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THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, JANUARY 41a, 1926
THE FIRE AT HONGKONG
HOTEL.
༣
Mr. A. E. Joseph, Mr. O. C. Vao de Janus, air. J. A. Johnstone, Mr. and
bars. J. 4. Josephi
ATS, J. V muarriey.
MINOR CASUALTIES. Mr. Wright, the Building Authority, bad a bad fail by slipping on some: petrol which had leaked onto the road, hặt his
Mr. and airs, C. Lauritsen, Miss II. injuries were happily not, such as to
Liu, render him long inactivé
and Mrs. 1 3. Lacon, Mr. Another accident of a somewhat similar and Mrs. S. H. Langston, str. 4.
Linbird.
Az. U. M. McDonald, Mr. and Mrs. G, T May, Mr. FT May, Mr. 1. A. Mackintosh, Dr. J. Morrison, Mrs. and diss Mooney, Mr. A. Motholte, Mr..
DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT OVER TWO MILLION character occurred to Fire Station Officer
DOLLARS
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE AND THE FIRE-BRIGADE'S HANDICAPS.
PROMPT RETURN - TO **BUSINESS AS USUAL”
The fire which broke out at the Liongkong Hotel on New Year's Day.. through some unascertained cause in one of the passenger lifts, resulted in damage which is roughly estimated in Insurance circles at over 82,000,000.. The Hotel Company carried a total insurance of 83,000,000.
The local Fire Brigade were assisted by detachments of Bluejackets from the warships in part, and by detachments from the East Surrey Regimens which also furnished picquets who, with ixed bayonets, assisted the Police in keeping back. the dense crowds of people who gathered in the vicinity, and so preserved a clear area for the operations of the fire. fighters.
The fire started just about 9 a.m. and it was fully three hours before the flames could be regarded as under control, but the Fire Brigade con- tinued to work on it throughout the day and night. The Brigade, in fact, did not leave the scene until just before tithin on Saturday-twenty-seven. hours from the start of operations. In the early stages the Brigade was greatly handicapped by inadequate water pressure.
The whole of the fourth and fifth floors of the old half of the building. fronting on Pedder Street and Des Yaux Road, were entirely gutted by the fire. The third floor was also damaged by fire and its rein completed by the deluge of water poured on the building, which did considerable damage also to floors below, even to, the ground floor,
It was thought at one time that the entire building would he involved, and bluejackets were busily engaged on the upper floors of the newer half of the Hotel, throwing out over the verandahs and down into the streets hedding and light furniture and the private effects of occupants of the rooms, so that the dames, if they reached these rooms, would have less to feed upon, and so afford the fire fighters a better chance of combatting
theni.
for the past twelve years, and is said not to have left her room in all that time, was carried down the stairway, placed in an arm chair which had been brought, out from the hotel and carried away by faur soldiers to the Astor House Hotel.
P: Condon, who received a cut on the wrist which received prompt attention from the Ambulance Brigade..
Mr. H. T Brooks, Superintentlent of the Fire Brigade, received a nasty gash | A. G. Maddren, Madame J. Mussebong, on his nose and one of the boy scouts received injuries in Pedder Street.
Mr. Pervient J. Mandelli, of the Hotel Staff, was taken to the Government Civil Hospital suffering from concussion.
CONDUCT OF CHINESE STAFF. The conduct of the whole Chinese staff on the morning of the fire and afterwards is highly praised. Mr. J. P: Bourne, the Hotel superintendent, says they showed not the slightest sign of panic and ren- dered excellent service. They stood by and did everything they possibly could and were always ready to do anything required of them. The room Toys and coolies as a whale ably seconded the efforts of the hotel staff in seeing that everyone was warned in time to leave the burning building in perfect safety.
THE INSURANCE.
The insurance on the Hotel, we learn, is just on $3,600,000. Of this amount $9,000,000 is on the building: 8090,600 covers two years' rentals of bedrooms and of those parts of the building occupied as shops, etc. furniture, fixtures and fittings are insured for $450,000, and lifts, machinery, etc., for $150,000. The Hiability. we understand, is spread over.
many companies.
PRIVATE LOSSES. 1
Mr. C. de Mayda.
Mr. A. Nisam, Mr. J. Nagara. MJ, E. Ollerton.
Mr. K. H. Pope, Mr. I. Pappo, Mr. H. J. Pearce, L-Com. and Mrs. C. R. Price, Mr. and Mrs, H. H. Priestley, Mr. H. Péarman, Mr. J. W. Plats, Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Percy, Major Peterson, Mr. T. E. Parker, Mr. G. E. Potts
Mr. A. H. Rowe, Dr. E. C. Ressig, Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Roxburgh, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Riddell, Mr. F. L. Reed, Mr. E. Robertson, Miss C. Russell, Mr. W. Russell Mr. H. F. Richardson, Mr. S. M. Rees.
Dr. H. F. Sominers, Mrs. E. Sparke, Mr. T. S. W. Smith, Mr. J. A. Satosky, Mr. C. B. Shank, Mr. J. C. Sibley, Mr. C. M. Sevan, Mr. V. M. Smith, Mr. and Mrs, Solnbeck, Dr. B. L. Sutton, Mrs. O. Stryivskey and child..
L-Col. and Mrs. Tukes, Mrs B. Thompson, Madame. T. Tain, Mr. H. W. Talbot.
Mr. G. Worsener, Mr. D. E. Wood, Mr. B. Wylie, Mr. and Mrs. J. F Wright, Mr. J. F. Wright, Jr., Mr. G. Wagges. Mr. and Mrs. B. W Weight- man, T. H. Williams, Mise F. Walker. K. Wallace. Mr L. Waddell, Miss M. Waler, Mr. B.
LI
MANAGEMENT'S ARRANGEMENTS.
The entrance to the Hotel now is Few residents in the Hotel apparently through the swing doors of Mac's Cafe- had their property insured, and some of teris, and access can be had to the first. them have suffered substantial losses, floor and to all the Boors in the though these, in many cases, are not new wing by the two big lifts that likely to be as heavy as was at first sup-go, to the Roof Garden, which also posed. Some who imagined that all they will be fully restored within the next possessed had gone, have since discovered day or so. that they have suffered bus" little loss. On the other hand many have unques- tionable suffered heavy losses." No authoritative computation of the actual losses is yet available.
1
HELPERS AT THE FIRE
Mr. P. P. J. Widehouse, C.I.E. (Cap Sain Superintendent of Police and Chief of the Fire Brigade) was early on the scene with other senior police officers directing operations.
Theo Hon. Mr. A. G.M. Fletcher (Colonial Secretary) was also promptly on the scene and remained until danger
was over.
H.R.H. "Sub-Lieutenant Prince George, RN, was among the active voluntary workers and his soiled uniform showell that he had been in the thick of the
operations.
Commodore A. J. B. Stirling, R.N., who was niso present, had much to do in connection with the efficient work dona by the skilled men from the Royal Naval Dockyard.
The office of the Hotel has been, for the time being, placed in the ante-room to the dining-room.
The full services of the Hotel are rapidly being restored by the energetic management, and the orchestra will be playing as usual, both in the dining-room and on the Roof Garden.
Messrs. Palmer & Turner are advising the management in connection with the re-arrangement of the Southern half of the hotel building to make it a self- contained hotel,
The band will play at the Roof Garden from to-day and the usual programme of tea dances resumed, and the orchestra will also play in the dining room during
meals.
The buses are running to Repulse Bay dictel as usual, but start from Statur Square instead of from outside the main entrance to the Hotel as before telephone numbers for the car hire ser vice offices are Central 4768 and 4759.
The
Fortunately, the new wing of the Hotel-the block on Queen's Road corner-has hot been greatly damaged by the fire and efforts are being concentrated for the present in turning the new wing into a self-containeù hotel. Even on the day of the fire tilina and dinners were served in the dining room and on Saturday the Management had in full commission the spacious dining room, the roof garden, the kitchens, the lifts and other essentials, which have already been provided with special electric ligating
Bessin's facilities, and equipped with telephones where required. Bar, with its expensive fittings, is still intact and has been re-opened as 'n residents' bar as before, but the public bar cannot yet he used.
We give below a number of details collected by our reporters :- THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. The fire broke out just about 9 o'clock A published report that it was observed about one hour earlier than this is in accurate. A resident informed one of our reporters that he visited the Hotel two;
When safficient" water pressure was or three minutes after nine o'clock, and obtainable the fire was fought from the ascended to the fifth floor by the main surrounding high buildings. Soldiers and lift. He was sitting in a room on this sailors rendered valuable assistance to floor, when he smelt something burning the Fire Brigade in assisting with the
The dining room, roof garden, lifts, He opened the door to see what was the hoses carried to the verandahs of Messrs.
kitchens, and other essentials are already matter, and to his horror he found the Jardine, Matheson & Co.'s Offices, the
in full use and have been fitted with corridor full of smoke. It was then ten Chinu Building in Pedder Street and Vice-Admiral Sir Edwyn Sinclair (Com- special electric lighting facilities and minutes past nine. He got a lady friend Alexandra Buildings in Des Voeux Road,mander-in-Chief, China Station) arrived equipped with telephones where neces- out of her room and out of danger, and enabling the firemen to direct streams of early with his Flag Lieutenant (Lieut. Esary," Bessie's Bar" is intact and was then returned to the fifth Boor. The lift water into une upper floors of the burn- Dangerfield) and a signalman, and kept re-opened yesterday as a residents bar wires had appareatly fused, and the wood-ing buildings. It was some little time in touch with the Naval detachment. but no arrangements have yet been made work in the passage was crackling. People however, before the pressure was sufficient directing their operations and supervising for the re-opening of the public bar, were running about the passage-resi- to carry the streams well across the road. the pumping on the Praya.
Mac's Cafeteria is open as usual and dente, cooks and boys-all busy with the In Peader Street one of the high exten
none of its attractions have been curtail. Hotel hoses. To their dismay they could sion ladders was taken into the midde
ed. The fifty-cent teas which were so not get a drop water out of the hoses. of the road, and a fireman at the top
popular on the ground floor lounge and He was perfectly sure that there would (some 60ft bigh) was able to direct
the first floor corridor have now been not have been any are to speak of, out-powerful streams of water onto the burn.
transferred to the Cafeteria, side the lift-shaft, had there heen watering floors pressure. The destruction of the lift-shaft Meanwhile large numbers of sailors and and dry woodwork at the top would have soldiers were engaged in removing furni heen the only damage if there had been ture and effects from the Hotel, and in pressure of water. The woodwork at the parts of the building from which it coud iep of the lift was trellis work, and after not be easily removed, bedding, curtains. the dry weather we have had it was like tabin cloths, trunks, suit-cases, and light tinder.
furniture were thrown over the veran "From other sources we learn that the dahs into the street, and anything break fire was first observed in the lift while able was smashed to matchwood. Chate it was stationary at the ground floor level. Raad, from the C.P.R: building to York Lift boys, assisted by boys from the Building, was stacked with salvage tea lounge, set, to work to extinguish the Some of this property was subsequently fire, and just as they had succeeded as removed for greater safety into portions they thought, the alarm was given that of the Post Office building, while articles the fire had broken out on the fifth floor in regard to which there was doubt as level. This has given rise to Various con- to ownership, or which were damaged by jectures. One is that fames must have water, were taken to the compound of travelled up the lift shaft unnoticed and the Central Police Station and there set the woodwork at the top alight. On spread out with the double object of dry the other hand there is no definite evi-ing them and affording the owners an dence, we understand, that the outbreak opportunity of claiming their belongings was caused by fasing in the lift We with wardrobe trunks, suit, eases soaked The compound on Saturday was filled have heard it suggested as possible that it was caused by friction in running the through in many instances, but appar lift, and that the fire noticed in the lift ently with contents intact. when it was on the ground floor may have carpets and table covers were sorcad out
gentlemen's clothing, mattresses, rugs, it was needed. dropped from above.
to be dried. Residents of the Hotel visit THE TRAM SERVICE INTERRUPTED. THE FIRE BRIGADE: CALLED.
ed the Police Station during Saturday and sorted through heaps of clothing, a large Owing to the possibility that the vibra: The Lest call was received at the quantity of which was in quite good con- tion caused by the running of the trama Central Fire Station at 0.8 am. The dition.
along Des Voeux. Road, past the Hotel, Station is quite close to the Hotel, and The Roof Garden, which was not touch might cause a collapse of the upper walls, the Brigade was on the scene withouted at all, was on Saturday littered, like there was no through tram service on delay. They found that the roof was well the verandah of the grill room, with Friday and Saturday. Bamboo barriers alight. Hoses were run up to the third furniture and effects salved from the fire. were erected across the road to stop
'DANGER SIGNS, floor, but it is stated the firemen were It was fortunate that there was not, the vehicular traffic. There were eighteen handicapped by insufficient pressure of faintest breeze blowing when the fire cars in the. Western end of the town
Instructions have been issued against water. Two hoses run up through the occurred. Had the usual North-east which could not be brought back to the anyone entering the old building, even Cafeteria had to be served from one breeze been in evidence it is extremely depot at night. They served to maintain to salvage effects. Printed notices have probable that not only the entire block the service for the Western part of the been placed at all points leading to the hydrant and proved ineffective.
Meantime a general call for help had of the Hongkong Hotel but the Hotel town only while the barrier was up. danger zone and read:-"Danger." Posi- been sent out and fire-fighting apparatus Offices adjoining (formerly the Alexandra After it had been ascertained that the tively no Admittance.
·were arrived from all. stationă The Govern Café) would have been destroyed and the walls
Bafe, the resumption of ment harbour fire-Boats, the Hongkong new Exchange Building now in course of vehicular traffic was permitted, but trama and Whampoa Dock Co's powerful tug erection next to it would have been pass as slowly as possible. Henry Keswick, and the Naval tug involved. Cherub "quickly arrived alongside the Praya and lent invaluable assistance in pumping up seawater. One of the boats of the Union Waterboat Co., with 250 tons of water on board, also came across the harbour to render what assistance it could.
When the seriousness of the are was realised Naval and Military contingents came to the assistance of the Fire Brigade and of the Police and rendered invaluable aid.
THE HOTEL GUESTS.
-
Ladies and
'f BLUEJACKET'S FATAL FALL
The Director of Public Works (Ion. Mr. H. T. Creasy and the Building Authority (Mr. A. E. Wright) and many other, executive and subordinate officers of the Public Works Department were on the scene. One of the engineers of the
The greater part of the main building Building Office staff, Mr. H. J. Pearce, was residing at the batel, and took has been so fre-swept that it is heyord prompt measures to guard against any repair, the upper floors for long stretches danger to the public from the possible having been completely gutted. Although collapse of the walls of the building the grill room, lounge and other public Among the helpers must be mentioned rooms have been largely ruined and ren- a troop of Boy Scouts in charge of their dered more or less unsafe, these will be Commissioner, the Rev. T. Walde re-instituted in the new hotel. Peading grave, and the St. John's Ambulance arrangements for the New Grill, meals Brigade under the direction of a fa carte will be served in the present Ralphs. Both organisations rendered dining room in addition to the usual
table d'hote service.
very useful service.
The Matron and some of the Sisters of the Government Civil Hospital arrived and kindly proferred their help in case
.THE" PEOPLE IN THE 'HOTEL.'"
The list of people registered in the Hotel was as follows:
The only life lost in the fire was that
Mr. A. S. Abbott, Mr. 0. A. Argles, of one of the British bluejackets who was
Mr. AB. Astrosa, Mr. C. P. Anderson. assisting the Fire Brigade. He was on
Mrs. E. R. Bellilios, Capt. and Mrs. the East side of the building, standing on
A. E. Bates, Mr. N. G. Beale, Mr. B. a riding roof connecting the hotel with the Head Office (formerly the Alexandra J. Birbeck, Mr. E. G. Bolas, Mr. V. Café), playing a hose on to the burning Benjamin, Mr. A. E. Boyd. building when he apparently overbalanced Mr. D. E. Cappleman, Mrs. R. E He Clifford, ME J. H. Cook, Mr. W. A or slipped and fell into the lane. received terrible injuries to his head and Cohen, Mrs. B. Cowper, Mr. and Mrs. limbs and was removed by ambulance to J. Charnock, Dr. and Mrs. Casto, Mr. the Royal Naval Hospital where he sub-R, do J. Comme, Mr. and Mrs. C. E.
ME W. A. Dowley. Mr. G. E. Ellams
"Tacluded in the new wing will be the first floor reading rooms, the small pri vate lounge," Bessie's Bar," the broad end of the corridor, the ladies' cloak room and the large dining room.
About 20 bed rooms out of the 150 which the hotel possessed are now tenant- ed and more people will return to the hotel as soon as re-organisation of rooms and service is complete within the next few days. Many have found accommoda- tion in the commodious extension of the Repulse Bay Hotel
LAST NIGHT'S SCARE About 8.20 last night, a sinouldering beam on the roof of the ruined Hongkong Hotel burst into flame, a few feet of the woodwork being involved. The Fire Brigade were promptly on the scene, and soon extinguished the blaze.
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IN ALL
words can express our heartfelt regret for the loss of the gallant seaman.
THE HOTEL CO.'S GRATITUDE FOR Sir, youre faithfully,
SI
ASSISTANCE.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS.]
To all who so generously assisted in the time of trouble, the Company is deeply indebted and sincerely grateful I am,
FOR THE HONGKONG AND SHANG
HAI HOTELS, LTD."
WALTER J. HAWKES, Manager. January 3rd, 1928
"ABSOLUTELY SPLENDID."{ [TO THE EDITOR OF THE ** HONGKONG
DAILY PRISS."T:
beg you to be so kind as to permit me, on behalf of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Ltd., to give ex pression in your columns to the thinks of At the time of the outbreak many of sequently died. Before removal to hos- Coleman,
this Company for the splendid services the guests in the Hotel were at break-pital he was attended by Dr. Balean and
rendered by so many willing helpers SIR, Absolutely Splendid!" was the fast. Several had gone out before there Dr. Morrison. He was an able seaman
during the fire that occurred in the Hong- phrase summarising the admiration of the was any word of fire. But not a few named Batchelor, belonging to HMS.
kong Hotel on the 1st instant. The Fire thousands of onlookers who watched the Mr. E. I. Freshner, Mr. G. A. Fafait, Brigade, the Police, the Navy, the Army, progress of the Hongkong Hotel fire for people were in their rooms, making up Hawkins, He had recently been in
Mr. and Mrs. A. H. A Fong. for lost sleep after attending the New hospital on account of injuries received
Government officials, Hospital and Am- the splendid work put in by the sailors, Mr. and Mrs. J. Gould, Mr. L. E. L Year's Eve Carnivals. The consequence in boxing and he had been discharged Groensill...
balance servicca, Boy Scouts-all were soldiers and police in their endeavour to was that quite a number of men and from bospital only the day prior to his
represented, and everybody worked suppress the disastrous conflagration. Capt. T. P. Hall, Mr. and Mre streniously at the task of overcoming When Vice Admiral Sinclair took com women fed from the building in night death. He was a keen football player W. A. Hannibal, Mrs W. F. Hamilton, the fire. Had such assistance, not been mand of the Naval parties, consisting of attiro partially hidden from view by and represented the Hawkins in BOC+ cloaks or great coats that had been hur cer matches: Batchelor was a married Miss A and F. Hamilton, Mr. P. M. readily forthcoming, there is no doubt sailors and marines, from practically every riedly snatched from wardrobes.. man, with two children. Though he was Hodgson, Mr. A. 8. Hersee, Mr. J. Scott but that the results of the outbresk British warship in port, it was seen how only 28 years of age, he had seen pre Herston, Mr. Haldsworth, Mr. F. Jerious as they are, would have been lef. determined and keen were the efforts of vious service on the China Station, and Haipine, Capt. H Hamilton, Mr. Arible in the extreme. It is with the the sailors to win a victory over the de he was due to return home within the Hanson, Mr. C. HP. Hay, Mr. Edeepest sympathy that the death of one routing element. next few weeks. His funeral took place Haumann, Mr. and Mrs. CA heroic helper has to be recorded, and no
There was a subdded feeling of poig at Happy Valley yesterday.
Henderson.
(Continued on next Voluma), nant grief when the huge crowd saw
FIGHTING THE FIRE Mrs. Belilios, widow of the late on. Mr. F. E. Belilios, C.M., who had been living in the hotel, practically bedridden
DEPTS.
Able-Seaman Bachelor, in his gallant attempt to break open some shutters, slip off a ledge on the first floor of the hotel and fall in the alleyway,
Now it may be asked what the Colony. and those who were most vitally interest ed in yesterday's disaster intend doing to mark their tangible appreciation of the sacrifice of a valued young life given up in a cause not immediately connected- with his duty, If it is true that Able Seaman Bachelor-leaves a young, widow to mourn his untimely death the duty becomes all the more pressing and im Perative on the part of the Colony to show its practical sympathy fo
No words cam fittingly, express the un-
stinted admiration for the splendid work put in by all units and by every branch of the Services in an endeavour to minimise, the destructive progress of yesterday's fre. And it is hting that some adequats means be found to record the Colony's appreciation of the splendid services it received in a disaster that will go down among the biggest, in point of material loss, in the history of Hongkong.
Yours faithfully mag
J.P.B. Hongkong, 2nd January, 1998