1929-03-19 — Page 7

TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1929.

HOTEL FIRE.

FURTHER EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

EXPERIENCE

Questioned by the Coroner, Mr.of the room.

THE CHINA MAIL,

NEW ADVERTISEMENTS

FOR SALE.

FOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

Mr. Cheung then proceeded to as were also most of the other explain that he had a room on the servants of the Hotel. He could third floor (No. 810) assigned in could not recollect having seen the hotel for the use of his anyone enter the Hotel before friends and visitors, and he him- three o'clock that morning. Mr.

PUBLIC AUCTION. LIFT BOY'S EX

self sometimes slept in that Cheung came in after that hour, room. Just before 3 o'clock on and he accompanied Mr. Cheung FOR SALE-8 H.P. Rover Car in THE Undersigned have received

good Condition; Running expenses low. the morning of March 11, be up the lift to the third floor. Be-Owner leaving Colony. $450 or near instructions from The Official Yesterday afternoon the King:

knocked on the front door of the fore he went up he bolted the door offer. Box 551, a/c "China Mail.Receiver, Supreme Court, to sell by Edward Hotel fire inquiry touch hotel and Wong Iu let him in.behind them. On reaching the

Public Auction ing the death of one of the vic-itness noticed that Wong Iu landing of the floor where Mr.

ON.. tims, Mr. William Woods, of bolted the door on the inside after Cheung's room, No. 308 was, he 4. S. WATSON & CO., LIMITED. Wellington, New Zealand, and in-him. The two then proceeded to roused To Chat, a room-boy, in

TUESDAY, March 26, 1929, at 3 o'clock pm., tended to embrace the entire his-

the lift.

order to get him to open the door that the Forty-fourth Annual at North Point, Marine Lot No. 396. tory of the disaster, was resumed sit the Central Magistracy by Mr Cheung Said he did not notice Ás witness waited while To Ordinary General Meeting of the One Ingersoll-Rand 7" x 6", Type E. W. Hamilton and a Coroner's

any fire in the lobby to the right Chat went about his business, he Company (since its registration) 20, Portable Air Compressor; Gaso- jury. '!

of the lift. He went up the lift noticed smoke ascending the will be held at the Hong Kong line engine driver, mounted on d'Almada e Castro, with Wong Iu to the third floor, staircase, and drew To Chat's at Hotel, Hong Kong, on THURSDAY wooden skide complete, Horse jun, is watching the proceedings and neither he nor Wong lu were tention to it when the latter came the 28th March, 1929, at Noon, for Power 26, Air Pressure 100 lb. per in the interest of the proprietors smoking, either in the lift or in out. Realising that no good pur- the purpose of receiving the Re-square inch gauge. Capacity 160 of the King Edward Hotel; Mr the lobby below.

pose could be served by remaining port of the General Managers, to- c. ft. per minute (for operating Hin-shing Lo is for. Mr. J. I.

Wong In awakened up To Chat there, witness took the lift down gether with a Statement of Ac- pneumatic rock drills, revolting Witchell, licensee of the hotel;

( room boy), who used a amall in order to investigate. As he counts for the year ended 31st Oc hammers, etc., etc.). Mr. H. C. Lee for the China Land room to the left of the lift on the got down to the bottom, be no-tober, 1928. Investment Co., Ltd., owners of third floor. To Chat unlocked the ticed a glow near the staircase, the King Edward Hotel building and Mr. A. E. Hall for the Chinese manager and assistant manager of the King Edward Hotel.

Dates Vary

Mr. Leo

I

whistle.

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W

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RECORDS

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RHAPSODY IN RHYTHM

from

For further particulars and in- spection orders, apply to the Un- dersigned.

4901

The register of Shares of the door of roons No. 308 and wit-and presently saw flames shoot Company will be CLOSED ness used that room on learning ing upwards, near where a num Saturday, the 23rd day of March that the people who were in room ber of rattan clothes baskets to Thursday, the 28th day of 310 had gone to sleep.

were stacked, behind a spring March, 1929, both days inclusive, The Alarm Raised

door. He rushed through the during which period no transfer The first witness falled yester-

Witness had barely hung up his lounge, opened the main door and of shares can be registered. day was Mr. A. E. Wright, Assist hat and washed his face after sounded a police whistle. ant Director of Public Works, who entering room No. 308, when he

JOHN D. HUMPHREYS & SON,. By the Coroner: The rattan produced plans which were origin-hard To Chat shout to Wong Iu, baskets which constituted the

General Managers. ally submitted for the construct is too smoky." Witness rushed luggage of guests were left there

Hong Kong, 18th, March, 1929. tion of the building, in 1902. Ap out of his room and noticed large temporarily, and he could not say parently, whilst the building was

NOTICE OF REMOVÁL, in the course of construction, fur.columns of smoke coming up from more than that they were al ther plans were submitted, floor the staircase, but saw no flames. ready there the night before the

to the by floor. Mr. Wright pointed out He heard crics from the second fire. As he took Mr. Cheung up Ebeg to announce

Publie that our Office and as curious the fact that the dates floor and he then blew his police in the lift, he did not notice any- on the plans varied, and that that he saw many people running attention to the baskets.

It was at this moment thing unusual to have drawn his Showroom have been removed to No. 140, Des Voeux Road Central. seemed to support his opinion

past the flight of stone steps at

Two Men Use Lift

We hold stock of British Associa- given above.

When people in the street tion cable consecutively for wiring the back of the premises. Wit-

still blowing his police started to blow whistles also: purposes, and to cope with the de whistle, ran for the main stair-witness rushed back into the mand of ou constant customers way, but when he get there he building. The lift bell rang after we also import various kinds of found it impossible to get down the alarm was given, and mindful electrical apparatus comprising owing to the smoke.

of his duty, he took the lift up to Heating Devices, Lighting Fixtures Then he made his way to the the second floor where two Chin-and Fans for sale at moderate stone steps, by going through the ese were waiting. As he came prices. For concrete evidence of He down with them, the heat had this fact your inspection is cordial lavatory of the building. wanted to run down, but he saw begun to make itself felt. His a number of people running up hair was sirged and he sustained and joined them, eventually get barns on the arms, but he man- ting to the roof, where he crossed aged to carry on until they reach- Public Works, but the plans of by means of a bridge to the top of ed the bottom, safely. the different floors were simply Alexandra Building, from whence By the Coroner: He did not submitted for the information of he reached the street by climbing know those two men except that the D.P.W., but apparently were down the fire escape of that build-they were Chinese. not definitely approved. The law, ing

were dated

The plan for the basement was dated March, 1902, the ground,' first, second and third floor plans on various dates in 1903, whilst the fourth floor plan was dated April, 1904. There was no separate plan for the fifth floor, and witness could not say whether the building was finished before the plan was completed.

The original plan was made by Messrs. Leigh and Orange and was passed by the Director of

ness,

The Hon. Mr. T. H. King, reply-

thought he could find at least one of the men if his Worship desired his presence.

it was pointed out, was satisfied In reply to the Coroner, witness ing to the Coroner, said he by the passing of the original said that from the time he enter plan. It did not follow that be-ed the building to the time he saw cause there was no plan for the the smoke, only ten minutes could fifth floor, that the building was have elapsed. Asked why he ran illegal.

up the stone steps instead of run- ning down, witness said that it was because everybody was run-

Based on the original plan of Messrs. Leigh and Orange, wit ness had prepared a plan which up.

When if it was a fact that the showed the "building as it existed! immediately before the fire. Por door at the bottom of the fire tions since burnt away, together escane was locked, witness at first with portions, which must be re-greed and explained that the moved owing to the damage, were door of the store room, where a indicated. This plan was put in stock of wine was kept, was usual-

locked at 1 o'clock at night. amongst the exhibits.

Continuing, Mr. Wright said Witnes later stated that he did that as regards the Savoy Hotel not know whether at the time of he understood the owners were the fire the door at the foot of causing plans to be prepared, but the escape was actually locked. as to the King Edward, the Hotel proprietors had, so far; done no- thing The Public Works De- partment had been removing the debris from the interior and had done a certain amount of shoring work, and witness was satisfied that there was no danger how to the fablic.

Wooden Floors.

An Opportune Return

To Chat in reply to further questions, said neither he nor’Mr. Cheung were smoking.

By the jury: Wax and kero- sene were used in polishing the staircase.

The Coroner explained that it had been suggested to him that perhaps so treated for a great length of time, say ten years, the woodwork of the staircase and floor might be put into a con- dition when it was particularly susceptible to fire.

had never

The inquiry was adjourned until 2.15 p.m. on Wednesday:

ST. PATRICK'S DAY

CONCERT AT THE CATHOLIC CLUB

On Sunday night a most enjoy-

ly invited.

YIU WAH COMPANY. Hong Kong, 18th March, 1929.

Forms: As Customary.

LAMMERT BROS.,

Auctioneers.

Hong Kong, 19th March, 1929.

THE Undersigned have received received

Auction

TUESDAY, the 26th March, 1929, commencing at 11 n.m.,

UN

at No. 15, Knutsford Terrace, A Quantity of VALUABLE HOUSEHOLD

FURNITURE,

(Catalogues will be issued.)

On View from Monday, the 25th March, 1929.

Terms: Cash on Delivery.

LAMMERT BROS.,

Auctioneers.

Hong Kong, 19th March, 1929:

HONG KONG FOOTBALL CLUB.

ANNUAL TRIANGULAR RUGBY CONTEST.

The following games will be played on the Club's ground : Monday, March 25th, Club v. Army. Wednesday, April 3rd, Army v. Navy,

8th, Monday, April

Club v. Navy.

Kick off at 5.15 p.m. at each game,

-Admission: --- Covered Stand

50 Cts. 20 Cts.

Open Stands

W. PRYDE,

Hon. Secretary.

AT PRESENT, OUTDOOR WORK ONLY

K. FUJIYAMA

PHOTOGRAPHER.

S.P.C.A.

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Continuing his evidence, To Chat said there was a hydrant in the Hotel, placed near the stair-) Mr. Ling Wong, a graduate offcase, but he had never been in- the Chicago University, who oc-structed in its use nor had he cupied Room No. 204, on the seen anyone else in the Hotel second floor of the Hotel, was the being so instructed. There were next witness. IIe said that he no printed directions as to what discovered the outbreak on his reto do with it in case of fire, and turn to the Hotel on the morning during the time that he was in in question. Being kept out late, employment. no fire drill had he did not return to the Hotel been gone through that he knew Replying to the Coroner, wit-until about 3 o'clock. He found of. ress said that unless the walls of the main door locked: there was The Coroner expressed the the Savoy Hotel were largely re- no response when he rang the opinion that there built the building did not become hell. Presently he detected a been any fire drill performed in new. He could not prevent the glow. It shone through the win any Hotel in the Colony, at least wooden floors being left or redow, and on peeping in, he found not until after the fire at the

a fire which had Hong Kong Hotel. instated, but he could prevent the it came from

To Chat said It became Imi- proprietor from putting in lathe broken out in the main door.

People began to collect ip the possible to operate the lift after and plaster partitions.

The Coroner: What steps street. Their number gradually the first trip. would you take if concrete floors increased as he shouted "fire," and they took up the warning are not put in?

Witness: If the police would with police whisties.

Witness searched for a police assist me, I can ask them to re- fuse a licence for a hotel if con- man, found two Indian constables crete floors were not put in. That who were blowing their whistles. would apply to the building of He told them that that would serve very little purpose and sug- the King Edward. By the amend- ment of the Building Ordinance ofgested that it would be better if 1927, every building destined for they went to fetch the Fire Brig-able concert was given in the hall ade. They did not seem to a hotel or public building, is an exceptional building and I can in-understand, and kept blowing of St. Patrick's Catholie Club, Garden-road, to celebrate the Feast sist on any material considered their whistles.

The items were desirable.

The crowd by this time was of St. Patrick. His Worship here pointed out becoming bigger and bigger. A well chosen and exceptionally well that the building, was still in the few minutes later the fire engines rendered, the whole concert being

far above the ordinary amateur appear in a way that caused one of arrived. charge of the police andras zoon as the inquiry was over he would By the Coroner: Six or seven standard. The hall was filled to the gentlemen present to remove

minutes must have elapsed be-its utmost capacity, and remained his pipe out of harm's way. release the premises. In answer to Mr. Lee, the Coroner said he tween the time that he noticed so to the very end of a long "pro- Recitations and monologues, per did not mind if the owners enter the outbreak and the time when gramme. Those who had come to- fectly spoken by Miss M, Watts,

S.S. "BENGLOE”. ed the premises for the purpose the firemen arrived. It was very gether enjoyed themselves thor-M.A., and Mrs. M. Bunje, were fol- of carrying out any preliminary quiet when he reached the Hotel, oughly, ared showed genuine appre-lowed by Violin solos by Master F. CONSIGNEES are hereby informed

ciation of the efforts of the art- Abraham.

the above-mentioned steamer work. An insurance again, who no alarm having been raised.

His " Trovatore At the conclusion of his state- į istos, -

Fantasia was a marvellous per Camal on 26th January last struck the whilst proceeding through the Suez The opening number was a piangformance for a boy of his years, Canal Bank and sustained serious ment, witness obtained the Coron- er's permission to disclose two forte Duet by the Rey, Fr. Riganti though not, more finished than his damage- "The Hon. Mr. T. H. King, points which he had had in his and Prof. Gualdi, who gave a bril- shorter contribution in the second A General Average having been de clared we are instructed by Owners to CS.P., then informed, the Court mind. He said that his first point liant rendering of a Fantasia from part of the programme.

collect in cash an Average Deposit of that the search of the premises when he got back to the Hotel at recitation, charmingly given by that were not forgotten. Mr. G. goods plus 10% prior to delivery of Songs-and real Irish songs at 5% of the actual cif. value of the “und the clearing of the debris on

2 am, there was a man to open Miss E. Carroll, who, later, assist p'Aquino, sang Tosti's "Could I the Bond and Valuation Forms the site, had been completed. the door for him when he ranged by another talented little lady and that old favourite, "Come Back ma Average The whole thing had been turned the bell. That same man after Miss N. May, had to respond to an Erin And perhaps it was in office of the undersigned.

may be obtained on application at the over and there was no trace of any human remains or evidence admitting him, took him up in the imperative encore for their Irish response to that appeal that Father Steamer is due to arrive here on or of anyone else having met their Witness' second point was that capable hands

lift to his own floor.

Jig. Choral numbers were in the Gallagher, S. J. gave four really about 22nd inst... death through the fire other he wished to say that only a few Serenaders who delighted the au- a beautiful allegory by fames of the Aloha typical Irish melodies, one of them

GIBB, LIVINGSTON & CO., LTD., Agents. than those mentioned,

minutes after he saw the flames dience with

Hong Kong, 18th March, 1929, Owner's Evidence

their Hawaiian Clarence Mangan, "My Dark Rosa on the ground floor, he saw a semi-melodies, and the Choir of Steen" From, the serious pages of personated a child reciting Mary Mr. Cheung Fu-kwong, one of lar glow in the top section of the the owners of the business of the building, that was to say in the Joseph's College, who, under the history we were brought back to Had a Little Lamb." King Edward Hotel, was then call-third and fourth floors. The was capable direction of Fr. Riganti, the humours of modern life when The Committee of the Club arë ed. He said that the China Land before the arrival of the Fire gave: Peaceful Night" (in four Cohen went to the telephone to give to be congratulated on the success Investment' Company owned the Brigade.

parta) by E German, and "Angels up his place to a Japanese keen of the concert. Prof. Gualdi building. Witness had a room in Lift Boy's Evidence That Around Us Hover" (in three on selling berths, Mr. R. M. Fr. Riganti and Prof. the Hotel at the time of the fire. Then Wong Iu, a lift-boy, was Parts) from Wallace's "Maritana." Omar's impersonation of both were the accompanists, and the He had just taken the room when called. He said he had been em- Then came the Wizard of the Navy brought the house down. In res-stage management was in the cap- the fire broke out.

ployed at the Hotel for ten years, who made things appear and disponse to an insistent recall he im able hands of Mr. Blake.

was in court, was also told he could enter the building at his own risk."

was that on the previous night; "Faust" This was followed by s

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