CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
December 2, 1897.} perpendicular position. Several of the people could wander where they wished and women held bags of money, their savings find omple opportunities for exercising their after years of toil, and one bag con- purse strings. The flower stall, the Japanese tained $700. Two others each held a little stall, the fancy stall, and the refreshment stall child in her arms. It may be imagined, therefore, were loaded with choice things which very that the occupants were in a frantic condition sufficiently tempted the people to buy, while and this is no doubt the reason why none of Aunt Sally, always an irresistible attraction, the them attempted to escape by jumping out of croquet pool, and the cocoa-nuts were responsible the window, which could easily be reached and for a good share of the sams subscribed. The which was only about thirteen feet from May-pole dances were very pretty indeed and the ground. When recovered many of the the art gallery was also a conspicuous success. fifteen corpses were charred so much that re- The works of art were works of ingenuity as cognition is perhaps impossible. The bodies well. Two pictures" particularly appealed were taken to the mortuary to await the in-sympathetically to every visitor. One, quest.
world went very well then," by Sir R. Jardine, was represented by an old chopped Chinese dollur, bent ont of recognition, placed on the scales and balancing exactly four shillings. Now look at the other picture-"Degenerate Days." A bright,
unsoiled British
THE INQUEST.
On 25th November Hon. H. E. Wodehouse opened the inquest on the bodies of the fifteen people who met their death in the fire of Tues- day night at No. 64, Third Street.
Lam Tsun Fuk an unemployed boatman, deposed to having identified each of the fifteen bodies taken out of No. 64, Third Street on the 24th November between midnight and 2 a.m. They were those of two men, nine women, and four girls. The girls' ages ranged from 3 to 12 years.
He had been living in the house for over twenty years. After giving a detailed des- cription of the way the floors were partitioned, he said he was not present when the fire broke out, but ran back as soon as he heard the alarm. He arrived too late to render assistance to the people inside.
Sergeant Gauld, after having given a detailed description of the premises, said :--" On the night of the 23rd November, I was at No. 7, Police Station. At 11.50 I was awakened by the man on duty at the station and he told me there was a fire in Third Street. Seven minutes after I was called I was on the spot. I saw a house in flames. The fire was very fierce and flames were shooting out of the doors on the ground floor and the windows on the first floor. The staircase was mostly consumed. I did not hear any sounds of people inside. Nothing could have been done when I got there to save anybody. There are particular instructions for the use of the Fire Brigade with regard to the steps to be taken for saring life. They are contained in an order dated 9th December, 1896. This is the only order of which I am In this awate relating to the saving of life. case it was impossible to carry out the instruc- tions as the fire was too fierce. I am not aware that there are any appliances in the Brigade specially directed to the saving of life.
At this point the enquiry was adjourned.
FIRE IN SECOND STREET.
At 7.15 a.m. on 28th Nov. a fire broke out at the Kwong Hing Loong tea merchants' shop at No. 122, Second Street, West Point. The honse was a two storeyed ore, and the fire ori- giuated on the first floor through the acci- dental upsetting of a kerosine lamp near one of the front windows. The fire brigade turned out smartly and the flames were quickly got under. I be occupants, in their hurry to get away, neglected to take with them the shop's books. A few of these were consumed but the greater number merely had their edges slightly burnt, and were some. what damaged by water. The safe likewise had not been opened, and six hundred dollars were found in it. The ground floor, in which the tea was stored, did not suffer any material damage from the fire, but the packages of tea were soaked with water. The premises were insured with Messrs. Butterfield & Swire in the London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Com- pany for $4,000.
|
pence
33
W
new
E
The
dollar in one scule and one shilling and in the other. Degenerate nine days indeed! The Charge of the Light Pillars Brigade" was a Gas Company's bill; of Greece were represented by candles; "The way through the Wood," by T. E. R. Mite, vividly illustrated the penetrating power of the termite. These are only a few of the works of art picked out at random; they were all most apt and afforded considerable interest as well as amusement.
which
In the afternoon there were two concerts, gave much enjoyment and were well at- tended. The programme of the first was as fol- lows:-
Miss Loureiro. Miss Holland.
Song.
Skirt Dancé
"Penso
Sparring exhibition. J. Hucker and H. Holbrow (H. M.S. Victor Emanuel.)
Violin and piano..." Shepherd's Dance," from Henry VIII.
M. Giraud and Miss Holland.
(Mr. C. T.
Comic Song.." The Lamplighter' 1 Robinson
The first May-pole dance followed and then there was another concert, the programme of
which was as under:
*
Exhibition of sparring.
Allor ed Oggi **Irish Jig"
44
•
Miss Loureiro. Song Dance
Misses Holland. ("Reverie Violin solo & piano
Spanish Dance" M. Giraud and Mrs. May.
Mr. C. T. Robinson. Humorons stories
The last item in the afternoon's list of attractions was an exceedingly clever con- juring entertainment given by Professor Stokini, who is known, it is said, by every crowned and uncrowned head in Europe, and who returned to the colony after performing before the principal Courts. "Entrance 50 cents, which will be returned if you don't like the show." But everybody liked the show and the Professor must be congratulated upon the great success be scored.
In the evening the grounds were brilliantly illuminated with Chinese lanterns and fairy lamps, and the visitors had a capital evening's fun. Another concert was held at which the
items were given :-- following Song with violin accompaniment, Serenade" Mr.s May and M. Giraud, Skirt Dance and the Cachncha,...... Miss Seth. "Serenade Violin Solo-
"Spanish Dance M. Giraud & Mrs. May.
Miss Loureiro. Song ..."La Vie est Belle
Then the Blackbird Minstrels took the boards and gave a very enjoyable half an hour's per- formance.
`CHARITY FETE AT GOVERNMENT and a word of praise is due to the following
HOUSE.
The fète held in the Government House grounds on Saturday has, we trust, resulted in a handsome contribution towards the winter relief of the East London poor. Fortunately the weather was most favourable for an al fresco fête, and it is certain that the attractions provided were numerous and interesting enough to draw a large number of people. was something to do or to see during the whole time the fête was in progress, thanks to the excellent arrangements made by the Rev. R. F. Cobbold and his staff of willing assistants, and
There
The fête altogether was an undoubted success ladies and gentlemen who kindly gave their assistance:-
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most kindly acted as banker during the day. The May-pole dance was organised by Mrs. Holland.
Croquet Pool.-Mrs. Saunders. Cocoanuts.-Mrs. Long and Mrs. Wellman: Aunt Sally-Mrs. Örborne and Miss L. Danby:
MURDEROUS RAID BY BANDITS.
THIRTY PEOPLE KILLED.
At the Police Court on 27th Nov. the hearing, of a rendition case brought out the facts of an atrocious murder which was committed on the 14th June last in the village of Ko Chiu lieo, district of Haifong, prefecture of Hueui. The victims were twenty-four men, two women (one of whom was enceinte), and four children be- tween eight and ten years of age. It appears that on the evening of the day in question the villagers were quietly reposing after their meal;: when a band of robbers, 1,000 strong, and led by a man named Lam Tai Kau, swooped down upon them from a neighbouring hill, murdering all those who came in their way. They then sacked the place and took away with them property and money to a value of twenty thousand taels, The matter was reported to the mandarins at Haifong, and soldiers were sent out to arrest the bandits. A reward was likewise offered for the capture of the leader of the band, Lam Tai Kan, but that personage mysteriously. disappeared, and it was not until quite recently that information was brought to the official at Haifong that Lam Tai Kau was in hiding at Hongkong. Two lieutenants were instantly sent to this colony and they informed Hon. F. H. May, Captain Superintendent of Police, of the presence of the murderer in the colony. A warrant was issued, and Lam Tai Kau was arrested by a Chinese detective at Yaumati on the 19th November. On Saturday he was brought before Hon. H. E. Wodehouse, Police Magis- trate, for the purpose of identification. Mr. T. A. Howe, Acting Deputy Superintendent of Police, was in charge of the case,
The first witness called was Ko Lai Mue, who started at once to curse at the prisoner, but was asked to keep cool. He said-I am a farmer in the Ko Chin lieo village, district of Haifong. On the evening of the 14th June, after I had taken my meal, I was sitting in my house in company with six other men. I saw the de- fendant leading over one thousand men to our They were armed with swords and village. spears, and some held banners. The defendant was armed with two knives and I saw him kill my father just outside the door of my house. He also killed my nephew, aged 27. I did not offer any resistance but ran for my life. defendant.
I know the
He is from the Chan Sui Pi village, which is a short distance away from mine. He is a robber.
Ko Nai Su, another farmer, stated that the robbers made a rush at the village from the foot
of the hill. His brother, Ko Kwei Yen, aged
the Chan Shu Pi village and was a robber. Nổ” 62, was killed. The defendant was the head of resistance was offered against them.
"3
The third witness, Ko Wei Yue, also a farmer. said-After my evening meal on the 14th June I was sitting in my honse with my uncle and aunt. We suddenly heard the cry, Law Tai Kauis leading a band of robbers upon us." We got up and ran for our lives. I was a little ahead. We were pursued, and I saw the defendant leading the force with two knives in his bands. He had likewise a drum- aud was urging on his men to kill the people. The gang gained upon us, and I saw my uncle and aunt killed by them. I escaped, but re- turned to the village three or four days after, to learn that thirty persons had been murdered, among them being two women and four
Refreshment Stall.-Mrs. Wise, Mrs. Haw-children. The robbers had likewise sacked the kins, Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. Ritchie.
Flower Stall.-Mrs. Layton, Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. Johnstone, Miss Carrington.
Japanese Stall-Mrs. Poate, Mrs. Trevelyan, Mrs. David, Miss Danby.
Fancy Stall.-Mrs. Gray, Mrs. Tomes, Mrs. Siebs, Mrs. Drary.
Fire Art Gallery.-Mr Shepherd.
Shepherd, Miss
The illuminations in the evening were Mrs: T. Jackson arranged by Mr. Barton.
village, and taken away property and money to`
The the value of twenty thousand taels. prisoner is a thief. The robbers had never been to our village before. That was their first raid. There was another village that aided them.
At this point Mr. Howe asked His Worship to remand the case as no requisition had been received from the Chinese Authorities for the prisoner's rendition.
The case was remanded till next Saturday.