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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND officers were appointed and stations fixed; funds were raised and left, after the purchase of the needful apparatus. 8 large Sum in hand (June 6, 1876). A life-boat was talked of, additional funds were voted by Legislative Council (December 11, 1876), and after that the whole scheme was allowed to drop.
presumably cheap or temporary structures. An- other (in October, 1859) destroyed most of the wharves and piers, caused some collisions, and damaged house roofs. There was no loss of life. ¦ Sir Richard MacDonnell's admininistration was characterized by "an extraordinary frequency of serious typhoons. Two steamers from Swatow were engulfed in June, 1865; consider. able damage to nongkong was done in July, 1868; there were three typhoons in the follow. ing year, 1867, in August, čeptember, and October, which caused serious disasters afloat and ashore. The first drove four large vessels ashore, sank two, and wrecked innumerable janks. It is a grim calculation how many junks have been thus lost since the barbour was first used. In September 1870 a typhoon occasioned great damage to life and property, breaking up the Praya wall, sinking a steamer and a yacht, while junk wreckage covered the Praya." Hundreds of lives were lost. In Sept. 1871, just a year later, the same scenes were enacted. The town was badly wrecked, many vessels were damaged or stranded, and two barques were totally lost. We have previously mentioned the famous one of 1874. It came on Sept 22nd of that year, the severest disaster that ever befell the Colony." It was a typhoon of "unprecedented suddenness and power.
It commenced in the evening, when small boats were still plying on the harbour, and was at its height shortly after midnight. The tide was exceptionally high at the time and an earthquake appears to have occurred whilst the typhoon was raging. On the morning of 23rd September, 1874, the town looked as if it had undergone a terrific bom- bardment. Thousands of houses were unroofed, hundreds of European and Chinese dwellings were in ruins, large trees had been torn out by the roots and burled to a distance, most of the streets were impassable, being obstructed with fallen trees, roof, timber, window frames and mounds of soil thrown up by the bursting of drains. Business was at a complete stand still for several days. The 'raya was covered with wrecked sampans and the debris of junks and ships, whilst in every direction dead bodies were seen floating about or scattered along the ruins of what was once the Praya wall. Thirty-five foreign vessels, trusting on their anchors, were wrecked or badly injured. Over 2,000 lives were lost in the harbour within the space of about six hours, during which time the screams of Chinese in distress on the water were heard by residents, on the upper levels of the town, to rise above the terrific dia of the storm. The Hospital-ship Meaner, the only ship in harbour which held on to her anchors, had her four anchors twisted into one mass of tangled iron, the photograph of which is a curious sight. Special attraction for sightseers, who came out in thousands to view the havoc which had been wrought, was afforded by two steamers, the Leonore and the Albay, wrecked on the Praya wall near Victoria wharf, and the Pacific mail-steamer Alaska, blown ashore and left high and dry on the beach at Aberdeen. The loss of the river. steamer White Cloud near Macao also attracted much attention. The amount of property destroyed in Hongkong within those six terrible hours Was estimated at five million dollars. A fire that broke out while the typhoon was at its height was actually put ont by the force of the wind. Her Majesty sent (November 18, 1874) a message expressing her sincere regret for the suffering which this sad calamity occasioned. The brothers Tauffer, who had specially distinguished themselves by daring and successful efforts to save lives, were presented (January 7, 1876) at the hands of the Governor, with a testimonial by the ✦ Royal Humane Society. But very little was done to utilize the lessons taught by this typhoon. Meanwhile another typhoon swept over the Colony (May 31, 1875). It did little damage, however, though Macao and Canton suffered severely, as evidenced by the wreck of the river steamer Poyang, on her way from Canton to Macao, when some 100 lives were lost. A Humane Society was now formed in Hongkong (July 26, 1875) for the special purpose of preventing the frequent loss of life in the harbour and particularly to gira assistance during typhoons. This ociety, under the presidency of the Hon. Ph. Ryrie, entered upon its labours with great enthusiasm,
NATURAL THANKFULNESS.
The Free Press says: Singapore may suffer many disabilities as compared with the more energetic and wealthier Hongkong, but at least we are spared the periodical infliction of typhoons, with all their tale of death and destruction. And for that immunity we cannot be too thankful. As misfortunes proverbially never come single, it is unpleasant to see that another typhoon is expected." This is almost adding insult to injury; as though one experience of the kind were not enough for any ordinary lifetime. The details of this great typhoon must be exciting reading, and we await the arrival of the Hongkong mails with anxious interest.
"
(Daily Press, October 24th.) Further operations at the scene
of the landslip in Macdonnell Road have resulted in the body of another coolie being recovered, thus making the fatalities two. Two men are still missing.
SHAUKIWAN,
At Shaukiwan the roofs of several houses were damaged and the roads were rendered impassable at places.
On Saturday morning a big salt junk came to grief at Shek O. She was driven on the rocks, and seven men were drowned. The remainder of the crew, twenty-four, reached the shore, one man being severely injured. The destitute men seat to the Tung Wah Hospital on Saturday. The junk had a cargo of 6,000 piculs of salt, ani"the master estimates his loss at $19,400.
were
YAUMATI.
Several houses were unroofed at Yaumati and the walls damaged, but no one was injured.
THE SUPREME COURT.
After the typhoon there was scarcely a pane of glass left in the windows of the Sapreme Court. Glaziers are now at work making good the damage done, and other repairs are being carried out.
AN OFFICIAL ESTIMATE.
The Harbour Office authorities estimate that 66 boats of European construction were lost or damaged in the typhoon of the 18th ultimo.
A SALT JUNK SINKS,
On Saturday a large salt junk found-red in the East Lamma channel off Stanley. Four of her crew were drowned, but the remainder were saved. It is surmised that the vessel can be salved later. Meantime it has been marked off with a flag.
AWAITING CONFIRMATION.
It was reported at the Harbour Office that two lighters and a junk were observed on Saturday behind Stonecutters drifting helplessly before the storm. Some people were seen on one of the lighters, but the other two vessels appeared to be unmanned. It is supposed the craft broke loose from their anchorages at Samshuipo, but definite informa- tion is not yet to baad.
STEAMER REPORTS. The German steamer 44
Ellen Rickmers
which passed Gap Rock at eight o'clock on Sunday morning reports that the lighthouse had escaped damage. The Government launch Stanley" has been despatched to verify this report.
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At noon on Sunday the 8 8. Germania passed the Wagglan lighthouse. Her report states that the damage done there was trifling.
THE NAVALYARD EXTENSI N..
The new dock at the Navalyard Extension was flooded by the high tide on Saturday, but fortunately no damage was done to the dock. Some time will be lost, however, in pamping out the water, and for this task new pumps have had to be obtained, the old ones being stuffed with mud. Three small junks were also sunk
but no lives were lost.
MACAO'S SHARE OF IT.
Our Macio correspondent writes on October 1st as follows:-
Maono was visited by another typhoon on Saturday. The glass fell to 29.46, and we had about 36 hours of hard blowing which caused a good deal of damage. The typhoon gun was
[October 6, 1906.
fired at 1 a.m, on Saturday and the timely warn ing enabled the boats and junks to seek shelter before the storm broke. The wind blow with terrific force from the east and the storm was at its height between 9 am, and 2 p.m. on Saturday. Ashore the roofs of many houses were either damaged or blown away, also the lanterns which were used for the illamin stioas on the King's birthday. The trees suffered the most, many being aprooted. The wall of the Praya Grande from the Government House to Chunambeiro is entirely destroyed, and several thousands of dollars will now be required for its repair. As usual the ses rose abnormally high, and houses on the sea front were flooded, while the beavy rains also flooded the Rus de Campo, the S. Lazaro district and the fields in the suburbs of the city. So far only one death (of a workman who was killed by the falling of a house in course of construction) is recorded. The steamer Honam" left for her usual place of shelter. Afloat I have not heard any damage or loss of life; this was due to our harbour authorities who gave the warning, in good time, of the approach of the typhoon.
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MESSAGE FROM THE ADMIRAL.
His Excellency the Governor receivel the following telegram from the naval Commander- in-Chief of the China station :-" Just received details typhoon, Squadron offers sincere sympathy to Colony.-Admiral Moore.”
His
Excellency replied as follows: "Oo behalf of the Colony I express deep gratitade for kind message of sympathy.-Nathap."
PRAISE FOR DALHI CAPTAIN. The N-C. Daily News understands that in view of the splendid manner in which the P & 0. 8. Delhi was handled during the recent typhoon at Hongkoug it has been suggested among the passengers that the Company should be informed of the general appreciation on board of Captain Andraws' "foresight and seamanship. The rising sun gave the first indication of bad weather and before the suddeu drop of the birometer, shortly after 8 a.m., heralded the proximity of the typhoon. all awnings had been removed and the Delhi was prepared for the worst. Subsequently Captain Andrews elected to navigate at night the narrow channels leading out of the harbour and meet the second typhoon in the open sea rather than expose the Delhi to the danger of contact with drifting vessels in the harbour.
MISCELLANEOUS,
The accumulation of rubbish and wreckage, the result of the typhoon, is being rapidly removed from the Praya. The steel barge, hired by the Sanitary Board, is taking large quantities out to sea, and with the other methods in operation, the presence of this danger to public health should be removed in a day or two.
On Oot. 3rd at the Magistracy Captain Clark proceeded against four men on a charge of inti- midating the workers engaged in refloating the
Kiashan." They had endeavoured to induce the coolies to strike for more wages and also expressed a wish, tantamount to a threat, that the men should be placed under them. The case was remanded for a week.
The landslip which took place in Macdonnell Roa last week-end as the result of the typhoon bas been responsible for three deaths. The body of the third coolis buried under the fall of the earth has been recovered. All the men who were rescued and sent t› the hospital are making satisfactory progre 8.
We understand that the Roman Catholic ecclesiastical authorities in Hongkong have, through the Very Revd. P. de Maris, the Pro- Vicar Apostolic, offered to the Typhoon Relief Committee to take into the charitable institutions under their charge a'l orphan children whose parents were lost during the typhoon of 18th September. We have no doubt that this generous and charitable offer will be much appreciated by H.E. the Governor and the Relief Committee.
Hopes are entertained that the Hongkong, Cantou and Macao Co.'s river steamer Heuny shan will soon be reflosted. Messrs. Jebsen and Co.'s salvage steamer Protector has been at work blasting the rock in which she is wedged. and it is anticipatel that before long she will be refloated. The hole in her bottom will be
patched up to enable her to continue her journey here, where all necessary repairs osa be effected. -
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