CO129-195 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4] — Page 107

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boat and those it held camu ashore again, The Soy factory at Yau-mah- ti is partly blown

and to 2 very large extent unroofed. The Praya Wall is almost completely washed away. The scene, alike on shore and towards the water, is an exceedingly pitiable from one end of the village to the other. Some 39 or 40 Chinese who were to have started for San Francisco to-day by the City of Peking were honked over at Yau-mah-ti all right for the night, no boat daring to take them on board in such a sea and it being fairly impossible that the mail steamer would in the face of such an gale, go out at the advertised time precisely. Five bodies were found, we have said, washed ashore ; they were diacovered to the north of the station. These were of course forwarded at once to the dead house at the Govern- ment Civil Hospital here, but no inquest, has as yet been opened on any of them.

At Kung Chung a number of boats were drawn up on the bench; and those were all more or less damaged. The only other recordable effect of the gale was the blow- ing down of Mr Francis' bungalow.

At Hungham, a large number of boats were broken up, but no houses were da- naged.

At Wong Kok Sui, several boats were broken-up and a few houses were unroofed. Loss of life at this place, however, as well as at the two last mentioned, is not reported. From Tsim Tsa Tsoi comes the same re- port; considerable damage to boats and on shore, but no lives lost.

The steamer White Cloud, which was later than usual in leaving Macao for Hongkong, the approaching storm keeping her back, brings reports to the effect that there was a heavy gale experienced there from the north at first, and blowing right round to north-north-west and from that direction to the west. The lowest reading of the barometer was 29.26. The glass steadied after midnight and gave no fore- tellings of any approaching disturbance of the elements, between that time and the hour whon the steamer left Macao. A great any junks and cargo boats were wrecked, but it is not known that there was any loss of life worth mentioning, if indeed any loss of life at all. The White Cloud left her anchorage and anchored in the bay in anti- cipation of hard weather but nothing occur- red to disturb her in any way, although the guats were heavy beyond ordinary," from 5 o'clock yesterday until the hour of starting this morning, 8 o'clock. Before the White Cloud left, the Ping On had arrived from Pakhoi and Hoihow, at 7 o'clock in the morning, and reported ex- periencing the full fury of the gale in the form of a typhoon on her run up from the South. She had anchored at St. John's in consequence of the gale. The White Cloud returned to Macao at once on getting her cargo out here, which was a particular- ly large one of tea to go home by the English mail. She crosses again to-morrow with a similarly large cargo, leaving at 8 a.m. and departing from Hongkong on her return trip to Macao at 2 p.m. The Spark then takes up the run in the usual way. The Kiang ping made her usual passage and resumes her position at once. A few notes as to the effect of the gale at Macso will be found under our heading of Macao correspondence. There would seem, from what we have heard from nautical authorities just returned from the other side, that there could he no possible mistake there as to the reality of the typhoonic nature of the storm, the wind going almost right round the com pass in twelve hours.

An extraordinary rumour was industri- ously circulated as to soane catastrophe hay- ing happened to the Yotsui. The Yotsai is safe in dock.

We should have mentioned yesterday, when reckoning-up of those to whom credit waa due, those who had shown that they were made of the right stuff when the oc- casion called for help, that the Royal Artil- lery turned out and held themselves in readiness for any opportunity, and pulled up on the Barrack Square, North Barracks, during the worst part of the gale as it affected that quarter, that was ¡ between noon and 1 o'clock p.m., six I sampana together with their crews, num- bering quite an extensive tribe of people saved from the wrecks. The highest credit is due to those who took part in this work, although they may have to reat content with the approbation of their own consciences, which is often the sole reward of these who dwell under such circumstances. It is a pleasure to us to record, however, the duct of the valiant and humane R. A.

Several vessels, which have either come } in or attempted to go out and been com- pelled to put back, tell of severe weather outside.

The Kashgar, P.&O. str. which left yester- day for Shanghai, anchored in the Lyeemoon Pass, or near the Cape d'Aguilar lighthouse, and proceeded only after the force of the blow had expended itself. The same Coy, 'ssteamer Sunda, which has also had some heavy weather on her trip down, reports meeting her steaming out. The Diamante, setting out yesterday for Manila, had to put back through stress of weather. She brought in and landed some six or eight persons rescued from a junk found floating bottom up out- side. The Gleneagles from Foochow reports had weather towards the latter part of her The Zhang, from Cayton, at: voyage, chored in the river on her way down and

reports a mass of capsized boats, A heavy gale was experienced; and from the report she brings, we may expect to hear more from Canton concerning the present gale. The following reports from other vessels, also refer to the storm, which would appear | to have been extensively folt :-----

The British steamer Greyhound, Captain Scott, from Haiphong and Hoihow, re- ports From Haiphong to Hothow, strong winds veering from 8. E. to East, with high sea, From Hoihow to Hongkong, first part of passage light N.E. wins. "Friday morning, wind hauled North, and the veered to N.W. and West, blowing very heavy, with high cross sea from 8.E. and heavy rain; 10.16 a m. increased to a gale with furious squalls, turned ship's head and ran for anchorage at Chuen. Saturday at 3 a.m., moderated, when weighed anchor and proceeded.

The British stormer Esmeralda, Captaln Talbot, from Manila, reports -On Tuesday 11th Oct., at 5.05 p.m., hove up and pro- Iceeded from Manila Bay towards Hong-

kong, fresh northerly winds and fine clear! weather, bar, at midnight 29.95. Wednes- day 12th Oct., commenced with light N, W. winds and fine; noon, wind increasing from the N.W., bar. 29.84. 8 p.., strong N.N.W. winds and heavy rain; sea rising, bar. 23.80; midnight, no alteration, bar, 20.80 Thursday, 13th Dot., goumenced with hard gale from the N.W,, heavy rain squalls and high sea; 00.40 a.m., engines reduced to half speed, a.m. har. 20.00; 8 a.m. wind W.N. W., blowing a severo gale with incessant rain squalls and heavy sea ; | ship labouring heavily and shipping a great quantity of water. 8.50a.m. wind increasing in violence stopped the engines and hove to with sea anchor and 60 fathoms chain. After 10 a.m., the barometer began to rise slowly, although there was no abatement in the weather; noon, bar. 29.71. At 4 p.m. the weather moderated slightly, bar, stondi-

ly rising; 4.25 p.m., started heaving up the sea anchor; 5 p.m., full speed ahead; at 7.30 blowing hard gale from the S. W. und

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