1931-06-10 — Page 1

OSIXO

SNO China Mail

FREE WHEELING 3RD ADVANTAGE.

Owing to the use of helical gears, the gear box is unusually quiet in all speeds. This removes the objection to continuous running in intermediate, which may be more converiant in heavy traffic where frequent starts and stops are necessary.

HONG KONG & SHANGHAI HOTELS,, LTD. (Incorporated in Hong Kong)

H.M.S.

POSEIDON

No. 27,819

SUNK

OFF WEI-HAI-WEI

GOES DOWN WITH 18 HANDS

SUBMARINE RAMMED BY CHINESE STEAMER.

FLEET RUSHED TO THE RESCUE

SHED

HONG KONG, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1931.

LONELY ISLANDERS IMPERIAL PARLEY TO

· REFUSE TO MOVE.

Fate of Inhabitants of Tristan da Cunha. NO ACTION DESIRABLE.

of

Rugby, Testerday.

BE POSTPONED.

Antipodes Unable to Send Delegates,

CANADA'S PROPOSAL.

TO-DAY'S

DOLLAR. — The closing rate of the dollar on demand, to-day was 111⁄2d.

PRICE $3.00 Per Month.

$10,000 SLANDER ACTION.

Leave to Withdraw Granted.

DUNLOP

Local Branch, Pedder Bldg. Tel. 24554.

TERRIBLE ·· FIRE IN STAUNTON STREET

FIFTEEN LIVES LOST

ESCAPE SHUT OFF BÝ ADVANCING

FLAMES.

A RAGING FURNACE

What proved to be the most disastrous fire for years occurred

Staunton Street is that narrow thoroughfare running between and parallel with Hollywood Road and Elgin Street, extending from the Old Bailey to the top of Peel Street where it joins Bridges Street, which runs behind Queen's College.

* A.-MISUNDERSTANDING.”

Rugby, Yesterday. The $10,000 slander action, in When asked in the House of Com- It was announced by the which an interpreter at Hung mons to-day whether the Gov-Dominions Secretary, Mr. J. H.hom Police Station was involved ornment would consider evacuating Thomas, in the House of Com-as defendant, ended suddenly the lonely Island of Tristan da mons to-day that the Imperial this morning, Mr. F. C. Jenkin, Cunha in view of the Economic Conference at Ottawa for the prosecution, asking leave cast

providing Inhabants has been postponed until next to withdraw the case. He said News of a Naval disaster in which H.M, submarine Poseidon with the necessaries of life year. The arrangements, he said, that this was done because both was sunk, eighteen ratings going down with the ship, is.reported und the fact that the island had been in the hands of the parties now realised that the un-in Staunton Street last night, resulting in 15 Chinese losing their

was of no commercial or strategic Canadian Government and yes-fortunate litigation had arisen lives. in the Colony this morning. The Poseidon, it is stated, was in-value, the Under Secretary for the terday the Prime Minister of through, a misunderstanding of volved in a collision with the Chinese steamer Yuta, at a point 10 Colonies, Dr. Drummond Shields. Canada made a statement to the the language used by defendant. miles North of Wei-hai-wei, at 12.45 p.: yesterday. The steamer said that the question had been effect that owing to the difficul- Both parties had expressed their

considered from time to time but ties experienced by Australia regrets. rammed the submarine, which went to the bottom in 20 fathoms owing to the opposition of the and New Zealand in arranging His Lordship (Sir Joseph H. of water..

Islanders to their removal it had for full representations in Kemp, Chief Justice), allowed the not been thought desirable to take August it had become necessary case to be withdrawn. He said, [any action.

for the Canadian Government to incidentally, "I may say I think He added that the charge on the propose a postponement of the this is a very wise arrangement, 'public funds was confined to the Conference until 1981, and that and I hope that the parties con

provision of occasional steamer all the other Governments con-leerned, in their future relations, calls to carry mails and supplies, cerned had accepted the proposal. will live in the spirit of it." which were paid for by private-British Wireless Service.

Settled in Chambers, The parties to the action had subscriptions.--British Wireless ¿Service.

PRIEST GETS INTO previously discussed it in

the Chief Justice's bers. After Mr. Jenkin had expressed his client's Jopinion that a misunderstanding

قسم

Of the complement of five officers and about 50 ratings, it is officially stated that all the officers are saved, and thirty of the ratings were rescued. Unfortunately, two of the ratings saved have since died. Eighteen men are missing. -

Diving operations are now being carried out, but up to the present the wreck has not been located, although bubbles could still be seen at 9 o'clock last night.

LATEST TYPE OF VESSEL

si

[Tristan da Cunha la the general! name for a group of three amall volcanic islands belonging to Great Britain, situated in the South Atlantic, about 2,000 miles West of the Cape of Good Hope and about; fol-14,000 miles north-east of Cape Horn. Tristan, the largest and most north- ern island, has an area of 16 aquare. E.R.A. 2 Albert V. Paine, Portsmiles and has a volcanic cone (7,640

mouth;

ft) usually capped with snow. Pre-

A British Wireless message ings (with depots) are states that the Poseidon, was one lows:-

of the largest and latest sub-

marines. She was 3 vessel of

1,475 tons, and carried one four- inch gun. She was commission- ed (on March 30 last year) at) Barrow, joining the 4th Sub- marine Flotilla on the China Sta- tion on February 23 this year. Her commander is Lieut.-Com- mander B. W. Galpin, other. officers being Lieut. C. W. Green- ing, N. W. Fisher, R. T. Shaw, and Commissioned Engineer W. C. Richards.

Naval Vessels on the Stene. All His Majesty's ships up North, including the aircraft- carrier..H.M.S. Hermes, the crui- sers H.M.S. Cumberland and H.M.S. Berwick, together with the submarine parent ship: H.M.S. Medway, the destroyer H.M.S. Stormcloud, the sloop H.M.S. Maruzion, and the Naval tug St. Bracck; have arrived on the scene of the disaster.

and

King's Sympathy. H.M. the King has sent to the Commander in Chief Portsmouth, Plymouth, Nore, respectively, a message of his deep sympathy together with that of H.M. the Queen, for the families of all thoso

marine.

'Married.

as

...

TROUBLE.

Clashing of Cymbals at 2.A.M.

Cham-

The house involved in the fire, No. 55, is located a few doors from the Peel Street end of Staunton Street, on the right hand side of the thoroughfare, going down from the Old Bailey. It is one of a row of very old Chinese type of houses comprising ground floor and two upper floors. The staircase is wooden and this ac- counted for the terrible toll of lives.

ORIGINATED IN JOSS STORE

had arisen, defendant said, "I How the fire started it is difficult from the inferno by jumping into desire to state that I withdraw to state but it is definite that the the street and all were severely in- the allegation that, eight years flames originated in the middle jured. They were given every pos- ago, or at any time, plaintiff, Se floor of the house which is used as a sible assistance by the crew of two Siu-wan, was guilty of impro-store by a Chinese joss paper shop ambulances which turned out with

E.R.A. 3 William H. H. Pike, cipitous cliffs, from 1,000 to 2000 Bion, was summoned before Mr. W/Se Ah-mui. I regret that any-oor. The upper floor was occupied | St. John Ambulance Brigade who

Chatham;

P.O. Thomas V. Grills,

mouth;

Leading Stoker Harold

Devonport; Leading Stoker Ernest G. Gaines,

Portsmouth;

feet in height, rise directly from the Parts- ocean on all sides, A stream crosses the northern edge of the Cliff, plateau, falling over the cliff edge On almost all in a fine cascade. sides the islands are surrounded by a broad belt of kelp, the gigantic southern seaweed, through whi a boat may, approach res shores en stormy weather There is a good anchorage in good

Acting Leading Stoker Sydney

Shirrocks, Portsmouth; Leading Seaman Frank Dowling,

Chatham,

Stoker Fred T. A. Pointer, weather...

Chatham;

Stoker Robert Balshaw, Chatham;

Bagley,

Single. Stoker

Arthur J. 'Chatham; Stoker W. R. Pyne, Chatham; Stoker. William Whitley,

Discovered By Portuguese.

discovered in The islands were'

A.B. George C. Hews, Devonport; 1506 by the Portuguese Admiral| A.B. Amos D. Collins, Deponport; Tristan, or more correctly Tristao A.B. Fred K C. Tolliday,

da Cunha, after whom they were Chatham..

named, during a voyage to India. Thereafter the islands (which were uninhabited) were eccasionally visited by outward bound ships to the Indies. Dutch vessels brought back reports on the islands

in 1643, and in 1666 Van Riebeek, the founder of Cape Town, sent a ship from Table Bay Tristan to see if it were suitable a military station, but the absence of a harbour led to the John project being, abandoned.

Chatham;

Stoker Allen Gray, Portsmouth;

Stoker C. J. Beaumont, Devon-

port;

A.B. Robert C. Bowers, Chatham.

Medway to Rescue,

Wei-hai-wei, To-day.

for

to

Central Magis

"OUT OF THE QUESTION." A Chinese.. a priest by profes: Priety of any kind with his niece, which did business on the ground the fire engines, and members of the thing I may have done should as a dwelling by Chinese of the were also early on the scene and have led to this unfortunate liti-poorer class.

with the Police gave valuable assia- Schofield in the

gation."

It is not known in what part of tance to the fire fighters. The four The action was then with the middle floor the fire started and injured women were conveyed to the drawn, and the parties left the the outbreak was well advanced be- Government Civil Hospital where Court.

fore the alarm was given. Several two died soon after admission. Eight-Year-Old Incident..persons living in the vicinity told a

The Injured. The kit fat wife of Se Chikwap China Mail representative that et was called to give evidence about 9.25 p.m. their attention was serious condition and ̧ »might, suc- yesterday afternoon, when the attracted by the firing of crackers cumb are: Song onder action against and naturally concluding that it waB Wong Siu-lin (19), whose ad- Chan Woon-fun, for defamation, some marriage ceremony they did dress is given as 30, Staunton was continued.

not give it much thought.

Street; and Reddish Hue.

OCCASIONAL RAIN.

Today's weather report from the Royal Observatory states: Anderpla, cyclone is Central 16 HE se Japan: A

the depression covers

whole of China."

Forecast: S. W. winds; moderate; squally; generally overcast; occasional rain:

Rainfall.

Rainfall for 24 hours end- ed at 10 am, to-day, 0.57 inch. Total since January 1--27.48 Inches against an average of 28.01 inches-deficit 0.93. Inch.

Temperature.

The temperature at certain specified centres this morning at 6 o'clock was:--

Hong Kong

82

Macao

83

Pratas Island

79

Foochow

· Manila

Chefoo Shanghaf

:

The other two who are now in a

She said that when she heard

Leo Shui-mui (19), stated to be the allegations of misconduct Less than a couple of minutes, living at 42, Eastern Street. with the girl in the case, made later they were attracted by a red- These two, are belloved to against the plaintiff, she asked dish hue out of doors and when they have been visiting the -oc- him how such a thing had hap rushed out on to the verandah to cupants of the top floor, of pened. Plaintiff had been investigate found the first floor the doomed house when the fire oc- brought over from Hong Kong. of No. 85, burning fercely. The curred. The people in the house were reports that they had heard were Of the 18 bodies found in the aroused by the "commotion" made by crackers which formed gutted bouse, 12 were huddled to- which followed the allegation part of the stock of the "joss" shop gether on the top floor landing of the made by defendant against plain-stored in that floor.

The alarm staircase, their escape having been tiff when they finally met to was then raised and the Police cut off by the flames shooting up- gether. However, defendant was arrived on the scene and immediate-stairs. Then it was impossible for not present when she questioned ly telephoned to the Fire Brigade, them to retreat into the floor which the plaintiff.

the call being put through about Cross-examined by defendant minute before 9.30..

on his own behalf, witness said she thought it was the business

was a raging furnace, and thus trapped in the narrow confines of Fight Against Flames. the landing they huddled together Two engines were immediately and met their terrible death. of the girl's natural mother to rushed to the scene of the fire and

Desperate Leap.. make enquiries about the allega- two others arrived a few minutes The other body, that of a woman,“ tions made. I am only one of later. The fire fighters were great-was found on the first floor stairs the mothers, she added.

ly handicapped by the narrowness landing. Apparently she had made Defendant asked witness if of the street, but they surmounted a desperate leap from one landing.

No Preliminaries!

"

The Poseidon was carrying out who are missing from the sub-exercises when she was rammed Patten, the master of a British and aunk by the coaster Yuts.merchant-ship, and part of his. from 8 o'clock this morning, un her assistance, hoping to raise the time they captured 5,600 seala, but Colours will be at- half-mast The parent ship; Medway, went to crew lived on Tristan from August, 1790, to April. 1791, during which Sunset, throughout the China Poseidon and rescue the 18. ratings the first permanent inhabitants, tracy this morning, with having because she was a relative of the obstacle by running hoses to the to the other in an effort to escape Station, to-day,

who went down with the sub- The Poseidon and her sister marine-Recter.

was one Thomas Currie, who land-beaten cymbals and gongs in Des plaintiff, she had not come to roofs and upper floors of the houses and was swallowed up by the flames. submarine the Perseus, left Hong

ed in the island in 1810. Later en Voeux Road during prohibited give false evidence against him. opposite and thus were able to The ground floor was not touched An American Offer. Kong on April 80 for the North.

American named Lambert and a hours, namely, two o'clock in the This witness emphatically de- tackle the heart of the flames.. by the flames, this being due to the Shanghai, To-day. " The ship's complement are all

Hoses were also played on the fact that the wooden floors above did named Williams made the morning, without a permit from nied. maz It is understood that Admiral:

houses on either side of the burning not collapse, but considerable equipped with the Davis escape McVay is likely to offer the serieland their home, the former call- the S.C.A.

Defendant, in pleading guilty, Answering the Chief Justice, ones and thus the flames were pre- damage by water was done to the apparatus, which consists privices of the 6,500 tonner U.S.S. ing himself sovereign and posses- marily of a cylinder containing Beaver, which is at presentat sor of the group, which he renam said that it was a religious cere-witness said that defendant com-vented from spreading. However, shop's stock of jass paper, etc.

ed the Islands of Refreshment.mony, being the seventh week after menced his accusations against they managed to reach the upper oxygen, which is breathed

The official, Police report of the in Tsingtao, to assist the Medway. If Bath were drowned, however, and a death. He was not conversant plaintiff without any prelimin-floor of No. 36 and here they took fire is as follows:- through the mouth after the required:

aries whatsoever. Defendant their toll of lives. The fight "A fire broke out at No.. 35, mañner of a gas mask, there be

the island taken over by two other with local regulations." AdmiralTM Kelly, aboard the

P. C. Thorpe, who prosecuted, did not invite the plaintiff to sit against the flames lasted for nearly Staunton Street, first floor, and mon who "busied themselves in ing a clip provided for the nose. Suffolk, has left Hankow for Wel-growing vegetables, wheat and anld that these people were a great at his side. As soon as he saw an hour before they were subdued, burned out the 1st and 2nd floors.

Details as to the actual disas-hai-wel, where he is due on Frioats, and in breeding pigs.

nuisance with their cymbala, and plaintiff he began to be noisy" the fire fighters being recalled at The house comprised three floors, ter are not yet available.

day-Reuter

Small Population.

gongs. He explained that the This closed the case for the

10.28.

the ground floor being used as a Wreck Located.

Wonderful Apparatus.

Attempts at colonisation have S.C.A. permits allowed for cymbals prosecution. W

When the Fire Brigade arrived cracker and Joss paper shop and His The use of the submarine ap- been made from time to time and and gongs to be played up to 9 Defendant, replying to

there were people in the upper The fire originated on the first; wreck of the Poseidon has been officials locally, has been fully (Continued at foot of nexi Column.) am. was out of the question."" nesses to call, after which he floor of the burning house, so that fiser on which was stored inflam- located. Efforts are being made justified. The escape of the six

Defendant, in reply to Mr. would very probably wish to go to-day to raise her.

men is considered remarkable

Schofield, said that he had #5 on into the box himself. His Lord. rescue work was undertaken and mable material which quickly be- The message adds that H.M.S. proof of its efficacy

ranks and ratings at Hong him, but when searched by P,C. ship thereupon suggested that in it was not mill the house was enter came ignited and cut off escape of Poseidon was on the surface at

Kong. The fact that twelve out of

Thorpe it was discovered that he view of the time, he could gived after the fire was put out that the upper floor inmates causing, the time of the collision. The the eighteen men are engineer-ernor of Hong Kong (Sir William

From His Excellency the Gov- had $10.

his evidence straightaway, to the ghastly discovery of 18 charred deaths of 1 male, five boys,-déven bodles, a man, women, and children, females and two females who died majority of the survivors were ing ratings (E.R.A.'s and Peel, K.C.M.G., K.B.E.):——

A fine of $10 was imposed by his which defendant finally agreed.

in the G.C.H. Most of the bodies" apparently thrown into the stokers) gives ground for the sup

Worship.

Giving evidence, the defen- was made. water, and were picked up by the position that they were probably Kong I send very deepest sympathy. On behalf of the Colony of Hong

were burned beyond recognition, dant said: I became engaged Leap Into Street.

Four female Inmate of the upper Extent of damage and cauge of 5.5. Yuta.

trapped in a compartment down to the, Fleet, and to Your Excel-

to Se Keng-wai (Se Ah-mui) "on:

Later.

It is officially stated. that the paratus, in the opinion of Naval the population at present numbers p.m.; light music to 11 pm, but 2Lordship, said he had some witno report was made to them that the upper floors as a dwelling.

However, six men were left below when the Yuta struck the lency's command, in the tragic loss about 180 The staple food ap- August 23 last year. One day, floor made an attempt to escape fire at present unknown,"

GAMBLING CRAZE.

front part of the house was used

as a cigarette shop, whilst the rear.

AT

was occupied by coolles.

|_ His Worship_Imposed a fine of $40 on the keeper, whilst the rest, who admitted gambling, were fin-

ed $2 each. The money picked up.

$9.29 was ordered to be pald

to escape later, in two bitches submarine, to accedens Food on the tragic loss pears to be the potato, whilst there after the engagement the the of two and four respectively.

**Collision Due to Fog?, They owe their lives to the use It is possible, (although no de-ding the Troops. (H. E. Major Locks, sheep and geese are reared, was thirteen years old she was From the General Officer Com are apple and peach trees. Bul- me that one evening when she of the Davis Submarine Escape finite news have as yet been re- General W. Sandilands, CB, Apparatus. The first batch ceived) that the weather was

and fish are plentiful. Since 1900 sleeping in one of the bunks in the annual visits of a warehip the house when her uncle Se Siu- FOURTEEN CHINESE FINED reached the surface ap foggy at the time of the coll. C.M.G., D.5.0.)

CENTRAL COURT. have been discontinued. In apite wua came and misconducted proximately two hours and asion. As regards prospects of On behalf of the Officers Wax of these disadvantages, the comhimself. I naked her if this

rant Officers, Non-Commissioned

PLAYED ON BED. quarter after the disaster, the raising the Poseidon, it is pointed micers and mes of the Chlua Community is a growing one. In 1880 was true, and he and that remaining four being picked up out that the water is not of any mand I would ask you to accept in numbered, 109, declining to 62 that it was." She also said that} three hours and a quarter considerable depth, being only 20 after the Poseidon was rams fathoms. In the absence of our deepest sympathy in the terrin 1898, since when it has increas- if I did not believe her I couldThis gambling seems to be go into the Poor Box, med.These two batches of untoward circumstances, there ble loss which has been sustained ed to the present figure of 180 ask her natural mother, Sata ing on from time to time," remark men were picked up by boats fore, the Poseidon may quite pos

by H.MS Poseidon

The characteristics of the people Cheb, who already knew about ed Det-Sergt. Meadows in the Cen- are longevity, good health, and a It. Choose tral Police Court this morning from British” wärstilpe,” whi sibly be salvaged b Worst Disaster in Memory certain shyness of disposition. It "When my fiancee and I got when fourteen Chinese men were ceaselessly patrolled

The disaster to the Poseidon is had been argued that Inter-marri- back to the hour

PASSING OF OCTAGENARIAN Messages of Sympathy

there were charged with gambling" at 79, The following messages of the worst within memory on the age must, have had a bad offset some people

witness Second Street, on the ground floor, AUTHORITY ON THE STARS. ed from First: defendant was charged with dispatched due China Coast On April 8, 1930

qualities, Burgeon continued, Cast over Naval circles.

enquiring rom the mother at being the keeper

London, Yesterday, the

the

After I had my Bergeant Meadows said that the The death has occurred of Mr. sked her same premises were raided earlier William Frederick Denning, the room so in the year, when another keeper amateur astronomer and writer on the was arrested. Defendants, In this astronomičal subjects, in his 82nd

case, gambled on a large bed. The year-Reuter

Pal Dead and Missing: The

died after

Stoka

whoi

not the

might

Continued

ASTRONOMER.DEAD