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HARBOUR OFFICE, HONG KONG,...
4th September, 1894:
Sir,---In accordance with your letter, dated 1st inst, I have the honour herewith to report on the burial work done during the late epidemic.
2. I assumed charge on Jime 4th, commencing burying on the 5th, at Sandy Bay, the inter- ments there to date from that day are 1,798 -total in both cemetries, Kennedy Town and Sandy Bay, from the commencement of the plague, 2,796.
3. Difficulties having arisen with the coolies, ten Europeans (merchant seamen), were engaged at 2 dols, per diem, and a gill of spirits; they were also liberally supplied with tobacco, ten grains of quinine per man were issued with their morning tot before turning to, the other half gill was given them with their dinner. Their duties were to lime and coffin the dead, load the lighter, and Alischarge it in Sandy Bay. These duties were subsequently very much lightened, as at 6 am, the first day there was an accumulation in the dead-house, which, on being attacked, brought forth expostulation from the attendants. It subsequently transpired that the coffins were not marked, however, afterwards the dead of the night were lined, coffined, and ready by the morning. 4. The staff at first consisted of ten Europeans and the Chinese undertakers, to carry coffins to the trenches in Sandy Bay, and 400 grave diggers.
the
5. On the 7th June there was some trouble with the Chinese undertakers-it appeared that they were paid daily 1 dol, 20 c., and had not been paid for the previous day. I promised to pay then daily myself, and they turned to. Ou the 9th June they were reduced to ten, as with regular pay much more work could be got out of them.
6. On the 8th June two more merchant seamen were engaged at the same wages to attend to the fires on the Praya, they were discharged on the 12th June, and four of the naval petty officers utilised.
7. On the night of the 11th June the merchant seamen, with one exception, struck work, demanding an advance of 1 dol. a day; they were discharged. In the course of next day five men were engaged (only one seaman), stock riders and vagrants, and no further trouble was experienced with Europeans, the numbers being gradually reduced as per daily report.
8. The first day's experience showed that one steam launch and two cargo boats could be dispensed with, which was accordingly done, and subsequently a third cargo boat was discharged. 9. By the end of June the mortality had so decreased that the steam launch was only hired for two hours (from 2 to 4 p.m.) a day, at 4 dols. each day, and on and after the 22nd July the launch was dispensed with entirely, the bodies being carried overland to Sandy Bay,
10. The staff now consists of one European and four Chinese coffin-bearers, the gruve-diggers varying from six to twenty. For the past six weeks bodies have been buried separately, though at any time during the epidemic, when relatives of the dead so desired, separate graves were given them, the friendless dead alone being put into the trenches.
carriers embarking in the launch., A dozen grave-diggers to man the whip at the cemetery pier, whilst the Europeans sling the coffins and tend the lighter, speedily clear her, the coflin-bearers removing the colfius from the pier. The lighter returns for a fresh load, stowed at leisure by the Europeans, whilst the bearers at the cemetery carry the coffins up quietly to the to 400 coolies, according trenches. The staff in the cemetery should consist of 2
the
to of
sufficient virulence the
epidemic,
keep trenches open for 200 at least more than the average daily mortality, and to be able to fill in quickly and turf over. An overseer from the P. W. D. should be employed to supervise here; for charge of the burying party a seafaring man (of the cluas employed lately in the patrol launch, in connection with the doctor examining junks) should be selected, so as not to be at the mercy of the launch master about going round, and to be able to direct his men in the conduct of the lighter; also sailors have more respect for a seaman.
to
The lighter should return again with whatever load it may have at 11.30 a.m. to discharge before the grave-diggers go to dinner, and again be 1ound by 3.30 p.m. to have the coffins by the last load all properly covered before the people knock off.
It would be a good plan to have a mat-shed put up at Kennedy Town for the Europeans employed; the Sailors' Home would feed them at 6 dols, a week, and the men would be able to shift sooner in wet weather, and after work, and all question of their carrying infection with them
would be set at rest.
It is very necessary to have a nucleus of white men, healthy; emulation is induced, and the Chinese, seeing we are not solely dependent on them, the chances of a strike are minimized.
Should the plague unfortunately re-appear, the conditions under which burials may have to be carried out may be different, but, mutatis mutandis, the aforementioned routine is submitted as workable for about 150 deaths a day.
Jao. J. Francis, Esq., Q.C., Chairman, Permanent Committee.
(Signed),
I have, etc.,
WILLIAM C. H. HASTINGS.
GOVERNMENT House,
September 11th, 1894. SIR, I have great pleasure in conveying to you the thanks of the Secretary of State for the Colonies for your assistance, which has so greatly benefited the community during the recent outbreak of plague in the Colony.
I remain, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed),
WILLIAM ROBINSON.
to
Commander Hastings, Retired, R.N.,
Assistant Harbour Master.
11. Pursuant to your request I submit the following suggestions, should the plagne re-appear. Whether in that event there would be as many different hospitals under different management as here were on the last occasion is immaterial, these sites I take it will again be at Kennedy Town. One central dead-house would be more convenient-the original one at the Glass Works was admirably adapted, the room to the right on entering for the lime store, the one to the left for the dead, and the large go-down round the furnace for coffins and overflow from the dead-house. If the dead from the different hospitals were brought one common centre two coolies to each hospital would be sufficient and save all carrying about of the coins and lime. Two Europeans should supervise this department, to coffin the dead as far as possible before they stiffened, lime, and nail them up. The carriers could as easily deposit them at once in coffins as lay them out in the dead-house.
Carriage (the cemetery will, it is presumed, be in the first instance at Sandy Bay, or some other spot on the south side), should be by cargo boat towed by launch, as heretofore; there are times when the weather makes it difficult to get round (when as many as possible would bave to be carried overland), but it rarely lasts long, more than a day. One steam launch is ample, and one good-sized cargo boat (2nd class), about 10 feet, 700 piculs, at 5 dols. a day, could be got for less if used continuously. The staff should consist of six merchant seamen, at 2 dols. a day, 10 Chinese coffin-carriers at 1 dol. or 1 dol. 20 e, a day, whatever prices may be ruling (and paid daily by the person in charge). Chair coolies would appear to be the best men for this work. List enclosed of fourteen men who have been so employed. All hands should be mustered at G a.m., the Europeans given a glass of spirits and a couple of quinine pills (which are tasteless, otherwise they will spit it out), and the boat loaded with the hospital ecolies and collin-bearers, the Europeans slinging and stowing, Sixty can so he towed round and buried before breakfast with ease. Two Europeans to be left behind to carry on the coffining, the others and the coffin-
THE PERMANENT COMMITTEE SANITARY BOARD,
12th September, 1894.
Sin, The Permanent Committee have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your report on the burial work done during the recent epidemic of plague, and your suggestions for disposing of the dead in any future epidemic of the same nature. In thanking you for your report and sugges tions, the Permanent Committee desire at the same time to convey to you their hearty thanks and acknowledgments for the promptitude with which you acceded to their suggestion that you should undertake the very dangerous and disagreeable duty of organising and superintending the coffining and removal of the plague-stricken dead and the management of the plague cemeteries, and for the very efficient manner in which you took up and performed that duty at a time when the very
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