1929-04-04 — Page 7

THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1929.

HOTEL FIRE

THE CHINA MAIL,

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By the Coroner: Experiments from an upper storey and missed had convinced him that such the sheet by five or six feet., Wit- CONCLUSION OF EVIDENCE polishing material could not per-ness then went away because he

meate the wood to a greater was unnerved. depth than 1/50th part of an inch. But once it became dry, it would. form a coat over the surface of the wood and prevent it from be- coming moist again.

NEW ADVERTISEMENTS

LOST.

PUBLIC AUCTIONS.

LOST-In Kowloon, small rough hair THE Undersigned have received Tinstructions to sell by Public Terrier, white with black marking. Finder please return to 3, Chatham Road. Reward.

FANLING HUNT

My room was less than 20 feet D ENTRY

RAFT PROGRAMMES and

FORMS for the

AT INQUEST

Onlyy One Fire Escape DRAMATIC OUTBURST

After he had been told by the Coroner that he could now make Yesterday afternoon Mr. E, W.

any additional

atatement he Hamilton and the Coroner's jury concluded the hearing of cvidence

The Coroner: You have really it as criminal negligence that an liked, Mr. Wentz said: "I feel in the King Edward Hotel fire in-formed no theories at all as re- hotel of any size, to say nothing quiry, and, after his Worship had gards the cause of the fire?

of the size of the King Edward, addressed the jury on their duties

Witness replied in the negative. should have only one fire escape, in connection with the inquiry, an

Burnt Luggage ́·

and that fire escape placed in the adjournment was given until

nemotest part of the building. 12.15 pm., on Wednesday next

Inspector L. P. Lane was the when the jury will return their next witness, He said that he from the part leading to the fire verdict on the death of Mr. visited the ruins of the King escape, so how could people like Spring Meeting, to be held on William Woods and add any rider Edward on March 14 and examin- the Robsons, who lived in a room SUNDAY, 21st APRIL, 1929, may which they may think fit in re-ed debris which was being re- further away, have a chance of be obtained from Messrs. gard to the other aspects of the moved from the stairs. The top escape, except by using the one THOMSON & CO, York Building, fire.

of the debris was removed to ex- wooden staircase, which was out

Entries close at 12 o'clock,noon After a ten minutes adjourn pose the charred remains of wood of the question. I feel that the on WEDNESDAY, 10th April, 1929, ment on the completion of evid-which had fallen down. Under-equipment of the Fire Brigade is Hong Kong, April 4, 1929. ence yesterday, the Court re-neath were the burnt remains of terrible. sumed for his Worship's address what evidently had been lug- to the jury. Then the Hon. Mr.gage, also a heap of burnt cotton- Witness: In the first instance, T. H. King, Captain Superinten-wool with fragments of burnt rat-they should have searchlights for dent of Police electrified the tan adhering to it, which looked Court by reporting a sensational like the remains of rattan baskets outburst on the part of a would- or trunks. In the middle there he witness, Mr. E. J. Wentz, an was

some naphthaline or American. resident of the King camphor balls. Edward Hotel at the time of the fire..

The Coroner: How so?

those people who, jumping down from upstairs, could thus see the ground. Also substantial ladders that could reach higher than the third storey in the case of a six or seven storeyed building.

On the 28th, he took some wood from the foot of the stairs and The Ladders in America

The Coroner: You are familiar Mr. King explained that during gave it to the Assistant Govern-i the interval Mr. Wentz, who was ment Analyst.

with the Fire Brigade?" present in Court, remarked to The Hon. Mr. King, in reply to Mr. Wentz: Yes, in America. him: "It is an outrage-this de- the Coroner, said that brought

Mr. Wentz mentioned that the liberate attempt to stifle evid- the evidence of the enquiry to a ladders they had

"over there" ence and to whitewash the Police close, unless his Worship wished could reach to a height of 90 and Fire Brigade.”

to hear Mr. Wentz, another re-feet; these water towers, which was sident of the Hotel, whose testi- were Eventually Mr. Wentz

so constructed that their allowed to give evidence which is moay could not be previously width gradually tapered towards recorded in another part of this taken on account of his absence the top, extended to the 8th or report.

from the Colony on a business 9th storeys, and were provided visit to Shanghai.

with life-saving arrangements. The Coroner did not call for He had himself gone up to the At the outset Mr. King was Mr. Wentz, being assured that top of these ladders at the Fire questioned with regard to his there was nothing in Mr. Wentz's Headquarters at New York. statement at a previous hearing statement, which Mr. King had with regard to new fire regula- with him, that could give any fur-perience with machinery? tions having been suggested and ther detail useful to the Coroner prepared by the Superintendent or the jury.

New Fire Regulations

of the Fire Brigade. In reply to The jury also did not express & the Coroner he said that he was desire to have Mr. Wentz's evid- unable to produce the regulations ence.

in Court. He explained that they The Court then adjourned for were prepared by Mr. Brooks and ten minutes.

were at present with the Govern-

ment. They were as yet only in

Alleged “Death Trap”

their drafted form, and no copies | When the Court resumed Mr. were available. The draft cover-King made his sensational state- cd public garages and places of ment concerning Mr. Wentz. entertainment, Mr. King explain- Mr. Wentz rose from his seat in ed, and would not cover public Court as if he wished to make an buildings in the sense in which explanation. But remarking to the they had been used throughout effect that he would not be cur- the inquiry. They did not cover rected." Mr. King attributed this hotels or the type of building further statement to Mr. Wentz: which was the subject of the in"The hotel was a death trap." quiry,

Proceeding, Mr. King said that since Mr. Wentz said that, he was The first witness called was Mr. sorry that Mr. Wentz had not V. Č. Branson, Assistant Govern-been called as a witness, and he ment Analyst. He deposed to had therefore gore into his Wor- having received from Inspector ship's chambers and acquainted Lane a mixture of cotton, such as him with the facts.

Evidence of Analyst

as

He (Mr.

would be used for a Chinese quilt, King) had thought, with Mr. in which there was a large quan-Wentz's written statement taken tity of naphthaline balls - more at the time of the fire before him. than would be normally necessary.

an indication of what Mr. that Mr. to keep away moths from such Wentz would say, material. He was also handed Wentz's evidence would not throw some burnt remains of what look-any further material light on the ed like a wicker basket or chair. matter than was already before He (Mr. King) He did not think that cotton by his Worship. itself, or with naphthaline halls would be the last to obstruct any contained in it, could spontaneous witness at all, in coming for- ly break into fire. He had experi-ward to give any evidence what- mented and found that a cigarette ever. From Mr. Wentz's remarks, end merely, would set fire to the it was to be gathered that he stuff.

wished to give evidence.

The Coroner remarked that it Witness said that some author-

was also his impression that Mr. itics held that it was possible for Wentz would not have anything cotton to smoulder, unnoticed, for in his evidence that would throw days and weeks, and then to burst any further useful light on what into flames upon the action of a they had already heard from sudden draught. He did not other witnessea.

If Mr. Wentz think that there Was

great now desired to give his testimony, chance of spontaneous combustion the Court would only be too glad with the presence of the naphtha to hear him. line balls amongst the cotton mix- Mr. King Mr. Wentz actually

ture. He would say the fire start-

gave the Police every information

ed on the outside, and burnt in-in his possession. He was going wards and toward the top. Pro-to be called as a witness, but as vided they had sufficient air, the your Wership will remember, naphthaline balls would also be business required him to go to highly inflammable.

Shanghai:

By the jury: Witness would be able to detect the presence of kerosene or gasoline if it had been there.

the

Witness Questioned

Mr. Wentz was then called, He said: I made a detailed report of that fire. I want to bring forward

Naked Flame Necessary Proceeding, Mr. Branson said to-day.- he had also been handed charred remains of wicker-work, Mr. Wentz was to confine himself His Worship, interrupting, said which he agreed could be the to answering the questions put to baskets mentioned earlier as hav-him.

ing been found alight under the Asked to give his experience staircase. Such material in his during the night of the fire, wit- opinion could only be ignitedness ssid he was aroused, short- with a naked flame like that of a ly after three o'clock, by a noise. match, but could not be ignited from the hall. He was then sleep- with the application of the lighting in room No. 309, which was ed end of a cigarette.

on the third floor. On realising

He had also examined certain that a fire had broken out in the pieces of teak wood, treated on building, he thought of making one surface with some polishing for the fire escape, the existence material, which, he was informed, of which, at the far end of the had come from an hotel and from another building.

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building, he knew, but found his way barred by flames which had broken out in the corridor.

"I went out of my room to the verandak, in Ice House-street. I expected the Fire Brigade to come, and saw quite a large num ber of people collected in the street. Taking some clothes out of my room I again went out on the verandah to get dressed."

Witness said after waiting two or three minutes, he climbed over the balustrade of the verandah. and climbed over into the Savoy Hotel after negotiating three pillars. He made his way into the street and helped to hold a jump- ing sheet. A body, fell down

The Coroner: Have you any ex-

(Continued on Page 8.)

URGENT

CLUB LUSITANO

CIRCULAR

Auction

ON

SATURDAY, April 6, 1929, commencing at 11 am, at their Sales Room, Duddell Street.

3 Stoves 5 Heaters

48 Wheel Barrows

1 Bale Hai' Belting.

1 Bale Compressed Fadder

1 Case Lactogen.

1 Bag Broken Glass.

8 Bales Old Newspaper-more

or less damaged

and

A Quantity of

MISCELLANEOUS GOODS and

FURNITURE. Terms: Cash on Delivery.

LAMMERT BROS.,

Auctioneers.

Hong Kong, April 4, 1929.

THE Undersigned have received

COMISSAO, Directora do Club Lusitano tem a honra de con- vidar os Exmos. Sra, Socios e suas Exmas. Familias e os demais. Mem- para se reunirem na sala "Luiz de bros da Comunidade Portuguesa Auction

Camoes" do Club Lusitano no

de assistirem a

Sabado, 6 do corrente as 4% horas da tarde, a fim Recepcas em honra de sua Excla. Governador de Macau Senhor Tamagnini de Sousa Arthur Barbosa e sua Exma. Familia.

Havera em seguida Cha a danea. A fim de que esta festa seja re- vestida de maior brilho possivel a Direccao pede a comparencia de todos os Srs. Socios e suas Exmas. Familias e os demais Membros da Comunidade Portuguesa.

M. A. SIMOES,

Secretario.

Hong Kong, 3 de Abril de 1929.

ON

MONDAY, April 8, 1929, at 11 o'clock a.m.,

at their Sales Room, Duddell Street.

3 Complete Sets of Hollow Win

Lamps, 14 Lamps each set,

3 Hot Air Fans.

4 German Table Lamps.

6 English Table Lamps. 7-800 and 2,000 C.P. German

Lamps

3 German Iron Safes with Com-

bination.

Terms: Cash on Delivery.

LAMMERT BROS.

Auctioneers.

HE Undersigned have received

Auction

Tinstructions to sell by Public

ON

TUESDAY, April 9, 1929, commencing at 2.30 p.m.

at their Sales Room, Duddell Street.

A Large Quantity of VALUABLE HOUSEHOLD

FURNITURE

HONGKONG HOTEL Comprising

ROOF GARDEN

THE

BANVARD MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY

Will present a special

CABARET ENTERTAINMENT

in the course of

DINNER DANCE

at the Hong Kong Hotel Roof Garden on

MONDAY, the 8th April

Reserve your Dinner table at once, please,

Accommodation to avoid disappointment. limited. For this special occasion (which cannot be repeated owing to the impending departure of the Musical Comedy Company) the charge will be $7 (seven dollars) per head. Reservations: Hong Kong Hotel.

THE HONGKONG & SHANGHAI HOTELS, LTD.

AT PRESENT, OUTDOOR WORK ONLY

K. FUJIYAMA

PHOTOGRAPHER.

S.P.C.A.

MASKED BALL

Excellent Flashlight Photographs

on view at

ANDERSON'S

&

MOUTRIE'S.

PROMPT DELIVERY GUARANTEED.

can give you as good results as any Photographer

in the City and better than 93 % of them. TEMPORARY OFFICE:

3rd FLOOR, 117, PRAYA EAST, HONG KONG.

Teak Hatstand, Desks, Book* cases, Glass Cabinet, Chesterfield Couch and Armchairs, Gramo- phones and Records, Carpets, Rugs, Tricycles, Perambulators, Oil Paintings, Pictures.. Electric Fans, Standard and Table Lamps, Porcelain and Brass Ware, etc.

Teak Dining Tables, Dining Chairs, Sideboards with Bevelled Mirrors, Dinner Waggon, Dinner Crockery, Glass Ware, White Frost Refrigerators, Filters, Aluminium Cooking Utensils, Teak Ice Chests, etc.

Teak, Iron and Brass Bedsteads with Mattresses, Single and Double Wardrobes with Bevelled Mirrors, Marble Top Washstands, Toilet Crockery, Chests of Draw- ers, Dressing Tables with Bevelled Mirrors, Enamel Baths, Chamber Stands, etc.

also

One "Austin" 20 IP, 5-Seater Motor, Car, Recently and Complete- ly Overhauled, Repainted and Re- plated and 6 New Tyres Fitted

and

A Large Quantity of FINE CANTON BLACKWOOD FURNITURE.

On View from Monday, April 8, 1929.

Catalogues will-be-issued.-- Terms: Cash on Delivery.

LAMMERT BROS.,

Auctioneers.

HE Undersigned have received

THE

instructions from Dr. G. M. Harston to sell by Public Auction, ON

WEDNESDAY, April 10, 1929, commencing at 2.30 p.m.,

at his Residence, No. 55, The Peak. The Whole of His Valuable Household Furniture

Comprising:-

Chesterfield Sofas and Arm- chairs, Carved Cherry Wood Arm- Chairs and Cardtables, Japanese Cabinet, Brass Ware, Porcelain, Pictures, Writing Tables, Book- cases, Carpets, etc.

Extension Dining Table, Dinner Waggon, Brass and Brass Mounte ed Fenders, Ornaments, etc.

Brass and Brass Mounted Red- steads, Wardrobes with Bevelled Mirrors Dressing Tables with Bevelled Mirrors, Screens, etc., dtci, da

Crockery and Glass Ware, etc. Finely Carved Canton Black wood Desk, Overmantel and Chairs, etc.

White Frost Refrigerator, Bath- room, Pantry and Kitchen Re- quisites

and

One Cottage Piano by "Zatter and Winkelmann”

also

A Large Quantity of Ferns and other Plants in Pots. Terms: Cash on Delivery. Catalogues will be issued.. On View from Tuesday, April 9,

1929.

LAMMERT BROS.,

Auctioneers,

Hong Kong, April 4, 1929,

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