May 18, 1902 1
ANOTHER CASE OF ALLEGED
ONGELEGARSON.
it
Kira bottaba cia në
süother case of arsán, for it involves the one life occurred on the 10th inst. at 127,* Connaught Bond When the Fire Brigade" reached the soone the house was wrapped in flamer; and the force beat made néár sppresali almost imposmble. Enquiries showed that the outbreak started either on the Arat or on the second floor of No 127, which 'the' polios describe as a four-story building. The place went up in a blans almost at once. and before the Brigade had got the upper hand the whole of No. 127 and the top floor of No. 128 were gutted other parts of the latter house were damaged more de less by fire and water. No. 127 is insured for 828,600.
Eye Witnesses say that as the fire progressed the "small"" of " Kerosene became pungent; the fismen, too, spread swiftly, and at every spot where they obtained a fresh hold thick black smoke belched up Whilst all eyes were fixed on the bárning building, ́s horrified shout went up the figure of Chinese boy was seen on the topmost perindah beckoning for help. He was surrounded by fire and cut off from all hope of scape by the stair why for behind the place was like a furnace P.U 48 Price made su attempt to reach him from the adjoining house, but anhough he saw him ere he essayed the resone and heard his shouts as he drew nearer to him when he reached s convenient spot and looked for the lad not a sign of him was to be seen; his remaina, charred beyond recognition, were recovered sub segnently from the debris Chief Inspector Baker, who was in charge of the Brigade, was told that there were people in No. 126, and he promptly took steps to ascertain for himself whether or no the report was correct. In the ground floor he and those with him met a couple of Chinamen who, unmind- fal of the danger that threste ed them, were sndeavouring to collect their belongings together for removal into the street. In answer to Chief Inspector Baker's inquiries, they said they were the only people left in the house--the others had escaped. As these investigations were proceeding the party were collected in the front part of the ground fidor at the time there was a load crash. The cookhonses behind No. 126 had fallen, bursting in the partition at the back of the ground floor and surrounding the police and the two Chinamen with impene.
trable clonds of dust and smoke. Had the men gone farther into the place, the chances were that someone would have suffered, but as it was all gained the outer air in safety.
The task of the firemen was a most difficult and dangerous one. The flames had made such headway in the case of No. 127 that it was impossible to beat them down, and attention was turned to preventing them from spreading. The hoses were laboriously dragged to the top of No. 126, where holes were knocked in the roof and water was poured down inside. By this means the scope of the fire was restricted and hindered from extending not only to the whole of No. 126 but also to the bouses in Des Voux Road, which at one time stood in no little daug r. Fortunately water was plentiful and to this fact and the seal of the finomou is to be attributed the ultimate victory over the flames. No, 127 as well as No. 126 was used as a boarding-houses in No. 126 it is reported that a lot of bullion, the property of Chinese emigrants, was barely saved from destruction, Beyond the body of the boy whose fate has been described, the police have come across nothing in the shape of human remaius, and it is not surmised that anyone else fell a victim. No arrests have been made in connection with alleged arson, but the fullest investigation
the whole circumstances will be made.
Government
is being observed in read of cholers amon
ng
detective Went to * at the Police Court discovered some frostions
hief had purloined his shoes.
UHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
SEQUEL TO THE SPANISH- AMERICAN WAR.
ACTİON BY A MANILA FIRM.
An action of considerable interest was begun in the Supreme Court at Singapore on the 6th inst. It is a claim brought by a Mr. Lichanoo, Manila merchant, against Messrs. Riley Hargreaves and Co., to recover damages which he alleges he bas suffered through the failure of the defendants to fulfil a contract for the supply of certain marine engines the mid contract being entered into in December, 1897. The total amount of the claim reaches approxi- mately $150,000.
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Mr. Delay plaintiffs counsel, in opening the case, said that Mr. Lickanco ordered from the defendants in December, 1997, three sets of engines for launches, to be delivered at Manila in four months. The engines were due on March lat, and Mr. Lichango was anxious for their arrival becsuse the hulls of the new launches were ready to receive them and he had already entered into a contract with a man who had agreed to charter two of the launches as from April 21st, 1898, at the net price of 350 and $40 per day respectively. The date for the expiry of the gontynot arrived and no engines came. The moment they became overdue, Mr. Lichando complained of the non. delivery, and wrote letter, giving defendants notice at the earliest possible moment of the damage he was suffering and demand- ing immediate delivery of the engines. He was told the engines were coming. On Ma oh 17th he made up his mind to communicate direct with Riley Hargreaves & Co. in Singapore and he wrote a letter to them in Spanish. He said that the launches were nearly finished and that the delay in delivery of the engines was causing him damage. Later on he begged the firm to push on with the work, and to send him certain parts of the engines which he might be putting into the halls. At this time the war between Spain and America broke put in the Philippines. A letter was again written stating that trouble would ensue over the non- delivery of the machinery, as the bulls of the launches were lying at Manila, and if the engines had been delivered to time the launches might have ero ped up the River Pasig, The American fleet had left Hongkong, and Manila was expecting a bombardment. On May 1st occurred the battle of Manila Bay, and the Spanish fleet was destroyed; but the Spaniards remained in possession of the town till August Between these two dates 13 h following. Manila was blockaded by the American fleet, The earnings of launobes at Mauila about that time were enormously enhanced, because when the people were expecting a bombardment they were willing to pay almost anything to get away before the American ships arrived. However. plaintiff did not ask for damages on that basis. During the blockade, plaintiff again wrote on the matter. The blockade was raised on August 18th, when Manila capitulated to the Americans. The plaintiff immediately went to Hongkong, where he orderet some engines from the Wham pos Dock Co., leaving behind him his brother, who had full instructions to take over the engines due from Singapore. When he was in Hong- kong, plaintiff again wrote to Singapore. Letlers were continually being sent, and the only reply given was that the engines were coming. In a letter dated Jan. 5th, 1899, defendants stated that the engines ordered had been sold at the time of the rebellion as they (defendants) saw no hope of the plaintiff being able to take them off their hands. But, the defendants added, they were now pushing on with other engines for early delivery to plaintiff. This letter showed that Riley Hargreaves and Co. recognised the contract. On January - 1st of 1899 the business of Riley Hargreaves and Co. and all its current contracts was soquired by Riley Hargreaves and Co., Ltd. In February plaintiff returned to Manila, and being extremely dissatisfled took the advice of Mr. Levering, an American lawyer, who there- upon wrote stating that he was instructed to commence legal proceedings, but that his client hoped it would be possible to come to an amicable settlement. Riley Hargreaves replied, that they thought they were justified in selling, the engines to avoid having them thrown, on, their hands; and it seemed that Biley Har. greaves & Co. were of opinion that they were
to rep But they add with the othe
Jour, Mr. Licka woo lessings towards
arrested by General Dils and He was in Manila gaol, from Dec. 8th, 1899, - us a Prisonar wrote another lette greaves & Co., and afterwar In the prison with Mr. defendants" manager, who
letter agreeing to deliver the three months from October 1899. was released in December; and did not arrive. În 1900 the Singapore and instituted After the writ was which had been made wi the defendante,,, and opportunity, the plaint money back. The case is proceed se
THE MANILA HEMP TRADE,
Some complaint having be official sources of the
shipped from Manila to the Ur Manila Times has been sooking information from some of the leading-export houses
Mr. Jones of Smith, Bell and Co. said: "I do not care to enter into a discmɛnion the lemp-business and it would be neom do so in order to speak intelligently. subject of the alleged complaints. <1 The hom trade is a very complicated and dimoult its different ph sos are no intimately related one to another, that it would be mecomaty do explain the whole thing..
"In regard to the relations of the "heimp exporters with the Commission I may say that some months ago the latter, by request, submitted recommendations as to what in their opinion should be done for the good of the industry; but, as far as 1 know, the Commission has not yet acted upon the matter.”:
"Is it true," he was naked, “thát inferior grades of hemp have been shipped to the United States "
“Now," said Mr. Jones, “to answer that question would mean a long explanation of what is really meant by 'inferior gradan.". - I do not think anyone not in the business understands the terms."
“Are the manufacturers of the United States getting poor grades at present, *is alleged 1 was asked.
You may depend upon it," said Mr. Jones that if they are the fault la not the shion It is the producer who is to blame,"
Do you believe that the hemp islands is in danger ?”
**Not a bit," said Mr. Jones, emphatically, The head of another large exporting conogrn said:
difference of
There seems to be a
wide s
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opizion between certain people in the United States and exporters here as to the deterioration in the quality of hemp shipped to thất country,' The quality has deteriorated, then ?" asked the reporter.
曲
"Well," was the answer, “the quality of hemp shipped at present is quite as good as that shipped four years ago, and people buying it. It is not true that shipping poor hemp to the United States the mistaken impression that it sells better the finer grades.
"Ihe best hemp produced in the islands shipped to the United States, the bulk to New York and Boston. The inferior go to Europe.
Shippers always buy the able, for there is Jess handling it.”
Is it true," is more money dealing in inferior gra “It is not true," wa prefers to produon, can get it out quickl while the production time and care.
de
he exporter just sa pinda pro- Exporters who for forty or fifty youri
little hemp
...