1932-12-23 — Page 7

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1932.

COLLIERY DISASTER SHOPS RUSHED

MANY KILLED IN

WIGAN BLAST

HEROISM OF RESCUE PARTY-

UNDERGROUND.

London (By Mail) Sixteen miners were killed and nine others, entombed in gas-filled galleries were believed to be dead, In an explosion, followed by a fall of earth, which occurred in the dark of the early morning at the Edgegreen Colliery, Bryn, Ashton- in-Makerfield, near Wigan,

en-

Frantic tappings from the tombed men guided the rescue parties till noon when the last faint sounds died away.

One man who had been given up as dead made a dramatic appear. ance at the pit head, having ca- caped by a hair's breadth the perils of gas and falling rock,

A shrill whistle that pierced the darkness of the night, dying.away on a low wall, was the sound that warned the Wigan coal belt of the disaster.

Lights twinkled in bedrooms, casting eerie gleams in desolate roads as windows shot up and heads peered out. Among the hundreds who were awakened there was dread foreboding in those homes where the bread-winners had gone out on the night shift.

"That sound means death to some one," said an,elderly wo- man whose grey-haired hus- band had left her a few hours before.

Then these ill-lit roads began to Fine heroism was shown by the dressed and with shawls clutched fill with fleeting figures partly rescue parties which were almoet round their heads. The streets Instantly on the scene of the disas-echoed to running clogs. Officials

were mobilised at the pithend.

ter.

An S. 0.8. was sent to the near-

The pit manager nearly lost his life in dragging a young miner by pits, and within a few minutes from a thick cloud of poison gas, the work of rescue was begun. The M.P. for the division and local miners' leaders spent hours U21- derground. A local, doctor dashed

ter.

The

un

DASH IN THE DARK

BY CHRISTMAS

BUYING CROWD

Business Optimistic Over Prospects.

PREPARATION FOR CLIMAX.

"A good Christmas" was the general anticipation in the . leading stores of the Colony yesterday afternoon. Managers were optimistic and stated that business, on the whole, was bríst

THE CHINA MAIL.

To-Day's Short Story.

W

one

TWO OF

THOSE

WOMEN

By Stacy

Aumonier.

【7HEN travelling on the Con-matron, a very prim and severa tinent one must always be peraon, who always wore black kid impressed, I think, by curious gloves, One day she annoyed, types of Englishwomen whom Georgie very much. I have forgot never sees in their own ten why. And Mr. Raynes-yes, country. Very often they are that was his name, funny how it middle aged or quite elderly, and comes to you when you're telling they go about singly, dr in pairs, a story, and not trying to remem- or sometimes in a party of three er-well, he had poninshed Georgle or four. There is something ter- for not doing his home work. When ribly pathetic in their demean-Mr. Raynes went to bed that night he found, Miss Benswyck's black kid our, particularly when one recog “Business is not at a standstill by nises the fact that they are not gloves, filled with cold porridge, In any means" declared the manager of tourists, but hotel habituees. For his bed. And Miss Beaswyck found the leading Chinese departmental there is a great difference. The Mr. Haynes'a boxing gloves, filled store in Hong Kong. "Although

tourist is there temporarily for with cold porridge in her bed. Oh, pleasure or sight-seeing, but the dear! there was a to-do !" figures are not better materially hotel habituees is a permanent,

"Really! how amusing!" said the we have spent much in the interest tragic, and often inexplicable thusiasm. "Well, it happened in

younger woman, without of the customers who are throng-figure. All over the South of ing the departments.

A China Mail representative who toured the principal shop- ping areas found that basi- ness, while not extraordinary, was brisk and nearly all the managements expressed satis- faction with the results.

crime of poverty,

woman.

en.

a. terrible

I

was talking to an orderly when I I suddenly felt my knees sagging. heard a voice say, 'Can't you see

did faint I just had time to glimpse

she's going to faint? Before I

France and Italy there are thou- "Of couse, where Georgie was 50

the very early spring" sands of these women staying at splendid was, he confessed. He nensions and small hotels, drift- ing from place to place, rudder-confessed simply because the master less, unwanted, and patently un-and, although nothing could be auspected one of the other boys, happy. They have the atmos-proved, he couldn't bear the idea of phere of exiles, as of people who the other have committed some crime in:

boy living under this their own country and dare not

eternal stigma."

"Quite right," said the younger return. And in many cases the Rumours that the "depression" crime that they have cormitted with any sense of altruism. Now, "There are so few people had reduced the residents' purchas-is. I suspect, the unpardonable when I first met Peter I was com ing power were found to be with they may assume a perfunctory Amiens, We had had

Although ing off duty, at the base hospital at In the darkness and drizzling out foundation. Some store execu-interest in the life and activities thirty-six hours. -to the scene and descended the pit/rain rescue teams equipped with tives stated that this year's Christ-of the place of their sojourn. lawful-done up and finished. I I was feeling in his bedroom slippers.

lampa and other apparatus were

mas shopping had been normal, have noticed that their chief con- must have looked awful. It was rushed to the pit.. managing director of the company

cern is invariably the mail from just after dawn. In the courtyard. The story of what they found while others estimated the de-England. rose from a sick bed and did his 'bit at the pit-head.

was given me by Mr. John W. De-crease 5 or 10 per cent. below last) The story that I am going to tell Parties of miners who volunteer-vanny, one of the men injured in year's figures.

is about two such women, and if od for rescue work crawled the blast of the explosion.

Furchases are reaching a high appear as a rather unscrupulon their hands and knees through fall, "I heard a rumble," he said.

eavesdropper you must ing debris and gas fumes to bring/"The fireman went to the top of the mark at the Colony's leading Euro-understand that I was a very un-a pair of deep blue eyes and the

please

out the dead and injured.

district and telephoned to us to pean departmental store, where this willing one. Pitlable scenes were witnessed at leave at once.

kindest face I have ever seen. He The accommodation in the little carried me somewhere. He never "We followed him to the coal

years innovation, the Lucky Dip, the plt head, where the relatives,

Hotel Beausejour at Antibes is very asked my name. He just did the and dependants of the victims, to face, and there we found three is proving an outstanding success-mited. I was trying to

dead men. We went on the number of nearly 100, gathered

another For days kiddies have tried their something at the only writing-table

write kind thing and went away——”. at the first intimation of the disas-road to get at them, and we had luck at the well, and it is expected in the lounge when two of thess carried them only ten yards when that by this afternoon all the gifts women came along and seated them-

TO-MORROW'S STORY. Desperate Work

the deadly fumes began to do their will have disappeared. Toyland, selves opposite me. Rescue parties worked desperate-work. There were eighteen of us. too, has its many attractions.

I don't know what your powers of

To-morrow's short story "One of the carriers collapsed ly all day to-day to reach the gas-

Sports waar has enjoyed big concentration are, but personally

will be "Silent As The filled chambers of No. 9 pit, Edge-and then another. We staggered sales, and generally, the depart whenever I hear people talking I am Grave," by Laurence W. green Colliery, from which, up to along, dropping one by one. Finally ments are having success.

Meynell. bound to listen to what they say. neon, faint tappings could still be I was crawling along in a daze

All salesmen and saleswomen are however banal and trivial" it may heard from victims of the disaster when the rescue party arrived. prepared for the inevitable last be: On this occasion I did try to

Then I knew no more." which has snatched away 25 lives.

minute rush, and this will be evi- concentrate for a time, but their WAITING WIVES." denced on Christmas Eve, to-mor-conversation soon usurped my en- Wives and mothers of the en-row.

tire attention. tombed men waited, quivering with Signs of coming Xmas festivi- One woman was about sixty, the [we women. It was suspense to hear the names of the ties are particularly noticeable in other could hardly have been thirty, me, I suppose, but oh, how I used Wyndham Street. Vendors are and they were obviously strangers to pray that it would be over before busily engaged in.

trimming to each other. But they had one my Georgie came of age! Oh why Xmas trees, cut from the thing in common. It might be call-couldn't they have come to some hillsides on the mainland.ed, a kind of soul-weariness. Both arrangement." Local holly, called ixora chinensis, were tired, tired and bored, existing ***I know, I believe we Women is also plentiful, while the appear-only in reminiscences. And it be all who had someone in It ance of mistletoe gives the final came very apparent that neither we loved all felt that. Of course, touch to the festive season. There wanted to listen to the other. The did see him again; otherwise I has been a rush to purchase these old lady wanted to talk about her shouldn't be telling you all this." supplies.

son. The younger one wanted to The elder woman uttered a deep talk about some other man, and sigh. having missed the opening sen- "We were so helpless, though,

were so h tencca, I could not gather at first Georgie never told me. He joined whether it was her brother, her up a year before he was qualified, Big Stores Making Decision

lover, husband..

as n private, mind you! a private! To-day.

"I shall never forget the pranks and to think that my uncle.com- There is a great probability that he used to play at Bolsover House manded a brigade in the South the leading Chinese stores in the School," the elder woman was say American war? Of course, he was Colony will not be presenting their ing. There was a Euclid and such a splendid boy.. He stood regular, customers with the usual gymnastic. master there none of the nearly six feet when he' time-honoured Christmas boxes. boys liked what was his eighteen. He looked every lach an

Then the tappings ceased, and the relatives of the entombed men must reconcile themselves, it is feared, to the worst.

Officials and men, tnking incre- victims, dible risks in the poisonous fumes, Some of them were fresh from brought to the surface one after grief reopened at the Armistice Day another the bodies of sixteen vic-Service, when they had laid wreaths tims.

of poppies on the local memorial.

One of the first to be brought up was Joseph Lowe, a grey- haired man of sixty-two years. He was found as if clasping a comrade in the act of rescue. He had been overcome with firedamp.

About 100 men were in the pit -engaged on the night shirt, which was due to end at six o'clock. At 'two o'clock there was an explosion,

followed by a rush of gas.

The countryside rocked. Three men were killed at the pit face, where later, they were found still clasping their picks. There were about 70 men near the shaft bottom. They escaped.

NOTED SPORTSMAN'S DRIVER CHARGED.

Mr. Lo's Chauffeur Defends Himself.

Scores of children have been made orphans by this disaster. A majority of the victims were.mar- [ried men with large families.

Personal Pars.

XMAS BOXES MAY BE ABOLISHED,

"Ah. yes

my dear, there were some wonderful men in the war. Some vile some sublime. My son, for instance. Ah, yes, we women-

wicked of

was

Mr. W. C. Gee, a wireless en- The decision regarding the question name? I have forgotten: And officer even in his Tommy's uniform. gineer, returned to Hong Kong is expected to-day in so far as the there was a Miss Beaswyck, the A lot of the others used instinctive- from Singapore to-day aboard the main stores are concerned, and it is 9.8. Hakone Maru.

anticipated that a general agree ment to stop the distribution of pre- sents will be arrived at.

"

The manager; of a leading Chin ese store explained to the China

RIKISHA OWNERS

PAY FINES. (Continued from page 1). "3:

Mail that the system of giving Mr. S. Dunu, a broker, in answer Christmas boxes to customers had to his summons, said that the

ly to call him 'Sir He wrote me such lovely letters, so cheerful, so gay, even when he was down with fever in those dreadful swamps in Greece. He used to write home about-oh, about everything except the warling

Yes, yes," said the younger

GIFT DIRECTORY

Enumerated below are a few of the many acceptable presents we have on show. There are many more that would be appreciated, and we invite your inspection. They are conveniently arranged so as to make shopping Pleasant,

Dressing Gowne Travelling Rugs Sweaters

Comfy Pyjamas

From $24.50 14.75 10.50

From Ties and Handkerchiefs 4:76 Shirts (with 2 Collars.

to match) 6.76

8.50

Golf Hose..

4.75

Socks (Silk or Wool) Scarves (White or

1.75

Slippers

5.75

Trouser Presses

12,50

Coloured) 4.75

4.75

Handkerchiefs, dozen ...

5.00

4.50

Neckwear Gloves

2.75

19,50

5.75

Walking Sticks

Umbrellas

Fitted Tollet Sets

Hair Brushes (in case). 18.50

JAEGER

Specialities in a large assortment.

WM. POWELL, LTD.

9, Queen's Road C.

The Store Will Remain Open Until 6 P.M.

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR

SALE

Many, many USEFUL PRESENTS for CHRISTMAS and the NEW YEAR. Hundreds of Bargains on Regular Goods.

BUY YOUR WINTER WEAR NOW,

!

THE CHOSEN CO., LTD.

92-100, Des Voeux Rd. C. Tels.:-Ground Fl. 22865, 1st FL 20886, 2nd FL. 24573.

MECCANO

THE WORLD'S GREATEST TOY

AN ALL-

BRITISH

-TRIUMPH.

Meccano, Limited, Liverpool, England.

Year by year Meccano becomes more firmly entrenched as the World' Greatest Toy. It is unique because it appeals,, not to the boys of one conn try alone, but to the splendid spirit of boyhood that is

common to all the nations of the world..

Meccano satisfica the great craving of boyhood to make things that will work. A Meccano Outst provides, the means of constructing an enormous variety of models, that are wonderful repro

ductions of the "real thing," and can be set to work in the most realistic mantier. There is nothing more fascinating than

a Meccano model "In action!"

Prices obtainable from thì

L B. 10tr

MECCANO

XMAS & NEW YEAR HAMPERS,

We beg to notify Customers that Assorted Hampers unitahls for the Festive Season may be obtained from us at the following Reduced Rates:

$55:

1 Qt. Superb, Tawny Port, 2.Qts. St. Julien Claret.

1.Qt. Old Brown Sherry, Black

1 Qt. Paritán Old Tom or Dry En.

1 Qt. Burgoyne'd Burgundy,

1 Phial Pomeranxan Bitters

$45.

2 HAMPER

3.Qte Tawny Dry Part 2.Qt. Et Julien Claret. -

Miss G. M. Rodger, who has been spending a vacation in Shanghai, A summons for dangerous driving returned to Hong Kong to-day on was brought by Sergeant Howell the ss. President Monroe. .against Lam Chung, driver employ-

ed by Mr. M. W. Lo, the well-known Mr. Martin Hess, a prominent many drawbacks, apart from the houseboy, and the rikishie coolie woman, wearily "I met Peter n

No. 1 HAMPER Colony tennis player and solicitor, Manila business man, arrived here financial consideration, which in a had had a quarrel, and the latter few days later, quite by chance in a 1 Qt. Moet & Chandon Dry before Mr. Schofield in the Central this morning on the sa. President big department store amounted to had not cared where he left the narrow street near the railway

Imperial Champagne, Police Court this morning, MJefferson on a business trip. thousands of dollars.

vehicle at night. The excuse was station. He walked straight, up to 1 Pt, G. F. Peppermint. Horace Lo appeared for the defence

"Such a system tends only to accepted and Mr. Dunn was die me and gravely asked me how I was. 1 PL DOM and pleaded not guilty.

Mr. E. K. Tratman, a dental sur-make some of the customers dis- charged with a caution, I was amazed that he remembered 1.Qt. Martell's XXX Brandy Sergeant Howell told the Court geon was among the passengers who contented, and cases are known Mr. Lowcock was fined $6 and a me. He looked, in the curious outfit 2 Qta, King George IV Gold: that at 3,45 p.m. on December 8 he disembarked from the N.Y.R... where a store has lost a customer similar ane was imposed on Mr. they used to wear in the trenches,

Label or Perfection Whisky, followed the defendant's Austin Hakone. Maru, which arrived from through the presenting of a Christ- H. Abbas, of the staff of the Hoog like one of those medieval knights.Z seven car down Stubbs Road from Home to-day.

mas box," he said, "Mrs. So-and-Kong Club, who stated his coolfe. He told me he was going up to the the sentry box. On each occasion,

so comes to the store and complains was to blame.

front line in two hours time. We when rounding a bend the defendant Mr. D. W. Morley, M.A., lecturer that her neighbour has received Inspector Saunders aqld that had only a few hurried words, and 1 Qt. Guillemart Chan drove practically over the white in mechanical engineering at the such-and-such a commodity, why is owners were responsible for their line, and on two cornera below Shui University of Hong Kong, returned it that she, who spends just as coolies, Fal Terrace just missed a car. on to the Colony to-day aboard the much per month is given this-and- His Worship pointed out that ri- each, occasion. – All the bends in NY.K. liner, Hakone Maru from that worth half the value?.

kishas left out at night wem a dan Stubbs Road are practically blind Marseilles.

Another factor which may ger to traffic, corners, stated the Sergeant.

hasten the death of these 'com- Another owner, who stated that Mr. Walter F. Arndt, of the Can- shaws, is that more money is belog he parked his rikisha on an open ton office of the Dollar S.S. Line, spent in the stores for the benefit space in Wanchal, was told by his returned from leave on the Pre- of the customer. We provide Worship to rent a room. The pro sident Monroe this morning. He numerous attractions for them and blem was similar to that which will spend a few days in the Colony their children throughout the year, confronted the motorist. A fine before resuming his duties in and this, judging from the cor- of $5 was imposed. Canton,

respondence, we receive from natis- While driving ble car in Queen's

Sed customers, is greatly appreciat Mr. Road Enst yesterday afternoon, Mr. Among the passengers who ed. S Walker, of the Hong Kong Jockey arrived here on the 6.3. President. Then again, the delivery the this Club Stables, knocked down a Monroe this morning, and who will Christmas boxes

The case was adjourned to to morrow morning,

CHINESE RUN DOWN.

Chinese man near the Grand Thea tre Wanchal. The man sustained a fracture of the shine bone, and was removed to the hospital,

be staying, over in Hong Kong for during the two or some time, were the Misses B. H. coding the holkday, Bernays, and C... 5. Evann, Mr.. H. Terts greatly wit Compere and Mr. S. Hopkins. livery service,

Inters

stice "G. A. arrived

then he went, PAGOD 1 Pt. DOM:~

1 Qt. Puritan Old Tom or Dry Gin.

1QL Vino de Pasto Sherry.

1 Phial Pomeranian Bitters.

No. 3 HAMPER

The elder v woman clicked her 1 Burgoyne's Burgundy, tongue with what was meant to be 1 Qt. Martell's "XXX Brandy. a display of sympathy and interest, 2 qts. King George IV Golf hut her aged and short-sighted eyes! Label or Perfection Whisky, were elsewhere,

"Games] that was what he was so good at Cricket, football, all those things. They said there were several colleges at both Oxford and Cambridge anxious to liave hirm be cause he could run a hundred yards In-ten minutes, was it?--and and he could knock anybody over at

football. And yet the

ching was he was 80 He wouldn't

did

1.Qt. Burgoyne's Burgundy. 1 Pt. G. F Peppermint 1. Pt. D.Q.M.

2 Qts. Superior Rich Old Port 2.Qts. King George IV Gold Label or Perfection Whisky-

Other Hampers made, un to

$40.

1.Qt. Tower Brandy (1 Qt. Amontillado

1 Qt. Puritan 2. Que Medoc

GANDE PRICE

Phis? Pomer

För Dry Gin.

Customer's quirement

& CO LTD.

TRONG TONG