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Overland China Mail.
HONGKONG, THURSDAY, SEPT. 29, 1870.
HONGKONG.
THE TYPHOON OF 1870, Hongkong has been again visited by one of those terrible storms which make these eastern sess the dread of the mariners and the terror of the boating and river popul- lations of China. Ever since Saturday night, the weatherwise have predicted meteorological trouble in one form or other. The barometer was unsteady in its movements, and the clouds were por- tentously low and questionable in shape. During the greater part of yesterday (25th) these signs continued in a
more
or less degree; but opinions differed as to whether we were to be visited by a thorough- going typhoon, a rain-storm or a heavy gale. Notwithstanding these appearances and consequent prophecies, several of the Colonial yachts went out on their usual Sunday cruise. It was not until six o'clock last night that the wind assumed a forcible aspect; and even then the decline shown by the barometer was so gradual that it was believed by many that it was a false alarm after all. Unfortunately, however, this proved to be no false cry of danger; and we regret to say that one of the yachts (the Fairy was lost near Sowkewau. It is gratifying to note that a French gentleman who was on board was saved by the Chi- nese; but the sad part of the incident is, that one of the French sailors who formed the crew lost his life. About this same time (between five and seven) another incident occurred which, but for the timely assistance of the owner of the yacht Zephyr who was returning frots a ernise, might have been a tragic one. junk containing some thirty or forty Chinese, mostly women, capsized jnat Kow- opposite Kowloong Rock, long City. Mr Beart at once stopped his yacht, came to an anchor, threw his life- buoys to the assistance of the struggling men and women, aud otherwise assisted in All resuming the drowning unfortunates. hands were saved, and great credit in due to the owner of the Zephyr for the part he took in this humane transaction.
near
A
On Sunday morning the glass gradually fell; the wind (very light) holding stea dily at W.N. W.; during the day the baro meter fell nearly four-tenths, the weather being pleasant though the sky was overcast, the thermometer ranging from 82° to 86". About 6 p.m., it commenced to rain, and the wind gradually rose, veering from W.N.W, to "N, W. During the night the glass fell gradually but surely, and about 3 a.m. on Monday, it blew heavily in mets, witch raiu The glass mark-
ing 29.40.
At about 7 a.m., the baro- meter was steady at 29.20 and even rose
a little, but soon fell again, and the squalls increased in weight and strength. At 10 a.m. the glass at Messra Falconer's, which is considered the standard in the colony. stood at 29.23, being 12/100 lower than during the height of the typhoon of '67. The sea rose rapidly and the wind veered to N.E., from which quarter it blew steadily and heavily for some hours. The Praya wall
gave way in several places, and the wharf on the Praya belonging to Wohang went by the board. The vessels in the harbor commenced dragging, and the Au- namite steamer Dong Wue, the Delaware (just arrived from Singapore) and the l'esso were in dangerous proximity to each other for some time.
At 11 the glass was still falling and stood (the standard) at 29.14, the wind in- creasing and drawing slightly to the east- ward. As this was the lowest point ever marked by this glass before, in Hongkong, matters assumed a serious as- pect; business was generally suspended, and residents generally shut their houses and prepared for a typhoon. The sea broke heavily over the Praya, flooding the Chi- nese houses at the westward and covering with spray the European buildings on the Praya Central. As the tile ebbed the reflux meeting the wind got up a short but heavy sea. The Dong Wue dragged foul of the Delaware, jamming her smoke stack ander the latter's bows and carrying it away; her bulwarks were bally stove and the two vessels remained in contact for some time; the precise amount of damage we have not as yet been able to ascertain. At about 1.45 the gale was at its height, the standard marking 29.10 and the other barometers 28.90; the wind blew fearfully aud the sea made a clean breach over the Messrs Hook Praya from East to West.
& Sous' cargo boats which had been an- chored off Pedder's Wharf, were in great jeopardy, and after losing their masts two of them were driven ashore and landed on the wharf opposite Messrs Russell & Co.'s. Many Chinese boats shared the same fate, and the Prays along its entire length was strewed with fragments of wreck, and general debris. The barque Jane drifted down on to the Sin Nansing, but the latter having steam up easily eluded her and took up a position on the other side of the harbor.
Early in the forenoou the Flagstaff at the Peak was observed to bend like a piece of cane, and then to snap in two like a walk- ing stick.
The scene from the Praya front looking seaward was most fearfully magnificent, the various craft tossing like "cockle-shells upon the seething waters of the bay, and the blinding squalls driving in through the Lyeemoon as if in hot haste to increase the terrible tumult already visible all over th harbor, The wall formed a sort of
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