INQUIRY INTO, KENNEDY TOWN FIRE FATALITIES.
FOKI TELLS OF A CHATTY, SOME EMBERS AND A PAN OF WAX,
· SURVIVORS' DASH DOWN BURNING STAIRCASE.
The fire at Kennedy Town in the early hours of March 19, which resulted in the loss of three lives, formed the subject of an. inquiry conducted by Mr. R. E. Liudseil 'at - Central "Magistracy yesterday, Evidence was taken and the hearing adjourned for a week.
Addressing the jury at the outset, the Coroner said that the object of the inquest was to investigate the circumstances of the death of a Chinese 'female nämed. Ng Chan, who, together with two children, lost their lives as a result of à fire at No. 12, Smithfield, on March 12. The evidence, said the Coroner, would make it quite clear that the woman and several children jumped from a back window of an upper floor of that house.
"WAS ANYONE CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE?"
It will be in your province,” said the Coroner to the jury, * to determine whether any person was' criminally responsible for their deaths and I will explain to you in due course how sich criminal responsibility may arise."
$
Continuing, Mr. Lindsell said that the jury might also' decide if any person should be censured, and they were quite free to such recommendation as might seem to be due in connection with - the building in which the fire occurred.
THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1930.
BIG
AT
MOTHER GIVES LIFE FOR
HER SON,
FINE WORK BY THE FIRE BRIGADE.
MR. PATTENDEN.
RETIRING AFTER 30 YEARS
IN COLONY,
QUIET, UNOBTRUSIVE AND
EFFECTUAL" WORK.
There are large number of Another serious fire, unfortunate people, in Hong Kong who will! ly accompanied by the loss of two greatly miss Mr. W. L. Pastendes, lives, Chinese woman of 10 and, the taipan of Loxley's, who left her 9-year-old son, occurred in 190, yesterday, on retirement, by the Shanghai Street, Yaumati, in the.s. Aenens for Home. Mr. Patten- early hours of yesterday morning.
As in the Kennedy Road fire, the outbreak started in a joss paper and cracker shop, with two stories of tenements above. The flames spread rapidly, bus the alarm was very efficiently given by Mr. Li Cheung Ling, a Police Reservist, living on the first floor, and it was hoped that everyone had escaped.
The fire broke out shortly aster 3 a... but it was not till 350 that the Kowloon Fire Brigado received the call and three appliances were sent to the scene, Mr. G. Saunders and Mr. Woolland being in charge. At the same time Supt. Brooks was informed and in a short time he was on the scene, with a number of Central Station fremer. The are doat was also brought into action on Mr. Brook's instructions.
VICTIM'S FATAL SEARCH FOR A STRAP. hold and it became a question as
Shop Proprietor's Story,
ני
By the time the Brigade were in action the flames had got a firm to whether the block could be saved, the jets being directed with this object...
TO MUR
and the woman was too terrified make use of it.
to
Giving evidence, Dr. A. Cannon
Lee Kwong, master of the Tai
Rescue From the Roof.. stated that on March 12, he con- ducted a post-mortem examination Lee shop, was then calied. He said Work had been in progress for some time when the horrified crowd on a Chinese woman of about 28 he occupied the back part of the
woman and two children, years of age, who was identified as shop, beyond the yard. Replying standing on the roof, cut off by the flames. They could only be got at, Ng Chan. The cause of death, said to the Coroner, witness said that
sa fierce were the flames on three witness, was primarily multiple in-there was a chatty in the shop used sides, from a narrow scavenging juries and the secondary cause was in the manufacturing of candles on lane.
Here a 33-foot telescopic shock and internal baemorrhage the night of the fire. Before be ladder was brought into play, but The injuries were consistent with went to sleep at about 10 p.m. be it just failed to reach the coping, saw the fire in the chatty smother, the deceased having jumped ored with the ashes taken out from fallen from a considerable height.. under the chatty. That procedure, witness explained, was nightly car- Ng Lik, a foki of the Tai Lee ried out. When he was aroused joss paper shop which occupied the at 1.30 am. by the blowing of ground floor of 1, Smithfield, said whistles he found the shop in that he had been employed by the flames. He was quite helpless and shop for the last four years and as made no attempt to combat the far as he knew, business had been fire. He helped his wife to get fairly brisk.
their four children out of the pre- In anewer to the Coroner, bu mises. They escaped through the said that on March 11, paper goods back door into the lane. In on- and wax candles were made in the swer to His Worship, witress re- shop. The fokis (three in number)plied that he did not see anyone went to bed at about 10 p.ia. In jumping off the upper floors He order to make wax candles, a had been conducting a proitable charcoal fire was necessary, and a business at the premises for the past big chatty was used on the pre-four years.
mises When they went to bed that The Coroner: "Can you advance night there were still some burning any theory as to how the fire start embers in the chatty but witnessed?... added that was the general practice, Witness: Probably it originated of shops where wax candles were from the chatty. Possibly some of made
the_burning charcoals might have exploded and sent out sparks.
Asked how long it would take for the embers to burn out, witness said that they might smoulder all through the "night, but he felt cer- tain they would be out by day light.
A Bude Awakening !
At this stage the jury enquired what amount of stock there was in the premises at the time of the fire. The master said that there i
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Sub-Officer Welland nad a small rescue party then made their "way to the roof, and lowered the woman by means of à Davy fire escape a pulley block, with steel wire and "basket." The operation was a tricky one, and had to be helped by a constant play of water against the part of the building from which the woman was lowered Her weight was "taken" by the fire- men, who found nothing to which the block could be attached.
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NO NEED FOR A TOPEE.
VIRTUES AND LIMITATIONS
OF AMAHS
MRS, DOVEY'S LECTURE ON. CHILD WELFARE.
Mrs. Dovey, one of the, Coleny's medical officers, who gave a most at the Helena May Institute, yus- interesting and instructive lecture terday on "Child Welfare in the Tropics," began by saying that den has been resident in the Colonyday life which evoked such sweep- there were few problems of every- for thirty years, and throughouting, assertions, and so much con that period he has devoted time tradictory advice, from all sorts of and a keen interest to many worthy people, as the vexed problem of
the upbringing of children, local causes. He has been first, perhaps, a true pillar of the church, and a glowing tribute to his work on behalf of St. John's Cathedral was given at the fareyall reception, held in the Cathedral Hall last week. Besides this he has been a member of the Committee of the Diocesan Boys' School since 1911, member of the Council of St. Stephen's College for many years, and has given great service on the Board of the European: Y.M.C.A. and as Chairman of the Naval and Military Y.M.C.A. He was also valued member of the Court, of the University of Hong Kong, and has been for some years a member of the Licensing Board
A
1911, "
In 1919, he severed his connection with Messrs. Gilman, shortly after the business changed hands, and joined Mesars. W. R. Loxley & Co.. as General Manager. That position he has held ever since.
|
After dealing clearly and "fully with pre-natal care, and the factors in an infant's first months of life, the speaker went on to the subject of clothing for a small baby. The less the better in summer in Hong Kong, was her opinion. In the day time a napkin and a vest sufficeð'; at night a light binder of sertex or thin flannel; and a long night gown, which could be tied up like bag some 8 inches below the infant's feet, should be added.
Bathing and feeding the baby were next dealt with, and the im- portance of breast feeding in the tropica stressed.
Mrs. Dovey then gave some facts about vitamins and their peculiar value in the tropics, though uttering a warning about the dangers of uncooked fruit and vegetables.
The Problem of Amahs.
Air Pattenden joined Messrs.. Allen Bros.; Eaat. India merchants, Dealing with the problem of of London in 1888, and left them amahs, the speaker said that a to come to the Far East at the end great deal of nonsense was talked of 1889, arriving in Hong Kong on on this subject. The amah should February 3, 1900, as an assistant to
be strong, healthy and cheerful, and Messrs. Gilman & Company, of though it was not always easy to which firm he became a partner in find a really good baby amab they were obtainable. From no-one," she said, will the good mistress receive better service than from a Chinese amah." The amah, if she was good, might be trusted to wash and dress the child, and to prepare its bottle, but the task of thinking and planning of discipline and good behaviour was the mother's job, and could not be left to the amah. Provided the mother only allowed the amah to do what it was in her power to do she made an excellent nurse, but there were things which were beyond the province of an uneducated woman. The import- ance of forbidding the children access to the kitchen and servants' quarters WEA impressed by the speaker. There were grave reasons for this, and mothers should pay special attention to this matter..
During his residence in the Colony, Mr. Pattenden has served as a Director of the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation, the Union Insurance Society of Canton, Ltd., and Humphreys Estate & Finance Co., Ltd., his wide experi- ence in business matters being of inuch value to these cónceras,
Mr. Pattenden, in all his manifold activities, has worked in a quiet, unobtrusive and thoroughly effee tual way, and be will be remem bered. affectionately by all who served with him in his various capacities, and also by & large the front verandah into the adjoin-circle of personal friends. We wishi ing building. This was used by the him many years of happiness and intrepid party of the roof, who took prosperity in England. the two children, with them that -way.
Fortunately one of the firemen discovered an avenue of escape, by
The fire fighting lasted for about an hour, No, 108, where the blaze started, being burat out, while No. 108, also suffered severely and Nos. 192 and 184 to a lesser extent.
Mother and Son Killed,
%
It was when the flames had been
1.
17
SANITARY BOARD MEETING. NEW REPRESENTATIVE
THE MILITARY.
Topeos Are Nct Necessary, Finally Mrs." Dovey dealt with the questions of sun stroke and topees. The word "aun stroke," she said, was wrong. There were two terms, heat stroke" and light stroke which should take its place. Heat stroke could be a real danger owing to the burning FOR of the skin but it could only be gat through long exposure to the sun which would be painful. Light A meeting of the Sanitary Board eyes, but could be avoided by wear- stroke could be got through the
the business was of a routine char-
was little danger she thought in acter. The Hon, Mr. H. T. Creasy, encouraging children to run about C.B.E., took the chair in the absence naked in the sun for short periods, were Hon. Dr. A. R. Wellington, was used. Sunbaths, she believed, Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga, Mr. M. K. Lo, Mr. T. N. Chau, Dr. W. V. when the baby was still young. A were good, and might be started Koch, Mr. Wong Kwong Tin, Dr. G. W. Pope, Lieutenant Colonel C.
few minutes sunning on a verandah D. Myles, O.B.E. and Mr. J. J. to 20 minutes would be enough.' would do to begin with, Inter 15 Watson, secretary.
The results should be` carefully accordingly. watched and the time regulated
was the usual amount of stoek in quenched that the tragedy was dis- "took place yesterday afternoon, buting a hat with a green lining. There
It
the shop, worth about $2,500. Wit-covered, Station Officer Saunders The master of the shop, said nesa also told His Worship that anding the badly burnt bodies of a
Chinese woman and her son. witness, slept at the back of the the stock was insured for $2,500,
appears that the woman escaped
to rescue her son, and found her escape cut off.
FLYING ROUND THE WORLD.
shop, beyond the yard. His family and furniture and fittings for 2500. from the building, but dashed back of Mr. G. R. Sayer. Others present provided a hat with a green lining also stayed on the premises. Dur-He had been to the office of the ing the night, witness was aroused Insurance Company on Tuesday by the heat shortly after 1 am, and the latter had agreed to pay When he got up he saw flames burn him in full, leas 8100 for deprecia ing furiously almost at the head of tion of furniture and fittings. his bed near the back of the shop.
The witness immediately ran out of the shop, without even troubling to put on his clothes. The fire, in witness' opinion, was too furious at that time for him to make pay attempt to fight it. There was no fre extinguisher on the premises All the fuki, said witness, escaped zafely..
Sho
MR. BLACK DUE TO-DAY. Information was received in Hong Kang yesterday afternoon by the Standard Oil Company from its Haiphong office, that Mr. Van Lear Black (who left London recently on a world flight) expects to "hop off from Hauoi to-day, and to arrive in Hong Kong at 2 p.m. this after noon.
Family's Narrow Escape. Chan Kam Kuk a married woman and principal tenant of 12, Smithfield, second Boor, back por tion, was the next witness." said that the second floor premises were divided into two sections by an air-shaft, The two portions were connected by a bridge. The staircase from the first floor led to At one side of the shop there the front portion near the air was a staircase to the upper floors. shaft. She lived in the verandah This staircase was separated from of the back portion and at 130 the shop by a partition which was a.m. on the night of the fire she not burning at the time witness was feeding her baby. She heard By the courtesy of the Command- left the shop. Asked how long it police whistle blown and looking ing Officer and Staff of the R.A.F took the flames to reach this parti- down into the air shaft saw dames Kui Tack, a large white canvas " tion, witness said that he could shooting out from a ground floor will be displayed on the aerodrome not say because after he left the window. She at once raised an for Mr. Van Lear Black's guidance. shop, he ran away and returned alarm and soon after together with and, should the weather be bad, the about fifteen minutes later. He her busband, who carried their two B.A.F will very kindly send up then noticed that the staircase was children, escaped by the staircase, aircraft to guide the visitor. on fire.
By that time the Fire which although burning was pego. Mr. James A Fitzpatrick, a Brigade had arrived.
tiable.
famous picture-producer of the A Leaky Pan of Wax7. His Worship asked whether wit. Fitzpatrick Studios, New York, will The Coroner Are you able to nesa had seen deceased or her child arrive in Hong Kong on the Colum
ren when the alarm was given. bus this morning, and will be pre- form any opinion as to the cause Witness said deceased was search-sent at the landing to take a "Movie
Witness: Ienn hardly andering for a strap to tie her baby to Tone of the landing.
her back. Witness told her that stand how the fire started, but she was, wasting time but deccased Apresume, it might have originated
from, the chatty. The chatty, bow-continued looking for the strap. ever, had an iron sheeting over it !
Could the embers have fallen out of the side?-Noha
If the embers could not fall out, why do you any the entby might have caused the fire 1-Over the chatty there was a pan containing liquid wax
of the fre
Child Turns Back in Fear.. Tao Shu, & street coolie, said he lived in the back portion of the 2nd floor, 12, Smithfield, with his wife and three children.
The Chairman stated that he was very pleased, on behalf of the board, to welcome Col. Myles who becomes O.B.E., M.C. of the R.A.M.C. a member vice Major D. G. Cheyne,
TWO SHIP, MASTERS FINED. OVERLOADING RIVER STEAMERS.
Two masters of river steamers were each fined $250, with the alternative of three months' im- Prisonment, when they pleaded guilty before the Marine Magistrate yesterday to allowing their respec- tive vessels to be overloaded.
The first case concerned Capt. B.) Thomson of the ss. Langahon who was represented by Mr. H. C. Macnamara. The defending solici
chair, thanked Mrs. Dovey for her Mrs. Southern, who was in the
excellent and illunfinating lecture, which was, the said,
fall of robust common-зeïлe.”
HEALTH OF THE COLONY.
FEWER SMALL-POX CASES LAST WEEK.
in
The Medical Officer's return of occurred in the Colony during lar cases of notifiable diacase which week gives the following figures:- death 1.
Typhoid 6 (1, non-Cainese);
Small-pox 12; deaths 0. Diphtheria 2 (1 non-Chinese); death 1.
Meningitis 1.
tor read out part of the ship's 10g malaria and 60 from tuberculosis There were also 4 deaths from to the magistrate, which showed that the master did all he could
last week. to take the ship above the Plimsoll
The following cases were notified" mark, after it had been pointed out theria 1, meningitia Î.
on Monday:-Small-pox 3,. diph to him that the line was submerged some three inches.
the Magistrate said that he always After hearing further evidence, regarded such offences very seri- ously, and imposed a fine az stated. above. T
Lee Sin, husband of Ng Chan, said he was a coolis employed by the Yee Lee firm at 40, Eastern Street, where he usually slept His wife and two children occupied a bed space at 12, Smithfield, They were aroused by the blowing second floor. He had no knowledge of police whistles at about 1.30 am. of the fire until 8.30 a.m. the
In the other case, Mr. E 8. C and realised that the ground floor, following morning. He immediately Brooks appeared for Capt. Gilles- Do you think that might have was on fire. Witness and his wife went to No. 7 Police Station and pia and Mr. Chung Cheong Sze, bailed over-No, there was only a cach carried one of the younger was subsequently taken to the master and owner respectively, of small quantity.
Why did you mention it then into the street. The eldest daugh- bodies of his wife and younger son.
children and ran down the stairs Mortuary where he identified the the es. On Leeing guilty The pan may have been lonky /
On Mr. Brook, pleading ter followed them down tho' stair- The Police stated that Tee Chol on behelf of the master, the sum Was the pan is fact leaky -I case but finding it in flames had Shum, the 12-year-old daughter of mons against the owner was am not sure if it was. It was an not the courage to pass through. Tee Shu who sustained injuries in automatically dismissed.d old pan and in course of time it She ran up the steps and was not jumping off the second floor, would might have become Icuky. It was seen again by witness until later probably leave the hospital in agistrate told Mr. Brooks that he
After hearing, evidence, the ma used during the day, but was not at the hospital. Witness told His week's time. The Coroner TB- could take no excuses, adding that leaking then.
if a master of a ship allowed his ear that no Worship that he had not seen Ng marked that as this witueas" evit You are quite clear. that no Chan, deceased, or her children that dence, is of some importance, ad yessol to be overloaded in Home. embers could have fallen out of night, ton
journed the case until 2.15 next
waters, the maximum penalty the chatty.
is quite cienr. (Continued at foot of next column)Tuesday,
would always be inflicted.
ADVICE FOR INVESTORS,
READERS Ar reminded
that inquiries relating. to the share market are. answered on page 11 every Tuesday by Kufan." Let ters should be sent to this office, and must be accom panied by writer's name and address, not for publication Letters should be addressed to "Kulan," care of the Editor.
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