14
board; also my wife, myself and three chils
was steering when the boat
was
was
dren. I
One of the passengers overturned. drowned. The others were taken on board the Wing Loi. My wife scrambled on board the launch. My wife and myself worked the boat, I do not consider my neglect was to blame for the collision.
Walter Cyril Weston, late second officer of the s.s. Telemachus, said :---I was on the deck of my ship when the collision occurred. I did not see the collision. What attracted my attention was Dr. Forster stripping and getting into the water. Accompanied by another officer I went across in the ship's sampan. I saw the Doctor dive under the sampan to get the youngsters out. There was considerable risk to himself. I consider it was entirely due to his assistance that the children were saved. We had the children on the launch before the sampan was righted.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
1
away. If the jury returned & verdict of cul- pable negligence against the coxswain of the launch, he would commit the defendant, after hearing what he had to say, to the Sessions. If they brought in a verdict of death by misadventure, the sampan people could, if they chose, seek redress in a civil action.
The jury found the collision causing the death of the two Chinese was due to culpable negligence on the part of the coxswain of the Wing Loi. They also wished to mention Dr Forster's gallant behaviour in saving the lives of the children.
The Coroner said he would forward the recommendation, together with the evidence of Mr. Weston, second officer of the Telemachus, who saw the whole matter, to the Government.
THE COXSWAIN'S CASE.
In the afternoon Mr. Gompertz heard the case of Wong Fung Tsung, coxswain of the steam launch Wing Loi, who was charged s follows:-"That
by you.
your culpable DOCTOR'S BRAVERY RECOGNISED. | negligence, did bring about and compass the deaths of Fung Su, a child, and Wong Tung Tsui, a Chinese adult."
COXSWAIN TO BE COMMITTED TO THE 8. SSIONS. At the Magistracy on the 6th instant Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz continued the inquiry touch- ing the death of a Chinese child, Fung Su, and a Chinese adult, Wong Tung Tsai, who met their deaths as the result of a collision between the steam launch Wing Loi and a sampan. The coxswain of the launch was indicted on a charge of manslaughter. Mr. Basil Taylor (Assistant Harbour Master) sat on the Bench with the Coroner. The jury empanelled were :—Messrs. A. R. Fullerton (foreman), A. F. Osmund and Thos. Blair. Inspector Langley conducted the case on behalf of the Police, and Mr. E. J. Grist (of Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist) represented the owners of the launch.
Li Chi. wife of the master of the sampan deposed:-I was on board the sampan when the collision occurred on the 28th ultimo. We were coming from the s.s. Holstein. I was rowing at the bow. My husband was steering. We had nine passengers on board; also three children. The launch Wing Loi ran up against our sampan from behind. I did not see it before it struck us. As it struck our sampan I fell into the water, and scrambled on board the Wing Loi. I do not know whether our sampan altered its course before we were struck.
Wong Tim, a passenger, declared:-I was on board the sampan when we were run down by the Wing Loi. I did not see her until she ran into us, There was steam launch in front of us. She was towing a boat. I identified the body of the foki who was drowned, at the Yaumati Mortuary.
His Worship informed the accused that in consequence of the finding of the jury he would commit him for trial at the Criminal Sessions. He was then cautioned in the usual way and asked if he wished to make any statement.
Accused said he would reserve his statement until he was tried, but as he wished to call witnesses the case was adjourned.
HARBOUR COLLISION INQUIRY.
&
as
The coxswain in
The adjourned inquiry into the cause of death of a Chinese boy who was drowned in the har- bour as result of a collision between a pinpace of H.M.S. Glory and a sampan was continued before Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz at the Magis- Mr. Basil Taylor, tracy on the 4th instant. assistant harbour-master, sat on the bench with the Coroner. After hearing the evidence of further witnesses the Coroner, addressing the jury, said it seemed quite clear the sampan was not to blame for the collision. From the evidence of a Naval officer it appeared that the same could have been averted had the coxswain of the launch done the right thing. evidence, said he thought he had done so in
the launch
he did. If steering
made mistake in rot doing, he the proper thing, nothing could be found culpable in his conduct. The jury wanted to make it quite clear that death was either the result of an accident, or, if they found the coxswain guilty of negligence, such finding was Wong Lai, another passenger, said:-I was equivalent to a verdict of manslaughter. On in the sampan which was capsized. The the evidence they were hardly justified in com- sampan was under sail and the wind was blow-ing to such a conclusion. ing from east to west. I do not know whether the sampan
altered her course before the collision, and cannot say how it occurred.
Chung Po, a sailor on the Wing Loi. stated -I was on board the Wing Loi on the 21st ultimo when the collision occurred. We were following the sampan.
She altered her course when we were about 30 feet away. If the sampan had not altered her course we were going to pass her on her port side. When she altered her course our engines were reversed, and we ported the helm with the intention of going a-starboard. We could not, however, pass, and struck her on the stern. If she had kept straight on her course there would have been no accident.
sam-
|
After brief deliberation the jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure.
COREA'S FOREIGN ADVISER.
TERMS OF CONTRACT. Mr. Stevens, whom the Corean Government arranged to engage as adviser for foreign affairs, at the instance of the Japanese Government, was to leave Tokyo during December for Corea. The conditions of his engagement, which were submitted to the Corean Cabinet meeting held on the 7th December and approved, are as follows:---
By the Coroner:-When we saw the
The Corean Foreign Minister is to engage Mr. Stevens as diplomatic adviser, and the pan we were going at ordinary speed.
By Inspector Langley-When we saw the American citizen is to discharge the necessary sampan we blew our whistle twice.
By the Jury:-I saw a launch in tow in front of the sampan. If the sampan had not altered her course she would not have collided with that launch.
for
duties; Mr. Stevens is to faithfully consider and submit views on all questions arising between Corea and the Powers, or foreign in- dividuals; the Corean Foreign Minister is to place all diplomatic documents and correspon- The Coroner addressed the jury at length on dence at the disposal of Mr. Stevens, and to deal the evidence, He said the launch was going with all diplomatic affairs in accordance with much faster than the sampan, his advice; Mr. Stevens to have the privi- very
all of attending
Cabinet meetings and by the rules the prevention | lege of collisions at sea it was the duty of held to consider diplomatic questions, and of the overtaking ressel to keep clear of submitting his views to the Cabinet, and of the vessel in front. As a gene al rule the onus personally addressing the Throne on diplomatic was upon the vessel coming up behind to prove questions; Mr. Stevens to be granted a salary that the collision was caused by the fault of of Yen 1,000 per month; the contract to remain It was for the jury to in force indefinitely, unless otherwise arranged the boat in front.
between the parties concerned with the consent determine whether, if the sampan bad altered her course, she would have got into the way of the of the Japanese Representative; the contrast launch had the launch kept a proper distance to become null and void when the Corean
|
[January 9, 1905. Government has discharged the adviser at the instance of the Japanese Government; and the contract to be amended or modified by arrange-. ment with the consent of the Japanese Minister at Seoul.-Nagasaki Press.
ft
THE CONDEMNED YOUTHS.
The committee of the Tung Wa Hospital, as the most influential body of Chinese in Hong- kong," have been asked to use their influence to have the youngest prisoner-"a mere boy of seventeen," reprieved.
The petitioner, a European, thinks it would be a very gracious act on the part of the Chinese community, an opinion which most people will endorse. It is almost too much to expect
of them.
The chief argument adduced is that there were only two lives lost, so two hangings should suffice; a reason which, it is scarcely necessary to point out, could not be con- sidered in law. Where three men kill one it would seem wrong to let two go free. In the present case, it was not due to the prisoners The boy
that the deaths were limited to two.
who swam to the steamer had a narrow escape It must not be supposed that the authorities are any the less sorry or humane than the mercy inclined petitioner. Unfortunately, some duties, however disagreeable, bave to be faced.
PROPOSED TAX ON MANDARINS,
The Peking Times published the following translation of a petition by Wang Chia-chi, probationary commissary of records of Che- kiang Prefecture, to Tieh Liang, Imperial commissoner for raising funds, proposing the
"Mandarin-tax:" adoption of a
T
I beg most respectfully to lay before you my humble proposal for acceptance, having heard, If the ruler of a country is rich, his that people will not be the only ones in destitution and if the people are poor, their ruler cannot` alone be wealthy." Our country is now in an indigent position; foreign loans have been amassed and the people are involved in distress. It is indeed a critical time for both the ruler and the people, who are in a miserable condi- tion. Very often, faithful advice cannot be given to high authorities for fear of giving offence. I am well aware that my unworthy words will be of no service, but cannot help. speaking frankly to you about this matter. You are here in the South with the order to raise funds for drilling troops in Peking. The Southern provinces are generally known as fertile and rich, but in reality they are wealthy only in appearance, and nine out of ten houses are empty for a long time since. This is due to the raising of funds for the central govern- ment, the re-organization of the Northern provinces and the payment of foreign loans and All the indemnities, after the Boxer trouble. Provincial Treasuries which are exhausted can hardly answer any call. Every item of govern- ment expenditure is obtained from the people.
The scheme of increasing the land tax pro- posed by Sir Robert Hart, the Inspector-General, is against public opinion and fall of vices which will cause mischief to the people and disaster to the Empire. It must not be adopted in any The tariff of likin is 5 per cent., `but case. owing to its passing through the many bands of collectors amounts to fully 30 per cent. The miserable circumstances of the merchants are thus oritical. Any increase in likin is not to be thought of. Houses have been already taxed. It would be no harm to increase the tax on tabacco, wine, native opium both raw and boiled, several times more than they are now: still that would not amount to much. The sum you need is very large. In my humble opinion there are a few advisable plans for raising funds China both the throne and the people suffer from financial stress, but never the high officials, For the past 300 years the dynasty has had - thousands of officials, and the ministers in the court have lived on the fat of the land at the expense of the people. They have every luxury that can be enjoyed, yet they complain. They are the most ungrateful people in the world. · These are the people from whom funds shoult be raised! In the interests of the Throne, the army and the people, I beg you will make plans for this to be done, disregarding any individu-
In