THORNYCROFT
JOHN L THORNYCROFT) & CO., LIMITED.).
BBIYBUILDER AND ENGINEERS,
LOW508, SOFTKampton) and Basingstoxx, ¡
Shanghai Ofice: 10, Kiukiang Rend
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, MARCH 14tu, · 1999
THE "TAIPO ROAD SHOOTING · EPISODE.
YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS AT THE CORONER'S INQUIRY.
MI
H. KING IN THE WITNESS-BOX FOR
FOUR HOURS.,
While waiting. five or six strikers, whi i had stopped, en down the hill-ide......!
MOG HAD BROKEN THROUGH After giving certain instructions, I
MR. KING'S EVIDENCE...
Mr. Thorans Henry King, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kowloon, thenew my revolver and ordered them back gave evidence. He said:-This incident The ears back. Then Sergt. Mason told -me al the soldiers, bad arrived and that uccurred at approximately 0.43 m. on
the 'busa had gone back. the 3rd, about 71 miles along the mail. We had received strict orders to "the effect that Chinese were not to be allow ed to leave the Colony without permit jumped into the side car and "instructed Sergeant Dorling to follow Capt. Blox by any rout whatsoever, I precived no definite instructions as to the procedure. We passed groups of strikers all I was to adopt it was left to my discre. the way up the road. I entled to them tion A party was turned back on the in Chinese, as I passed, to go back; that 1st March. On the night of the and then had not a permit and that the Gov March between 7 and 7.30 pm: a parts ernment would not allow them to go. of 400 was returned to Kowloon by train, Thi went on to the fourth or afth mile having been sent back from Taipo. On stones. They were in 15 B.H.P. 30 B.H.P. 50 B.H.P. Engines paties and military, was confinued by from owning through. Field and Dorling the 3rd Mirals at 7.00 dom, jos strikers We ov-rteck Sub-In stenging groups were found at the junction of the Leung | Field and the Indian police and one. Mr. J. R. Wood and a Coroner's jury. harangued the crowd and trip to per
atuide them to go back, telling them they Seung Valley and the Taipo Road. They Sepoy at the point about 5 miles along at the Magistracy, yesterday.
were not allowed to leave the Colony milway station."
were detained and marched back to Taipu
On the afternoon of the rond. We had already passed the The members of the jury were:-Me
without 4. permit. They succeeded in and I receive instructions from the zoops that had been sent an Lect W. L. Lensk (foreman), Mr. A. H.
hobling up the crowd-for some short view of the general situation I was touted that a mob of two to three thou-
Captain Superintendent of Police that incpped the side car.
Sub-Inspector Pitt Ferguson and Mr. F. C. Hall.
short time but the crowd began to get apply direct to the Commanding Officer sad and broken through the police and
that
some shots had been fired into the public. European or Chinese, attended;} police officers-red their revolvers into Fing the 24 hours of March 2nd I received air and that the police had endeavoured nasty and threatening and the three of the 102nd Grenadiers for troops. Dur
thice separate informations that a large horizontal y
to hold them back by placing their rifles neither were any representatives of the the leuk, as a warning. Telephone mes-gochinis get that the gathering and are joining furt to butt bus the
in butt mob had' front of them плет sages were sent from the Waterworks for ranged to muve overland to the border litt got on to the carrier of the motor. inspector
in Stock
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BEN WILSON & NEVA GERBER 19 “BRANDED FOUR.""
Episodes 1st. 2nd, and 3rd.
1
USUAL PRICES, DOOKING AT THE THEATRE,'
The inquiry into the incident on the police from Samshaipo-were ordered to Taipo Road, during the strike, when a fix bayonets, charge magazines, and take mob of strikers was fired upon by the a post on the road and prevent the crowd
It was noted that no members of the
Chinese Press in Court, The relatives of
the deceased or the labour guilds enncern-reinforcendents. ed were unrepresented.
Mr. G. H. Wakeman (the Crown Solicifer) opened the proceedings by giving
A THREATENING CROWYĽ.
evening and
su
receipt of this information I, instructed the Divisional Inspector at Faumati to keep me fully posted as to any assemblies The crowd was threatening and it for movements.
At 11.45 pm. I accompanied" Captain without a
cycle and was preceded. numbers of strikers. I called to them to Very soon we began to pass considerably, hack; that they could not proceed permit. They began to shout
go
& narrative of the whole incident. "You was not thought that, with nine Indians Bloxham and Cant. Crawford. with 50 in reply "we won't go back; we ant are no doubt aware," he awid. " of the fand three Europeans, they could be held, men of the 102nd and several police to going to Cautan." The parties of strikers situation crented by the strike of seamentor eyele to report matters in Kowto stop any crowd and to communicate on; whilst still shouting. I passed my own Sergt. Dorling was sent back by the junction of the Castle Peak and Tape grew thicker and thicker. I still con Ranks. I posted them with instructions tinued to shout to them. Some distance. which commenced on January 13th and
Wo were
I shouted to My
T
affected the whole "of the shipping of the loan. He soon met Mr. King, and Capt. with me orer Mr. McMurray's telephone.cook. He was walking on the right hand Colony. Subsequently, a number of other #shian. of the 10 Grenadiers, who also sent out two police on motor side of roal in a big group.
had held up some 30 or 40 Chinesi, M. Cycles, They.were instructed to keep in then going through a continuous mass.
I asked Capt. saw him and he saw me. workers in connection with shipping King sent the sergeant back telling him Bloxham is arrange for the guard to be him. in English, Cook, go back."
touch with this picket. euch as tailymen. cargo coolies and,
that reinforcements were coming. When marched back if nothing occurred by recollection is that he shouted back others, went on strike. Towards the end
am. I then returned with Capt. Blex-am not going back: I am going to Can- he got back, Sergt. Dorling found that ham. Capt. Crawford being left in com- ton. of February a large number of people the crow had broken through the police. mand. On our way back I arranged with identified to me as Wong Cheuk, house
I also saw a man who was later- were leaving the Colony and the Gover-
The Coroner: Is it not the case that Capt. Bloxham to have 50 men ready to boy to Mr. S. B. C. Ross. That man was nor-in-Council made an Order on Felthe polies withdrew and were not broken ruary 29th, under the provisions of the Travellers' Restriction Ordinance, pro- hibiting any person from leaving the Colony without a pilice, permit.
occurred
through?
зв
JJ
DISPOSITION OF PORCES.
turn out in case of emergency.
"HOLD THE CROWD
fkin. Ther were small groups
doing a considerable amount of talking, I could not tell what he was saying.
MEN WHO TOOK THE LEADING PART. About this time Inspeeter Pitt pointed The
tting through the crowd at this time the la& 75 or 100 yards--the head of the crowd-was practically a solid mass of The Coroner: There were & few women in the crowd.
Mr. King: These were a few passed
About 6 in. I received a telephone Mr. Wakeman: "They were forced back message from Yaumati police station that
a crowd of about 000 strikers was moving out to me two men in the crowd. some 10 yards. Sergt. Dorling went back off frups around the Po Hing Theatrest was a shock-haired man medium. The Police Force had been entrusted to Mr. King "and, told him the crowd along Ceronation Road, 1 then sent out build with a white jacket. The second Capt Blox was a tales man is an old brown sni with the duty of enforcing the Order in had broken through. Mr. King then asked the following instructions a
ham with 50 apoys meet me at Yaumati with a Europaa tanie cost and he bal Council and strict orders had been given Capt. Bloxham to proceed, with three Poller Station at 7 am." I telephoned an old
felt hat. Pitt said. Those are that all the "langi roules as well as they to advance through the crowd! and to Sub-Inspector Pitt at Sam Shui Po the two men who took the leading part take up a position in front and prevent to go with all available men (which at the Waterworks and let the mob on to
break through. sea routes and the railway were closed to
knew to be about 5) to the Kowloog
We had difficulty in At the end of the crowd from passing. Capt. Bloxham Waterworks and held the crowd until 1 people without a pass. February large numbers of Chinese were did this and took up a position some arrived. I also telephoned to Sub Inspector Lannigan to take men to block the pass endeavouring to proceed through the miles along the Taipo Road."
at Chingmoon. arrived at Yaumati men. Now Territories across the border, aut
police station in the police car at 7,14
considerable numbers were sent back by Mr. Wakeman"mentioned the arrange strikera IT' the rond between Po the polios from the st, to the 5th. March;ments made and the disposition of forces Hing Theatre and the Yaumati Station,ve or six before the Waterworks; there
Look Captain
were a few afterwards and they were in Bloxham and --the total was 1,974 and this did not before this Lime and mentioned that Indian officers in my car."
two the rear of the moh. I noticed them and The troops lon cuch include a large number-between 2,000 four motor 'buws were to be at Yau- were put in four 'buses.
I then left only to receive the same replies..
occasion I called out as before, and 3,000, probably nearer 1,000-who mati Siation at 7 a.m. Fifty Seroys orders at Yaumati police station for We passed the bead of the crowd some...
the Divisional Inspector to arrange for where between the sixth and seventh mite- wern proceeding on the Shatin Road or were distributed between the four 'buses ja picket of 10 men to follow up the stones. I frand Capt. Bloxham and his the day the incident of the shooting Mr. King told Capt. Bloxham that his Taipo Road. On account of the situation three men in a straight stretch of road at I had arranged for that picket to go out about 7 miles on the road. He had taken plans were to overtake the crowd, rouad on the Fire Brigade auxiliary tender at 7 up a position acres the road, near On March 2nd, the police had them up. march them back to Hunghoma.m. the morning of the 3rd.
point received information that a large body under the military and thera wait for in- Rout My car leading, and the four his men back about one hundred yards to
We then started off along Coronation
Str. Where the old, road cuts the now At my request be dropped of strikers was to leave Yaumati for the structions from the Captain Superinten buses following. Just as we left Yaumati the mouth of a cutting. My reason for border, either "at midnight or early the dent of Polier. The 'buses containing police station, Capt. Bloxham asked me doing that was that I had realised we had next morning. The police had, requested the troops had mechanical difficulties. what we were going to do. I told him a much bigger task than we imagined of the big crowd of Strikers. I said, "We when we left the station. Taking post in the assistance of the military and a body As a consequence, it was quite impossible shall Fallow the crowd, overtake them, that
my men as they came up. Also of some 40 or 30 military-I forget the for the Sepoys to be sent on by them and get in front of them, collect them up and with ging would enable me to fill it gave a much bigger stretch of "cumber-were patrolling the rond up to Capt. Bloxham would tell the Court that bring them back under escort of your it
men with fixed bayonet to Kowloon. W
straight I there said to Captain 4 clock on the morning of the and, when he guk shred of the strikers, with shall march them on to the Reclamation Bloxhain.
have to fire; do
If Nothing having happened, they proceeded only three men. Inspector Pitt said he under your guard. I shall then ask further not fire without my orders.
Harder did not think they would able to do much instructions from the Captain Superinfire, are one round only" meaning one back to barracks at 4m.
tendent of Police," We proceed as far round per man. Fire low at the feet: more with those three men than they had the junction of the Castle Peak and we (the police) are going back to meet done already.
Taip Roads.
Just as I said that we heard I stopped my car there, the mob." Lance-Sergeant Mason, came up. I de- and saw the mob come round the head At 4:0 on the 3rd, Sergeant Dorling.
After describing the attitude of the tailed him to krep at the back of all the a big bend about 200
yards away. Wo of the police. neting under instructions, crowd and the endeavours of the police downs I then proceeded up the road in face to face with the head of.
buses and then report to me any break. three police ran up the road. We came the mob. proceeded to the pices of vacant ground to persuade them to turn back, Mr. my car.
about 25 yards above the loop. I esti near the Po Hing Theatre," where it was Wakeman mentioned an incident when
mated then that the police party would be about 14 miles away from 153 and the reported that a crowd of men were
Mr. King tried to secure a man who was About 3 miles up the road I could crily leading detachment of troops would be likely to assemble. When he got there he apparently a ringleader. The mob intersee one motor bus at that was a long, from 8 to 93 miles away.
I had my re noticed a large crowd of people.which.vened and le. King, lost his nun.
way behind. I drove on to a level point solver in my hand; I was holding it
it by The at the top of a rise and there stopped the chamber. I raised my hand and call- The says, was compared noelly of Chinese surged forward, those at the sides to await the buses Capt Bloxham and el on the mob to stop. They halted
house boys and colies. They were to be rond go in advance of the polico, after a consultation, decided to dis we came face to face. They were shout. heard discussing the situation; some were and it was evident that it would not be charge the buses. While waiting there lag and I shouted at the top of my voice,
one bus managed to crawl up with four in Chinese, "You must go back: advising that owing to the roads being possible to hold them, With a view to men in it. About five minutes later a not got permission to
They sent will not let you evo: the Gown
They shout- guarded it would be unwise to go for warning the clowd a shot was fired into detachment of troops marched up. ward; other said they were going op......
had got out and walked up the hill, back, "We will not go back. We are While waiting there a few minutes later to Canton. We have no work in Hong the Yaumati picket also arrived on the
and similar atatements. I told them, still shouting, "If you go back the
THE CROWD ASSEMBLING
The crowd increased in numbers and, at 5.30 a.m. on the 3rd, it began to march
the earth.
« A ̈VOLLEY FIRED..
GOAD LIKE AN ANT-HILL.
"You may
Fire Brigado Auxiliary leader. I decided; we have no food ip
men.
+
SOLID" MABE OF MEN,
YOU
MA
have
In a small cutting Mr. King told Capt. to send the tender back, as it was not Government will give you food; there's to Youmati ulong Coronation Rond. Bloxian to fire one round. low. OneAll along the road to this point ws lots of food in Hongkong; you can get
strong enough to curry the Sergt. Dorling followed the crowd and volley was fired by the military. The had passed groups of strikers going along work, and so on. This was repeated at Yaunati telephoned according to in-police immediately rushed to the front the road, the majority were in small many times and went on for some two structions, to the Deputy Superintendent and endeavoured to hold the crowd, 100 to 150 strikers.
bodies but there was one large body of or three minutes,
While waiting at of Police, Mr. King. Sergt. Dorling which was still in a very nasty, temper, this simile puint the road was like an The whole road, from the bend, was a then went to Shamshuipo with his side-calling out."Strike, strike," and so ant-hill I told several bodies of men solid mass of men. The crowd began to car, taking with hire Sub Inspector Field; forth. The crowd did not attempt to go them wait beside the road.
that they could not proceed. I made press. We had had to give a few yards, slowly, owing to the pressure. At this, and at Sambuipo ho picked up Inspector forward and some minutes, afterwards About that time. Sergt. Dorling came point, amid the shouting, two men forged. Pitt and Bergt Gray. The latter was they got a little quieter, until the rein-down from the direction of the Water through ng man was the white-coated,"
the head of the mob dropped at the corner of Mr. McMurray's forcements, the fifty men-arrived. of about 2,000 at the Water Works and shock haired man already mentioned. bouse near the junction of the Castle, After the shooting took place it was they are getting nasty. I have been send other was the man in the brown suit and
Capt.
the other ringlender. Peak and Taipo Roads, with instructions found that there were four seriously foto urge Darling's side car and send pasted forward, saving his stick and to watch which direction the crowd took. wounded men, who eventually died, and Dorling back to say we are on the way. shouting, in Chinese."
go on, go on; hit The recond man was The three others proceeded to the Water som eight men with milder injuries, At the same time, at Capt. Bloxhara's rehim; hit him
quest, I sent forward a detachment of shouting in the same way. works. When they were about half-wag:
mostly in the legs and feet,
15 or 20 men under an Indian
officer Thin
This man's action caused greater uproar must have been about 8 m.
amongst the mob and there was waving About 8 minutes inter Bergt. Dorling of sticks, umbrellas and hats and cries of Advanos," I decided to try and got the
up the bill they passed a crowd of some 2,000 Chinese.
FOUMAL EVIDENCE.
Works and reported: "There is a crowd
assistance.
Us..
towards
The
Notifications and proclamations bear.reported "We were too late sir, the most man out of the crowd; I could see
he broken through the police barrier."
E:
At the Waterworks there is a small ing on the subject of the inquiry were immediately ked Capt. Bloxham to I was long control over them. If wo police post and Inspector Pitt turned out formally put in.
take as many men as he could in my car got rid of these two men I thought we and get well ahead of the crowd and might still hold GD.
I grabbed the first wait until I came up and to send back man with my eft hand,, meaning to pass the car with one of the Sopoys as an him out to Inspector Pitt who was just
blockhouse,
three Ladians from the Field and Dorling went to moot the
Mr. Harold Stuart House, civil engineer crowd and tried to permunde them to go in the Public Works Department, pro-scort to the driver. Capt. Bloxham then at my right hand. As I seized him there back. The police three Indians, shortly duced plans of the Taipo Road between afforwards · reinforced by fire Indian the third and the eight milestones, ...
left with four Sopoys Bergt. Dorling. I was a rush forward of the crowd and now told to wait for me. I still had to wait shoute. The leading ranks surged for- to ensure that all the troops had come up. | ward..