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THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 1929.
HONG KONG'S FIRE ESCAPES.
NO MEANS OF RESCUE ABOVE 70 FEET,
2
BETTER ESCAPE WOULD COST £4,000.
FIRE CHIEF ON USELESSNESS OF JUMPING SHEETS,
HOW THE BLUEJACKETS HELPED.
Mr. E. W. Hamilton, Acting Senior Magistrate, sat as Coroner. with a jury at the resumed inquiry at the Central Magistracy yesterday afternoon into the King Edward Hotel fire in which eleven lives were lost.
די
The Superintendent of the Fire Brigade concluded his evidence and Mr. T. H. King. Captain Superintendent of Police, expressed warm thanks for the assistance given by bluejackets. The jury consisted of Mr. N. S. Brown (foreman), Mr. Co Little, and Mr. L. C. F. Bellamy.
Mr. Leo d'Almada e Castro, jar., beld a watching brief for the proprietors of the hotel business, Mr. Hin Shing Lo repre- sented Mr. Witchell (the licensee), and Mr. H. C. Lee appeared on behalf of the owners of the building.
Boor.
He was
The police are still desirous of getting into touch with witnesses of any part of the tragedy. Mr. Wright, Assistant Director of The bremen below were not pre- Public Works, said he had been in pared for him and he landed in the formed by Messrs. Clarke and Ui sheet as it was being unfolded, that they bad submitted no plans much to their surprise. for approval of a party wall which quite unhurt and immediately pick was built between the King Edwarded himself up, lit a cigarette and and Savoy Hotels on the third walked off. That was the only case of true rescue by a jumping sheet that I have known. As a rule, to jump from a great height into a jumping sheet results in the Press, terrible injury or death. The question should have been, "Do you think that the Governments have you? ment should be required (a) to see that all possible safety appliances are installed in large buildings and (b) then maintained, releasing the owners of all responsibility? He replied in the negative.
The Coroner pointed out that a question put to Mn Wright during the previous hearing had been misinterpreted by
::
Coroner: What other arrange.
REVOLUTION HEROES TO``
BE HONOURED.
HOLIDAY IN CANTON.
TO-DAY'S PILGRIMAGE TO FLOWER HILL
[FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT.]
CANTON, March 23
In spite of the gathering war clouds Cantor is planning to com- memorate to-morrow (Friday) the anniversary of the deaths of re Heroes of the Revolution who are buried at Yellow Flower Hil. A general holiday has been declared and all theatres, opera houses, movies, concerts and other forms of amusement, are to remain closed until the afternoon. All the prin cipal thoroughfares have been be decked with mourning lanterns and blue paper fings Oficials of
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assemble at 7 am on Yellow Flower Hill and participate in the cere- mony and every public organiza- tion and school will proceed en masse to the grases and pince. wreaths there. The Tung Sha Road leading to Yellow Flower Hills expected to be thronged with people and vehicles from early morning to noon to-morrow and the route is being suitably, decorated.
A large number of soldiers from the Canton garrison will be on Witness: We have twelve "hook- | duty, this being considèred a neces- ed ladders-7 in Hong Kong and
in Kowloon. It was not possibleary precaution at the present time to use them in this fire because the of crisis. It is not uncommon, distance between the floors of the the Government point out, to see hotel was 13 feet 3 inches and our agents of the enemy exploiting such Indders are only 12 feet long.
an occasion by creating confusion and chaos.
"
Not Good Enough!' Foreman of Jury: Why cannot you get longer ladders?
Witness: We never have occasion to use them.
He had drafted a number of re- gulations for submission for the Government's consideraion.
MR. BROOKS' EVIDENCE. Giving evidence upon the efficacy of the fire escapes employed at the fire, Mr. Brooks said that they were able to be used with alety up, to
Coroner: That is not good a height 60 feet. In November enough. Why could you not get 20 1223, when the original ladders of feet ladders-Because they would the tortable escape were fully ex-be too heavy for one man MR. T. H. KING'S EVIDENCE. tended with a man at the top, they handle. The ladders we have at swayed sideways, and the ladder present are the heaviest that can Captain Superintendent of Police T. H. King said he was ex-officio The fire-be used. They are made of ash. crashed to the ground. man was Hilled. The accident hap- Could you not get them longer Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade. paned through no apparent cause and made of bamboo or allumi- He had held office in the Fire The replaced ladder also had an innium -I have never heard of Brigade on two or three occasions clination, to the left when it was alluminiam ladders being on the since 1914. extended and this defect could not market. We did approach several be remedied.
makers but they do not manufac ture them.
Witness therefore took steps to see it should never be extended above 70 feet and placed & "stop limit" nt that height. When the ladder was broken, he recommend ed that the machine's scope remain at three sections with a 63 feet limit instead of 4 sections.
Coroner: Do you think this step is wise to-day?
Dificulties!
We have already discussed the turntable ladders, can you tell the jury of any better type 1-Yes, the Morris Magirus ladders as used in Manchester would probably be safe
at 50 feet."
Have you ever applied for one of this type-No, because we have never had occasion to use one. Be Witness: Yes, your Worship. What was the width of the ladsides, we have no place in which to der at the top-the original ladder, keep it.. I mean 1-No more than one foot. It was made of Oregon pine and was intended for a fireman to stand on with a hose and not for life saving purposes. It was not cen- structed to rest against a building. What is the highest machine in Hong Kong-One which reaches 5 feet when it is in position at aa angle or 55 feet vertically. There are no ladders higher than that in use by the London Fire Brigade.
In reply to the foreman of the jury witness said he had been 161, years with the London Fire Brigade and years with the local brigade. He bad kept in touch with latest developments in fire fighting, ap. pliances.
He was called about 3.10 or 3.15 on the morning of the fire and arrived on the scene between 3.40 and 3.45. He found the fire brigade and police at work and the dis position of both met with his ap- proval. «
The top storey of the Savoy Hotel and the whole of the King Edward Hotel were ablaze. He received reports as to casualties which had occurred but the dead and injured had been removed.
Two parties of bluejackets ar rived hetween 4 and 3 o'clock and Witness went on to say that they performed duties at the re- machine of this description would quest of Mr. Brooks and witness cost at least 24,000 and it would be and gave excellent assistance.
They assisted in manning boses cheaper if iron staircases were Stted
residential and also in working their own Boat outside every large
They played streams of) building. Yet a machine of the hoses. Morris Magirus type would have water from Prince's Building on to been able to tackle the 4th floor of the top floor of the Savoy Hotel. the hotel. He said that the Fire Naval parties stood by the hole Brigade did not inspect private fire time after the fire was under cou hydrants and fire appliances unless trol in case they were required."
Witness was the building was "licensed." The
entirely satisfied ire brigade had recommended the with the work done by the fire fire hydrants to be installed with brigade and with the appliances at which the Savoy Hotel was equip their disposal before and during ped. These were inspected at least the fire.. once a year before renewal of the licence.
RN
He had never inspected or visit- ed the King Edward Hotel and therefore could not express authoritative opinion as to whether the building was 5t for use as an botel. He had no legal right of entry as fire brigade officer. As a police officer, yes.
Witness had no legal power to insist upon any fire precautions to be installed but he could have gone
so far as to recommend to the
In the case of buildings in which inspection of fire appliances was Not Higher Than Third Floor.
carried out, witness said it was In reply to the Coroner, witness usual to give 24 hours' notice by said that, in the King Edward means of a printed form. Hotel fire, the ladders did not "The ordinary property owners reach higher than the third floor- could keep us out if they liked," about 63 feet from the ground. he said, "but a theatre could not The length of the turntable ladder refuse access. Office blocks should before the accident. he had mention- be treated with as much care as 40 ed was 85 feet vertical and it was hotel. During the last two years Licensing Board that a licence be, possible to reach a height of 80 we have carried out inspection not issued if he was not satisfied feet with it. The 4th floor of the wherever fire bydrant appliances with existing arrangements.' King Edward Hotel was 80 feet are kept, both in Hong Kong and all. It is not a satisfactory state Witness: I have no powers at Kowloon. 3 inches. -Witness: It would be extremely "There are no appliances in of affairs but I am not prepared dangerous for two men simultane Prince's or Alexandra Buildings. to say that responsibility rests pusly to descend the type of top- An owner of an office block, how upon the Government or owners. apar ladder under discussion. Dan ever dangerous,, need instal no ger would come from side sway, hydrants unless he chooses."
Coroner: If we went into some that was why firemen were only Coroner You were 18 years of the old buildings in the city now,, allowed 10 degrees in which to with London Fire Brigade, what such as Prince's Building and Alex. swing a bose at a height of 60 feet. power have they?
andra Building, and saw that they. A great angle would cause sway and, to prevent that, the turntable Council or Board of Trade insist powerless to enforce would have to be moved round in on large buildings used extensively bydrants being installed Quite. the direction in which the hose was by the public, whether for business As a matter of fact, Your Worship. required to play.
bydrants and the same bodies fire. It was only a tiny outbreak anywhere, he went on, it was not undertake frequent inspection. The and was immediately extinguished. practicable to save life with lad-insurance companies have certain with places of public entertain-
rules upon the matter, as well.
We have ment, ita different. Witness thought that another
powers to deal with them under good life-saving appliance was a Ordinance 22 of 1919. The City canvas, chute which could be kept Hall is governed by Ordinance 2 of rolled up on a verandah and drop- 1970.
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Witness: I think the County were dangerous, we would be Summer; it supplies just those nourishing food essentials
207
fire
When the floors were 'over 75 feeturposes or otherwise, having fire the Alexandra Building did catch!
ders,.
Coroner: What is the height the top floor of the botell Witness: About 91 feet.
of
How Do You Propose to Save Life.
ped, over a parapet in the event of Witness concluded by stating How do you propose to save life a fire. It required only one person that the fire in the present instance at that height or don't you to hold it at the bottom but even aprend with amazing rapidity. Ha There are no fire appliances in that was quite unnecessary because could not say how the fire started existence which could guarantee one could check one's descent by but was certain it was not through saving life at that height. We using one's elbows as brakes, defective electric wiring. He had should have to resort to the jump- "Everything Possible Done.". no suspicions of arson neither had ing sheet. In 17 years with the London Fire Brigado I only met In any case, he declared, the fire he received any report giving rent with one case where a life was brigade were satisfied that they to that uspicion, He consideral saved by the jumping sheet. At a had done all possible and he was the fire was either accidental or Arc in Tower Bridge. Road a youth quite satisfied with all that the caused by carelessness, jumped through dense, smoke from firemen bad done...
the third for of the warehouse.
(Continued on next Column),"
The inquiry was then adjournel natil 2.15 on Wednesday next..
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