escape is reported from Sings- pore. A European employed in the Govern- ment service in Perak was to have returned by the Sri Hong Ann aud went on board to secure his cabin. He found, however, that he could not secure a berth on the bridge, and refused to take a cabin on the main deck. He, there- fore, remained behind.
One of the Chinese saved made his escape from the cabin window as, on being aroused, found that the door was jammed.
There is unhappily little doubt that Mr. Anderson and Mr. and Mrs. Pereira, passengers, have been drowned. Mr. Anderson was sleeping in the bridge cabin, but the captain does not remember seeing him after the squall struck the steamer. Mr. and Mrs. Pereira were sleeping on the main deck in the cabin of the second engineer. ·
An official enquiry will be held here.—Straits Times.