248
24
LAKE, NOT VALLEY.
Residents' Anxious Night.
Residents at Happy Valley and the neighbourhood spent an an- xious night with the flood which commenced to rise shortly after midnight.
The race course this morning was transformed into a lake and a raging torrent of water brought down from the hills flowed be tween the Police and Craigen- gower Clubs.
A miniature Niagara Falls was created near the old scene of dam- age below the Yeung Woo Nurs- ing Home last year. The deep drain measuring 14 feet across, which was built to deal with the water from the hills, was com- pletely covered with mud and sand. Two waterfalls were seen later in the morning when the water flowed across the road into
the drain and again from there to the race track.
More Confusion. Behind the Jockey Club stand, the Protestant Cemetery wall gave way for a considerable dis- tance and the earth brought down with the torrent filled the pre- mises to a depth of several feet, Cement boulders which lined the side of the course behind the small ticket office were bodily re- moved and placed on the course. Slabs of granite brought from the road were seen everywhere on the race track and inside the football grounds. What was left of a tea booth was seen against a portion of the race track railing. Flower pots which adorned the track
edge were taken away by the flood together with the bank on which they stood.
Bridge Threatened.
It will take several weeks of toil to remove the mountain of sand and mud on the premises and race track. At the Craigengower Club, the water just reached the door and furniture left in the verandah was carried away and a part of it was recovered this morning. Garden
With
OVERLAND CHINA MAIL
vate reservoir at the top of the granite boulders being washed building having been carried away down the nullah, could be heard and a retaining wall threatening from above and sounded like other parts of the building.
omnious explosions.
STORM VICTIMS.
(No. 2998. July 22, 1926.
in the direction of Hongkong, al- though it is thought that it may curve northwards in the direction of Swatow before it arrives here.
The rescue tug was to be observed with steam up and ready for emergency this morning and the funneless H.M.S. "Ambrose," undergoing its annual overhaul was moved to the buoy for greater security.
Police Quarters Struck. The chimney of Acting Chief Inspector Aris's quarters at the Police quarters in Caine Road was struck in the early hours of this morning and considerable debris fell Inside the house. As the re- maining portion of the chimney is
The in a dangerous considered to be condition, the quarters in question have had to be vacated.
OLD MEMORIES.
in
That memorable flood of May, 1889, exceeded to-day's violence. Mr. Yee Cheong, the portrait painter whose studio is Mail" next door to the "China was an eyewitness.
He maintains that the torrents of water, which swept down Wyndham Street were even great-
July 19. Two well known members of the South China Athletic Association, Mesara. Ho Ka-lau and Yew Man- kit, who went out for a row Saturday afternoon had a narrow escape from death as a result of the squall which sprang up towards six o'clock.
מס
The boat was near Cust Rocks when caught in the squall and row ing became very difficult. The two occupants eventually determined to conserve their energy and let the boat drift and fortunately the set of the current was towards Kow- loon Bay Instead of the numerous rocks in the neighbourhood. They were able to reach the shore and after sheltering for a time in a farmer's house they arrived at Kowloon City.
By Courtesy of Wah Taz Yat Po
Chinese cruiser "Hai Yung" which was to have left for Pratas yesterday at 1 p.m. with Hongkong officials aboard is still in harbour, wireless messages having been exchanged between the vessel and Pratas as a result of which it was decided that it would be dangerous to attempt to make the shoal for the present. The typhoon had not, at the time of the message, reached Pratas but seas were very high and wind force 5 and increasing.
liminary arrangements are that the party which is to witness the inauguration of the wireless
A village at Kowloon city, entirely inundated, with the top of a desolate matshed showing.
reats both here and at the other er 37 years ago.
As to-day, clubs were reduced to useless wood. he said, the rain "scraped out all the torrent flowing into the loose mud of the higher levels Bowrington Canal, a portion of the and deposited them in the flat road at the end of the bridge near streets. It took months to clear the Tramway offices opposite
sway the mess, Craigengower collapsed and the masonry portion of the bridge xt Mr. Yee Cheong also says that started at this spot was swept away by the almost the same hour as that of
the previous storm flood.
The railway track of the Sang to-day, and ended by the after. Lee contractors on the other side noon.
con-
of the canal also suffered siderable damage by the founda- tions being washed away.
FACTORY IN DANGER
The paper mill at Aberdeen (Tai Shing Paper Mill Co.) is reported to be in danger owing to the pri-
He saw a European lady swept down Wyndham Street and only saved by the presence of mind of a Portuguese resident who closed a manhole and prevented the lady from falling into it.
In those old days, there was a
Their relatives and friends had naturally became very anxious as to their safety as nothing had been heard or seen of them in spite of repeated searchings by a Water Police launch. They were ΓΡΑ Arsured by the telephone message which the two victims of the storm were able to send about 11 p.m.
THE TYPHOON.
July 17,
Pre-
station on the shoal will leave on Tuesday next.
from its present path it is expect- If the typhoon does not diverge
ed here on Sunday.
The American Consulate re- ceived the following from Manila last night:-
6.55 p.m.. July 16.-Cyclone in Lat. 19deg. N., Long. 119deg. E.. moving N.W.
a.m.
Later.
8.30
17th, typhoon in about 116deg. Long. E.. 20deg. lat. N., moving W.N.W.
This morning in the harbour
This morning, No. 1 signal gave there were indications of antici- place to No. 4 signal which means
big square nullalı under the pations of the arrival of the that the gale is likely to come street surface. The echo of big typhoon which is slowly moving towards the Colony from the East.
No. 2998. July 22, 1926.]
THE AFTERMATH.
OVERLAND CHINA
July 201
With the Peak isolated and the only means of access to Repulse Bay via the Aberdeen Road (even this has to be negotiated very carefully); with mud inches deep everywhere in the main thorough fares and in banks where it has been removed for transit purposes, Hongkong has still much besides the memory of its severity to re- mind it of the terrific storm which raged on Sunday night and Monday morning,
Much, however, has been accom- plished as a result of gangs of men working under supervision until a late hour last night and early this morning. A tram service to the King Edward Hotel was possible first thing this morning and later in the day a restricted service al districts was run. The Roads Department is concentrating on the clearance of the main highways and is able to promise provisional clearances very shortly.
Stubbs Road.
Stubbs Road and Magazine Gap Road have suffered more than any others, Stubbs Road more particu Carly between Bowen Road and Morrison Hill Road. Here, there are numerous landslides the worst slip being where the sand shoot etaging goes across. This will re- quire the clearing of enormous quantities of earth and rock bul it is hoped by Friday to get & passuga sufficient to enable care or "buses to negotiate Stubbs Road.
Magazine Gap Road.
In the case of most of the other roads it is expected that provisional arrangements will be made which will enable the passage of traffic within a few days. Magazine Gap Road at one part is breached to its full width and it will be necessary to erect temporarily a bridge. The Peak Road is also partly breached in one place. The only means of access to the Peak, in fact, is by Legotiating on foot the old Peak Road and Wanchai Gap Road, in the case of the latter some nasty gaps having to be negotiated.
Before the Aberdeen portion of the road was cleared sufficiently to allow of traffic the footpath from the Peak to Pokfulam was used by some residents who took car as far as Pokfulam and walked up via the reservoir.
Repulse Bay Rond. Good progress has already been made in clearing the new road to Repulse Bay from Bowen Road on warda. This is very largely clear There are numerous slips in the neighbourhood of Shaukiwan but it is anticipated that the whole of the round-the-island road will be open by the end of the week.
ed.
('aime Road.
The lower portion of Caine Road is closed to traffic by the subsidence of the bank near the Roman Catho. lic Cathedral and the opening out of the road through the Cathedral
which accounted for the flooding of Wyndham Street through Glenculy. It is now possible to go through Glenealy as far as Caine Roul, by chair or foul.
A large gang were at work this morning clearing the obstruction at Csine Road. A stream of water which still Nowa from the hill has now been diverted into the side channel of Arbuthnot Road.
The easiest way to reach Caine Road at present is for motorists to proceed up Garden Road as far as the Peak tram station. Then Tower
Photo by Yong Ming.
REPULSE BAY CONDITIONS.
this morning.
25
About 85 bugs of mail coming foreign countries were
Particulars as to the plight of from
Repulse Bay residents not available damaged in the cellars of the Post yesterday on account of their being Office. Most of the mail came from virtually marooned have since been Singapore, Seattle, and the Straits. received. At 3 am. on the night. Together with it was also damaged or rather the morning, of the storm, 10 bags of parcel post for Hong- the water rushed down the hills Fong coming from the same cout- with terrific force and swept tries.
Residents in the Peak and the through the big dining room of the Hotel, carrying all before it. The upper level districts were deprived staff were early on the scene but yesterday of their daily mail due Until practically powerless to save the to lack of transportation. carpets and furniture from being more facilities are available, the damaged. At eight d'elock yester- Peak and upper level residents will day morning the lower floors and have to content themselves with passages were dooded to within five only one delivery daily instead of inches of water, and with the kit two. The pastmen will be engaged chens under water breakfast was in the afternoons in clearing the Part of the din- Post Office from the 4 inches depth ing room floor has sunk badly and of water and the mud in the base- it looks as though it will be some ment.
a mukeshift one.
time before the former polished sur- The "President Madison" and which face will be regained. Motorists the "Empress of Russia," tried all roads at an early hour, were scheduled to arrive in Hong- foding it was impossible to pass, kung last Sunday, The Shuukiwin Road was obstruct- yesterday afternoon.
Looking along Des Voeux Road Central, on July 19, eastwards, along the
Hongkong Hotel front and the new Realty building, with Alexandra Building on the left. The mud and height of the flood left visible marks on the surround ings.
Albert Road, along Wyndham Street past the Dairy Farm to the Central Police Station, and up Arbuthnot Road. The junction at Caine Road has now been sufficiently cleared for both up and down traffic through Arbuthnot Road.
Kowloon Roads.
With regard to Kowloon, both the coastal and Taipo Roads are closed, the worst slips being the other side of Tsin Wan. Two bridges have been carried away. Temporary bridges will be erected and it is ex- pected to make provisional arrange meats for passage of traffic by the end of the week.
ed by landslides which made pås- sage impossible, und the new road to Hongkong was found to have agaping hole halfway across the road just at the top of the hill lead ing to Repulse Bay.
THE POST OFFICE.
The Geneval Post-Office
Was
arrived only
The delay
vas due to the typhoon which the liners encountered.
by
PRINTERS LOSS.
Damage of $10,000 was suffered the Ye Olde Printerie Ltd.
whose establishment is located at the basement of the China Build- ing.
The damaged goods consisted mostly of cover papers, art papers, and coloured papers and machinery. approximately valued at $10,000.
The damaged goods are only in- sured against fire but not against water. The Fire Brigade was call- ed to the scene to pump the water and which was over 4 ft. deep.
at the time of going to press, the
Brigade was still at work.
MED-
It will probably take the agement over a week to clear the place from water and debris, an.I
to completely resume business.
WANCHAI DISTRICT.
In the long list of damage in the Wanchai district no one is reported to have been killed or injured as a direct result of the food.
A Chinese electrician was taken to hospital yesterday with injuries received in a fall from the first Hoor verandah of a house at Stone Nullah lane. He was repairing an electric light wire by leaning over the verandah and fell to the ground on receiving a shock.
BAY VIEW DISTRICT.
A feature of the damage in the yesterday dooded in the basement Bay View district was the dien up to 3 ft. deep and the assistance pearance of the market at Tai Hang The structure, about 100 of the Fire Brigade was obtained village. to pump out the water. They feet long and standing on stone to have been worked from 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. but pillars, is stated owing to the numerous calls on the carried away by the flood. services of the Brigade they had to investigations were made yesterday gbandon the work and resume it after the water had subsided there
When