1929-03-11 — Page 1

NEW 1929

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SECOND EDITION

The

5 0r

Gwer

Limaging Di

China Mail

CARL ZEISS ENAB

No. 27,124

HONG KONG

ESTABLISHÉD 1846

MONDAY, MARCH 11, 1929. PRICE $3,00 Per Month.

WE CARRY COMPLETE STOCKA AT REASONABLE PRICES.

DISASTROUS FIRE IN KING. EDWARD HOTEL

FIVE EUROPEAN FATALITIES

SEVERAL PERSONS REPORTED MISSING

HEARTRENDING SCENES

Graphic Stories By Eyewitnesses of Conflagration

WILD PANIC AMONGST HOTEL INMATES

The King Edward Hotel was the scene of a disastrous fire in the early hours of this morning, the outbreak being attended with loss of life, European and Chinese,

Up to 11 a.m. the number of dead actually known was nine, as follows:--

General's Courage

General Chan Ming-shu. chair- man of the Provincial Government of Canton, commander of the Na- tionalist 11th Army Corps and De- fence Commissioner of the South of Kwangtung province, is to be congratulated an

LAZARUS

The Opticien,

13. Queen's Road, Central.

| ENGLAND OUT FOR EARTHQUAKE IN│1,887,112 QUESTIONS

519 RUNS

THE FIFTH TEST

his Indomit- 32 ADDED BEFORE LAST WICKET

able pluck on climbing down the wall (on which there is scaffolding) at the back of the Hotel (facing Alexandra-building) in the darkness and also assisting his wife down until they could go no further and had to jump a distance. Mrs. Chan was injured in the chest and Gen- eral in his right hip,

General Chan and his wife and his staff were to have left for Nan-

Mr. William Woods, British,of the W. E. Woods Co. of Wellington, New Zealand, owners of king to attend the third national the Great Woods Peppermint Cure.

Mr. P. Bailie (French).

FALLS

AUSTRALIA AT BAT

At the lunch interval to-day, the third day of the Fifth Test Match at Melbourne, Australia had made 19 runs without loss in reply to England's 1st innings score of 517 runs.

Leyland and White added 32 runs in the morning, bringing the total for the tenth wicket partnership to

NEW ZEALAND

FELT IN CAPITAL

FOR

MUSSOLINI

DICTATOR'S WORK

OVER A WIDE AREA BUT LITTLE | GRANTED 65,000 AUDIENCES AS

LOSS REPORTED

RAILWAY LINE DAMAGED

FASCIST HEAD

ITALY DESIRES PEACE

Wellington, Yesterday.

Rome, Yesterday. There has been a severe earth- "Legislative work and the adap- quake In the Province of Canter-tation of control and the creation bury with minor shocks in Welling-of new institutions has been only ton and Christchurch.

part of my work. I have granted The centre of the disturbance 65,000 audiences and interested was at Arthur's Pass where the myself in 1.887,112 questions refer- railway line was damaged; but ring to citizens, that reached my traffic is likely to be resumed to-private secretariat."

Thus Signor Mussolini, who was Practically every chimney at wildly ovated at the Royal Opera Arthur's Pass village was de- House by an audience of 4,000 in- There were 15,000 spectators at molished, but nobody was injured.cluding Cabinet Members, 400 Generni Election candidates and all Melbourne when the game reopened-Reuter.

the prefects. this morning, states Router. The weather was hot and the sky hazy. THE CHINA CRISIS Grimmett did not put in a reappear- ance.

congress of the Nationalist Party.

47, before they were separated

Leyland Magnificent

A few months ago, at the time he

for appen- operation in Canton dicitis. He and his wife are

A European lady believed to be the wife of Mr. D. J. Robson, Naval Store Officer, Royal Naval assumed offee, he underwent an Yurd, who lived with her husband at the hotel.

Another European man as yet unidentified.

A Japanese woman of about 25 years of age.

Stephen Kish, American, 2nd class fireman of the U.S.S. "Memphis."

One Chinese man, named Chung (on the staff of General Chat Ming-shu).

Two other Chinese men.

Injured

General Chan Ming-shu, Civil Governor of Canton.

Mrs. Chan Ming-shu.

Andrew Piccioli (American), 28 years of age, of the U.S.S. "Memphis." One hotel cook and two room "boys."

in-

the early forties. Both were burned about the body and face and their hair was badly ainged before they escaped.

morrow..

GENERAL LI TSUNG-JEN RESIGNS

LETTER FROM CHIANG

Shanghai, To-day.

The 500 was hoisted in 594 minutes and shortly afterwards Leyland was dismissed, putting up a catch to Fairfax at cover off Oxenham. The Yorkshiraman compiled 187 runs in all and gave a magnificent display of driving to the off and late cutting. His in nings occupied just 300 minutes the Wu-Han Divisional 7

and he knocked up soventeen 4's. With White making and extraa totalling 13, England were thus out

The origin of the blaze is at present unknown. It is presumed to have started near the main staircase, probably in the public bar, around three o'clock this morning. The flames took a west- wardly direction and appear to have wreaked most damage to the rooms on the upper floors looking on the alleyway between the hotel and the Alexandra Building. The top floor of the adjoining hotel, the Savoy, was gutted.

Missing

The missing include Mr. Enos Seth, of the well-known local family, who was on a visit to his cousins in Hong Kong.

The body of Mr. Douglas John Robson, husband of the lady reported dead above, was identi- fied in hospital this afternoon.

MR. ROBSON'S BODY FOUND

At the Government Civil Hospi- tal, where they are now under- going treatment, the best attention was given to General and Mrs. Chan, practically the whole staff being up from the time the first word got through.

Other persons who had not been killed by jumping down from the higher floors were also attended to. Of those who perished by leaping Into the streets all died very short- ly afterwards, with the exception of the Japanese lady who passed for a total of 519. away after admission to hospital.

· Mussolini, reviewing the work of, his regime, expressed the opinion that the terrorism of Fascism had quite faded.

G.E.C. SHARES

FURTHER STATEMENT AS TO

NEW ISSUE

He compared the former and contemporary terrorisms and said for the de- the special tribunal fence of the state had acquitted As To clarify his attitude in the 4,000 out of the 5,000 tried. Hunan situation consequent en the regards foreign policy he said that Political pared to defend her interests in dismissal of General Lu Ti-ping by Italy desired peace but was pre- Council, General Li Taung-jen yes- any part of the world.--Reuter. terday telegraphed his resignation substantive concurrent from all posts in the Central Government Quiet Opening

and from the chairmanship of the Australia's innings opened quiet-Wu-Han Divisional Political Coun¬ ly, there being four maidens in the eil.

Two runs were In his resignation, Li Taung-fen first nine overs. then put on, Immediately after atates that he has been faithfully which Jackson sent two balls of oberving the instruction of the

Sir Huge Hirst states that the Central authorities in the hope of

was made under a complete mis- understanding, the issus, being Beg to Be Relieved mission of the national revolution.

He said: "Now that the Divi. made to the British public and not discrimination sional Political Councils and head-exclusively to General Electric 88 quarters of the 4th Army Group are shareholders. No

about to be abolished, it is fitting was practised as alleged and no that I should conclude the duties of preference given to any class of

shareholders. chairman of the Wu-Han Divisional Council and commander of the 4th

A “MEJUNDEERSTANDING"

London, Yesterday,

According to Mr. J. H. Witchell, man's body, as stated above, was part of the large lamp that pro-friends and relatie were given por ata flying for four easy ficBitating estir completion of the United States shareholders' protest

ENGLAND-18T INNINGE

The Civil Hospital staff were given a very busy is attending to the cases as they arrived and answering a stream of inquiries from interested persos. Pathe tle scenes bated when verandsh, and thejects from the Ice House-street mission to look into the Hospital's manager of the Hotel, the alarm was found on the

D. R. Jardine, c Oldfield, b given within a minute or two of charred remains were subsequently side of the Hotel and then jumped mortuary to ascertain if they could J. B. Hobbs, l.b.w., b Ryder., 142

Wall .... three o'clock in the morning. Mr. removed to the Savoy Hotel, later to the ground, suffering but a few help in idestification.

It appears that

The remains of Stephen Kish of auperficial cuts. Witchell was awakened by the blow-being placed in a 'coffin,

Mr. Enos Seth, who occupied room most of the residents who leaped the U.S. Navy are to be cremated

b Wall ing of police whistles and shouting In the street. Thinking that it may 503-Mr. Seth's whereabouts, up to from floors higher than that on and shipped back to America for have been a scuffle among late re- a rather late hour this morning, which the dining room is situated burial.

Late Mr. Robson vellers or the chasing of a thief by were the subject of much anxiety, the first floor-were injured. the police, he took no notice of the nobody seeming to know for certain

19

Fairfax, W. R. Hammond, c

E. Tyldesley, e.Hornibrook, b

Ryder

31

e Fairfax, b

12

95

C

Fairfax b

Others who were resident in the Mr. Robson was assistant Naval G. Duckworth,

.Hornibrook noise. Within a few minutes, how-whether he slept in the Hotel last Hotel when the outbreak occurred Store Officer, Royal Naval Dock- ever, he observed smoke pouring night or not. Mr. Wentz, another included Mr. Jennings Wong (Mr. yard and was $2 years of age. He E. Hendren, c Hornibrook, b under the door of his room and also resident (who escaped unhurt) sald Wong Yat-ying), Mr. Ma, Mr Y. had been in the Colony about a coming a through which were open.

Jumping out of bed and dashing along the corridor of the fifth floor of the Hotel, on which his room is located, he made for the main stair. case, up which smoke was ascending in huge clouds. On reaching the lending of the third floor he was met by the flames, raing in an angry, crackling roar.

A Charred Body

Mr. Witchell thereupon retraced his steps, rushing up the stairways and along the corridors, opening doors and crying "fire." On his way to his own rooms-505 and

Rames.

Fairfax

Total

Extras

4

case,

The recent announcement of an

Army Group. I beg also to be re-issue (not yet made) stated that leved of my position as a member the now shares styled "British or- of the State Council so that I may dinary shares" could not be held by any foreigner or corporation controlled by foreigners.Reuter. 187 have complete rest.

American Holdings,

London, Yesterday. Sir Hugo Hirst's reply to the 9 of precaution but I understand there American Committee of the Gen- eral Electric Company asserts that 13 are troop movements up the Yar- the fact that Americans hold 60 per

"As regards the "Hunan 4while I was not there at the time of the affair, it was an emergency measure and taken only as a matter

15

taze.

619

"At this time when Communists cent. of the Company's shares is Fall of wickets: 1 for 64 runs

are waiting eagerly for an oppor-likely to have a damaging effect

ал uprlaing it from a trading point of view.

He declares that the Board view- (Jardine), 2 for 146 (Hammond), tunity to stage

ed with grave alarm the steady diminution in the number of Bri- 8 for 235 (Hobbs), 4 for 240 behoves the authorities to guard (Tyldesley), 6 for 260 (Duck against being utilised by them."

Control Ineffective

and are con- worth), 6 for 401 (Hendren), 7 for

Previous to the despatch of Gen-tish shareholders, 409 (Larwood), 8 for 428 (Geary),

a the windows, this morning that he last saw Mr. Y. Chat and Mrs. Lee. Mr. year and was well known as a M. Leyland,

Oxenham Seth in the lounge of the Hotel at Wong, who is connected with the portaman, playing football for the

Canton Finance Department, is in Kowloon FC., and as a Volunteer. H. Larwood, b Wall 11.30 last night.

Mr. and Mrs. S. I. Robson, who hospital.

He turned out for his Club as re- G. Geary, b Hornibrook. occupied room 501. Mrs. Robson,

The above-quoted names appear cently as Saturday last, occupying M. W. Tate, e substitute,. b

Hornibrook In the course according to an eyewitness of to comprise the residents of the full back position. the tragedy, jumped from the Hotel, though there may have been of the game he was injured on the J. C. White, not out verandah and died subsequently ather transient visitors there, a knee and it is surmised that this from the results of hor fall. thorough check being impossible accident may have rendered his es- There was no trace of Mr. Rob this morning by reasor of the sad-cape from the burning building a son up to ten o'clock this morrden condition of the Hotel register difficult feat. His last station was ing, when the general Impression which, when examined by a "China Sheerness. The late Mr. Robson was that he had perished in the Mall" man, had practically been reserved. in the Great War and was

duced to pulp in parts owing to the wounded in the back. It thus appears that the only action of the water with which the

The Japanese Victim survivors from the fifth-and top building was gutted. The lük in

The Japanese woman who is re for 470 (Tate), 10 for 519eral Li Tsung-jen's telegram, Mar- vinced that its action is in the best become smeared and ported dead succumbed in hospital. floor of the Hotel were the Wit places had 806 he stopped at No. 510 and chells, who made use of the emerg" some of the names were indecipher-She was clothed and

amount of jewellery when discovar- aroused Mr. Woods, who responded ency staircase.

ed outside the Hotel by Mr. Plew, with a sleepy "all right." As after-

Up to the time of going to Press manager of the St. Francis Hotel, wards transpired, Mr. Woods was unable to leave his room in time, his

Three American saltors (Heney, no cause of the outbreak had been who obtained a stretcher and as Accordlag to Mr.sisted in removing her to the am- charred body being found on the

Perkins and Phillips) who check ascertained. verandah.

ed in at the Hotel last evening Witchell, the fire commenced on the bulance. By this time the flames Grimmet

.18 5 29 2 for a night-bed. The first named east (Ice House-street) side of the were shooting from the top of the Fairfax

Y 1 2 two, it in abated, jumpe. from building, in the vicinity of the main King Edward Hotel soms twenty or Ryder.. the verandah and were injured in staircase, which commences on the so feet in the sky.

AUSTRALIA~~~~1TS INNINGS falling, and Phillips had the ground floor between the bar and

The Hotel servants managed to W. M. Woodfall, not out.... presence of mind, to tie some public lavatory. It was from this sheets together and thus lower part of the buliding that the flames escape from the building in time A. Jackson, not out

Extras himself within easily-falling dis were ascending when he dashed with the exception of three "boys" to the third flour who were slightly injured and are from the 6fth tance of the ground, He escaped just after three in the morning. It now in hospital.

Mr. Max Pickman, described as is impossible at the moment to say an illusionist, presumed hurt et on which, floor the blaze had fa an early hour this morning,

had

By the time Mr. Witchell awakened his children-two boys and a girl--the flames were ascend- Ing the staircase in full force and had almost reached the fifth floor upon which the party was located. Mr. Witchell guided the children towards the fire escape, a structure of iron and masonry which runs from the top to the bottom of the Hotel at its westera extremity, access being gained through the bathrooms on each floor. The party thus gained the street, and by this time around twenty minues past three, according to Mr. Witchell-- pandemonium reigned.

Jumps from Verandah

.

On the fourth floor ware, among others:

unscathed.

Naval Department, who was on a

able..

Cause Unknown

Servants Escape

Insurance

(Leyland).

wore Вп

BOWLING ANALYSIS.

-0. H. B. W.

Wall

49 8 123

8

Horn" rook Oxen...Am

.48

8 142

$

46.1 15

86

1

Kippax

conducive to earn Profts.--Reuter.

ahal Chiang Kai-shek, in the course interests of the proprietors and of a personal letter to Li Tsung-fen relative to La, Ti-ping's dismissal, said: "Since your departure from

Wu-Han, no responsible official has

been guiding the authorities there. 40. 0

.25 11

27 4 84 1

· Total (for 0 wkt.) ..........

AT BOGNOR

0

The long distance separating the

Central authorities from Wu-Han

the maximum

Earlier Statement [The following telegram from New York and dated the 9th inst.

explains the above:-:

That British industrial leaders' renders direct control ineffective. feel that too much foreign capital orders carried no is entering their key Industries la Even your own

the opinion expressed by a bank- force there.

"As a precantion and for the saker, Mr. S. H. Vallance, on receipt of maintaining ita dignity, the of a cable that only British share- 11 Central authorities are forced to holders will be authorised to pur- 2 mobilise. What the Central Govarn chase the additional shares which ment is aiming at is non-interfer will be voted at a general meeting ence with the administration. For of the British General Electric the general welfare of, the people Company in London.

A protective Committee formed and nation, and for realisation of

19

KING ENJOYING SPRING-

LIKE WEATHER

the programme of the Nationalist of American shareholders decided Party, the Central Government will to employ counsel to attend the

meeting on

not resort likely to war, Aa long

their behalf, and a

as the dignity of the Government protest was telegraphed to Sir not impaired, everything else can be Hugo Hiret It was suggested that

the attention of the State Depart satisfactorily settled."-Reuter.

meut should be drawn to the mat- ter.]

Troop Movements A Royal Naval communique reads:

ASSASSINATED

FORMER ANFU POLITICAL LEADER

The King Edward Hotel, Le, the origin, though judging by the business as an hotel, was insured Mr. K. Y. Woa, of the Canton rapidity with which the flames bore for $140,000 among four local com- THE

through the building in a westward panies, the largest policy being with visit of inspection of the gun direction and seed hold of the the American Asiatic Underwrites

AVOIDING LONDON FOG boats recently turned out of two top floors (which were the most for $80,000.

fible that the The Hotel building belonged to Messrs. Bailey's yard for the damaged) it is

abart occurred. somewhere Jove the Chin Land Investment Co.

London, Yesterday. Screaming Occupants

Canton Government.

and was insured,

After a good night the King rose The fire brigade, which by this Occupiers of rooms on the fourth ground level.

Soon after the arrival of the fire

Police Report

early to-day to enjoy another

Continued troop movements are time had assembled in force, were floors who were ascertained to ba:

The fire message was received 'at perfect springlike day with warm playing upon the flames which were safe at an early hour this morn brigade a posse of naval men from

at Craigwell reported from Nanking up-river. issuing in main from the windows ing were Mr. G. Wondenberg and H.M.S. "Suffolk" appeared on the Police Handquarters at 8.10 a.m., sunshine. By being that face the alleyway between the Mr. B. Henderson, the latter har scene and, together with Europeans and when they got there the upper House he avoided the thick mist Hankow remains quiet and there' which hung over London through appears to be little Interest taken in i Hotel and Alexandra Building. Esing a remarkable escape by reason from various central residences, floors were already well ablaze.

the day-British Wireless the general situation. A large

Tientsin, Yesterday, : number of troops are arriving at near the of deciding last night to sleep at awakened by the pandemonium,.. A brief slice report stated that ou capes were reared as

Chu Tung-feng, formerly the Nanking from the north and about verandaba as was possible and a the Hong Kong Hotel in a friends assisted manfully in the work of four persons were rescued by Service. party of fireman were operating room. Others reported safe aro ilfe saving, salvage and keeping means of the fire escape and jump-

a dozen transporta are anchored at Anfu Director of Aviation, was as An ing sheets......

Nanking. There is still ao definite sassinated on the morning" of from the contre-of the road with a Mr. L. M. Heras, occupier of room order.

Mr. Yu Siu-shan, one of the prin Eight persons were killed canvas "blanket" into which the 202 and Mr. J. E. Wentz, the gen screaming occupants on the vertleman who last aaw Mr. Both the cipals of the Hotel, who was stay through Jumping. Into the street were H. E the Admiral, the information as to the ultimate March 9 at his residence in the andang were invited to jump. Some previous evening. Mr. Wentz hiding in a room on the 3rd floor, had from the upper floors, Several are Colonial Secretary, the Director of objective of the large number of Japanese Concession. The assas- did, with, according to onlookers, room 809, on the third floor. a narrow escape when he reach reported missing, but no names of Public Works, and Doctors Mobre, troops who have left Nanking for sin gained admission by pretend- Chang Teing chang and then shot Woman's Plucked, the roof he could not see any these or of the casualties are Cannon and Thomas, who rendered up-river, but who have so far not ing to convey a message from

fret aid to the injured before they passed Kluklang, disastrous results, ⠀⠀

Chu Tangfeng dead-Renter In addition to Mr. Witchell and Mr. Witchell recalls the plucky thing more than ten feet away and given."

taken to the hospital.

in the morning ■ detach- Mr. M L Wynne, Deputy Con family on the fifth foor there were, escape of a Chiness woman who he had to feel his way to the mill In the fight with on Sunday night rit We got as far as the dining room when bridge which connectsthe Hotel fremen

ron the St. John Ambulance missioner of Police, has returned

and many Police Reserves from #Parlours

and

dir, Willam Woods, of Messm. her progress WE Woods, Ltd., manufacturing, flan Shealy chemists, Collins-street, Sydney, oc smoke and are un copying, room 510. This treaties

the

Europ

a-balding, which he willi

hense he came dove

gilded along by

Johors

the visit of