THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH MONDAY JUNE 22 1958
THE SURVIVORS.
rent. A bost pushed off from the steamer could without danger of colliding with What impressed our informant most was hidden obstructions reach the parapets the pitiful position of the remaining popul: of the tall buildings several hundred ation who perched on the roofs of those yards away from the centre of the river. few houses which rose above the utmost Only the topmost spire of the pagodare height reached by the flood and who clung mained visible, the rest having vanished together for mutual support before death, under water. On every side the water stres which lodmed imminent, released them ched practically to the horizon, especially from their unhappy condition of unmixed along the lower reaches of the river where misery, and wretchedness, How many of in many places land was out of sight on them had food to last them through their either hand. Quite a number of the larger privations? Probably rot half those had be junks has sought refuge in the numerous taken themselves to the roofs and there are fish ponds for which Wechow is famous. hundreds packed together, looking as if they
ed by the drought in the early part of thể season and which was not expected to yield more than 30 per cent, has been washed, away so that nothing remains to reward the labourers for their work.
Altogether it is a woeful condition of total destruction, loss and ruin that has to be faced Neither the amount of the damage wrought. by the flood aor the total loss of life can even be hinted at for the present. The low to property is incalculable; the loss of life will never be accurately known; it can only be guessed at and the roughest guess will be wide of the mark.
the narrow ɔparts" baye And this sad news is too
that mark, wii da la evidence of the height that in a general way, from the sna | oned, the latter nog, bir iş to which it reached.
to uchow, all le fair sailing, though Rumours are about that "able One of the questions, which will be asked it is a different tale from this to Nanning, or by those who have the recent Hankow by the Kwelin River to the capital; for thisarmed by the enormous amount of w calamity in mind is—-Did the authorities at tributary of the main river, locally known as still pasting Wuelow receive any information indicating the Fu-ho, and elliptically, as the Kual. that a freebet had formed in the Fu River? chiang is in fact a mountain torrent. Iu The answer, we understand, is that a com- current is, as a mie, slow; but in the early munication was sent from Kwellin to Wu-summer, before the main river has risen high, chow but it arrived so late that the its waters come down with a tremendous rush inundation was upon the people before they and a roar that reminds one of the sound of had time to make adequate preparations for Niagara. Later on it becomes dammed up their safety. When it is remembered that by the water of the main stream, and the the river rose 40 feet in a single night there strength of its floods does not reach its mouth. seems reason to believe that the answer may be accepted as correct, however lamentable. the fact may be
..
APPEAL FOR HELP,
CANTON BUCCOURING
[From Our Own Correspondent, vi
Canton; aoth June. few days, which bas caused inuudata and The heavy and continueur rain of the last aq, done damige bere as already reported, has been responsible for a great deal of serious WHIRLPOOL AT WUCHOW. damage by flood in the bighar districts of Ching Yuan and Samshui and the surround- WHOLE VILLAGES SWEPT AWAY.:
ing districts, Yesterday the gentry of the At all events it behoves the Government,
*Wuchow, 18th June. Obing: Yuno, district hurriedly arrived the leading members of the Europeas and usual violence. Hardly had the telegraphic Bureau
The yearly fresheta are running, but with on here and called at the Cheap Rice Distribution Chinese communities and the local com-waming arrived from Kwellin when the to the heavy and continuous downpour for The gery reported that, owing "mercial Institutions to consider what steps water roso 40 feet in a few hours and inundated almost the whole of last week, the river bas shall be taken to relieve these homeless, the whole "towa. The loss of property, is very risen to such an extent that on the 18th ruined people at Wuchow, for however great in Wuchow, but must be even greater and 19th instant the water aver flowed argent our own needs may be at the moment, higher up the River us wrecks af hundreds of the son dykes, which were consequently and none knows better than we do the de- boats are drifting past; parts of houses, furniture plorable financial condition of the Colony, we ought still to be able to spare something for the suffering survivors who have lost their all in the cataclysm at Wuchow,
and even coffies are seen in the furious current. they are, of course, not much noticed amongst Happily not, many dead bodies are seen, but the more conspicuous objects. Salvage opera tions are rendered extremely difficult in the
greatly damaged, many parts being wasted, away and otherwise collapsed. The cities are the houses bave suffered considerably, especial- jaundated to a height of seven or eight feet and
ly those in the lower grounds where they are. Bow lying in the water and are literally engul
TEMPLE AND 'FISH LOND, WUCHOW.
VILLAGE SWEPT AWAY.
sit on the keel of an upturned boat. And
THE SITUATION.
Yuct Shing, one of the ports of call of the the difficulty of rescuing these survivors of How the authorities are to cope with the Steamboat Company's vessels, was entirely the terrible visitation can be well understand distressing position, which has come upon submerged, only the roof of the pawn-shop be when it is one in mind that few of the the people like a liplt from the blue, re ing visible. Tak Hing was in similar state.numerous small craft of the river remain mains to be seen, but that they will require At Samshui, where the Commissioner of nitoat. At Samshui a few of the larger, outside assistance to relieve the starving Customs together with his family were driven vessels may remain, having managed to multitude is absolutely, a foregene conclu- out of the Customs station by the invading evade the vortex of the stream. One great sion, Wuchow is credited with a population stream and had to take ngelin house native passenger boat was seen sailing.round boats, the railroad had disappeared, all and behind the European houses. that could be seen being the top of the rail-f
AT SAMSHUI..
of 70,000, but we are still in the dark an to how many of that number, resided beyond the limits of the walled city. It is certain, way carriages and the snicke-stack of al At Samslui, again, the inhabitants are try; however, that a great proportion will find locomotive. One of the villages betweening to raise embankments by driving in-themselves in the position of suppliants for Samshui and Sainam has been entirely mense piles into the ground and bolstering the wherewithal to chase away, the pangs of swept away. The catalogue of disaster them up with bags of sand along the bankar hunger. In 1902, when there was a great
and destruction could be interminably' As steamers pass along they are warned by flood at Wuchow, with the resultaat famine, continued, but it is needless to en- the beating of gongs to slow down, in order the Government of Hongkong rose to large on the amazing character of the that the wash from the propellors may not, the occasion and sent a Commission, com- frethet which has exterminated numerous undo the efforts of the labourers. Bamboo posed of Mr. Gershom Stewart and Mr. C. villages, wrought inestimable injury' to Wu- groves are submerged to such a depth that Clementi, to distribute the funds which chow, which was slowly recovering from the passenger steamers can sail through them had been raised in this Colony for the bene devastating effects of the fire which occurred without fear of grounding.
fit of the people in Kwangsi. Then it was a year ago, blocked all traffic on the railway As already stated there is no means of com that Captain Dixon, who was at that time for an unknown period, swallowed up the munication whatever. Officials are depend superintendent for Messrs. Butterfield and Ticans. of communication, including the tele-ing on passing steamers for news of what is Swire and the Joint Steamboat Companies, graphic stations and the wires along the being done to meet the situation and alleviate nailed a tip plate on one of the tallest trees route, brought stark ruin to innumerable the distress which already exists.
at Wuchow to mark the height which homes and swept hundreds of coolies to their
the flood had reached. The freshet which death.
RICE CROP DESTROYER,
The rice crop which was partially destroy occurred last week, however, exceeded even
Yuct-Shang
Tak-Hing
rday afternoon,
In connection with the damage which arrow streets where the water is running]jfad. A number of houses close to the river may have been done to the track of the like a millrace and forming whirlpools at every bank in that district have collapsed. There are Capton-Hankow railway we read in the re streetcorner. Allthe large restaurants and shops now hundreds of unfortunates in the “direst port of the Acting Commissioner of Customs in the Fa River broke loose last night, collided distress urgently awaiting relief.
with each other and nothing is known of their at Simshui for rgoy that: "The flood in fate as they disappeared round a bend of the tion Bureau, on receiving the information, st
The committes of the Cheap Rice Distribu the ring did considerable damage to the river in a few minutes. Canton-Hankow railway line. This has "The as. Lìn Tan and. Chan On are in port and the membara.o
once convened a meeting
charitable been repaired since and the line, im- but unable to get their cargo discharged as Dojinstitutions: were inde?" and for the proved, On account of the poor quality cargo boats are procurable; all have gone far purpose of devising to musist the of ties it has been necessary to replace away amongst the river fields for shelter. The sufferers by the calai The Shan Hou 35,000 sleepers and to widen the em- water at present is 70 feet above low-water Chu was at once.communicated with, and at bankments and raise the track." If that mark, It is still rising..
the request of the people two Goveromant 19th June. Is what had to be done_in_the_case_of_a paltry inundation what is likely to be the expense which will necessarily have to be incurred after a Blood of the description given above?
The river has now cossed to rise, but as there launches were placed at their disposal by the are frequent heavy squalls it maintains the Shan Hou Chu officials. At 7 o'clock this. same level. Food has risen 50% in price and morning the two launches left bere to proceed, is difficult to procure even at that rate. The one to the West River and the other to the well-to-do have laid in a goodly stock; as it is East River with a quantity of rice and
gueny
In an account of a trip from Hongkong expected the river will be at this abnormal bags on board to the relief of the unfortunates. to Wuchow a writer, whose article was variously estimated at from 30 to 70 of the
FATSHAN-SAMSHUI RAILWAY, | beight for a fortnight or more. Casualitics aré
The Fatsban-Samahui railway bas also been copied by the Commissioner of Customs Wuchow community, But if deaths from ex-flooded, and the running of the trains has been AtWuchow, and published-in-bis-De-posure amongst the aged and infirm; on top of suspended. Up to this morning the train on cennial_Report_in_1907, if waS stated the houses in the torrential rain, is to be rock- this lian has not retumed runnlag.
PROMISSORY NOTH DISPUTE,
QUESTION AS TO WHO PAID DECIDED.
"TAISE:MARU” DAMAGES.
The Tatsuma Shokai, owners of the Talau
SHIP-CAPTAIN-SUED
WHO IS LIABLE}''
The master of the steamship Progress-
Chan Shau U,a trader, residing at 22, Queen's maru, bare presented the account of the dam. Road Central, was the defendant in an action ages to be claimed from China in connection heard in the Supreme Court, this moming with the detention of the vessel, The total Captain Thomas Schjervig-was sued in the Mak,Man Hing, a broker, of 179.. Quenn's amount claimed is Ya 8,000, consisting of Supreme Court, this morning, by Wan Wong, Road West, was the plaintif. The action was Y50,000 for detention and loss from the susan engineer, of 127 and 129, Second Street, to recover the sum of 5350 due to the plaintiff pension of the voyage; Y28,000 for telegraph West Point, who sought to recover the sum of on a promissory note dated 22nd November, and sundry charges and money paid as com-5326, money due for work done and material 1937.
pensation to the crew and to the family of the supplied. Mr. C. E. H. "Beavis, of Mesirs, Wilkinson captain, who, as stated in our columns, died Mr. Otto Kong Siog ap, cared for the plain and Grint, appeared for the plaintiff. The den fer the vessel's release; Y91,000 for the tiff Mr. A. G. Jackson, of Messrs Johnson,
damage to the cargo: V4,000 for the landing Stokes and Master, was for the defence. fendant appeared in person.
Plaintiff, called, stated that he was con action was 10 recover a sum of money on RY45,000 for the repair of the steamer and ex-office on the Praya Central. Some time that For the plaintiff, Mr. Beavis stated that this of cargo for inspection and godown rent, and tractor. In January of this year he had au Chinese promissory note. Since the writ had penses for demurrage while in dock.-Japan month a.man, called at his office and asked been issued defendant had paid $30 ou ac- Chronicle.. count.
Mr. Justice Gomperti-Then he practically dmits the claim?
Mr. Beavis-I don't know,
M
Mi fustice Gompertz-Then he had better “be as.ed.
Defendant on being asked admitted that he owed the money, bu' not to the plaintiff, whom he did not know,
Plaintiff said he knew the defendant, and
·leni kim the money,
Mr. Gompenz-Why did be sign the pro- missory note?
Plaintiff-Because I lent him the money,
MARINE COURT.
"TIRED" BOATSWAIN,
bim to go aboard the Progrust to see the captain, Plaintiff went ab jard about the 17th Mr. Kong Sing➡When you want "aboard what did you do?
Plaintiff I saw the mate, and asked for the captain, who said he had some work for me to The work was done, plaintiff parsed, and
Harbour-master, Commander Basil Taylor if went to that firm with the bills which was In the Marine Court, this morning, before the the captain told him to go to the Chong Blog firm, the ship's cha terers, for payment. Plain, R.N., Mr. A, D. Reed, second officer of the signed by the captain, bu he was referred back steamer Juleopolis, charged J. C, Marshall, boat, to the captain, why refund to pay Plaintif swain of the same sbip, with unlawfully disobey. carried out the repairs under the supervision log his lawful commands on the roth inst., while of the ship's officers, the vessel was in port. The accused pleaded guilty to the charge.
Foodwork
on the Progress before... He was nearly always
Cross-examined's Plaintiff had done. called by a Chinamao. Sometimes, however, the captain called himself. The work .ba did,
To cross-examination, plaintiff admitted that Captain Peter Stewart, of the Juleop lie, was to make ad ice chest, and repair certain he did not hand the money to the defendant stated that the chief officer reported to him that parts of the versal. After the work was dose He gave it, be asid, to one Chan Chan Nam, to defendant had refused to do his duty. Wit- the proper way was to get the bill enderred by hand to the defendant. The $30 defendantess put bio under arrest, and subsequent- the capiela This was exactly what he did, paid on account was not paid to plaintiff, buty took out the summons. The evidence of japped business."; That was not, the readou He did not know that the Chusg Bing Brm had through Chan Chan Nam, Plaintiff was not Mr. A. D. Reed was to the effact that at 10.30 why he brought this claim. He did, la fict, colo present when the promissory note was signed.em, on Saturday las, the defendant koock to the Chung Hing firm, but they could ant ed bff work and went below. He went down pay until the captain was consulted, th ~A' verdict for the plaintiff was entered,
to see what, was the matter, and be was Mr. Jackson; handed to the Court the evid. told by accused that he would do no more Proceeding, be stated that the chartaren
once of the caplain which was taken de bana. THE MAILS TO HONGKONG...
work. He gave no reason for bis strange of the ship were liable and not the captain, In away to Mr. Harold Cox, Mr. Burton conduct. He considered him sober at the The ceptractor was ordered: aboard, by th said: The negotiations ?
**with the Cavadian time. He had had no trouble with accused | charteren and nor by the captain, joine Pacific Railway Company for the conveyance before. He did not know why he should Mr Kong Blog said it was plain, that the of mails to Hongkong are not yet completed: have refused duty. The canther will be laid before this Houir for confirmation. Ho far as I am aware, no other meamship or railway company is at present in a posillon "to tender for an expeditions service tou Hongkong" vie North America st the pre”
Defends subordinate conduct; i influence of drink,
did not feel well en
captain was Hable; The evidence showed that an agreement was entered between Kaptain and
rwlis. The captain was looked it as 1 icipalis HQ) was the person who wan