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THE HONGKONG DAILY PRIP
"TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE AT THE RACES.
CHINESE MATSHEDS COLLAPSE
FIRE CONSUMES A BOW OF BOOTHS
SIX HUNDRED BODIES RECOVERED.
WEDNESDAY
FEBRUARY 27rm 1918.
tian was served to those in the booths, sight of the onlookers who were powerless to save then, A. Hr. Brittor, who was and everything pointed to a
partment
neon's sport being witnessed.
for the China Stakes was
someone
pinned under the counter together with Chinese lady, and was dragged out by Police Sergeant
Strolling among the ruins after the
4.50 p.m., and crowds began to into the matsheds to purchase tickets for the sweepstakes. Suddenly screamed out save life" and several disaster, I heard that Sergeant Kennedy. who was helping in the rescuing of people rushed out to see what was the
victims, waarendered unconscious, and matter, but is nothing extraordinary
had to be removed to hospital, while t soldier, who had sustained burns about
terrible catastrophie occurred at the escaped, and later it caught fire in the seemed to be happening the crowd surged Race Course, Happy Valles, yesterday centre of too. By this time the Fire back again. Then a crumbling Bound his arm and face, was also taken to the afternoon, which resulted in some Brigade were on the serne. At first, they was heard and before one knew what hospital in a motor car.
hundreds of people being either killed were quite unable to cope with the situa tion, and the interior of the Golf Club badly injured.
At a few minutes to three o'clock, just house was soon a raging furnace. It is in after the third bell had rung for the first the most strongly race after-tiffin, the whole row of Chinese Happy Valley, and it was completely our stone walls up to only boutit and matsheds, except one on the gutted,
treme horth, collapsed, and awful con- the first storey being left standing usion (napod. The stands fell gradual Club boys had plenty of warning and beginning from the stand Inbelled mannged to save a considerable amount DAJA. and falling southwards and of the property in the building. outwards towards the road, and made a
While the fire was at its height – a
It was a common thing to be seked by
had occurred the sheds came tumbling down I think the D.A.3.A. booth was
miting Person or the other. Men and the first to collapse, followed a few someone whether you had soch some minutes later by the rest Tho
WOWell were wringing their hands in walking along the specially constructed
distres and crying out that their child- footpath escaped, by forcing their way ren were loat Mothers, distracted, were through the mat-screens, which extended rushing hither and thither calling out as far as the matsheds themselves the names of their little ones. Little Saveral, however, were injured by the children, who had been saved, were cry
falling bamboos-
The was a terrible crush, everyone Children
ound like the rasping uf a saw. It look Japanese flag was noticed planted on the struggling to save himself. eds if the top of all the stands had been connected by a wire hawser and that this had been pulled over gradually
The stands and booths took about 10 seconds to collapse. Only the stand next to the Civil Service Club and the side of the stand next the Clab Lusitano were left in position.
course, near the mile post, and a meet ing of some kind was evidently in pro gread. I was eventually dispersed by the
authorities.
It is impossible to give anything like a correct estimate of the loss of life but up to a late hour last night -570 bodies were collected on the Race
ready_helpera-military, naval and uthentically
Immediately people in the enclosure.
were swept hither and thither, and I fear that several of them must have been trampled to death. The sheds had three
storeys.
ing for their parents. Nearly everyone seemed to have lost child, a relative, or a friend. The scene was agonizing.
When the fire was practically quoiled, a ghastly sight presented itself. Hund- reds of charred frunks skulls, and bones People who were in the top were visible, all huddled together. In storey managed to force their way one instance, I saw the charred remains through the roof, and were soon crawling of two babies clasped by a hand. It was on top of it in hundreds endeavouring
pathetic, and several people who were to escaper Pandemonium prevailed, and looking at the poor remains were reduced cries of save life were heard in all
realised th disaster there was a rush of Course, Probably it will never be directions. Three in the lower sheds wore
discovered how many
entombed by the deliris, but a
cirilianta help to extricate the unfor Perished Derelict children and Chinese managed to crawl out to safety.
tunate people who were pinned down structures. or shut in by the overturned
women were led or carried into the un closure and attended to be willing bands
few
Then flame were scen to rise, from one of the sheds, and they quickly spread to
to tears.
Members of the Regular Police und Police Reserve, assisted by some of the general public, surrounded the debris and were engaged in picking up jewellery and valuables that might lead to the
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For about five minutes there was a steady! It was pathetic to see the youngster the whole of the sheds Police whistles identification of the unfortunate victims. OMAH RAPARISHORTEXCOMON
stream of men, women, and children.
who had probably lost their parents, clambering for their lives through the locking around dazed in their novel our were blown, and the Fire Brigade Wi
oken or twisted brumboos, and breaking through the unas of leaves which formed the roofs of the sheds.
a
It looked at this time as if it would be possible to save almost everyone if panic could be avoided and in extricat ing victims and breaking holes in the
roofing to onable people to get free the
military
and, many civilians gave valu able help. Just, however, when things appeared to ke hopeful a fire broke out in one of the fallen booths caused, it is supposed, by the overturning of a cook ing slove-and-in less time than it takes
to write it the whose stricture was a blazing mass with the fra spreading rapidly in both directions. The outbreak oaused a terrible panie in the outside stands and hundreds were thrown to the ground who would otherwise have had no difficulty in escaping. Once down it was case of finished The clouds of smoke Which were rolling along the ground
must inv suffocated many
roundings.
HE. the Governor visited the different clearing points for the wounded, and the Colonial Secretary was busily engag ed catering for the wounded and the workers,
In some instances, where parents were doubtful as to the fate of their children, their anxiety was removed by the return of the children when dinner-tims arrived Thoir excuse for remaining out so Iste was that they were interested spectators of the f
fre
telephoned for. In the meantime several civilians hastened to the scene of the disaster in order to render help. I myself carried several babies to safety, and assisted in the rescue of over twenty five Chinese ladies The Police, under command of the Captain Superintendent, promptly set to work to extricate thore buried in the debris, and hundreds were conveyed to safely. In one instance, a gentleman was jammed between two beams, and was in a sorry plight. Not withstanding thin, he lifted two Japanese ladies from among the fallen timber and
In some cases Chinem babics were throw them aside, Be, himself, wis
The fire was got under at about 6 p.m. The charred human remains were carted away by the coolies of the Sanitary Department for burial. It is impossible to say how many were burned to death- probably this will never he known-but I think, I am right, when I state that the deaths number fully five hundred.
noticed qatastrophe I
Before the
several people engaged in preparing meals on cooking ranges in the sheds, and it was the upsetting of these that caused the fire, which lovied such a terrible toll of human life.
A runour was current last evening that some Europeans were also burnt to:
rescued and curried away from the scene helped out of his plight by two soldiers, des but no far no detaite informa
of the disaster, and it will, probably dificult for the Polloe to trace their parents, sune of whom may have perish ed in the flames. One little mite who was crying loudly was picked up by European lady, who was passing at the time, and taken to her house.
and carried away half unconscious
If it had not been for the outbreak of
enough to
tion has been received. It is stated that one member of the Middlesex Regiment fire hundreds of others would have been was badly burnt, while two others were saved. The fire broke out in the D.A.J.A. injured seriously booth, and those who were buried beneath their removal to hospital. the wreckage were burnt to death. This men sustained slight burns, amongst booth, a Chinese booth, and the booth them Mr. G. B. Arebutt, who was serving
essitate About six
run by Mr. J. Blake contained hundreds with the Fire Brigade when his right of Portuguese and Chinese ladies and hand was burnt rather severely. Among children, and, I fear, hardly any escaped those of the Portuguesa community who The Fire Brigade, aided by the fire are definitely known to have lost theiz float, stationed off the Praya, played lives is Miss Doria M. Xavior, aister of Her brother, Mr. Panio their hoses unceasingly, but it was of no Mr. L. Kavior, of the Hongkong Print- use.
Xavier, had one of his arms badly in jurad, and was rescued by a European Police Bergeant, jint when the flamer had almost rasthed him. He had the
ing Press
No med of praise can be too great for the members of the Fire Brigade, the Immediately things assumed this seci Regular Police, the Police Reserves, ones Col. John Ward, M.P. John's Ambulance Brigade, and Volu U.M.G.. by direction of HE the tary Aid Detachment, men of the Governor, was placed in charge of opera-Middlesex Begiment, the Naval detach tions, and a number of men of the ment, and such members of the general
Suddenly one of the caves of the Hong Middlesex Regiment formed a cordon public, as rendered assistance. To their round the blazing sheds and kept the heroic efforts not a few owe their lives. kong Golf Club buildings caught fire, The crowd of spectators in the various and, despite the efforts of the Fire crowd back, while others of the same regiment, with practically all the mili streets overlooking Happy Valley wore Brigade, the building was completely
Hames Others who were injured are tary and police who were employed on about six feet deep but order was gutted Fortunately, everyone had left agony of seeing his sister perish in the
bas M. Brittor, who the ground, advanced to the danger-zone splendidly maintained. Til nearly 9 it. and leat what aid they could. In this p.m. there was a steady stream of via Lt. Col. Ward and the men of the 25th Mr.
Middlesex were on the scene and helped tained a damaged arm; Fa (R) they wero assisted by most of the officers tors to the scene.
On inquiry at the Government Civil to maintain order, thereby stopping a Lopes, who rescued several members of who were in the enclosure and by many civilians. It was gratifying indeed to Hospital late last night our representa panis, which might have accounted for the Xavier family; and Police Bergeant see how spontaneously people came for tive was informed that fifty-three injur more deaths. The members of St. John's Kennedy. Fears were expressed that ward and did what they could toed had been taken to that institution for Ambulance Brigade carried away nearly several members of the Olsen family, who help: The injured were carried out and treatment Nineteen euses, in which the thirty persons who were suffering from were in the same stand as the Xaviers, laid on the Golf Course, and several persons sustained only slight burns, were burns, or injured by falling timber, had perished, but, happily, there were A rumour was current, also, that Luspec- ases were taken into the enclosure for discharged after being attended to; while Beveral ladies also rendered valuable found later to be without foundation, thirty-four cases were received into the servies in tending the sufferers, who were tor Wildin, of the Police Beserve, was As the last fire grew more intense it Hospital One Chinese, who had been later conveyed to the Government Civil missing, but subsequently it was ascer was impossible to approach within 40 severely burnt about the hands neck, Hospital in motor cars. A party of ained that he had sustained a slight yards of it, but even then courageous face and body, died an hour or two after naval men, under Commander Gibson Injury and was being attended to
were also on duty and helped in the work sailor was also injured. rescues were effected, though a number of admission.
HE. the Governor accom MEETING OF THE JOCKEY CLUE the rescuers, were overcome by the heat It was persistently rumoured amongst of rescue.
STEWARDS. and smoke.
ment
the Chinese last night that the collapse panied by the Hon. Mr. W. Chatham At this stage & grave difficulty arose of the mat shed was due to thieves having (Director of Public Works), personally
of the supports visited the wounded All the chaffeurs of the numerous motor cut through some cars outside the ground had either made during the night with the cbject of caus
I SAW Beveral men and woman with
to the
off to the fire or taken fright and decamping an accident which should enable them their hair singed
ed. The cars were urgently required for in the panic to seize money being wager over a hundred with blood stream-
ed there. On the other hand, it is said ing down their ho. wounded. In a short time, Carrying
the
that the collapse of the first shed was able however, volunteer amateur chaffeurs
Indie
faces, some hard
number
of
We are authorised by the Jockey Club to announce that a meeting of Stewards was held to disones what course should
be adopted with regard to the remaindor of the race meeting.
were found, and the procession started due to those in its rushing over to CAT. J. Blake was seriously injured and run off
hospitalwards.
The wounded were treated on the spot
by the RAM.C., Police Reservists, V.A.D. ladies, and members of the St
bide in order to see what has happened to a man who fell out.
It was decided that the uncompleted inted at the sight I heard that portion the day's programme should be Thursday, 28th inst., the first removed to the hospital Mr. J. Rene saudling bell at 2.30 p.m dios, who ran one of the Sweeps in the D.A.J.A. booth, and Mrs. Remedios were helged in between two tables and were nearly burnt themselves. Fortunate
AN EYEWITNESS" NARRATIVE
The following is a statement made to John Ambulance Brigade, and splendid a reporter of this paper by one who work was accomplished. Dr. McKenny, managed to escape from one of the some sold Lt Col Crisp and Mayor Black were sheds
noticed among many others actively When the interval for tiliu, came
round ministering to the more serious cases.
mat paid a visit to the sever sheds, facing the Hongkong Golf Club,
Ecame to ther extricated there out of their
@Jewish oung
was also arranged to postpone the programme fixed for today until Friday when the hour of comm
all other conditions and an ments will be as arranged for
The off day will be beld, as out on Bafarday
We understand that this decieron has
to considerable" advarso ODI
there is a likelihoodfol
While the flares were raging the wind freshened and the heat became terrific It was soon apparent that it would be queen men, women and children in the rushed to her aid and were able to rasoile
miracle if the Golf Club pavilion sheds at the time. At about 2:30 pm. her. Several, people were barn; stire in 14-
approaching the place where given There were crowds of Chinese and Ports, he was but, nothing daunted, the soldiers
ent bring voiced if the decisio
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