It's sure to rain again !
Get a
"MACNOVA" WATERPROOF
and defy, the showers
'Light weight.
Intensely strong,
Thoroughly well made.
(énaranteed Waterproof,
Mackintosh
།
& CO., LTD.
MEN'S WEAR SPECIALISTS. Alexandra Building. Des Vœux Road.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, JUNE 12TH,
BURNT PILGRIM SHIP *** FRANGESTAN." MARINE COURT OF ENQUIRY AT
·BOMBAY,
The enquiry into the circumstances in which the 1.4. Franyestun was destroyed by fire, in the Rea Sex on April 4th was held at Bombay,
FRANK recently, before the Marine
GREEN ISLAND CEMENT CO., LTD.
Best Portland Cement
ISHEWAN, TOMES & CO.,
GENERAL MANAGERS,
HONGKONG. :
UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY for A SHORT TIME ONLY
A Select Assortment of
DRAWN WORK
AND
LACES
At 20% BELOW ACTUAL COST
AT
"DO BE CHAIRFUL" COMPANY
51, Queen's Road Central.
JUST
WOOLLEN
ARRIVED
BATHING COSTUMES.
THE WING ON CO., LTD.
HHONGKONG.
YEE SANG FAT CO.
RAIN COATS
Waterproof Guaranteed.
REASONABLE PRICES.
Umbrellas,
Rain Shoes,
etc.,
etc.
N.X.
two
THE FIRST OUTBREAK.
Court
A RUSH OF FLAMES,
1924
TAI LEE PIRACY Echo.
REGULATION." ESSELS BOND UNDER PIRACY
OWNERS SEVONED TO SROW CAUSE AGAINSTO FORFEITURE,
On the 2nd of April last at about 4.13 He saw a large gust of fames coming, he noticed parks being emitted from from a ventilator. The fire station was the alt ventilator on the port side of conamunicated with and four hose lines Na. 'tween deck and almost immediately Taid down to the seat of the fire. In a flame, burst out. He immediately in-
An eens of the recent pirney on the mediately after the outbreak was dis- formed the Captain who was on the scene
The rest of his evidente confirmed that .5. Tai Lee was board at the Sentral covered the ship was turned away from in nitrice.
the Szu Magistracy yesterday when the wind and the engines were run dead slow. Every mean of access to No. of the Master of the Ship.
Dr alter- Yap. Steamship Company, hold was closed so that an air could get
nately. Messrs. Li, Mau Kai and Ng Kai Cho, as partners of the company owning the vessel. were snooted to show cnusn why they shall not forfeit a bond" of 50,000 paterol into with the Captain June, 1923, under the provisions of the
Ordinance, Piracy to Prevention Superintendent of Police on the 10th of
Breaches of these onditions were allegeil
in.
Arr.
to
That process
WHAT WAS THE CACHE
Cross-examined by Mr. Baker, witness said that he cult not form any opinion
day:
REPORT TO GOVERNMENT.
T
1914.!
3-That the equipment prescribed by On Thursday the Court resumed the Regulation So. 14 on page 459 of the Regulations of Hongkong, 1911," was not. enquiry.
rapully and easily available for immed Mr. James Pearce Lang, the Chief Eu-te use contrary to Regulation No. 16
F2'>
of Enquiry, appointed by the Govern-
They signalled by wireless immediately
The 3.5 an as to the cause of the fire, mmert. The Court comprised of the for a ship to stand by."
Auswering question of Mr. Caroe, Acting Chief Presidency Magistrate of Maeferr which was about six miles away Botubay, Mr. Frank Oliviers, Captain was asked to steer paralled to the burn-witness said that he was not prosent all it was sille that one of the, ventila Claude Albert Oakshott, M.B.E., Mastering ship Sudan was at the same time the time the cargo was being stowed and wirelessed and was informed of the fre.
Meanwhile, witness was doing his best tors was blocked. Pasha, and Captain Frederick
The text witness was Major Beruar! went on for 4 Higham, LMES, Chemical Analyser to las follows Sadell, R.D.C. and R.X. R. (Retd.), with hoses and water to extinguish the
the discernunt. He thought there could That whilst the steamer" was in a |F.R.C.S., Master & Kidderpore, and minutes, but the fire was not reducnil.
In the Dwyer and Joseph Lewis, artificates. assessors, Captain John Henry He then considered it sufficiently serious henn danger of the fire in carrying man danger zone, Thomas Flecher, John
warrant the injection of steam into the ganese or houxite of chronite." Murth, Masters, Shuja, and Caprain hold Steam was first injected at annat beat that he expected to End in the hole otheers present on board the steamship, or song sue os more of them, did not William Albert Norman, Comdr., R. NR.3 and damped the fire considerably of a ship witness did not think that pot
The hold was practically 38 feet deep ton either loose or in tales was likely to carry a revolver and rounds of ame munition, contrary to Regulation No. 32 (Retd.). Master s.s. Perira.
"I do not think there is any evidence of the Regulations, of Hongkong., 1914.
whilst the ship was in The official information, on which the and the volume of the stoke decreased ignite by spontaneous combustion
-That appreciably after the steam had been in enquiry is to proceed, states that the s.s.jected." The seat of the fire was not in this case of the fire having been causal
spontaneous combustion," be added, danger zone the grille door to the engine. Prangestan of the Port of Hongkong, it apparent, 7.
The injection of steam was continuelt. I am unable to form an opinion as room and boiler room from the deck was not at all times kept locked, contrary Bombay for Barcelona 4 Kamaran. till Sant. when witness discovered that to how it was caused."
At this stage the Court rose for the to Section No. 32 of the Regulations of
Hongkong, 1914. Jeddah, Port Sudan and Genoa on March the fre was gaining ground. Then, after Srd, 1924, with a crew of tas hands, consultation with the Chief Engineer, he pilgrims and li passengers and 8,155 tons decided to try carbonic acid gas which was then injected at high pressure in to the, hold. Witness confinsed this right of general cargo.
through the day and found that it was effective in keeping the fredown. He wa
Mr. Leo d'Almada defended, and the On Wednesday, April 2nd, 1921. at 4.13 of opinion that if he had had a sufficientlygineer of the ship, was the best witness of the Regulation of Hongkong, 1914.
The equipped with all fire-extinguishing Acting Crown Solicitor, Mr. Hazlerigg a. the weather being fine and clear, Birge volume of gas, he would have been for the day. He said that the ship was
able to put but the fire entirely.
paratus. In his opinion there was
proscepted for the Captain Superinten the wind blowing light from the north-gas he had on board was stored for repossibility of fire ring enged by the dent of Police, west with the sea smonth, the vessel was frigeration. under stea making about ten knots. Synceks and Games were seen coming.put of the ventilator situated directly over the port. The ship was slowed down and put before the wind. Hoses were led to the seat of the fire which was found to be in the lower part of the aft end of No. 2 'tween deck, in which, were stowed cutton and seeds. Wireless messages were sent out and the ss. Elaw Marler which was the nearest ship was asked to stand by. Steam injections were opened into the No. 2 hold and 'tween deck, ventilation was closed and the ship then headed for Port Sudan, at full speed As the fire increased, holes were cut in the ventilators shafts and carbonic acid gas was injected: but failed to extinguish the fire which continued to spread so that hyp.m. it was nverssary to tranship the passengers and pilgrims to the gs. They were allowed to take their hand Con Marlier for salety, the crew combs with them. It was fortunately a tinuing to fraht the tire By 10 p it calm sea and there was no wind at all. was consider impossible to save the ship Those crew who were not engaged in and she was abandoned burning Bercely transferring the passengers continued to She continued to float, however, and was dent with the fire which was increasing eventually sunk as a useless wreek by in rigour and volume.
om the His Majestic's submarine Keu morning of April 4th.
QUESTIONS FOR fis COURT. The questions to be devided by the
Court are: -
(1) Was the cargo properly laden and stowed?
(2) Was there anything contained in the cargo which might hure caused spontaneous combustion!
(3) Were proper measures taken to protect the cargo from risk of fire during the voyage?
(4) Did anything occur at Kamaran which might have caused the fire?
(5) should the master have adopted any other measures than he did to con trol ur extinguish the fire!
*#
:
FIRE BECOMES SERIOTS.
electric installation
-PERFECT DISCIPLINK.
Mr. d'Almada asked a it would not ke more carret to have the hearing of the At noon, witness continued, the fre
He said that as soon as they knew of ease taken by another Magistrate in view Assumed very
ery serious proportion and ↑ of the pilgrims effects had caught the fire the Chici Ufficer gave order uff the fact that Mr. Luisell had pre- fire. Wittess laid & hose to put that are great all the pumps. Witness saw that viously sat in the capacity of Coroner lik aut, as there was a danger of the upper deck catching fire.
On the discovery of the fire, the pilgrims were all removed to the upper part of the ship. About two hours after the fire the ship began to list owing to the quality of water towards starboard, and he ordered all the boats on the 'port side to the swung out. After consulta- tion with his officers, he decided at abcat; p.m. that it would be necessary to transfer the pilgrinis to the flan Mardrer before dark. He asked the other ship to go nearer to the burning vessel and take. over the passengers. The transhipment of the passengers which began at 4 p.n.against the fire after landing the latter lasted till a p
the bunkers were mufe. After some time the inest on the death of Capt. Willor they applied the steam jet. He suld not who was killed in the pirney from which Mr. Lindsell, voncurring, fixed the cust say whether that process, had any effget the present summons had its origin. on the are. Ne was next injectek When the situation grew serious and when for hearing on the toth inst., subject to all hope of extinguishing the fire had Mr. C. D. Metbourne Being able to take vanished, the Master decided to transfer it on that date. the crew and the passengers to the s.s.. Clan Maciere. The whole of the "erme The steam worked hand in fighting the fire and perfect discipline prevailed.
* {I
The injection of gas continued even after the transhipment and witness said, it was very nearly 11 pm. on April and when he abandon the slup. He went round himself to see that there was no body left on board after he had ordered the crew into the boat. The whole eres and passengers were transhipped without injury or accident.
Continuing, the Captain said that several of his officers attempted to go down the hold. They worked in relays and at times they were badly overcome by Hames and "nuke and had to bự launched out. The Clos Macfzer then proceeded towards Sudan.
A MOLTEN FURNACE,
ed to Jeddah.
.
DR. SUN'S REVIEW.
VOLUNTEERS. jets were in good order. Witness had no TROOPS, POLICE AND MERCHANT
la answer to a question of 3ir. Urin idea as to the cause of the fire.
"protest as to whether witness put in a
It is announced Dr. Sun Yat Sen will review on the Northern Drill ground next week at Canton picked battalions ef the gendarmerie, aried police and the merchant volunteers.
11
said amidst loud haughter that there it would have bean useless because the whips was destroyed. When it was explained to him that what Counsel referred to was
It is expected, says the Canine Tranny. a techien matter relating to a document that nearly five thousand troops will take Witness further said that he was satis part in the review. They will comprise witness denied any knowledge of it.
one regiment of infantry, one battalion with the adequacy and efficiency of fied the fire quenching appliances of the bitch of artillery, cavalry and machine In reply to Mr. Carce, witness statert u corps representing the gendarmeria that they had a fresh water tank of 104 and several battalions of police and mer- to the engine room. Almost all of clent volunteers, that was converted into steam in order to extinguish the Are. Even before the Captain instructed him to clean the steam iets. So had them perfectly overhauled.
-
SUBMARINE COMMANDER'S STORY. Mr. Brown then put in as an exhibit marine A26, Commander G. P. Thoman; the statement of the Captain of the Sub made when the submarine was recently in Bombay
This is the first occasion in the history of Canton City that such a grand review composed of gendarmes, police and mer- chant volunteers has been arranged, says our contemporary, and indicates the close piderstanding and co-operation that exist between the Government and the people's organization.
This foreign Consular Body and mem- bers of the foreign community will be in vited to witness the review,
It stated that he was proceeding xteamer South down the Red Sea when on fire was lighted at 11:30 am on the
a mixed one, consisting of cotton, rape- April and last The ship was burning e prged the point that the cargo wan fiercely and the Captain's attention was seed and linseed, all of which were com particularly drawn by the bridge and bustible articles.
Mr. Carue, for the Agents of the ship, upper Burks which were a mass of scrap iron. Ten hots were sighted about four stated in the course of his address that to five miles distant from the ship. They the evidence showed that the cargo was examined the ship. found that it was dry when loaded. At best they might abandoned with no signs of life on board. have got werd by water dropping through Megawhile the Captain wirelessed der the sides or the deck, but that was int position to the Commander-in-Chief of the
When witness abandoned the ship, (0) Was the .x. Frangraton pre-three-fourths of the vessel was ablaze and
it was a molten füruzce? maturely abandone by her master?
They reached Port Sudan the next (7) Did any want of care" skill or the day at noon and the pilgrims were trans incompetancy of or wrongful act of or ferred to the sis. Tengst kl proceed default on the part of the Master or any other person contribute towards this In the opinion of witness, the cause casualty i
of the fire was that manganese ore fiber (5) What was the cause of the fire?
As to whether or not "the abandonment Mr. Bowen, puble prosecutor, appearated a considerable quantity of oxygen.
was premature, the Captain of the burat ed for the Government. Mr. Baker for which owing to the differences in ten Mediterranean and asked permission tough to heat the rapeseed, the lustres Co., with whom the shipperature, set up spontaneous combustion sink her as she was evidently unsalvage-
in the cotium rargo. There was no posable and a danger to navigation. The whip told the Court has at about 5-10 wits insured, Mr. Caere for the agents sible chance of any sparks getting through ship burnt fiercely throughout the night. of the ship and Mr. Urban for Messrs. the hold through the ventilators or
Later he received instructions from the (Greenwich mean time) be received a wire from the Captain of the Clau Lloyds, the underwriters.
Mr. W. K. Reynolds, captain-of the through any other way of access. Before Commander of the Mediterranean Fleet: Meterr: Ges out of it; you cannot purs. ship, was the first witness to be examin. the loading of the cargo he disconnected to sink her and fired fifty rounds of "I") sibly save it," and it was not till
shell into the burning ship. the electric installation from the hol
When he first discovered the fire, het George Percy Francis, second mite P. (GMT) that he gave the order Lox of the x. Frangenden, said that he super- noticed a yellow flame for about seven minutes coming from the ventilator vised the loading of cargo at Karachi and Bombay. There was some loading during That, in his opinion, was dee to gas.
Cross-exanlined by Mr. Baker, witness nights both at Karachi and at Bombay, said that he had had two rex lyfore they used electric lights and not naked then and he was therefore more than lights... ordinarily vigilant to see that he did not have another are.
ed.
ה
THE CAPTAIN'S EVIDENCE.
abandonment.
The Court then adjourned the enquiry in order to arrive at a decision and sulk-
it its report to the Clovernment.
05
He said the vessel had three steel decks, the upper deck, the shelter deck and the "tween deck. The ship was built
THE COURTS FINDING. of mild steel throughout. She had three
The Marine Court of Inquiry into the bridges, the uppernest heing the navigat
The pilgrims, witness contioned, went ing bridge. No. 2 hold where the fire
alent fairly freely on hard but there circumstances of the destruction by fire occurred was for'ard of the bridge. It
was always some holy watching them of the Frangram has submitted its r i-port to Government regarding the cause of was a big hold earrying 2.500 tons of Mr. Urian, urat cross-exapsince the cargo. The means they had of extingituss. Witness" said there was a risk They smoked on the upper deck.
My Brown then said he desired to the fire, states a Bomimy message aishing fire were the ordinary water hoses of combustion on account of the cotton
1. The report states that in the light of connecting with the mechuical pumpy being stowed on top of the manganese withdraw from the questionaire the May 25th. and carbonic acid gas and they hail per He had, in fact, considerable apseventh question, namely, "Did any wanent steam injections too. The ship prehension of fire when he left Bombay want of care, skill or the incompetency the evidence riorded before the Court was fitted throughout with electric lights Be did not draw the attention either of of or wrongfal act of or default on the its decision, could only be based on including the holds. She had three deck the owners or the agents to bis appre part of the Master or any other person theory. In the Court's opinion the cargo officers, five engineers and three wireless hension, as it was only his private contribute towards the casualty?" operators. The crew consisted of opinion. Chinese and 30 Indians and several Persians.
OTE.
I TRACKED VENTILÁTORE.".
In reply to a series of questions put by The Captian continuing, said that he
the Court, he said that it was possible had been at sea for nearly twenty years.
that the cargo might have been loaded in He commenced londing at Karachi on March 5th-last. He next touched Bom such way as to block the ventilators bay where fifter European first, class at prevent the exit of anke. The passengers and 1,221 Indian pilgrims em- underwriters were not there to supervise barked. The cooking on hoard was dong the lading of the cargo in any manner. in two places: that by the staff for the He had no option with regard to the a ilgrims was done in the forepart of the pointment of the surveyors, who were Ahip and by the Hajis themselves in the local experts in the stownge of carzo.
was,
from
was not properly laden or stowed. No attention appeared to have been paid t PBLIC PROSECUTOR'S ADDRESS.
all to the desirability of separating oil the After lunch, the Court heard the ad seeds froin eotton hales, while dress of Mr Bowen, the Public Prose pesvision exercised Lu stop stevedore,
or dropping anking to who montained that the theory of colies
pentaneous combustion resulting from matches in the bold did not seem fo heat generated by the inanganese ore have en eficient. It was extremely had been exploded by Major Higham, the probable that stage without discrimi Chemist. Analyser to the Government nation or seriaration of hales of cuttur The only solution to the riddle therefore, with liga of linseed on top of them and the opinion of 3 Bowen, either the fact that oiled bags were used an
of that it might have ignited at the time broken stowage did cause a certain pur- of Tending and kept on smouldering till tion of the cotton in the deck to be im Mr. Keith Landelon Fitzer, chiefit burst into flames or that a match might pregnated with a suficient percentage after part of the vessel. But the places cfficer of the 8.8. Pratiyoglan was next ex: have been intentionally or otherwise left oil to greate a condition liable to result politaneous combustion. Every pres where the cooking was done were sepa amine. He said he superintended loading in the midst the cotton orga rated from the hold. All the primus both at Karachi and Bombay. They lond
Continuing, he said that, in view of the caution had been taken by the crew to Istoves brought on board by the pilgrims so tons of manganese.ore fist of which large number of pilgrims on board, the prevent n. fire and to fiut out afr The
of the ship's author "They sailed from Bombay on March cotton bales also in No. 2 hold. Box of transferred that afternoon, otherwise it tica in safely and with judicious expedi ship reflected, in the Court's opinion. 23rd last at 9.30 p.nt and reached Kama apeseed and linseed too were landed it would have been very difficult to tranship tion transferring the pilgrims to another ran on March 31st nt 7am. Thence the No. 2 hold. In the lower hold at the hot them in the dark-
tom, they loaded manganese1ore and af shin sailed for Jeddah at 11 am at top of that they laid foose deal boards the underwriters, next addressed the and men and on the discipline of April 1st. The next day at 4:15 am. On these Infter they put cotton; hales and witness was aroused from sleep, by the Chief Officer of the ship who told him over all these they stored rapeseeds in that there was a fire at the after portion nga He was satisfied that the cargo of the No. 2 hold. Witness immediately as properly stowed before they foft
Bombay. went on the bridge and took charge.
anil locked.
Mn Urhan, ou behalf of Messra, Llovil, very great credit on the master, officers Court. The averred that there might have ship. The master would have been need- been spontaneous combustion in spite of lexly endangering the lives of his man
he did Major Higham's evidence to the contrary, if he had not abandoned the ship when
(Continued on next evlunin.)