Socks for Spring
A large assortment of socks of silk, silk and wool and silk and cotton mixtures in plam colours and the newest fancy designs.
All made with spliced heels and toes-where most socks wear out first.
PRICED from $125 per pair
- Less 10% Discount for Cash."
LIGHT WEIGHT GOLF HOSE IN NEW DESIGNS
Mackintosh
|MEN'S WEAR SPECIALISTS
ALEXANDRA BUILDING.
*C«L
*
DES VOEUX ROAD
SAY WHEN?
NOW - and at any time when Quality is the first consideration-the call is
"King George IV
The Scotch Whisky of Good Taste
SOLE AGENTS:
GANDE, "PRICE & CO., LTD.
TEL. C. No. 185.
HONG KONG.
THANK
GOODNESS
LAMI
INSURED
This might be your house!
*Insure your residence against Fire
with
THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1929.
FIRE CHIEF'S STORY OF HOTEL DISASTER.
CONCENTRATED ON SAVING LIFE BEFORE PROPERTY.
NO LIGHTER TO TRANSPORT KOWLOON PUMPS.
"CORONER'S SEARCHING QUESTIONS TO P.W.D. OFFICIAL.
Searching questions were put to Mr. Wright, a P.W.D. official, by Mr. E. W. Hamilton, who sat as Coroner with a jury at the resumed inquiry yesterday afternoon into the King Edward Hotel fire disaster, in which eleven persons lost their lives. Evidence of member of the great interest and importance was given by a bodyguard of General Chen Ming Shu and also by Mr. Brooks. the Superintendent of the Hong Kong Fire Brigade.
The jury consisted of Mr. X. S. Brown (foreman), Mr. L. C. F. Bellamy, and Mr. C. Little.
Mr. Leo d'Almada e Castro, jnr., held a watching, brief for the proprietors of the hotel business, Mr. Hin Shing Lo repre- sented Mr. Witchell (the licensee), and Mr. HC. Lee, appeared on behalf of the owners of the building.
The police are still desirous of getting into touch with witnesses of any part of the tragedy. »
QUESTIONS ABOUT INSURANCE AND REPAIRS.
Mr. Jas. Witchell, the Manager, said the two watchmen were engag ed by the proprietors. He also gave orders to the staff. He only knew three of the proprietors He generally got his instructions from Yu Shen.
Coroner As manager, do you know anything about the insurance "of the contents of the hotel'?.. Witness: Nothing at all..
How long have the present p prietors been in possession Yu. has been there with Mr. Cheung
since 1928.
140 should be amended at early as possible to make periodical inspec tion of fire escapes and appliances possible. At present, nobody is responsible. I am of opinion that in buildings like the hotel, and even in view of the fact that the stone staircase represented a fire escape, an outside Are escape is necessary, I should insist on this in connes tion with all new buildings.
..
Continuing, witness said he thought the concrete staircase was unsatisfactory and should be pro- vided separate from davatories and servants' quarters.
Coroner: Do you think it is the duty of the Government to see that adequate fire appliances are train tained. by owners and that the Government should check neglig ence 7-No.
Could your department under- take inspection under present, con- ditions I am afraid not, Your Worship.
London and Hong Kong- Coroner: Why is Hong Kong different from England where, the jury are informed, periodical in-. spection takes place -For theatres it is done. I know, but, I do not think hotels and offices are period- ically examined. Periodically in. spections of theatres are made when licences are renewed but I do not know what happens in between. Ectela are public buildings,
If it were necessary for licences for hotels to be enforced by legis Witness: Yes. On reaching the lation, you could enforce regula tions with regard to fre escapes ¦~~ ground floor we rushed into the street at once..
+)
In reply to the Coroner. witness said he had no time to stay and put on his clothes but ran out with ihem over his arm.
After giving evidence, witness re- turned to the hospital.
Mr. Wright's Evidence. Mr. Wright, Assistant Director of Public Works, said that plans for dividing Royal building into two separate buildings were submitted to him in 1997. The principal fea- Within the last 12 months: are.
tures of this plan seemed to be the you were that a large sum of
iron fire escape money has been spent on the build-ection of an ing Yes, in white washing re ladder on the west face (Savoy painting and alterations to the Hotel end) and the installation of The plans was ap- rooms, replacing bed-springs and water closets
proved in October, 1927. general layout,
There was an opening which led off Mr. Woods room which it was Partitions proposed to brick up, on the fifth and fourth floor verun- dahs were
Certain not passed. openings must have been closed without permission."
Mr. Wright: I have no infor- mation on that point. The plans should have been submitted, of
course.
Rent Arrears Mentioned... Witness went on to say that considerable amount of money had been spent on the hotel. So far as he knew, the proprietors only had a monthly tenancy of the building.. He knew that about four months. ago they had received notice to terminate the lease but nothing happened. The partners were in charge of the matter.
It was really a question of get ting the rent paid but a guarantee was given that it would be paid by the stipulated time.
The only three partners he knew were fr. Yu Shu Shar, Mr. Fo
Ping Kwong and Mr. Cheung Fu Kwong-
In reply to Mr. Lo, witness said it was only since the fire that be had come to know anything about the insurance at all. He now knew the hotel was insured for $140,000 with several companies. The pay ment of rent for which the pro- prietor of the building asked was partly in arreara
Witness knew that the dividing would mean the closing of certain corridors.
Coroner's Questions. Coroner: In view of two hotels being brought into being in place of one by the division, did it occur to yon that. fire precautions for both hotels needed consideration ?
Mr. Wright: I was out of the Colony at the time but I imagine that the Savoy Hotel was consider- ed.
Yes.
Witness then gave a description of the construction of the hotel and concluded by saying that the P.W.D. did not know the door et the bottom of the King Edward Hotel staircase was bolted. Hid they done so, they would have ob- jected.
Fire Chief's Story.
Mr. Henry T. Brooks, Superia- tendent of the Fire Brigade, said the alarm call was received from the street alarm near the King Edward- Hotel at 6 minutes past 3. A fire engine and escape with one Chinese sub-officer and seven men mediately sent out from Central Fire Station. This was followed by another motor pump in charge of Station Officer Smith and nine Chi- nese firemen a minute later.
was. im-
Witness despatched a motor turn- table. ladder which left with five firemen at 9 minutes past 3. He looked out at his window and saw a dull red glow which might have been caused by a motor cycle alight
in the road..
He sent out another motor pump and fire float.. Four minutes from the time of the first call the float When be got left its mooring. downstairs he received a request from the officer on the scene of the fire for more assistance. Mr. Moss had just left on his motor cycle and witness followed him in his car..
Upper Floors Blazing.
Upon arrival, witness saw the Witness went on to say that the three upper pors of the hotel Savoy Hotel plans were submitted alight. A line of hose was led into to the fire brigade who reported the front entrance of the hotel. Mr. that hydrants were required. The Moss, firemen, policemen and others building was certified in 1905. In were engaged in what witness took September, 1919, the police fire to be the laying out of hose for at- brigade required hydrants to be tacking. installed in the King Edward Hotel,"
He sent a European civilian to That telephone a brigade, call. would call every, appliance in the Colony save two pumps at hotel.
Running into the lounge, witness saw that the whole of the staircase
Verandah An Advantage. Coroner: Do you consider veran "It was about December or Jan-dahs an advantage in a fire Yes, uary last, he thought, when rent Your Worship.
When the fire brigade put in a was alight and collapsed, and the was paid. The business had been flourishing during the last few fire main, the PW.D. did not rapper stairs were hanging from the
years
Mr. Lee submitted that there were a few months' arrears of rent last year but rent up to the end of February was paid up.
A Lucky Escape.
Au Yeung Pong, said he had been in hospital. He was an at- tendant of General Chen Ming Shu. He occupied room 307 on the second foor and was, awakened by the blowing of whistles. He went on to the verandah and saw people run ning about in the roadway below. He did not realise what had se tually happened so he went back to bed,
་་
էլ
walls. The fireman with the bore stood as close as he could to the stairs.
quire a fire escape to be put in, so far as witness knew. On that point, he wished to emphasise that
Leaving the hotel, witness #S the P.W.D: had no legal power to enforce a fire escape. Although met by Mr. Witchell, who pointed to Section 149 of the Buildings Ordin-person standing on a stone orna- ance was arguable," it had not mentation above the main entrance and in line with the third floor. been the practice in the past..
Coroner: It seems to me that the He was rescued by the turn table people who were responsible for escape, He was 3 feet above the seeing that the fire main was in-ground. atalled should have been able to have had a fire escape erected. Are there other buildings in the town as bad as the King Edward Hotel in this respecti
་་।
Dangerous Buildings.
Witness: After a moment, he did not feel
Yes, Your Worship. satisfed that all was well so he Many large office blocks in which got out of bed, opened the door of there is very grave danger of people the room, and saw smoke. He start losing their lives in a fire. If I ed to go up to the third floor with went down now. I could point to the intention of warning the many. Yet I could not enforce fire General's party, although he was escapes being erected because there not aware that the General had re is no Ordinance. turned to spend the night in the Mr. King: We have no legal hotel.
remelly. If I went into a build- He could only get half-way uping and endanger of a King the stairs when he was driven back Edward disaster we could do no by smoke. Returning to his room thing. In the event of licensed pre- he. snatched some clothes from his mises being concerned we could wardrobe and a companion ran refuse to renew the licence. with him out of the room. The Coroner: Do you think it would main stairs were then on fire. They be possible to look at some of the did not know how to escape,big buildings in the town and sce so ran about in the vicinity of how many of them offer extreme the lift shaft. They did not know danger in the event of fire! where the fire escape was.
* Taken Down in the Lift.
JUST OUT!
The
VICTOR Dance RECORDSTM
for MARCH
Dance rhythms that are as breezy and as brisk as March winds. Melodies from the new musical shows. Theme- songs from the movies. All waiting to be played at our store. Come in and treat yourself to a happy half-hour of harmony soon!
Where is the Song of Songs for Me?-Waltz
(Theme song of D, W. Griffith's picture, Lady of the Pavements) With Focal Refrain JOHNNY HAMP'S KENTUCKY SERENADERS Betty-Fax Trot (from the First National pictura, Synthetic Sin)
With Vocal Refrain NAT SHILKEET AND THE VICTOR ORCHESTEL
No. 21838, 10-inch
€6
I ,|
One Kiss-Waltz (from the musical comedy, The New Moon)
With Vocal Refrain
THE TROUBADOTIES Softly, As in a Morning Suprise-Fox Trot
(from the musical comedy, The New Moon) With Vocal Refrain
NAT SHILIRST AND TEE VICTOR ORCHESTRA. No. 21775, 10-inch
Lover, Come Back to Mc!--Fox Trot (from the musical
comedy, The New Moon) With Vocal Refrain Marianne Fox Trot (from the musical comedy, The New Moon)
With Vocal Refrain
VICTOR AMEN-PHIL OBMAN AND THEİR ORCHESTRA
No. 21776, 10-inch
Jumping Jack-Fox Trot
Jack in the Box-Fox Trot ZeZ CONFREY AND HIS ORCHESTRA
No. 21845, 10-inch I
When the World Is A Rest-Fox Trot With Vocal Refrain In a Little Town Called Home Sweet Home-Fox Trot
With Vocal Refrain
GEORGE OLSEN AND HIS Music No. 21846, 10-inch When Summer Is Gone-Fox Trot With Vocal Befrain
NAT SHILKEET AND THE VICTOR ORCHESTRA Carolina Moon-Walts With Vocal Refrein
No. 21847, 10-inch
THE TROUBADOURS Sentimental Baby-Fox Trst With Vocal Refrain Then Came the Dawn-Fox Trot With Vocal Refrain
BEN FOLLACK AND HIS PAZE CENTRAL ORCHESTRA
No. 21827, 10-lach
A Love Tale of Alsace Lorraine-Fox Trot
With Vocal Charsis) Gloriana-Fox Trot With Focal Refrain
"WAKING'S PENNSYLVANIANG No. 21836, 10-inch
Sweetheart of All My Dreams, il Love You-I Love You-
I Love You For Frot With Vocal Chorus
יי
IRVING ALBONSON AND HIS COMMANDERS Caressing You-Foz Trot With Vocal Refrain
Jacques RenarD AND HIS ORCHESTRA No. 21834, 10-inch
In Romany-Waltz With Vocal Refrain Bon SuiCherie (Good Night)walt
JACQUES BENARD AND HIS ORCHESTRA No. 21828, 10-inch
S. Moutrie & Co., Ltd.
Chater Road.
THEATRE ROYAL.
THE HONG KONG AD.C.
IN
'THE DOVER ROAD"
BY
A. A. MILNE
April 6, 9, 11, 12 & 13
50% of the Profits will be given to
"THE MINERS' FUND'
BOOKING AT ANDERSON'S from March 23
The following were rescued:- 7 by fire escape from second floor
in Des Voeux Road.
3 by jumping sheets in Ice House
Street:
7550
would have caught fire. In that case, the Kowloon machines would have been wanted.
A Jumping Sheet, Immediately afterwards, witness noticed a jumping sheet being held by firemen and others in Ice House Street. A person on the third floor
Witness said that the men in verandah waved something white.
charge of the first two appliances The sheet was well-manned. Tell-
acted on their own initiative. He 2 by turntable ladder. ing the mea in charge to move the
knew that the first, crew concen- The following deaths occurred --- sheet more into position, witness
2 jumped to death in Des Voeux trated on life saving and made no.
Road. shouted to the man to wait.
attempt to put out the fire. A The escape rescued him.
2 burned to death.
policeman put on the first hose was the American sailor who had
7 from multiple injuries caused connection. All the jumping was a sheet from the
over by the time witness arriv swarmed down
in jumping into the sheet. fourth floor,
General Chen, bis wife, and aned. The last person was rescued at There appeared to be no other American anilor were saved by the 17 or 18 minutes past three-12 petsons to be rescued but three men sheets in Ice House Street. Three minutes after the blaze started and were ordered to stand by with rais-
first appliance. ed escapes and turntables in Ice of these people jumped from the 10 minutes after the arrival of the House Street while witness turned second floor, bis attention to 15 hoses which were playing on the blaze.
This
Three of these were from private hydrants in the Savoy Hotel and
naval tug. two from
Two sub-officers who went up an escape to rescue people first noticed the Savoy Hotel, on fire.
"
Witness said there was a good Lighter Not Availabię.
pressure of water. ·He, was con- Coroner: No more than 12 jump-fident that no hose was leaking very ed 1-That is all,
badly. They had all been renewed. Everyone who jumped in Des Witness was quite satisfied with the Voeux Road was killed 7-Yea. appliances at his disposal.
Witness said the officer in charge! Coroner: Was it possible to get of Kowloon was unable to get a ropes across from Alexandra and lighter to get the engines across the Princes Buildings 1-No. It may Mr. Wright: Yes, but it would
Fire Well in Hand,
harbour because the lighter was not have depleted the numbers of men take a long time. If we wrote, a
The fire was well in hand by 0.15 available. They tried to get one on the jumping sheet. We do not. letter to the owners and warned They waited a moment and the them they would be in an awkward and Des Voeux Road ready for of the Blue Funnel lighters but it carry heaving lines. Our smallest rope is 2 inches. Our lowering traffic by 7.30. The tramway cur- was not available. lift came up. As they were strang-position if a disaster did occur.
rent had been switched off in order Corner: Why has not the fire lines are 3 inches. Again, what can ers the lift boy took them down in When we are able to insist on fire that the turntable ladders could be brigade their own lighter I have they do with the end of a rope? the lift to the ground floor. They staircases being installed, we do not
Coroner: "Could not the sailors already pointed out the necessity. In reply to the Coroner, witness but we have not had one of our have made them fast and swarmed staircase, They then ran out of the save in the case of theatres.
said it was not until Dr. Thomas own before. It did not make any down them -No. The smoke would Witness hotel into the roadway.
Legislation Needed.
mentioned that people had been difference to this fire our not get have overcome them. Ropes are not did not notice exactly what was on fire. His face, and hands were Coroner Not in an hotel --I killed by jumping that witness ting the Kowloon pumps over but known as fire brigade rescue ap- scorched as he entered the lift don't think so. But, if they were, knew of any such deaths. The if the Savoy Hotel and collapsed parafus anywhere in the world.
Mr. King: Did the lift descend periodical inspection would be jumping sheets were in perfect con- it is quite possible that Alexandra The ingairy was then adjourned
Building and Princes Building until 2.15 this afternoon. without stopping? -
I suggest that Section dition. песевкагу.
THE GENERAL ACCIDENT FIRE AND LIFE ASSURANCE CORP., LTD. w, flames near the lift and by the insist on the use of panic" bolts,
For information spply
AUKT
J. H. BACKHOUSE, LTD.
No. 1263..
1A CHATEL ROAD,"
used.