HONGKONG "DAILY". PRESS
SINKING OF LOCAL SHIP RELATED
AT COURT OF INQUIRY
Master Of New
New Mathilde
13
In Water For Three Hours
th
The question as to whether the grounding of the ss, New Mathilde and the dragging of her anchor while she lay in Fort Bayard could have put her into an unseaworthy condition, was asked of witnesses at Marine Court yesterday when an inquiry was held into the sinking of the vessel off Kwangchowwan on October 21" while on her way to Hongkong with a cargo of live- stock and general merchandise,
The Court of Inquiry consisted of Commander G. F. Hole, Harbour Master, Lieut.-Omdr A. W. Kirkgy, H.M: Dockyard, Mr. K. D. Lane, master of the 8.3. Raby Castle, Mr. D. M. Hood, master sa. Hong Kheng and Mr. B. Walker, master s... Haltun. The interests of Capt, R. Wherry were on the hands of Mr. D. L. Strellet, while Mr. M. M, Watson watched the interests owner, Mr. Pang Kok-sul,
ווי
of the
left the ship in No. 2 boat. He had taken a hand in jettisoning the cargo.
"OUT WEST WITH
THE HARDYS”
New Picture In
Popular Series
GENERAL
Poppy Day Fund Appeal
NO DIMINUTION IN WORK OF BRITISH LEGION
The beneficent work of the Bri- tish Legion for Great War ex- Service men and their families goes an unceasingly for 365 days in each year. It is financed by the income from the one-day sale of Haig Fund Popples on November 11.
Commencing toMOITOW, the Hardy Family win visit Hongkong sgald on the screen at the Queen's Theatre,
In this Afth picture of
the Hardy series, "Out West with the
The work is always increasing. Hardys," which was previewed for the men of the Great War are yesterday Judge Hardy CLewis
growing older. Many more each Stone) and his wife (Fay Holden) year are Becoming the helpless have aged slightly. However, victims of chronic sickness and they continue to supervise their unemployment, pitiful handicaps family with courageous wisdom | which arẻ only too often the ac- and tolerance, which make them companiment of advancing year. beloved parents.
Young Andy Hardy, the 18-year- old son (Mickey Rooney) and is sister (Cecilia Parker) continue the growing-up process, and
meet troubles which are cured by com- mon sense and tumour.
The British Legion is determined that there shall be no diminution of its work: that at no time shall it be necessary to refuse help to a really deserving case; but to en- sure this it needs and earnestly asks your most generous co-opera-
In evidence, master of the fated vessel, Capt. R. Wherry, re- lated how the" ship was, resting
The Second Officer. Lal Pul- against the bank of the river on her port side, which he first no- kan, then gave evidence He said "tleed at the beginning of food he did not hold a Board of Trade of Com- tide on October 18 while loading Mariner's Certificate and unloading cargo.
"petence, but held a Horigling
In this particular story, Judge | tion. After describing the precautions coxswains certificate. He told of and Mrs. Hardy pack their bags Please give more generously taken before sailing from Fort two occasions on which the ship and, with their two children, than ever before for the emblem Bayard on Oct. 21 at 4.30 am, was found to be aground at Fort start out for the west of Ameries of remembrance you will wear on Capt. Wherry went on to explain Bayard and of the events on the where miles of rolling land and large Remembrance Day, 1939. that he was on the bridge until 8 journey. He was in charge of the
ranches abound. It is to be a 1.0, that morning before giving vessel from 8 am on the fateful rugged vacation with old family over to the Second Officer, Lal morning and. noticing a list, sufriends who have unfortunately Pul Fan, with instructions that, if moned the Captain and Chief become involved in water right conditions became worse, he was Officer.
to be called. A heavy sea was Tizining at the time and there was
W
difficulties with their neighbour. QUESTIONS REFUSED a highjacker and landowner of 3 strong wind. They were travel- A request by Capt. Kirby, secre-questionable reputation
Through the Judge's bench ex ling at 6 knots and he noticed tary of the China Coast Officers' that the ship was pitching and Guild, to ask this witness certain Perlence and by the persistence of tossing, but there was nothing un- questions, was refused by Comdr. Mrs. Hardy a novel turn of their host's land and financial difficul- Hole, who asked, "What are your ties is worked out to a happy solu- He was awakened by the car suggestions, Mr. Kirby?"
I am asking the tion. And the Judge gathers his penter and compradore about 9 Capt. Kirby: am, with the cry that the ship permission of the court to ask this family and gries back to town. was sinking. He rushed to the witness a few questions after the bridge and found that the ship Court has finished questioning had a list, and sounding proved him.
usual about it.
that she was taking in water,
Commander Hole Certainly
"He immediately gave the order not. I cannot allow you to do so.
to the helmsman "hard to port." They were out of sight of land at the time and there was no other shipping in the vicinity. He wire- lessed for ald, and ordered all pumps to be worked, but the en- gineer had already done this.
LIST WORSE
The list was getting steadily worse and he ordered the cargo. mainly of pigs, to be jettisoned, This eased the list and he feared the ship would list to the other side. His intention was to beach the ship on the sands off Kwang- chowwan, as she was taking in
water.
Capt. Kirby: I make this application under Section 5 of the Merchant Shipping Act which reads as follows: "Any person who shows that he has an interest in the investiga- tion shall have a right to ap Dear and be heard and any other person may appear and be heard by leave of the Court."
Vagabond Rotarians' Tiffin
Various sidelights on a recent stay in the interior were given by Mr. Chien 8hme-fun, who is on a visit to Hongkong on his way to America on a comfort mission for the Kwangtung Provincial Goyern- ment, speaking at the timin of the Comdr. Hole: What is the ques-Hongkong Outport Rotary Club, tion you want to ask.
Capt. Kirby I want to ask the witness how long he has been at sea in foreign-going ships and what are his qualifications,
Comdr, Hole refused to allow
otherwise the Vagabond Rotarians, held at the Cafe de Chine yester day.
Mr. Chien sald the Japanese bombardments had done China a lot of good, as the shabby houses
He ordered the passengers and the question on the ground that in" the interior towns
bad been
CONTRIBUTIONS TO DATE " Previously acknowledged $5,421;
Migs J. W. Buckwell 19; Dr. G. D. R. Black 25; The Steam Eaundry Co. 15; Leung Entin 5; A. W. Ram- sey 5: A. Jaffer 5; F.C. Hall 250; Q. A. A, Macfadyen 15; B. O'M Deane 10; Mr. and Mrs. R. A C North 25: M. O, Onnes 10; A, Morse 50; E De Chalfoy 2; C. Black 25; Lady Northcote 50; H. & Jones 20; Mrs. T. Black 10; Hongkong Oric- ket Cias 100 Club Lusitano 25. Total $6,096,
"Further donations will be grate- fully received by F, G. Mannder. Secretary, Earl Haig's Fund, Hong- kong and Shanghal Bank Build- ing.
14
FORGED BUS TICKETS
Five Conductors Charged
On various charges of possession of forged bus tickets and of utter- ing forged bus tickets, and on a common charge of conspiracy, to defraud the Kowloon Moter Bus
Company, Ave bus conductors and another man and a woman appear- ed before Mr. Q. A. A. Macfadyen at Kowloon Court yesterday, when
crew of in the life-bosts before it had no direct bearing on the replaced by good modern buildings they were all remanded a week in
the aft part of the ship was com- pletely submerged and the hatches;
issue.
It later transpired in
the
that gave a graceful view.
"If the Government were to
custody.
Li Sang, 27, unemployed, the
bust open. The ship's papers and evidence that the witness had had order these shabby houses to be first defendant in the case, wa3 letter-box were put into No. 1 boat ten years experience in ocean 80-pulled down, there would be a lot charged, with possession of 936
Ing ships.
The enquiry will be continued of public objection and much bad forged tickets, purported to have
today.
DEBT LEADS TO MURDER
but they were all lost.
Capt. Wherry then related how he himself was washed off the ship and was picked up three, hours later by the s.s.. Soochow and landed at Fort Bayard. Three men were found to be missing and they are believed to have been drowned. They were Fal Ngan, boatswain." Chan Wel-tong, chief steward and Yuen Wing-chuen. teller.
Questioned by Comdr. Capt. Wherry admitted that he ha had made a mistake when he
After further evidence was given said that the difference in water yesterday in the case in which levels at high tide and low tide at Tang Chu, allas Stu Tang-tsall, Fort Bayard was only five feet. In 24, is charged with the murder of fact it was ten feet. The ground-Leung K1, 21, at Chinese Street on ing of the ship was in soft muddy september 28, defendant was com- ground and as there did not ap-mitted to the Criminal Sessions! pear to be any rocks there he did to stand his trial.
1
Hole,
Chinese Youth Committed
feeling," he said.
Mr. S."O. Au took the chair, and there were also present Dr. C. T. Wang, Dr. J. M. Henry, Mr. P. K. C. Tyan, Mr. S. F. Lin. Dr. Arthur Woo, Dr. F. I. Tseung, Messrs. G. Lao, T. T. Poon, George Owyang, Luchao Li, H. Tang, Y. T. Taang. W. Gockyoung, Lion Lifong. E. Bhim, Fung Ping-fan, Harry. Hong Bing and C. Huang.
The chairman, in welcoming the privilege of having at the meeting guests, particularly mentioned the
Dr. Henry, Rotary District Gov- ernor, and Dr. C. T. Wang, former Chinese Foreign Minister and Am bassador to Washington.
The next meeting will take place. at the China Merchants Club on
not think the grounding could Mr. J. B. Prentis, Assistant November 16.
have injured the ship's bottom Crown Soleitor, conducted the
L
The ship did not hit anything and prosecution, assisted by Det.-Insp. SHUMCHUN RURAL he had not struck ground there]L, E. Whant before. He had made 21 return Wan Wal-lam, 24, a noodle- trips from Hongkong to Fort seller, in evidence said that about Bayard.
CENTRE DINNER
7.30 pm. on the day in question, The Shumchun Rural Welfare he was preparing meat at his stali Centre will hold the first annual BOTTOM NOT EXAMINED
when he saw Leung Ki eak accus-dinner on Monday, at the Chinese The captain admitted however, ed for the sum of 50 cents. Ac Merchants' Club, The guest of that he did not have the bottom cused, said witness, replied that honour will be the Rt, Rey, Bishop examined before leaving port. he would pay if he had money, Hall, who was recently the re- Commander- Hole-But it 18 Leung then tapped deceased on cipient of one of the highest de- usual, aftář grounding, to have the shoulder and also gave him cofations ever conferred by the the bottom" examined. Why was three days time to pay up. Later Chinese Government upon a for- it not done? There was no op- there was an argument, and ac eign national. - ́
Congratulatory messages The ship was already cused was seen running after de- portunity. heavily loaded with cargo.
censed with a chopper, Witness been received from Chungking. one being from Dr. H. H, Kung, in his capacity of Chairman of the Chinese National Rellef Commis- sion, to Mr. Percy Chen, to be con- vered to the guest of honour on
* The captain also said that the said he saw deceased being struck
·Port Officer at Fort Bayard did and then collapse. not think, in view of the soft na-
ture of the river bed, that the
grounding could have caused any EUROPEAN WOMAN'S
damage.
The Court then suggested the
possibility of the ship having hit
BAIL ESTREATED
Bail of $25 was estreated when
a certain chartered rock in the a European woman, Mrs. Vera vicinity while dragging her an- Rosch, of No. 8, Granville Road, chor, but Capt, Wherry consider-falled to appear before Mr. E. Himsworth at Kowloon Court yes- ed this very unlikely:
terday morning of a charge of disorderly conduct
the occasion.
have
WHIST DRIVE TO
AID B.W.OF.
A very successful, whist and mahjong drive was held at the United Services Recreation Cub
been issued by the Kowloon Motor Bus Company, and of posses- sion of 15 forged dies for the mak- ing of these tickets.
The other defendants are Wu Wing, 22. Tang Tax, 26, Họ On, 22, Pun Fat, 31. Wong Lee, 26, all bus conductors, and Chan Tal, 27, the woman. They are charged on various counts in connection with the alleged conspiracy.
Mr. C. A Sutherton Russ is ap-.
Ng Quinn for Wu and Tang. The pearing for Wong Lee, and Mrs. 8.
case is for committal
AIRPORT NEWS
Imperial AirWAYS:
NORTHBOUND Sunday: Hanol, Bangkok, Dorado- a.m.
SOUTHBOUND
Sunday, Bangkok, Hanol, Hong-
kong. Delphinus-t po
Air France
NORTHBOUND,
France, Hanoi,
Wednesday: Hongkong. Service 8 p.m.
SOUTHBOUND Thursday: Hanol, France Service 6am.
Pan American Airways:
EASTBOUND
Tuesday: U.8.A., Manila, Hong- kong.
China Cupper-2′′ p.m.
WESTBOUND Wednesday: Manila, U. 8. A. China 'Clipper-8,30 a.m.
EMPIRE AIR MAILS ARRIVE
Imperial Airways". "midweek; in- ward service arrived at Kai Tak from Bangkok yesterday at 5 ́p.m
Mail from all Empire porta total- led 103 kilos. Two Dassengers arrived, Mr. C. D. Dixon team New Mrs. Roach was charged with on Tuesday evening last in afd Zealand, en route to Shanghai, rice L Jenkins, Chief Omcer He disorderly conduct in the Water of the British War Organisation and Mir, wan #gok-jin from Bang-
Over a hundred persona | kok corroborated
Capt.
Wherry's Police charge room at 4:36 pm. Fund. evidence as to the grounding at yesterday when, it was alleged, she spent a very enjoyable evening,
OTHER- WITNESSES
The next witness was Mr. Mau-
."
The next inward Empire mail Fort Bayard, and what took place shouted and used insulting lan- and the Fund benefitted satis service is reported to be azziving of the voyage to Hongkong. He guage towards police officers
factorily from the event.
Bunday afternoon,
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1939. —PAGE 5
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