348
SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN
JAPAN. “
MANY KILLED AND INJURED. A serious accident occurred on the Japan Railway on the 7th October. The papers con- taining the first acounts of the disaster have not yet come to hand, but from references in later issues we gather that the train dashed over the Hokigawa Bridge.
The Tokyo correspondent of the Kobe Chron- icle, writing on the 10th October, says :--
The serious accident on the Japan Railway on Saturday last continues to be the burning topio of the day. Up to yesterday afternoon twenty bodies were recovered and vigorous se- arch is being made for the rest of the passengers, who are estimated at 100. The hypothesis is that on the cars reaching the bottom of the stream the men became frantic in their efforts to escape through the windows, and were drowned or swept off by the swift torrent. One witness, a survivor of the awful ̄ac- cident, says that he saw about seventy passengers in one car alone and that many were washed away. Their appeals for assistance were heartrending as they were rapidly swept away by the swirling water. If this statement is correct, there must have been, at least, 200 passengers in the train, but the rail- way company is firmly persuaded that the number does not exceed 100 at the atmost. A large number of spectators from Tokyo and else- where, and the relatives or friends of the wounded or killed, have assembled at the scene of the disaster, the latter being carried by the railway without charge to the place. All the wounded have been removed to the Utsunomiya hospital.
The Jupan Mail of the 11th says:-The latest intelligence up to Tuesday forenoou from the scene of the disaster at the Hokigawa Bridge puts the total number of casualties at 81, but does not distinguish between fatalities and injuries. Another account, however, which is apparently trustworthy, alleges that, up to 2 p.m. on the 9th instant, 18 dead bodies had been recovered and that forty wounded persons were receiving treatment. This account adds that 10 escaped without injury. If the figures be correct, it is to be feared that the list of casualties will grow, for only 68 persons are thus accounted for out of the whole train-load.
There is a strong disposition in some quarters to hold the railway authorities responsible. The Chief Judge of the Local Peace Court, at whose instance a public procurator visited the scene, has expressed the opinion that the couplings were bad, and that the distribution of the cars was also injudicious. The heavy baggage-waggons, which remained on the line and did not meet with any accident, were all grouped together instead of being distributed among the passenger cars. He claims, too, that due precautions were not observed as to slackening speed. Doubtless an investigation will be held. There never yet occurred a rail. way catastrophe that did not suggest accusations of this nature,
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
· JAPANSE KLONDYKE.
HOKKAIDO A CERTAIN GOLD FIELD.
[October 21, 1899.
MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT].
Macao, 19th October. H.E. the Governor of Hongkong arrived on a visit to Macao last Friday and stayed at the Boa Vista Hotel. On Saturday His Excellency went out in the Hotel launch for a day's shoot- ing. On Sunday he called on H.E. Senhor Galhardo, Governor of Macao. On Tuesday a circular was issued by Senhor Galhardo request- ing all Government employes to be at the steamer wharf to see Sir Henry Blake off on Wednesday morning, and accordingly the wharf was crowded. Senhor Galhardo was unable to be present in person, as he is suffering, as he has been for some weeks past, from a severe chill and fever. A guard of honour was drawn up at the entrance to the wharf, under the command of Captain Silva, and the usual salute was given as H. E. Sir Henry Blake arrived at the wharf, His Excellency inspected the force, the band meanwhile playing "God save the Queen," and then went on board. As the steamer passed San Francisco fort a salute of seventeen guns was fired.
The Japan Mail says:-There is no longer any room to question the fact that gold in considerable quantities is being found in Hok- kaido. The locality is the extreme north of Toshio province in the neighbourhood of Soya Cape. It is called Esashi-not, however, the well known port of the same name, also in Hok | kaido. We can not learn how the existence of the precious metal was originally discovered, but an doubtedly it is there in paying quantities, and numbers of diggers are trying their fortune. On the 19th of August a police inspector pro- ceeded from Wakanai to the locality. The miners, of whom the great bulk had no license, obtained news of his coming and fled into the hills. They are said to be very skilful in evad- ing pursuit, but it is scarcely conceivable that any very resolute efforts have been made to capture them. Peichin is plainly one of the richest spots hitherto found. Twelve hundred and eight persons received permits to work there between May 2nd and August 27th on condition of paying from 2 momme to 3 momms of gold monthly; that is to say, from 10 t 15 yon approximately. At Pankenai the charge for a permit is only 1.2 momme. Nineteen hundred and seven permits were taken out originally at the latter place, Cases of robbery and piracy have recently but successes achieved must have been compara- occured in villages in the neighbourhood of tively small, for only 167 diggers remain at Macao and some of the men alleged to be im- work. Taikio and Omorosbu are also mentioned,plicated have been arrested by the police here. 672 persons having obtained claims at the The pirates are at our gates and the authorities former place and 170 at the latter. Concer- should see that the city is well policed. As ning the successes achieved, we read that a things are now there aro parts of the colony company of twelve men-the Morigumi-took where, owing to the absence of police, raids out kwan 600 momms of gold-134 lbs.--in could be made by the pirates and much property fifteen days, and nuggets are spoken of weigh carried away before any assistance would be ing from 21 momme to 134 momme-1,218 likely to arrive. grs. to 777.2 grs. The place is regarded as a second Klondyke.
THE TIDAL WAVE IN SHIZUOKA PREFECTURE,
The special correspondent of the Osaka Asahi sent to the scene of the tidal ware disaster in Shizuoka prefecture, writing on the 8th from Tagonoure, says:
Heavy rain, accompanied by a strong wind, was experienced from about 11 a.m. on the 7th inst., gradually increasing in fnry till about 2 p.m. The waves seemed mountains high, ap- pearing to rise 8 or 9 feet above the tops of the matsu trees plantel along the road by the sea coast, themselves over 80 feet above sea level.
The water rusbed into the fields and made a rast
lake, engulfing crops and houses. At Shiuhama- maru 28 people were drowned, 16 are missing, and over 50 were injured more less. None of the peo- ple of the 90 houses in the village escaped unhurt, and all their houses aud furniture suffered des- truction. At Mayeda Shinden 23 persons were killed, 11 are missing, 18 are severely injured, and some 10 slightly injured.
The saddest case was at Shiahama, where the family of a man named Tokita Heiyemon, six in all, were, with the exception of a girl 12 drowned. The surviving child is very severely years of age, carried away by the water and injured and her recovery is said to be doubtful.
FOOCHOW NOTES.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT]
The Kobe Herald of the 12th says? Further developments in connection with the lamentable railway disaster at Hahakigawa came to-day The Railway Bureau summoned Mr. Mori Juseke, Director of the Nippon Railway Co., yes--Kobe Chronicle. terday and enquired about the disaster. Messrs. Nomura and Nishi, Engineers of the Railway Bureau, who were sent to the scene of the wreck, returned to Tokyo on Tuesday night. They were particularly instructed to investigate as to the cause of disaster so that the Bureau can decide whether it was an unavoid. able accident or caused by the fault of the Company's employes. The Board of Directors of the Nippon Railway Co. met on Tuesday and decided to hold a religious service at the soene of the disaster on Friday, that is, a week after the accident; and to contribute you 1,000 towards the expense. A number of the direc. tors were delegated to make kind enquires at the Utsunomiya Hospital where the wounded are lying and thence they will proceed to attend
the service for the dead,"
H.M.S. Brisk arrived at Shanghai on the 10th October, having received orders at Kiu- kiang, when bound up the Yangtsze, to return to Shanghai. After coaling she was to proceed to Weihaiwei.
In the Foochow notes that appeared in the Daily Press of the 26th September Mr. Consul Gracey was stated to have obtained the loan of the Viceroy's body guard, etc., on the occasion of the visit of the U.S. Minister to Fooshow. This is not quite correct. The reception was by the Chinese authorities, who, on being notified from Peking that the visit was to be made, requested the U.S. Cousul to be permitted to place a launch and housboat at his disposal to bring the Minister from Pagoda Anchorage, They also sent officials and the body guard to the Custom House to meet him and escort him to the U.S. Consulate.
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By the Indo-China steamer Suisang, now on her passage up from Singapore, a large staff of surveyors will arrive from India to commence the complete survey of the New Territory,
Senhor Galhardo has been advised by his medical attendant that he requires rest, and His Excellency and family are accordingly going to stay at Colowan for a while.
HONGKONG.
The only cases of communicable diseases rè.. ported last week were two of enterio fever, one of which was on board a ship.
The appointment of Mr. Basil R. H. Taylor to be Assistant Harbour Mastor, with effect from the 22nd September, is gasetted. Australia on Thursday by the Kasuga Maru, Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C., returned from
looking much better for his trip, we are glad to
say.
The maximum temperature last month was 89.8, on the 20th, and the minimum 71.6 on the 28th and 29th, the mean for the month being
80.3. The rainfall amounted to 6.305 inches.
We hear that a scheme is being discussed for opening a school for German children in Hong- kong. The German community at Shanghai maintains a school of its own.
The U.S. transport Victoria, late of the Northern Pacific, arrived in Hongkong on Tues- day morning from Manila, in ballast. She is here to discharge her Chinese orew and will depart immediately for San Francisco for another load of horses.
At the Magistracy on the 13th inst. Henry
embezzling $249 66, the money of the Soldiers' Fleury, a private in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, was sentenced to six months, imprisonment for
and Sailors Institute, of which he was manager.
On Wednesday night a fire was discovered to have broken out on board one of the Spanish prizes at Kowloon Docks, some cotton waste and other inflammable material having become ignited. The dook staff turned out and put out the fire before much damage was done.
Messrs. Jardine, Matheson Co's steamers were decorated on Monday in honour of the wed- ding of Mr. Colin Buchanan, the Marine Superintendent of the Indo-China Steam Navi. gation Company at Shanghai, which took place at St. John's Cathedral. The Bride, Miss Mowat, came out by the M. M. steamer Sydney and experienced the discomfort of the long voyage up from Saigon.
Much regret will be occasioned by the news of the death of Mr. Arthur Anderson, who re- cently left the firm of Messrs. Dodwell, Carlill . & Co. (now Dodwell & Co., Limited) to join the firm of Messrs. Cornabe, Eckford & Co., Chefóo, Mr. Anderson was hightly esteemed both in. Hongkong and Shanghai, and widefelt sympa- thy will be extended to his widow and two daughters.