1924-04-10 — Page 5

Page

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1924,

"HEUNGSHAN" WRECK

INQUIRY. board engine full speed astern and

EVIDENCE COMPLETED.

The Countermanding of the Captain's Order.

the odds are we should have clear- ed the Rock. By the time I realised that wo were at the buoy Was right under the bow.

יי.

Capt. Thomas suld he saw no light; the look-out man reported.no light. If he had seen the light he would have put the helm hard a-port and they might just possibly have cleared it to the North.

THE CHINA MAIL.

CONSTRUCTION COY.

AN ENCOURAGING START.

$2,000,000 WORTH OF CONTRACTS,

&

Construction

ONE YEARS' . JAIL.

SANITARY BOARD SECRE

TARY SENTENCED.

MISAPPROPRIATING FUNDS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) That the difficultles earlier experienced had been overcome

Singapore, April 9. and un encouraging beginning R. A. Boardman, former secro- order for "hard a-port"?-No, had speech made by the Chairman (Mr.tary Board, was sentenced to a Did you hear the pilot give the made, was the substance of the tary of the Kuala Lumpur Sani, done so there would have been R. G. Shewan) at the second year's fireworks on the bridge-(Laugh- annual meeting of the Hongkong arising out of defalcations.

imprisonment, charges ter.) It was through things like Engineering and this that I have invented a tell-tale Company Ltd. to-day.

[Boardman was charged with Others present besides Mr. criminally misappropriating funds. system which all our ships have adopted. They are too little discs Shewan, were father Robert and of the Board to the extent of $800. moving on the bridge which show Mr. J. Scott Harston (Directors), Mr. B. W. Elles, late chairman of S. C Cook (Secretary) and the the Sanitary Board, and Board- the way the helm is moving.

Cross-examined by Mr. Potter, following shareholders:-Messrs. man was secretary of the Board Capt. Thomas said he had never F. J. Easterbrook, A. W. Smith, from March, 1921 to April, 1922, reported to the Company this M. A. Razack, Fung Tat-hang, The secretary's job was a very Woo Yee-tak, Chan Chan-nam and responsible one. As an account- countermanding of orders.

L. Gain.

ant, Boardman had no qualifica- tions as far as examinations were concerned, but he was quite a com- petent accountant.}

13

Addressing the meeting Mr. Shewan said

The inquiry into the stranding of a long established ship_master of the s.s.Heungshan" In the like Capt. Thomas, but he con Canton, River closed this morning sidered that in his opinion it was Liqut. the duty of Capt. Thomas when he at the Harbour Office. Comdr. Conway Hake, R.N.R. learnt that the pilot had counter President of the Court announced manded his orders, to have re that the decision would be made ported the important fact to the public in due course,

company. Eleventh hour evidence Before the Court adjourned last was apt to be discredited. evening, Gäpt. R D. Thomas, Referring to the pilot, Mr. Potter master of the "Heangshan" was said that the man, had show a re- subjected to 1 severe crossmarkable record for times, He examination by Mr. Eldon Potter had a phenomenal memory which who represented the original was deserving of better things than owners, the Hongkong, Canton a pilot on a river boat. The Chief and Macao Steamboat Co., Ltd. Officer had told the Court that he I put it to you the Company Capt. Thomas was recalled this saw a light on Junk Rock on the never knew of this until this morn- morning by the members. of the starboard side and that in the ing Berause I had already asked

"As the report, accounts and Court.

ordinary course he had expected for a Court of Engiry and I knew to see It on the other side, the whole thing would then be auditors' report have been in your This' clearly indicated that sifted. Mr. Arnold, the Company's hands for several days, I propose the ship had gone considerably Secretary, wrote up to me and said with your permission, to adopt out of her course. What the the Directors had given orders that the usual procedure and treat the For the reasons Court had to decide, submitted the I was to ask for a Court of Enquiry, same as read.

ALLEGED. Mr. Potter was: ought the captain I immediately wrote back to the mentioned in our last report the to have known when he came to Harbour Master asking for the accounts before you are for the

half-year only. Although we are. (Reuter's American

Service.) Sun Chau village that he was near Court to be held. the Junk' Rock and what steps Then Iput it to you that it should able to report a small profit for the to have taken. The have been your duty to have done half-year we are still left with an

Washington, April 9. ought he

It was com- adverse balance of $34.737.41 as In the Senate, Senator Wheeler captain of a ship was expected to so?-I don't agree.

the Court. Why the result of the first year's work-denounced the Federal jury indict- take every precaution. It was for ing before

ing.

ment as the product of a damnable the Court to decide whether the should I? captain knew he was passing the

conspiracy.

be to have taken.

The chief officer and a deck band were called to give evidence. Mr. James P. Gibson, the chief officer, gave a corroborative ver- sion of the captain's evidence, but added that he saw a light on Junk Rock, a very faint glimmer, which he could only make out when the buoy was almost below the ship.

Very Faint Glimmer. Passing through the Iron Barrier, they picked up the lights of an other steamer and a little later saw The Captain sampans ahead.

SENATORS' HONOUR.

"DAMNABLE CONSPIRACY”

1

Senator Walah, who supported

gave the order to starboard. Then, village and if so what steps ought ship belonged to the Company unsatisfactory result for the first him, introduced a resolution sup- |

went

(7)

the Chief Officer, he looked over the starboard side and saw a very faint glimmer of a green light, right alongside the ship, He exclaimed it was Junk Rock buoy. The order was given for the engines to stop immediately. Mr. Gibson said in answer to

Mr. G. K. Hall Brutton, that he did not see that light until he looked down from the bridge When the ship struck, she began 'to list to starboard. As soon as the ship was beached he made arrangements with the captain of the s.s. "Kwongsai" for the transhipment of the passengers, There was no loss of life, nor

panic.

Cross examined, the chief officer admitted that the No. 1 pilot gave orders without consulting him at all, but witness was ready to correct the quarter master if he did not steer his proper course.

"Were you surprised that when you got near the Sun Chau village you did not pick up the light? Naturally.

Three Causes of Accident. Mr. Bratton for the Captain and the China Coast Officers Guild, cummed up his argument in three points. He said there were three

causes of the accident. The first was that while the pilot 'was waiting for the captain's answer

cause was that there was

and

the third was

Mr. Potter: First, because the

and, secondly, in your own interest, you should have done so steering of the

Roverting to the question of the

Heungshan Capt. Thomas denied that he was so far out of his course to be entirely wrong.

"

Result "Not Unsatisfactory." On the whole this is not an

year's working of a new Company like ours. As the Chairman at the ported by the Democratic leader, last meeting pointed out we had to Senator Robinson appointing a time and money were expended investigate the charges against start from the beginning and much committee of five Senators to before we could get together a Wheeler.

trained staff and the considerable The resolution was carried nem amount of plant and equipment con.

is essential for the

Mr. Potter: I would suggest that being in a position to see both which

[Great Falls, April 9-The

Senator Wheeler for accepting a retaining fee to influence the granting of oil land permits after be became a senator.--Reuter.]

BRITAIN'S TRADE.

to his suggestion that they anchor banks of the river, you should business of a large contractor, and Federal Grand Jury has indicted at Tai Shak-tau, the ship ran have realised that you were out of then we had to set to work to further than was usual; the second your course? I should say Sir, secure business. To do that we that we masters of vessels who took some contracts, at first, which expected would bring us light on the Junk Rock buoy ply up and down the river, day we

a profit, though only a that the after day, year after year, see the

small a but which, as matter order regarding the helm was bank as a defined line and we one, changed. There had been con- know fairly well just where we of fact, have left some, small clusive proof that there was no are, but you must realise that in losses. They, however, served our light visible on the buoy and as circumstances as these, an error of purpose which cards the position of the ship, hea very few feet is dangerous. submitted that the pilot took the wrong course and that his order to port the helm which countermand ed the captain's order, was obeyed by the quarter-master.

You suggest that the absence of the light was the cause of the accident?-Absolutely.

Captain Thomas stated that the the light was burning when the Mr. Brutton contended that every following ship, the "Kwong Sal" thing had been done by the ship's arrived and also that he had seen captain and officers; they had Captain Sweeting of the Canton seasmanship qualities and he asked Sweeting, on arrival at the strand- shown a fine foresight and true Harbour Office personally. Captain the Court to exonerate the captained steamer, Informed Captain from all blame..

Thomas that the light keeper had

was

to bring MARCH'S ADVERSE BALANCE ourselves before the public as experienced designers and con- (Reuter's General Service.) structors in reinforced concrete by. the most up-to-date methods, In

London, April 9. The Board of Trade returns: this respect we may claim some measure of success, portions of our show the imports for March. as increase of work having been subjected to £103,000,000, very severe tests with satisfactory £70,000 with February. have also been encountered in results. Unexpected difficulties

Exports were £61,000,000, a Don't you think that if you had

ment contracts and some losses connection with certain Govern decrease of £6,000,000, got that far and not reached the

have been sustained, which, I am light that some measures ought to

sorry to say, were partly due to a have been taken ? No, because

At yesterday afternoon's session, mentioned the fact that the want of forethought and proper we were going slow and not doing Capt. Thomas said he had been in ahove six or seven knots an hour the service of the Hongkong, the rock and the buoy, and there the work, on the part of the person Heungshan" had passed between supervision in the early stages of If you had been on the starboard Canton and Macao Steamboat Co., fore would be holed on the port then in charge of these contracts. side sooner, would you have picked up the light sooner?--It was just / for 28 years and 9 months and inside. As a matter of fact the ship These difficulties have since been a question of my walking across/command for 25 years and 6 was holed on the starboard side, overcome and work on the con- the bridge; the light to my idea months. Referring to the "Heung- and from this Guptain Thomas tracts is now proceeding more been the cause of the death of a when we passed it was a filthy, shan's journey up the Canton deduced that the ship's arrival had satisfactorily. and dirty lamp with the light barely showing through.

River, he said that at Tai Shak Tao awakened the lightkeeper, and the

it would be

Furture Prospects.

The method of piling which is

ELECTROCUTED,

MAN TAMPERS WITH WIRES.

Electrocution is presumed to have

Chinese who, though he was not employed by the Hongkong Elec- tri Co., Ltd., tampered with some wires at Pokfulam yesterday after-

zoon.

ال

the pilot said that would be a suit- confusion gave him an opportunity able place to anchor, but witness to trim the light without being "Fooching" Near.

As regards the future, we need could see the banks on either side observed. Questioned by the Court, the and considered it better to go on,

not feel at all apprehensive as we Replying to members of the have enough work in hand to keep chief officer said he saw the Barrier They passed three sampans and Court, Captain Thomas said it was our plant, equipment and staff fully their evening me ontside a mat Some coolies who were having lights 600 feet away. When the he thought he sighted three or his firm opinion that the light employed so that our overhead ex shed near Sassoon Road saw him Heungshan struck Junk Rock, she four more the sterboard side. keeper allowed the light to dim penses may be based on the lowest climb a standard on the hillside. was within two and a half lengths He gave the order "Starboard the down and retrimmed it at about possible percentage of cost," In of the Fooching."

The look-out man who was watch-to the starboard wing to see if again. He lived in the village of contracts for work now in progress the polo, the spectators noticed a helm " and the Chief Officer went 5 a.m. when the traffic commenced this respect I may tell you that Shortly after he reached the top of ing on the f'c'sle at the time of the they were clear and immediately Sun Chau, which was within a amount to more than $2,000,000 censed was geen to rolocoe his hold bright flesh from the wires. Do mishap, told the Court that he was exclaimed "JC; it's the very short distance of the ordered to shout out to the bridge Junk Rock buoy" and the ship rock, and whenever he saw a light or other struck almost immediately.

a known as "Frank!" Piling System and fall to the ground. simple matter to slip off in al has been thoroughly tested in Subsequent investigations made craft ahead. He did not see the

The order to stop was passed, sampan when necessary. His pre-actual foundations and has not it apparent that he was fixing in Junk Rock light until after the ship and then as the boat was swinging vious experience of the light was only given all the results promised plugs which connected the current struck; then he noticed a very round he gave the order "Slow that it was frequently very bad. but has stood far higher tests than from the main to a branch leading faint glimmer.

ahead and hard a port" He and was sometimes only sighted at are required. We claim that this to new house on Scesson Road Capt. Haycock, of the

S.Sgrounded her on the North shore, a quarter of a mile. The man being method of piling provides both At the time of his fall he was wear. "Kwongsai" stated that he saw and dropped both anchors. Several allowed a certain amount of oil to stronger and cheaper foundations ing the company's regulation rubber the green light at 5.40 am. It was sampaus approached the boat, and last him over a month might very than the usual methods, particular glove on his left hand and the other not a good light, yet he could would not stop until he fired his well help himself. "Such cases hadiy in difficult or reclaimed ground, love was found at the foot of the hardly describe it, as being revolver in the air. About an hour happened in the past with certain and we hope to see this process in standard, close to his body. nearly out.

later the "Kwongsai" came along other lights on the river. It was general use for works of import-

[Sassoon Road, as recently an- In reply to the Court, Capt. and the passengers were transferr only an ordinary glohe oil lamp ance in this Colony before long.

nounced in the Gazette, is the name Haycock said if he had not seened. About 2 p.m. H.M.S." Moth" and was always rather difficult to I do not want to appear to be too given to thoroughfare leading the buoy, he would have steered came alongside and Captain Brook pick up. He had no doubt as to optimistic or to promise more than through the Dairy Farm Co.'s pre- the ship over to the other side and smith was kind enough to send a the identity of the village of Sun we can perform, but we have paid misce. One of the farms known a anchored.

wireless message to Hongkong Chau. The visibility was about a for our experience; our organisa- Saxx's Farm, presumably named The President of Court recalled asking them to send-up-a-salvage quarter of a mile at Tat Shak Tao, ton has improved with that ex- gentleman previously com Capt. Thomas and asked the chief

party as soon as possible,

and he thought ho was in the perience and as we now, with our mooted with the Dairy Farm Co. In officer and the pilot to leave the In reply to Mr. Brutton, Capt middle of the river. De Limproved organisation, are in its early days.] Court.

Thomas said that the "Heungskan" The President: Why did you had about 600 passengers on board Captain Thomas expressed a wish were six months ago, I see no Before leaving the witness box, better shape in every way than we beach the ship on the North bank and from 70 to 100 of a crew.

Thomas? Because I

to make a statement, and consent reason why we should not be Capt.

Mr. Brutton: From Tal Shak being given, he said:-I made an able to lay before you a much New York, April g. In the noticed that as soon as I put the Tac to Junk Rock the course engines slow ahead she was usually is S.W. by SS, When or of judgment in not taking a more encouraging report this time sixteenth round Doctor Lasker beat Reti, Tartakower beat swinging that way and to have did you notice that this course was cerned. I thought the case so

statement-from-everybody-con- next year?-------

As will be seen from the report Janowski. Alekhin drew with started her swinging the other way not kept? Some days later. would have taken time and pro-

plain and straightforward, that before you, Mr. J. H. Taggart has Edward Lasker. Capablanca drew What were you conct strating on bably she would have sunk in deep this particular night? As always such a proceeding would be un recently retired from our Board of with Marshall-Reuter, water. The second reason was be- in rain and fog: on objects, look has been allowed to make his own of acknowledging our great in- neccessary; therefore each man Directors. I take this opportunity

Moscow, April 8-The trial cause I feared the hard bottom of ing into the compass is blinding statement..

debtedness.to Mr. Taggart for his has been concluded at Kieff of a Larkins Foint.

and the actual steering and setting

of well-known local The Court adjourned until 10.30 valuable assistance as first Manag; number

Social- This pilot has been running on He had had many years exper-am.to-day.

ing Director of this Company, and Intelligentsia, mostly the river since 1915 and has only lence under me as Quartermaster

I much regret that he feels it neces Democrats on à charge of treason. just been licensed? None of the in the "Fatshan and he came

sary to take this step as he cons- The following sentences were river boat pilots are licensed with me to the "Heungshan" In

ders that his position as Managing delivered Tchebakov, Yakovlev, except in a few stray cases. This 1907. Later I made him No. 2 The Chief Secretary to Govern Director of certain other companies Inovsky, and Madame Vinogradova pilot was the third on the Carton pilot; in 1914, No. 1 pilot. With ment, F.M.S., records with deep might lead to a confict of inter were sentenced to death, the two river. It is ancient custom and such a man I concluded he was a regret the death of Mr. H. H. ests in connection with building brothers Vasilenko, also Tcheloen

Smirnov and Telpygo. usage. The Hongkong Canton safe man. I checked him many Upton of the F.M.S. Public Works contracts now in hand and under sky, and Macao Steamboat Co., Ltd. times by looking at the compass,

received ten years' imprisonment, Department, Acting Director of consideration, have been running with unlicensed When did you know that your Public Works, Trengganu, which I now beg to propose that the Anna Kapoustinskia, seven years pilots since 1862: the men are born order had been disobeyed 24 to occurred at Besut on March 26. report and accounts of the Com and the remainder five years. The 28 hours afterwards. The pilot The deceased spent many years in pany for the half-year ended 31st condemned people have the right within forty-eight Lieut. Comdr. Hake poluted out then told me that he had given a Negri Sembilan, and only left that December 1923, as presented, be to appeal that according to the Canton River contrary order.

State toward the end of last year, adopted, and when this has been hours-Reuter, Pilotage regulations, a fine of $100 Why the order to starboard? after botny Executive Engineer for duly seconded, questions as to the was liable to be imposed for theTo miss the sampans. Had my some time, to take up the appolat-report and accounts may be put. using of an unlicensed pilot. order not been countermanded woment in Kelantan. The deceased The Chairman's proposal, having

This completed the evidence should have infased the sampans, was stationed in Selangor for a been seconded, by Father Robert, Auditor, Messrs. Lowe Bingham and Mr. Potter in addressing the one of which was at the Junk Rock time in 1909 and again in 1922, but was carried, unanimously, Reso- and Matthews ata remuneration of Court said he appeared for the buoy. Immediately I learnt that spent most of his time in Negri lutions were then adopted re of $800. The proposers and company in order to assist the one of them was at Junk Rock Sembilan since he first joined the electing the retiring Directors, Sir seconders were respectively Court. Speaking for himself it was buoy I should then have put the service in 1901. The funeral took Paul Chater and Mr. Scott Mesure Razack and Smith, and distasteful to criticise the conduct helm hard port,, ordered star place of Kutala Trengganu, 2. Härston.. anda re-electing tho Fung Tas-hân” and Exsterbrook...

Canton River Pilots. ·

on the river.

of the course is left to the pilots.

►

SILVERWARE

WE

HAVE THE LARGEST AND MOST

UP TO DATE STOCKS OF

WEDDING PRESENTS. PRESENTATION GIFTS SPORTS TROPHIES

AND

BIRTHDAY GIFTS

MADE BY

MAPPING AND WEBB

AND OTHER

HIGH CLASS ENGLISH SILVERSMITHS.

LANE, CRAWFORD LTD.

SILVERSMITHS AND JEWELLERS.

HONGKONG HOTEL, BUILDINGS (CORNER QUEEN'S ROAD AND PEDDER STRERT.) HONGKONG,

PHONE 4567.

LAST NIGHT ON THE

BACK PORCH

FOX-TROT

PHONE. 4567.

21

TWELVE O'CLOCK

AT NIGHT FOX-TROT

BIG COLUMBIA SELLERS

AT

ANDERSON'S

HALF PAST

TEN

CHINESE WALTZ

MICKEY

DONOHUE

WALTZ

PURE FRUIT ESSENCE

BANANA

PINEAPPLE

MAKES REFRESHING SUMMER DRINKS 85 canta will make 33 ozs syrup

RASPBERRIES

POMEGRANATE

MANDARINE

LEMON

CHERRY

STRAWBERRY APRICOTS ORANGEADE

THE CHINA DISPENSARY.

82, Queen's Boud Central. East of Central Hongkong.

GREEN ISLAND CEMENT CO., LTD.

BEST PORTLAND CEMENT

SHEWAN TOMES & Co.,

General Managers.

HONGKONG.

DYE KEN

JOHN

THE ORIGINAL

HAIG?

JOHN HAIG & 00, LE

Sole

GAN

PRICE &

C. No. 138

མར་

COR