1948-11-06 — Page 3

Page

WITNESSES RECOUNT GODOWN DISASTER

Several witnesses were heard by the Commission

of Enquiry investigating into the cause of the disastrous fire on September 22 at the West Point godown of Wing On Company. One of the witnesses said that big balls of fire, green and yellow, were rolling up and down at the rear of the tenement building in which more than 270 lives were lost.

+

Trui 'Wai-chun said that 23 persons lived on the second floor of 355 Des Voeux Road West, of which she was the principal tänant. On Sep- tamber 22, while she was playing with one of her children on the verandah, she heard an explosion shortly offer the bell at the Gas Works rang.

THE-CHINA-MAIL, BÁTURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1040........

REMEMBRANCE

DAY FUND-

......„JEKSA), 111.11

Previously acknowledged Reuben Import/Export Co. Lich Dr.W, Bun .................. [M. Bater-Lynn Hellwig

The Asis Co. .....

Mr. • Ara. II. Tính memory of the Into David Mann) .. Hr. Kan Tone-pa Mr. The ele dace's Theate Provozent. & "Kasudama) Co

100,00

240,00

59.09

$0.50

của Mr.

20.00

50.00

In reply to the Chairmen of the Commission, Wong nald the C cupants of his fat did not chop firewood the premises The wood, chopped up by the sellers, were in dmall piocts when pur-Bat Cheng International Trad chased. There were no cracks in Jug Co. . . . .

26.09

10.00

200.00

be

Evans,

| Harbour View A. Arllugton Hetein

Boy Farrell Export-Import Co.

SILK, Ltd.

5.00

Eta.co C4.00

Van Beektion Paper Ltd. A. Wala de Co Ltd.

the floor. As far as he could res) Mr. A;F. Oftentesi... member no craghts in the flbork Pekin Hyndleste Lid. (Trade had been repaired. Ifè, could hot) in Division my' whether the explosion curred below his flat,

Mr. Questioned by

suld that he equid not say Wong whether the No. 2 Godown (main). Nemate, Esq. godown on the water front) was Mr. N. Arthu alo, on front the time of lils Thứ Wloé On Co., Luh ercape. "I could not make out Yasunix & Co. where the flames

Acli import-Export & Itelser- were coming

Atton Bervire ......... from," he said.

Hong Kong Klectric Co, Ltd.. Wong told the Chairman that United Agencies Ltd. She shouted to her husband, celluloid films were stored in the approximately an hour elapsed Mr. & Mrs. F.. kinner who was in bed, to run, She ear-godown. The sound of the as- beiween the time he heard the Mr. May Foo rled one of her clutdren in her plosion was like that

of u eur. explosion and his escape. He shild | The Local Printing Trees Ltd, buck-ftring or a tyre bursting, he thất his estimate was based on The Vibro 145tr Co, Ltd, a said.

the time of his hearing the ox-

Mercastle Bank of India, Lui, Dr. Gould, nitached to theplosion at 7.50 a.m. and his ar-

Mr. M.. Ims Hong Kong University, sald that rival at the Queen Mary Hospital. A.

3.4. Băses he had visited the godown pre-at 9.45.a.m. inisex after the fire.

Mr. & Mrs. Is Goldman

Tu said Rat she attempted to ritsh downstairs, but an reaching the fourth step, she was stopped by flainty which were shooting upwards. She intended to turn

Ste nudert that ho had heard of. Tuon Thi Lid back, but noticed that the second He then went on to give details a small fire two days carlier. He Hong Kong Ching as Co, Ltd. floor and verandah དན*j ༤ also as to the degree of heat which was told of it by a fellow inmate The Underwalters Babk, law, aflatne. She picked on his daugh- would serve to inclncreate a body. of the flat who wan watchman. T.M. Gregory Ess ter and Parried the other child in | He believed the heat of the deele also saw the Aro engines ar» As slur could aul walknt the godowns would completely rive. Lam said he was told that her arms.

boxiles. down the laway, the rolled einerate certain

The the fire <ccurred in one of the down.

hodes of children would be in- godowns.

mought it most likely that certain

skeleton.

The Newspaper Exterpelné delite

here Co

Tim Clover Flower Blogs

· Unlled Rubler Works Cic Mid Vannen Company

RC Won & Co.

ME A, VĀRIJ

Mr. Leung Kwn-wing

The Ovenca Machinery & Autos

mourliter in

Victory x Blore Wix Fook A to,

She had no idea as to the origincinerated. mora readily. He Enveloped In Smoke of the fire. She thought the Cus Work had exploded.

traginenta would remain, but Yu Win-ying. Sub-Officer of Leung Ping-hkig said that she would not expect complete the Fire Brinde said he found the lived at 357, Des Voeux tout

whole block of houses were en- Went, 3rd floor. Her family 151-

Taan to-wing, lift-man'employ-veloped in smoke and the street Fluted six persons. A total of 12ed at No. 2 Godown, said that on was filled with burinng drums. persons lived on the care flat, September 22 he arrived at the He gave orders

godowns at about 7.35 a.m.

He then

to Central Fire Finite Electro Steam Landry Le rung up went to The verandah. While Sletion for reinforcements. A

Bre was then pliched rending a newspaper, he smelt the fescupe odour of somethlig barning. The | against the floor and some fire- ly was shinlar to that of burn- men were bringing down some Ing newspaper.

On September 22, she was fullt in bed when she beard an ex- plesion. She tried to go down by the saleway, butt could not so be- vause of the Are. Eventually, she muraged to escape by the door | at the back staireure. Sh» could not any what emused the fire,

Mu To, who was in charge of i

the receipt and delivery of gouds #t The Godown, salf thht be usually lived at 359, Des Voeux Road West, but was not there on the night before the thre

Noticed Smoke

+

Heard Explosion

persons.

for action and

Cik (Chinna Lat, Any

Poltava Officers Tell Story Of Ship Collision

60,00 Evidence regarding the collision between the s

Eamaeus and the Russian steamer Poftava on the affomoon of Novömbér † was given by the officer of the Poltava before the spodiak court of inquiry of the Marine Court yesterday. The Court comprised Mr. J. Poltaya was entering, the Pass on 60.00 Jelly, Director of Marine, Pre- the port side. 100.00 sident, Lieutenant Cominander 4. J. B. P. Stirling, RN, Assistant 600,00

King's Harbour Master and 24.00

Captain B. E. Bidwell. Assist- 30. ant Maring Superintendent of Indo-China Steam Navigation Company, members.

20.00 750.00 25.00

Captain Nicholas Belov, master 24.00 of the Polluya, said that when his 14.00 ship entered Lyemun Pass on the 10.00afternoon of November 1, he sight- ed the es. Atintic Wave at 123 13.00P.m. passing her on the starboard

500,00 200.00

25,00

sklo,

109.00 The Eumacus was then between 54.00 1,000 and 1200 metres away hour- 103,00 ing for Lyomun Pass in the op- 105.00 posite direction.

The

Eumneus gave and binst Indicating, that she was taking the sarboard course and he re- 54,00

plied with one blast, the same 100.00

Songtime swinging to starboard.

69.00

180.00

dd Seeing that the Euraoys' hud :

Passing the channel, his... nhắp was travelling about five knots and passed the Poltava about mid- way in the channel,

While abreast of the Poltava. her heard the Eumnes give one blast and also heurd two-shot” Įblasta from the Poltava at. Inter-

vals of about 30 reconds.

He sutu he did not see the col- 1-ion.

As no further evidence was te be taken, the President adjourn- rd the Inquiry, la 10 am. November 12 when he will de- deliver a written decision.

7

Official Notices Appointments

On

Mr. Wullam John Dupre Cooper.

25.00 not altered her coure, he again Principal Auditor, resumed duty: 10.00 repented the blast after an inter- ) on

October 26, it was officially

20.00 val of one and a half minutes, announced yesterday.

All this time the Poltava 8.00 making for starboard,

30.00

60.ca

160.50

GI

20.00

100.00

Third Blast Sounded

was

At 459 pun, when the distance 40.00 between the two vessels bud been 10.00 narrowed to between 130 to 200 neres, the third blast was sound- but no reply was received from the Eumacus and he then in the danger of a collision,

up

from

The flames he saw coming out one of the ground floors

Bouth China Trader Keen Bang Belckworks Lid, The Victory Manufacturing Co.

Kendal riva imperial Chemicals

(Chian) Bald.

750,00

The Star Ferry Co, Lad, Hong Kong & Kowloon Wharf

Godown Co. Ltd.

25.00

Tim Chu Vo-Tan Min. Co. Jitd. Artele, tel

G00.00 25.00

Mr. A.J. Bird The next thing he noticed was were of an orange red colour,

he

Ananym

Hong Kong Hotel Garage

The Oriental Dram Co.

Henry Balers Co.

kay

Pacific Unlos Trading Co, Ltd. Mr. Na Wab Mr. Wong The Grad Trading Co. Paulin & Co. The Bandar Friss Ltd. Green Find Cement Co. Ltd.

cames shooting out from the go-later the fourth alarm, which in- Yu said he gave the third, and

clown into the street. He shouted

ulcated that lives wero in Im- cut to the people

to run away wediate conger and that the fire and then heard the sound of an

spreading. He saw

was in danger of explosion.

The re in

Lai Shu-lun: Sub-OMeer of the street before hearing the

ex-Fire Brigade attached to the Cen- at plosion. to his ne He returner

tral Fire Brigade, said that when Lam Iu-wing about 4.

added that on the day of the i

ho arrived at the fire the No. 13 fire. He noticed a tittle smoke went to the staircase of No. 351

was already doing Appliance then to the roof.

He saw and dense smoke. The passage to the cue work. The escape was up bottom floor was obstructed by against the building and several people fighting to escape.

uple were clambering.down. Questioned by Mr. Wright, the mises he saw a lady with a baby Wang Hoa Co.

Going to the rear of the pre- Mr. & Mrs, Pune Ping-fan witness said that he was sitting in her arms sitting on the top of Hr. C.T. Chor in No. 359

when the explosion some steps. Along the steps were Young Bros, Banking Corpn. occurred. The explosion

dead bodies. Orders were Mr. Landau from the West side of No. 367, said. He could not say from which then given for the hoses to be A.R. Burkill & Sur Ltd. tirection

the odour he detected played on that part of the build- Mr. J.K. Brand came. He said that flames shot outing, while the woman and baby Wheelock Marden from the godown at the side of

coming from a westerly direction un he was trul to ascund the staircase of 359, Des Voeux Road West.

On entering his own flat, he went to his bad and changed ins clothes. Just as he was about 10 go downstairs, he beard an ex- plosion. Someone opened the door and then shouted to the people to run away as there was a fire,

Ma saif he went up to the coaf, He did not see any fire when he ascemfell the stairease, but felt m- tense heat.

་

Mn said that caustic soda, paint, manure and, iron materials were

came

hesne

I were rescued.

Hearing was adjourned until

No. 361. In reply to Mr. Evans, 9.30 am on Thursday, November Lam said that one or

Iwo seconds between the explosion clapsed and the flames.

stored in No, 5 Godown. Rabber Wong Cheung-fong. 1100dle was also supred in the gown, He said that he did not know if

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merchant, told the Commission that he resided on the first floor

f No. 303 with his family.

Fourteen people occupied the floor but only 12 were present af the time of the fire on September 22. He said he was in bed when the explosion occurred but was too sleepy to get-up. His wife, however, told him that there was

Godown Fire Narrowly Averted

The prompt arrival of a fire

a fire and urged him to escape. appliance,, under Divisional Omeer When he left his bod Was 7.50 a.m. wrist watch,

V. C. Seymour, prevented what his might well have according to

been another disastrous dodown fire at Kowloon yesterday afternoon.

He said he intended to escape by the back door but found the place in flames. "I and my wife,

Oriental Handwork Co

TO, Wona a Co, Ltd.

Ca. Ind.

Tak Shing Invealmont Cu, d.

Paris Bilk Horn ...

Kowloon Duck Ch

Yo Okle Printerio Ltd,

Mr. F. McD, Courtary

Dr. Kirk, Neotson, fre & Vio Hr. W.G. Nuberton

On Lok Yuen Co, Ltd.

Dr. Tran Wei-chean

Meckes, Denzoni

General Commèrofal Corn, Lid. Br. Kong Lantan

The Higino Club

Total to dato

ed,

It was at that moment that the Eumacus started to change her 60.00 course, but it was too late and he was left with no alternative but to continue to starboard.

50.00

وال ال100

A minute later the bow of the Eungous pointed to the foremast

•

Mr. Terence Moore Barton, Auditor, bo ceased to act n Principal Auditor on October 25, the Government Gazetto reported. Relinquishment of his commis. sion in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps by Lieutenant J.N. Sweeney has been approved by the Governor,

Mr. Young Wan-hing has been appointed by the Chief Justice, Sir Lese Gibson, to sit

nione

as a Tonaney Tribunal with effect from October 25.

•

Dr. S.N. Chau has resumed his ho ordered seat on the Exrculive and Legis- to turn sharplylative Councils.

ship and vessel

100.00

50.00

25.10

60,04

of hir

50,00

his

30.00

1.60

10.00

28.09

100.00

to port in order to bring the two

vessela parullel, that 'n collision Mr. Paul Harold Pearson has

might be averted,

At 5.01 pm, the uppermost part 60.00 of the Eumacus struck the life boat 40.00 davits and caused an opening in

been provisionally recognised as

Consul for the United States of America at Hong Kong.

Mr. John Wayne Williams hos

Go the foremost part of tho No, 3 been empowered in act as Vice-

60.00 hold.

10.00

Alexander Kushner; Chlef Of-Consul for the United States of 20.00 fleer, said he was on the Bridge Ameries at Hong Kong. So just before the collision and was

100.00 almost on the spot where tho

60.00

| Eumanus struck the Poltavo.. 250,0b

The position of the Pollava 30.00 10 when passing the two lights of 160.00 the Pass was South of the centre ine and the telegraph registered 100.00 half speed. 100.00

20.03

George Bicherbakov, Fourth Of- 08.01 ficer corroborated the evidence of 100.c0fe Chief Officer.

10.00

250.00

100.05 Engines At Half Speed

6.00 Vladimir Slipchenko, Third Ea- 35.00 gincer said he was in the engine

at the time of the callision $48,962.37 From

pm. the engines were put to half speed.

DONATIONS

room

The engines were in good run- ning order. Her fuil speed would be between six to seven thois.

Lau Ping-fu, llcented pilot fa Hong Kong waters, said he look the Atlantic Wave "out of the colony at 4.30p.m.

The Atlantic Wive was on the port side of the Pass when she left the port and had no aller- native in so doing because

The following donations to the Nether.ole Hospital Nurses Home

üre gratefully acklow Fund ledged:-

Miss 1. N. Watkins (15 memory While some coolies were taking delivery of some of the 137 drums of Mrs. A. Hughes) HK $40 carrying our son in her arms, tried of aluminium powder, stored by Mrs. A. Hughes) HK$16.

Mrs. Hédmahn (in memory of the staircase at the rear. When and Fung of Marina House, we got to the kitchen the flames from Godown 442 of the-new leapt at 115. I fell to the floor. Kowloon Godowns At

Saigon CHINESE OPERA IN ENGLISH When I got up and reached my Street, near Ferry Street, one of cubicle there were flames every-the

drums was found to be where."

leaking. Wong sald that his cubicle was Some of the powder which fell not touched by the fire, but that on to the floor ignited, and soon dames shot up from below and the whole white trail became above the yard at the rear of the alight. The coolles did a quick promises.

dash out of the godown.

"Balls Of Fire". "Big balls of Are, green yellow, were rolling up down," he said.

An alarm turned in at the and Kowloon Fire Brigade zoon had on the scent. Sand

and an opmediately pusu on the firo, į

and at the front staircase, I lay

down on my bed prepared to die.

was

"Because of the fire at the rear and, within quarter of an hour,

everything was under control.

MeCabay and Chlor inspector

Emergency Unit, under and could not understand what SI Oliver, were soon on the scene was happening to me. When I re- and kept the crowd at a safe dis- gained my senses, I felt dry in tance from the godown. the_throat," added Wong

On the bed I jumped and kicked inspector J. Hemsley with the out like a a prowa. I was choking

Mr. Chas. E. Terry and Mr. J. He said that when he went to Moody of the Godown Co. were the tap, for water he heard his early on the scene,, directing the son. cry. He found the child and removal of some of the drum

ne he was currylag the boy to the bod, his head'

and cars

but by the flames.

wer NATURALISATIONSİ

The privilege of Etilish natur-

of

"I left the cubicle to search for lisations has been conferred on my wife, but I could not enter the Rose Anne Obata, ned Lynch. kitchen because of the flames. She took the Cath of Allegiance carried my child to a table and an October 4. after covering ourselves with a blanket, I ran through the back British nationality have been re-

Corilicates of Acquisition door and down the stone steps gistered in respect of Ng Ho-sau Into the scavenging lane. Several Wu Ho Halu-chen) people were lying on the steps," known as Annie Wu nes Ho, and commonly sald Wong.

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