THE CMINA MAIL,
HONGKONG, THURSDAY, OCT. 8, 1874.
THE MEMORIAL TO H. E. THE GOVERNOR RESPECTING THE CONDUCT OF THE SUPERIN. TENDENT OF POLICE DURING THE LATE TYPHOON,
THE following is the text of the me morial forwarded to H. E, the Governor by the Residents who condemn Capt. Deane's action during the late ty- phoon
HONGKONG, 5th October, 1874.
To His Excellency,
SIR ARTHUR EDWARD KENNEDY,
K.U.M.G. U. B. Governor of
Hongkong de. dc. dc.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY, ----W8, the undersigned inhabitants of Hongkong, humbly beg to lay before your Excellency the following statement.
That on the night of the 22nd and the morning of the 23rd ultimo, a Typhoon of de. unprecedented violence did much struction to life and property in this City and Harbour.
Among the many casualties of that dread- ful night, two of the most remarkable are the wrecks of the steamsis Albay and Leonor.
by the mercy of Providence, and the humane exertions of some private citizens, the crew of the Albay were saved from death, but although the Leonor sank only about fifty yards from the shore, nearly 100 persons perished, and only about 12 were saved from the ship.
Before the Leonor was wrecked it was reported at the Central Police Station to the Captain Superintendent of Police, that A number of men bad been rescued from the Albay, and that another steamer was coming on shore, but although there were a large number of available men at the Sta tion, the Captain Superintendent refused to allow any of them to go out to render assistance.
At the time when the Police were thus confined to the barracks, they were also much needed to repress robbers who were plun- during shops and warehouses, which bad been broken open in various parts of the town and particularly on the Praya,
During the height of the storm, a house in the Chinese portion of the City caught Are.
The circumstance was reported to the Captain Superintendent of Police who not only refused to send any assistance, but declined to allow the fire Alarm Bell to be rung, and he also failed to inform the Su perintendent and the Assist. uperintend eas of the bite Brigade, Meners C. May and J, Russell, that a fire had broken out, though it was bis duty to do so at once.
Fortunately Mr C. V. Creagh, the other Assistant superintendent, was present when the report was made, and, aid having been refused, he went alone to the Fire Engine Station and with the help of a few volunteers, mostly private individuals, after much difficulty, the fire was subdued."
This colony pays a large an annually for the maintenance of the once rorce, and the Fire Brigade, for the protection of the lives and property or its Citizens, and
it in grievously disappointing to find that ina erring vmergingy, when lives were:
being lost by thousands in the Harbour and the whole City was threatened with a conflagration, the Chief of the Police not only was inactive himself, but withheld others from rendering that assistance which they were able and willing to give.
Had timely aid been given it is very pos- sible that many of those who perished in the Leonor might have been saved, and valuable assistance might have been given in other quarters; and this inference is strengthened by what took place at the various outlying Police Stations both on this island and at Kowloong, where the detachments, not being checked from exertion, behaved in a manner which merits the gratitude and praise of the whole com- munity. The names of luspectors Burns, Grimes, and Youngson have come promin- ently forward among those who were most active in saving life.
The conduct of the Police at the Out- stations thus affords a gratifying proof of
the willingness of the men to do their duty uobly, where they were not restricted by the orders of their chief.
Uur confidence in the discretion and wisdom with which the Police Force is directed has thus been seriously shaken, and we therefore pray that in view of the oircumstances herein set forth, Your Ex- cellency will be pleased to institute & Public Inquiry into these matters, that the truth may be more fully known.
We have the honor to be Your Excellency's most obedient humble
Servants,
Signed by :-Jas. Whittall, M.L.C; P. Ryrie, M... K. Rowett, M.L.C.; C. Morland Kerr, for Oriental Banking Corporation; George Farley Heard; A. F. Heard; H. Hoppius; Jas. Greig, Chief Manager, Hongkong and Shang. hai Banking Corporation; F. D. Sassoon; Wai. 13. Forbes; Joha M Forbes Jaur.; Adolf André; Herbert Magniac ; . Bertrand, Principal Agent M. M. Co.; R, H, dandeman, Actg, Mauager, National Bank of India, Limited; A. Philippe, Acting Manager, Comptoir d'Escompte ; M. W. Boyd, Manager, Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China; H. Loweock; J. F. Cordes T. Pyke; H. Seymour Geary; U. M. Siegfried; so. B. Emory, eting Agent, Pacific Mail S. S. Co.; F. Grobien; H. Kiær; A. F. Chambers; J. Bradlee Smith; to. O. Scott; W. D. Harrison; Thos. Hall; G. M. Sands; E. 4. Belilios; E. Vogel; N. B. Dennys ; 0. Benecko; Henry A. Mylno; Ad. Strack; Ludwig Bayer; D. McCulloch; Jas. B. Coughtrie, Secretary, China Fire Insurance Co. ¡ A. Mac G. Heaton; J. Kennard Davin; John Robinson; Rad. Jensen; R. Walker; A. E. Braddon; P. Karbery; J. Keith Angus; C. E. Parker; H. C. Heywood; A. Molver, Superintendent P. & O. Company; Brast Behre; J. Roas Anton; Charles J. Barnes; E. A. Raven; C. Badde; P. W. Mein; C. E. Thomson; A. MacClymont; Ed. George; W. H. Ray; John S. Lapraik; John S. Cor; Ed. Mellish; G. A. Kusebone; A. P. MoŁwen; C. W. Baird; Nowrojee & Co.; A. Ebrahim & Co.; Framjee Hor- musjee & Co.; M. D. Ghandy & Co.; R. Hahihbhoy; A. Habibbhoy; R. Dhun- jeebhoy & Co.; H. Hustonjee; F. B. Cama; M. B. Polishwalla; H. B. Dantra; Nursey Kessonjee & Co.
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