324
nam.
RECEIVING ORDER MADE.
Re the San Cheung firm ex parte Luk Yu-
Mr. J. H. Gardiner (of Mr. O. D. Thomson's office) who appeared for the petitioning creditor, applied for a receiving order. He said the case was adjourned from last day in order that figures might be obtained of the debtor's assets Mr. Wakeman, official receiver, informed His Lordship that the debtor put his assets down in his statement at under $1,000, $657 had been collected, and besides this there was a certain quantity of tin roughly valued at $500, but of this very little would be left, and rent and other expenses had to be paid.
His Lordship-What
the alleged
liabilities ?
Mr. Gardiner
$20,000.
The order was granted,
are
ANOTHER RECEIVING ORDER GRANTED.
Re Lenog Young ex part: Leung Yu-kan. Mr. F. X. d'Almada e Castro, for the petitioning creditor, applied for a receiving order. He said the act of bankruptcy was suspension of payment of dehis. Assets amounted to $2,000, and liabilities to about $3,000. One third of the debt, $1,383, was due from Chung, Shun-koo, but he was already bankrupt, and was offering a composition of 20 per cent.
The order was made.
MARINE COURT.
BURNING OF THE S. S. "HANKOW".
A court of inquiry to investigate the circum. stances connected with the burning of the British steamship Hankow sat at the Marine Court on Nov, 6th. The inquiry was held a the request of Captain Branch, master of the Hankno. The court had for its members Lieut. C. W. Beckwith, R.N., stipendiary magistrate; Lieut. H. Batterworth, H.M.S. Tamar; Mr. dward Beetham, master of the British steamship Empress of India; Mr Collin Hannah, British steamship Sierra Morena; and Mr. C. J. Mattock, master of the British steamship Amara,
The letter from Captain Branch calling for the inquiry and the authority from H.E. the Governor for calling the Court were read.
The President said he proposed as the voyage from Canton was uneventful that the Court should make searching inquiry, firstly, into the conduct of the officers after the fire Was reported; secondly, into the fire arrangements of the s.s. Hankow; thirdly, into the stowage of cargo ou river steamers; and, fourthly, into the general fire arrangements of river steamers with a view to making suggestions thereon.
Captain Branch, the first witness, having described the voyage from Canton on the night of the 13th October, said that after making fast at the wharf about ten minutes pasthree, the two watchmen came running along the starboard alleyway and reported that there was a fire aft. To the chief officer he remarked "Come along; let's see what's the matter." They Look two fire buckets with them; and, on going aft, found the Chinese passengers crowding the gangway, both on the upper and lower decks. Arriving on the main deck he saw the fire coming up from the midst of a pile of matting-both flames and smoke. He ordered the chief officer, to couple up the steam hose, situated on the engine room casing. Wit. ness remained below with the watchman and endeavoured to pull some of the matting, down to get at the fire. Meanwhile the fire was spreading rapidly and he ordered the watchmen to remain there and regulate the passengers and get them ashore quickly. This was at the main deck entrance. Seeing the rapidity with which the fire was spreading witness went ou the upper deck to get the hose down quickly On the shade deck he met the chief officer who reported that the engineers bad been driven out of the engine room by the smoke and were un- able to start the steam pump. Winess told him to couple up the after haud pump, and noticing the chief enginer emerging from the engine room, he asked him if it were possible to give them steam for pressure. The latter replied that it was impossible because no one could go near the engine room. Witness saw two lady passengers forward. They were very
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
frightened. He went up to them and they asked if there was any danger. He told them there was and put them on shore. Returning to the ship, he noticed that nearly all the first class Chinese passengers had left the ship. On getting down to the fire, he found the flames had spread so rapidly that the whole of the upper deck Was on fire, shutting | off the approaches to the women's quarters on either side. The gangway was blocked with Chinese and he endeavoured to hasten their going ashore and prevent undue panic. Witness could not get ashore for the crush thore and had to go on the upper deck, satisfying himself on the way that there were no passengers in the saloon. The fire had penetrated as far as the ladies' saloon on the upper deck and finding it was hopeless to remain on deck he forced his way ashore. He returned immediately in the hope of saving his papers but without success.
By the Court-How many passengers do you think went ashore on the arrival of the vessel and before the fire was reported?-About 400
or 500,
Is it customary for the passengers to remain on board ?—Yes.
Witness added that there was a constant stream of Chinese passengers using the three gangways from the time they made fast.
What are your fire arrangements when along side the pier? How many pumps do you work?— It depends o on the steam. There will always be sufficient to get pressure through the hose to cope with any ordinary fire, assisted by two Gossage's pumps with lengths of hose sufficient to reach any part of the ship.
Do you ever consider it necessary to exercise your crew at fire stations?-No; it has never been done.
of 14. we have
Have you any printed firo instructions in any conspicuous place on the vessel? --None.
How do you expect your crew or officers to have any intelligent co-operation in the event of fire-We carry a Chinese crew They are constantly changing, and strange hands on every trip. It would be extremely difficult to train meù. In this instance they all left the ship in a body,
Surely you carry officers who do not change-the second officers are changing от three months. Sometimes they only remain a week, being transferred to
every
two
outside steamers.
The Harbour Master-I see the difficulty, But surely it would be possible to have 15 minutes' practice a week.
But what do you say to the question as to obtaining intelligent co-operation ?-The officers are constantly in touch with the crew who are accustomed to use the bose.
And you think they would have sufficient co- operation to deal with a fire?—Yes.
Was it possible for any stowaway to get ou the top of the matting unnoticed and by care. lessness cause this fire-Yes.
By Captain Bes ham When you sent for the hose did it ever arrive?-No.
How many steam connections could you get in the event of fire--We could couple up three connections
What became of your Chinese crew ?-I did not see them again till after th fire.
Do you think if the Chinese had been drilled at fire stations as is customary in deep water ships that they would have been of any assistance to you in this particular instance-I don't think they would.
By the CourDo you think if there was a bugle sounded for them to fall in and they knew they would be dismissed if they did not, do you think that would have any effect - No.
By Lieut. Butterworth-Suppose you had a fire alarm and the cref understood they would be dismissed if they did not fall in, would they have done so?-No; in this instance I don't think they would.
[November 12, 1906.
Both the captain and he ran aft to see where the fire was situated, and when they a rived at the after end of the main deck where the matting was stowed, he saw the blaze from the matting, about eighteen inches from the upper deck. The captain told him to couple up the fire hose. He ran for the key and made arrange- ments to get steam. Meeting the engineer, he followed him down to the engine room with the intention of using the fire branch which was situated on the outside of the engine room casing on the lower deck. On opening the engine room door a vast quantity of dense smoke rushed through. H then made his way with the hose to the small pump on the after end of the saloon deck. On his way along the saloon dock he met a Chinese sailor whom he took with him to help with the hose, bat on reaching the after part of the Chinese first class saloon they could get no further owing to the heat and flames. From there he went forward to the first class saloon to see if he could reader assistance to any passengers still on board, Finding no one there and realising it was hopeless to remain on board he went on the wharf to assist with the hose. There were no printed fire instructions on board the ship.
By the Court-How do you expect to get any intelligent co operation with the reminder of your crew if you have no fire routine ?—I should expect to direct the operations myself. The men are always changing. There are never the 8ame people there from one wee's end to another.
Have you any stations made out for abandoning ship in a case of fire or otherwise at sea ?—No,
Lieut. Butterworth-Were all gangways made available for the use of the Chinese passengers and if so about how long after the fire was first reported? -The gangways were all in position about five minutes before the fire.
Could all the Chinese passengers use the first class gangway-Only the first class Chinese pas en zers could use the forward gangway. The lower deck passengers could not.
By the Court-No body was there to say you shall not use this gangway."
99
Walter Reynell, second mate of the Hankow. said he was going to his room when the fire was discovered. He noticed something unusual in his room and on going ont met the first officer who was trying to couple up the fire hose. This was about thres o'clock in the morning. Witness corroborated as to the posi tion of the fire and stated that after looking at the first class saloon to see if any passengers needed assistance, he proceeded to his room to get his papers but found it impossible to enter. After- wards he went on to the wharf to assist with the hose. Witness was asked similar questions as to fire arrangements on board the Hankow, and said he had seen a printed boat list on the ship but could not remember where.
the
By the Court-Are there special precau- tious for the stowing of matting ou passenger deck?-As far as possible we try to stack it up to prevent passengers getting at it.
Captain Beetham-What boat did this list appoint you to ?—I think it was number three.
Captain Betham- The list WBS not of much use.
J. D. Christie, chief engineer of the Hankow, said he came out with her in 1874 and rejoined her in 1883. They stopped stoking 20 minutes before.reaching the wharf and allowed the fires to die out. That would permit them to have sufficient pressure оп the fire mains. At 3.30 he could give forty pounds of pressure through each of the three nozzles. The electric lights were switched off about fifteen or twenty minutes after making fast, because that was long enough to enable the passengers who wished to leave the ship to get off. Asked similar questions as to fire arrangements on board, witness replied that they had no fire drill. With regard to co-operation between the engine room the deck, steam was always available for pressure, When there were no fires lighted the hand pumps would be used.
Captain Mattock-Don't you think it would be advisable with passengers on board to keep your electric light barning until they had left the ship?-No; I consider the lights provid- ed are sufficient. The loss of life was caused by the passengers hanging on to their luggage.s If they had left their luggage not a life would have been lost.
H. W. Holmes, chief officer, said he was talking to the captain at the forward gɩngway on the saloon deck when the fire was reported,
and
How would you receive a message?—There a speaking tube from the bridge bat the messages are usually sent by messenger,
What happened when you went dɔwa to connect the fire mains ?—I was nearly overcome with smoke and had to retura back. I told the captain it was impossible to start the pump.