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RACECOURSE DISASTER,
NEARING THE END OF THE ENQUIRY.
MORE EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE
SUEDS
When the enquiry into the Race Course disaster was re-opened at the Magistracy yesterday, the Director of Public Works, the Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, C.M.G., Baid he was not satisfied with one of the statements he had made whilat giving -evidence at the previous hearing. During cross-examination by Mr. Lo he had essented to one of Mr. Lo's statements under, a misapprehension.
He had ap
was
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY,
get through by means of the sub-exchange at Garden Road to any motor-house they want,
APRIL 3an 1918.
employed them since my transference came. What the foreman of the jury from the Buildings office and have con- would like to ask is this. Considering tinued to employ them up to date. the curve in the row is there, not a Have the branches instructions to receive Before the race meeting this year did natural point of weakness in sheds 8 and orders from the Police They have in you only go through the motsheds on one and should not Nos, 8 and 9 have been structions to act upon information, re-occasion-I think I went through them specially braced-I do not know that coived from anywhere.
No. 9 is a point of weakness, “
Mr. Bowley: The arrangements you have just detailed have been made to deal with accidents to the water mains as well as with fire 1-Yes, particularly for our
own purposes
::
It is necessary if a main bursts to cut off the supply at once-Yes, day or | night.
Do you know whether these arrange parently agreed with Mr. Lo that the ments have been communicated to the best precaution against fire in a matshed Superintendent of the Fire Brigade-I was a proper number of exits. He did they have not been definitely, communi not intend to assent to that. He thought cated, the Fire Brigade knows about
them. the best precaution against fire
That is to say,
the Brigade is in the an instant supply of water.
Mr. Chatham then asked for permission habit of making use of these connections to refer to one other point which had-Yes. böen raised in the evidence and said he had found that on January, 1902, a file dealing with the matsheds was referred to the then Captain Superintendent of Police Mr. Baddeley. He had referred the matter to the Colonial Secretary, and the Colonial Scoretary, in accordance
We were told that there is a sluice valve where the three-inch main at Happy Valley connects with the five-inch main. Was that sluice valve in order at the time of the fire? It was in order and fully
open.
When you put up a fire hydrant do you with his duty, had referred it to the it after consultation with the Fire Brigade? No, we put them up where we think they are required.
officers concerned.
The Coroner: Have you a copy of that communication?
Huvis the Fire Brigade a copy of the
three times certainly twice. I noticed that it was more difficult this year to and a pathway through. I had to call a caddie to show me the way.
That is to say the uprights wore more numerous, or more closely planted That is the idon in my mind, that there were more poles than in previous years.
Mr. Bowley then asked the witness to
study the models of sheds 8 and 9, and the photographs, and asked-Do you think the top floor was sufficiently aup- ported by uprights?--It appears to be
quite well supported.
The Coroner: It is not necessarily a sign of weakness that the horizontal poles in that floor are not carried on to the party wall in the next shed 1-No.
Mr. Bowley: The form of construe tion is a common feature in all terrace houses?--Yos.
You see how the curve goes. It the thrust comes from 18 and 19 it passes through No. 8 and out at the back of the shed and not on to No. 7. Don't you think the burider ought to have taken special steps to strengthen that point?-- I think it might have been done.
Do you think the rear wall properly
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braced 1-It would not depend altogether STERLING on the bracing. The staircase might have besa a raking strut. A
Assuming that the bracing was meant sufficient Taking the bracing of the rear wall as a whole it does not soem-to to withstand the thrust, do you think t
me to be badly braced, although a little mure bracing might have been an advan- tage.
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Do you think the bracing suficient at sbed No. 97 Is it strong at that point or weak at that point?-1 think it might You will see o. 9 is the last shod in have bad another brace with advantage. the straight line -The amount of weaken- The framework of each matshed suping caused by the curve at that point would be very slight. Witness added that ports the adjoining matshed as well as if the sheds had been too weak as a whole itself --Yes, it is the same principio as for the weight they were carrying he MENU STANDS.
would expect them to buige. in every terrace of houses.
they appeared not to bulge and full-to- one side he surmised that the collapse was due to some local weakness,
You do not think that a matshed with out cross bracing would necessarily shut up like a concertina Proper bracing at one or two points in the row should have supported the whole row against a lateral
Mr. Chatham: J can produce it. Conplan of the City and its surroundings thrust. This cross bracing would remain
it would be more desirable to have it front. showing the position of the hydrants-effective if placed in one wall only but
cannet say. I do not think so.
and back,
tinuing, Mr. Chatham said the com munice on dealt with the regulation of the ni heds, and it was pointed out that whilst the Public Works Department was out of thom chiefly concerned with the
erection of the matsheds and, therefore, might be expected to attend to the regulation of them, in a point of fact that duty did not devolve upon any particular department, but upon the Gov. ernment at large.
.:
Subsequently Mr. David Wood pro duced a copy of the correspondenco re- ferred to, but the Coroner agreed with the Crown Solicitor that it contained little of importance to the enquiry as it dealt with regulations on account of plague
in 1902.
Is there any mark or indication at or near the hydrants showing the size of the main to which they are attached?--I am
not certain..
The Coroner': According to the chart produced the pressure of water at the time of the fire was 95 lbs,, practically full pressure?--Yes, but I would add that the pressure would be quickly pulled down on a three-inch main. The pressure would not be maintained without volume. A three-inch main would probably serve one hose.
The Crown Solicitor then painted out that the Police regulations provided that in case of fire, if the water was not turned on of the main, a message should be tele phoned to the motor house in Garden Road, informing the engineer in charge there of the district in which the Ere had occurred so that the water might be turned
on.
THE WATER AUTHORITY. Mr. A. H. Hollingsworth, the officer in charge of the waterworks, said he had heard Mr. Chatham's evidence in respect to the supply of water and agreed with the statements made. It might be added, Mr. Hollingsworth remarked that the however, that a turn-cock was perman-Police were fully acquainted with the re. ently stationed at No. 2 Station. There gulations. In the old days of an inter were also other turn-cocks at the Central mittent supply there were certain times Station and at the Fire Brigade. More when there was no supply in the street over, there were overseers permanently at No. Station upon whom the Fire Brigade might have called, but their services were not requisitioned.
mains.
The Corner: Now the mains are never empty 1-Except on the occurrence of defects, a break in the main or some The Coroner: If they had been called
thing similar. Mr. Hollingsworth added could they have done anything? They that previously a question had been raised could have shut off the mains to the east about providing an additional supply of and and concentrated the supply on the water round the City Hall during the district of the fire, but I agree that thetical performances, etc. That arrange increase would have been slight. Prac
ment was made in 1906. At that time the tically no main has been laid sufficient to intermittent supply was cut off at night cope with a matshed fro
No such arrangement existed now.
Private F. S. Burroughes, of the Mid dlesex Regt., who before joining the army was a professional photographer produced a series of photographs he had taken of the fare in the matsheds.
The Crown Solicitor: Were the men stationed at No. 2 station there at the time of the fire -Yes, I understand so, and they were also at the fire
The Coroner: But they were not called upon? No, they went to the fire of their own accord.
The Crown Solicitor Would it not hase been their duty to remain at the Station --They were there at the time of the fire. They heard of the outbreak and went to the firs of their own accord.
By Mr. Bowley: The meter reader named Chun Sik Yu had made no stato ment to him with regard to having seen anyone cutting the lashings. ・・・
Mr. Bowley then referred to a report in a native newspaper in which it was stated that Chan Sik Yu had seen men with knives cutting the lashings, and it was decided that this witness should be called upon to give evidence.
Mr. Bowley: I think you said the
strain-Yes, to withstand & thrust more floors were beautifully laced to take
particularly.
The Coroner Considering the floors were not level?--It is better to carry the floors right through because you cut out It
Because
Mr. Bowley: With regard to the alleged weak point, you will see that seeds 8 and 9 are erected as one building,
Does not that through. and, wherever possible, the poles are strengthen the structure --Yes, and the carried
In addition tuere is cross bracing right netuss the two sheds underneath the floor!! It is a very nice piece of stiffening.⠀
staircase is a very fine raking strut.
The Coroner: Do you think that is
takes up the thrust if properly lashed. It acts as a brace and also as a tie. of any use against a lateral thrust ?--Is
Mr. Dowley Thon the fact that the two roots are cross braced as one roof would tead to strengthen the structure
Yes
The Crown Solicitor: Talking about the defects or otherwise in these different matsheds you would have to consider the whole lot of matsheds as one building? Yes
chances of carelessness and error. nocd not necessarily be a weaknes that the floors are not level. The same thing. applies to nearly all the houses in Hong You consider the price paid for the
seems about correct. keng, especially to those built on a hill-erection of these sheds to be a fair price!
THE BUILDING INSPECTOR.
side.
you notice that the floors were at
building 1-Certainly. different levels when you inspected the
At the time the contractor was work ing on the building did you see any plaña ?—No.
Is the cross bracing, as shown on the plas produced, both on the rear-wall and on the racecourse side, correct?—Yes, us
far as I can remember.
Did you form your opinion as to whether the cross bracing in the hack
wall was sufficient or not?--Yos.
Having all these facts in mind, the difference in the level of the floors and the bracing back and front, you thought the sheds were quite sound?--Yea
Bupposing you were inspecting a por manent building in course of construction you would see that the builder was work- you would have access to the plans and ing in accordance with the plans?--Yes.
Supposing you had no plans of a per- manent building, would your opinion be worth anything It would be worth as much as another man's with the same experience,
Mr. Bowley: The weight of the roof **
the mistaheds, was then recalled, would stiffen the whole thing 1-Ther.. Sara, the overseer who inspected weight would not stiffen anything, but The Coroner: With regard to theag of weakness was that the floors of ad- the structure of the roof would certainly sheds it has been agreed that one sign help to stiffen the whole shed joining sheds were at different levels,
Mr. Perkins then asked permission to make a statement and pointed out that if any responsibility was attached to anyone it would also be attached to Jed him because he was in charge of the Buildings Ordinance from 1904 to 1911. Everyone in the Department had always been perfectly free to make any comments or suggestions. The matshods had been erected on the same spot year after, year for 23 years and, as far as he knew, no accident of any kind had occurred until this year. They had been erected under various heads of the P.W.D. and he did not think any criticism or coinment of any kind had ever beau offered. In the ordinary routine of their office work letters were received daily, more esps cially in the Buildings office, cautioning and advising them on every conceivable subject, and these letters always received consideration. Hongkong contained large number of highly trained architect and engineers who were ordinarily quite ready to express an opinion, but nothing was said he had not been able, and be did not think anyone in authority had ever been able, to trace a single line of any sort suggesting any possibility of danger in these matshede. He made those remarks because he had hoon in the Buildinga office. These sheds wore care fully examined each year and reports were received from the Inspectors deal ing with them. The overseers of th Buildings office were first class overseers; every one had been trained and each one
The Crown Solicitor: Have you acted had acted as foreman of works before a inspector of buildings in England 2 coming out here. Personally he had the Yes, for the Barnstable District Council, highest respect for the ability and con- Can you say it the regulations demand that plans shall be deposited for race- scientiousness with which they performed course stands or structures of that kind ↑ their work. It had been stated in the-We never had to deal with temporary You inspected them on several oocs evidence that there were not sufficient stands sions? Yes.
exits, but a considerable part of the evidence also went to show that the num
MR. T. L PERKINS,
Mr. T. L. Perkins, first assistant to the D.F.W., said he passed through the mat sheds on the race course on the Sunday week previous to the race meeting. He made no inspection.
Mr. Bowley: You were Building 4 thority for some years! From 1904 to 1911.
During those seven years did you issue permits for the race course mat sheds Yes.
Did you inspect the matsheds yourself? ---I cannot any I inspected them each
Do you remember whether in 1904,
B
Would you, for example, inspect a building like magistracy here with out plans --I would not like to but I would if necessary, A
Would you have to make your own cal culations as regards strain No.
You have certain text books which give the necessary figures Yes.
With matsheds you have no figu None whatever. Peake
In matshed construction, what do you go on General observation of the con-
struction.
In making your report on the matshode, did you report on any details or did you simply report that they were sound-1 reported that they were sound.
You are quite content to be allotted this work of inspecting these sheds You have never raise any protest againet inspecting them without figures, text books or anything of that kind ? No. I take it as part of my duty.
Mr Bowler: If any officer of the Fire there were any three storey matabods ber of exits constituted a weakness in the native paper had seen men with knives
Brigade wished to communicate with the Water Authority which would be the best way for him to do it Telephone from the Central Police Station to the P.W.D. by the Government telephone,
impression is that there were not. Ware there two storey matshods 1-I be lieve so
When you were Building Authority do you know whether the matabeds were
Is there someone in attendance at that used for cash sweeps?-I don't know. telephone day and night? No. We have
I suppose in those days the main poles another centra for night calls. We also were inserted into the ground-I can have a public telephone installed in the not say whether the poles were inserted European quarters in Bowen Road,
into the ground or not. You are speak-
CUTTING THE LASHINGS. Chan Si Yu, who, according to a
cutting the lashings, next gave evidence. building. Even if there were not Buf 10 said he was in shed 12, and, just ficient exits it was easy enough to get out before the Derby race, someone told him
matahed
that men were attempting to cot the lash- from the ground floor of a n
inge He went down to the basement to His theory was that an internal collapsed look for himself, and as he was turning Pasay men ran off towards the racecourse. He took place in one of the central shods the corner of the staircase eight or ten owing to faulty lashing, or to bad timber did not chase them but had a general or to careless or malicious action on our round to see if any damage had been
done. He did not notice anything out of somebody's part
the ordinary.
tifia
When the hearing was resumed 17 Perkins again went into the witness box
The Coroner: We know that these
The enquiry was then adjourned for Dr. Macfarlane, Mr. A Biden an Indian constable and a District watch- man also gave evidence and the enquiry was adjourned until this morning,
There are only four more witnesses to be called including Mr. A. E. Wright, Mr. Bird and Colonel Young. It is possible, therefore, that the enquiry sy be concluded this afternoon.
The Coroner Can the Central Police ing of fourteen years ago. Station communicate direct with Bowen You are familiar with the Sze Hop Road-During the time the bead office is firm of contractors1-I have known the open they should communicate direct with firm for many years, and have always sheds fell from No, 19 to No. 1. That the of If the allice is shut they can bean satuled with their work. I have was the direction. In which the thrust
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