Page
·RACECOURSE, DISASTER.
MR. MESSER'S CONDEMNATION OF
THE HONGKONG DAILY
You drew attention to the fact that a number of the bodies found on the course had the legs drawn up and suggested that this showed the people had been FIRE PRECAUTIONS AND WATER Crushed rather than burned-I pointed it out to Dr. Macfarlane and I believe SUPPLY,
he agreed with me.
THE SHEDS.
The enquiry into the Race Course disaster was continued at the Magistracy yesterday,
PRESS. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17TH, 1918,
By Mr Bowley He had been 28 years in the Force, but he had never been to the racecourse until the last three years. He thereforo could only comparo the matshed in 1916, 1917 and 1918. On the first day of the rats this year he thought the crowds were rather less than usual, Mr Bowley suggested that medical and on the second day, although there were probably more present than on evidence should be called on this point.
With regard to precautions against fire, Monday, he thought there were less would it not have been oney to have people than on the second day of the pro arranged for a fire escape to be at thevious year's racemeeting. He could not racecourse-It would have been ascless.
We have been told that the people could not get away from the upper storeys over, the enquiry seems to show that all The matsheds were falling down. More the people on the top floors got away. I have not found a case of anyone who was We are told that two detectives were on the top floor having lost his life. concerned in running a gambling booth. Were the names of the buyers of these Was that with your sanctiones sites submitted to the Police N.
y estimate as to the numbers
form any
Police arrangements and considered he Attending the meeting. He made his own had enough men. There were two Euro peans less then last year. There were also under his control There were no police detectives on duty, but they were not on duty at the back of the matsheds; no The duty of the uniform mon was largely uniform men patrolling the sheds at all. concerned with traffic,
SPORT
YACHTING:
ROYAL HONGKONG YACHT CLUB. The eighth of the series of Club Cham- pionship racas for the Handicap Class, One Design Class, and Hoyward Hays and Ginel Cluss was sailed off on Saturday HANDICAP CLASS. afternoon with the following resulte:
Course:-Lyemun Beacon (P), Cust Hock Buoy (P), Lyemun Beacon (P). Distapes:
Yacht
10.1 miles. Handicap Finishing Corrected time
time on course'
MS HM.8. H. M. S.
6.17.01
Diono.........owes2.31 Rulla. Scratch Jussin recives ill Diags....... Aileon.... ...
Position Colleen**, *
() Drone (1) Holia
5.10.38
INTIMATIONS
LANE CRAWFORD
ESTABLISHED
1850.
COMPANY
TELEPHONE 1741.
WE ARE NOW STOCKING A CHOICE SELECTION OF
6109 STERLING
Majer Macdonald, engineer of the Fire Brigade, who was in the Gunners' Stand at the Race Course at the time of the collapse, said the pressure of water from the hydrants was insufficient to be of any use. When the engine and motor. Bumps arrived the water was turned to The tanks, but there was not sufficient flow for the purpose. He had been a member of the Fire Brigade for the past twenty years and had had several experiences of matshed fires. If a matshed caught fire
The conditions of sale were read out it would be impossible to save the shed:
ment reserved the right to cancel the unless una happened to be standing at the and one of them showed that the Govern -npot with hose and water ready. In three permit of anyone on the recommendation et four minutes the shed would be zulaz.of the Police, but witness replied that he In the case of an emergency he would Book Buoy (P), Channel Hack (P). CAKE STANDE. By Mr. Bowley: His duties in con- had no knowledge of the conditions of rely upon the detectives present to supstance: 8 miles.
Anle
By the Coroner: The same system of previous years. It had not been cus placing men was fallowed this year as tomary to have men patrolling the sheds.
port him.
5.10.09.
D.NE
0.42.16
548
DNS 734
D.NS. 10,00 Points for race Points to dato
36 39
*3.37.12.
WEDDING,
Colleen Ateca......
ONE DESIGN CLASS. Curse-yemun Beacon (P), Cust
'cap. on Finishing Corrected
Yucht
Course
Ailsa
V ME
Suratel
unita
Daphne.
men
Position
Time ime, H.ALS. H. M. S. 5.37.565.27.56
D. N. s.
4.23.415 -5.23.40 6.24,01 ·0.24.01
-Ponts for nice ruits to date
32
Course-Lyemun Heacon (P), Cust
HEYWARD HATS AND GAEL CLASS.
Handicap Finishing Corrected Yacht
time Rock Bucy (P), Channel Rock (P).
of course, time PS. H. Ms. H. M. S. Distance: 8 miles.
6.06.246.07,40
By Mr. Bowley: There was no check If the names had been submitted to you rection with the Brigade wore to look after the machinery. He had no adminis.would you have considered that clerkusion the number of people entering the trative work to do, pad it was not his and office boys of the P.WD were fit matshed enclosure, so long as there was Irsons to have as lessces of gambling block in the traffic à Brigade call duty to attend a fire unless it was booths 1-Bo long as they are respetable was given to attend the fire and mem
By the Corener: A European large one, when he would a tend to sue people 1 do nut see why one should dispers. From all outlying station attended.
criminate against them.
The question of lashings then came up:
(W) Ailsa.... that the machinery was all right. It was not part of his daty to look after the again and Mr. Bowley produced a coupletiored to him the story that the lashings) Daue form of a eros in order to prove, pro-was being circulated among the Chinese Lonita water supply ner ind he ever been asked small bamboos tied together in the the sheds bad bunu cut and said it) Halcyon to advise upon the subject. He knew at sumably, that these lashings would resist Det-Set, Hollands, who was on duty pressum however it might be applied. at the racecourse, also gave, evidence the time of the fre that the two hydrants The previous day Mr. Messer had pro detailing the stops be had taken to used were on the same three-inch water duced a similar ercss in Court and had obtain the services of the Fire Brigade. main. It was quite probable that if une demonstrated how easy it was to break or By Mr. Bowley: After the collapse he
in a certain direction
telephone for the Fire Brigade. He could hydrant and one hose has been used more Joosen the lashing by applying pressure went to the Jockey Club enclosure to pressure would have been chlained. It would, however, have been impossible to get suficiently near the fire with one hose from the raccourse hydrant, the heat was too intense.
By the Coroner
If they had used ene hose and the hydrant near the Gulf t'ourse only, the jet of water would not have been sufficient to reach the roof of the Golf Club house.
Dawn
Gael
Mr. Messer protested that Mr. Bowley's not get through and he went to the Mona-Lysbeth...owes 1.26 little model was tied with lashings suchment, got a motor-car and drove to No. 1 as were deed on a large aatshed Her Station for the fire despatch box. He however, took it in hand and applying was back at the site with the despatch pressure in the direction one would box within ten minutes of the collapse of apply it in arutting a pan of scissora, the sheds, this being the type of presure, their knots would have to withstand
gave.
corroborated previous statements regard Sergt. Marks also gave evidence and ng the poor pressure of water.
matshed full of people, the lashings
Sergt. E. S. Pett, who was at the Fire Mr. Bowley did not announce whether was confident that he had won a 810 bet, given, said he obtained all the men avail he was satisfied with the test, but witness Brigade station when the alarm wa which was to be invested in war bonds.able and proceeded on a motor tender to
Mr. Bowley contented himself with asking if the lashings did not offer some resistance to what was described as
twisting pressure. Witness was at first reluctant to admit that they exer cised any resistance at ally but, upon Mr. Lo: He could not say what being pressed, and on the principle that precautions were taken at the Shanghala subiclent number of drons would make races to guard against fre
By Mr. Steavenson: He did not think patent fire extinguishers would be of much use on a matshed fire; water would be more effective..
an ocean, he agreed that each lashing would have some slight resisting power, but he added that it would be so in fitesimal as to be worthless for any practical purpose.
the racecourse. The journey took about six or seven minutes. He detailed the arrangements he made and remarked that he had enough water from three hydrants to work one delivery at a pressure of about 50 lbs. ut the nozzle.
CUTTING THE LASHINGS, *-
19
5.36.16
4.38.58
Toinette
92
5.58.10
6,58.52
Lady Ursula. Asthore receives at
Position Points for race Points to date! Dorothy
Tonnierte... (1) Dawn
D.N.F.
QU4.17
6.01.17
J.N.S
D.NS.
Ursula
·32
[(2) (4)
Dorothy Guel Astorg
13
The fourth of the series of Cruiser Club Championship Races was sailed off on Sunday last, and resulted as under:
UKINESS DIG. Course Bokhara Rock Buoy (P). Distance: 17 miles.TM
Handicap Finishing Corrected Yacht
time M. 8. H. M. 8.
lime
H. M. S.
2.18.33
2.91.00
2.35.25
2.44.03
2.32.43
4.33.44
2,19:24
DINIS.
Indye Jean Scratch 18.33 Dorothy II. 1120 anone 6.40 Niobe. 11.30
Position Points for race Points to date Helen 11.20
II.
Li Po Lung, property owner, 16, Dess Voeux Central, said he was in shed first floor. Before the collapse about No. 12 at the time of the collapse on the 2.50 p.m.-his son, aged 15 years, who was with him in the malehed, told hit that it seemed to him that someone was cutting the lashings down below. Witness (1) Ladye Jenn the paid attention and he heard three) Nidbe...... were being out at the bottom of the up (4) Dorothy distinct noices as though the lashings (3) Oenone.......
Course Bokhara Rock Buoy (P) By Mr Lo: He would have condemned right near which be was standing. He 118 SNGLISH BIG PA
Finishing Corrected Handicap lacht shed No. r, which had no exit on the was standing two or three yards from the
time time ground floor. He knew of no Chinese racecourse side. He felt an upright pole
HM.S. H.M.S. Scratch DNS. thontrical matshed which had been built moving one located on the side of the Distance: 17 miles. with more than one storey,
240 98.00 31.10 2.03.00 1.31.50
By the Coroner, The flow of water from the three-inch main on February th was not so good us they might
By Mr. Stevenson: He had no prac reasonably have expected. This may have her due to the fact that taps and other tical experience as to the efficiency of hydrants were opened in other parts of patent are extinguishers. In answer to the town. It was quite possible further queries, witness deprecated giving that the branch sluice Valve between opinions on certain articles sold byer
pipes tain people. S and three inch the five-inch tay have been partly shut down, thus reducing the pressure on the three inch pipe. He did not know the lotion the of the valves on the pipes. At the tune of the firs Mr. Perains telephoned tu, the proper garter about the water pressure and the reply was received that
up
full pressure was on his evid- where latze-crowds are gathered together, the stairs barred their progress and the vers
Mr. McI. Messer, continung ence from the previous day, was again questioned by Mr. Bowley,
Mr. Bowley You stated that you would probably have condemnot these matsheds on account of insufficiency of exita. Have you any knowledge of what the exits were 7 I had information at the time I made that remark.
on Course M. S.
He ordered his children-two They daughters and four sons to run The jury: Are we to understand that were all standing in a group. They made
Vesper unless specially ordered by some Authori for the exit, but when they came to the La Cigale...... ty it is not the duty of the Police to seo, staircase a number of people coming that reasonable precautions are taken for shed fell before they got out. They were Feather- their safety in the event of an accident all pinned down. The floor upon which Irene
Quten Beu or fire The Police attend. If they had he was standing sank like a linist
The Coroner: Don't you think the Position seen that the motsheds were likely to collapse they would have reported the sounds you heard may have been the (1) Feathers ...
(3) Уста matter. In several cases of buildings cracking of the lashings the matsheds (2) Irene..... about to collapse the Police have taken were coming down-The sounds would steps to bring the matter to the notice have been different. I heard the sound (4) Vesper
of the cutting at three regular, distinct of the authorites.
intervals.
You realise that the people could climb
The Coroner: Do you think the Police down the front -That is tho whole ques- tion of single storey matcheds. From a are responsible for the safety of crowds? single storey shed the people can jumpThey are to a certain extent.
On the Monday of the race-meeting you out without much danger, from higher
passed round these matsheds and you storeys it is not so easy
I think the Director of Public Works noticed that the exits were not sufficient
of Public Works
What time elapsed between the sound of the cutting and the fall of the shed I heard the three cuttings. I walked to the staircase and heard another series of sounds and then immediately the sheds
Mist
La Cigale. Queen Bee.
205.30 1.42.50 20733 1.39.13
34.00 2.08.29
1.34.29. 23211
1.08.11 D.N.S. Points forrace Points to date
BILLIARDS.
28
18
3
A billiard competition for the Military Amateur Championship of the Colony has Boldiers' Club, it was announced that a rointed out that the people could get out for dealing with a panic. Do you thinks collon many peopl, were in tab at the front! Well, that is the Director even apart from your duty as Head of How of Public Works' opinion.
By Mr. Bowley: He did not know silver trophy had been presented by anony The Coroner suggested that Mr. Messer have endeavoured to prevent the use of her his younger brother heard the mots donors to be competed for annually. The following committee might examine the models of the sheds these sheda-The sheds had been used noise or not. His brother was in the shed Uther prizes will be provided from the in Court and give his opinion, but from time immemorial. There would have Mr. Bowley laughingly protested. He to be some fresh circumstances before and managed to escape, bat witness had entrance fees. thought a considerable amount of time would most certainly be wasted by such 2 proceeding, adding that he was asking Mr. Messer the questions in his capacity of a policeman and not in his capacity of amateur export.
the Police Department, that you should under you I don't know arty Decoreer arranged. At a meeting held at the
should take the matter pp
Supposing you saw the public taking a risk, it would be your duty to prevent then Y98,
our
out
(presi
RE
Beg
Sergi
nothing would happen, His party was at 12 noon on April Uth Entries close
Mr. Messer said he did not think the crits of the matsheds were sufficiently wide. He would have drawn, attention to that fact if he had been called upon to inspect them Ho walked along the to take precautions with regard to the and brother might give evidence and then centsing closed a vote of lina of sheds on Monday, February 25th. racecourse sheds-Notalar adjourned the enquiry until this morn
Are you how proposing to recommending They were then crowded and the idea ertainly struck him that if fire broke out to the Government that the water supply the exits were insuficient to deal with a in this district should be increased? No, panic and that the results would be Do you think the water supply suffici bad.
Manent to get under a fire in the terrace of Mr. Bowley Although that thought houses at the end of Happy Valley 11 occurred to you on Monday, you did not should say that the water supply for take any steps to take precautions on that purpose would insufficient Tuesday No.
No.
Were you aware of the fact that these matsheds were lighted by electricity
CARA No.
No one reported that fact, to you? It is the duty of the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade to supervise the electric lighting of theatres - Yes, the lighting for performances
COTTON MILL SHARES.
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COMPLIMENTARY
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MENU STANDS:
BONBON
DISHES.
SUGAR AND
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Exc.
TEA AND
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JOURNAL AND GEAR GREASE,
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Telephone 1900.
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TELEPHONE: 346
NEW STOCKS!
Lid
JUST ARRIVED
GRAFTON'S
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FOR
TEA GOWNS, SUMMER DRESSES, BLOUSES,
AND CHILDREN'S DRESSES. EVENING WEAR
THE FINEST AND MOST VARIED ASSORTMENT OF PATTERNS
not spoken to him about the noises. He was elected to make necessary arrange
Rev. C. some two days after the disaster.
call
Morse, Middlesex had spoken to Mr. Potts about the matterments and run the compotation:The
By the Coroner: He did not to the
R.A.M.0 and people entering that there was When you saw these sheds on Monday danger because men selling sweep tickets
when the draw you did not think the actual risk suffici called out to the people not to run as Gillard, A. (Ho
the semi-final 400, and the eat to cause you to interfere-No.
will 20 Shortly before the collapse at the race the only one which ran, but there was will take place. The preliminary games course there were two matshed fires. some excitement among the other people will be 300
The Coroner asked that vitness son final 500. The entrance After these fires did it not occur to you
L thanks was passed to the Rev. 0. Cooper-Hunt, CF, for the trouble he
Before the
had taken in making the competition pos sible The committee alagportsman- cord their appreciation of the like attituds of Gunner J who is not entering: the competition be Local cotton mill shares, which began cause his entry would adversely affect to receive attention toward the close of other entries. It is hoped to arrange 1917, together with the three local dock some kind of an exhibition game betweon companies, are now practically the only Gr. J. Lord and the winner of the touran- popularly active shares on the local list. meat rubbera, for various reasons, being non- attractive to both investors and
News) tora (says the NC- has ever been soine-talk of gambling. An important mately in the United Ser- to be the case as the buying is for Club ground, when the Royal Engineers the gunners the meet the Royal Artillery. operations in cottons, but this does got rios League takes place to-day
in most instances, although
the Defence Corps cannot be dis- Fas entered element
89.71 cerced from the hood of the league table Baremeber .. tain extent.
without a re-play with the sappers, but Temperature By the Crown Solicitor: On the ric
A considerable quantity of cottons was w
December for March, then sold if the latter win they will be lory with Ramdity coures and in the immediate neighbour hood there, were about 60 members of the bought a Dean re-bought for June the Corps, and their anal position will Wind Direction.. Polied Force on duty. He heard a ram with the expectation of an advancing depend on their match with the Navy, our immediately the fire broke out that market an expectation which may prob which takes place on Monday next. In Weather the lashings of the matsheds had been ably be realized, considering the position the rather unlikely event of the R.E. cut be Chinese robbers, but it was not to-day of the local foreign mills in rela- substantiated in any way. Nothing was tion to that all-important facter saw Defence Cops out of the possible, the reported to him
Do you think you have a sufficient supply to extinguish a fire in the two storey houses at the foot of Morrison HI-If it was an ordinary fire I should say, yes an ord
Chief Inspector Kerr, assistant super- intendent of the Fire Brigade, who was in charge of the Police arrangements at the racecourse, gave his account of what had happened and detailed the measures
spe
With regard to the use of, two hoses on taken by the Fire Brigade. Deculative eleme
the three-inch main, would it not have hoen better to have had one hosei-It was for the judgment of those there I do not think it would have made much di
ference"
Do you know that special arrange ments are made to keep up a special pressure of water round the City Hall during performances I do not.
cotton.
ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.
the
will win the league. The Lick off today is at 5 pm lesing 3
IN THE COLONY.
HONGKONG METEOROLOGICAL
REGISTER HongKong Observatory, March 28th,
TOR SALE.
Previous On Daten DateSED POSTAGE STAMPS (all different)
Day
1000 Staurps & 8.00) 2600 Stampe # 50.00 at 2p.m. a.m.
Weat
18.00 2000
22.00 4000
100.00
$175,00
GRACA & CO.,
1500
2991
2093
1800
糟
65
000
25 000
ENK
0,01
Higbeet open-air Tempoendurn on 25th 78 Lawak crus-nis Temperature on 23th 64
No 4, WINDHAM STREET,
HONGKONG
· 1610