CO129-217 - Governor Sir Bowen Administrator Marsh - 1884 [7-10] — Page 451

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

95rd the shop of Wing Keo, a ship compradore,

once more their efforts were crowned with success, for they frightened all cargo boats from the Prays, and but very few were at REC. work during the day, almost all business afloat being still suspended. The strike does not appour REGD to have ended here, for soon afterwards it wAS reported that the rice pounders were joining in the strike, and on Saturday the price of rice went up 12 per cent in consequence. The next lot who received a notification to knock off work were the coal coolies at Wanohai, who were to be seen idling about during the rest of the afternoon, with the coal boats all together, unused. How far this striking is going to ex Itend it is impossible to say, but it seems all to emanate from one body which sends its commands forth, and those who receive the orders are afraid to disobey them for fear of being attacked by the rowdies and blackguards whom these guilds or bodies have at their commsud. It is certain the cargo boat people were not striking from any desire of their own. A large propo- | tion returned to their work on Friday morning, and while the police sent out specially to look after their protection were near by, they were unmolested, but when the extra police, deceived by the general quietness of things on the Praya went away and reported all quiet, ont came the sam sengs, or fighting men, and attacked them as reported. The cargoboat people, fear- ing they would have no protection, then cleared ont. It is certain that a great proportion at least of them would have been at work on Friday, and doubtless the whole of them the next day, but for this interference.

Street coolies were difficult to obtain, probably from fear, and the intimidation extended to the employés at the Slaughter House, who were afraid to go on killing. Inspector Orlay heard of it, and | went down immediately, and having assat the j batchers of protection, they went on at once with their work under a guard of Indian police from No. 7 Station, who remained on the spot.

The chair and jinricksha opolies are not at all disposed to submit to the dictates of the roughs, and in all but the most disturbed parts in the Western district, they have been plying their useful calling pretty much as usual. The row- i dies could not permit them to do this undisturb ed, however, and during Saturday morning many jinriekshas, public and private, were interfered with, but the strength of the street guards was too great to allow of a great deal of this sort of thing. About the worst case we have heard of is that of a European who was be- ing conveyed along Queen's-road Central in a jinricksha. About half a dozen roughs sud- denly rushed out of one of the

narrow

streets just beyond the Central Market, and up- set the vehicle. They kicked and beat the occu- pant and the coolie, both of whom ran off in terror of their lives. A Sikh constable saw the occurrence, hat it was all done so quickly! that before he could get up the rascals had dart- ed back into the slum they emerged from. He followed them in, however, and marked the house they ran into, and then, having taken the number of the vehicle, he went up to the Central Station and reported the matter, intimating that he could identify some of the roughs. P. S. Butlin and some lokangs at once accompanied him back to the house, where the Sikh pointed ont twe coolies, who were arrested. As the number of the jinricksha was taken, the coolia will prob ably be secured for a witness, but the occupant of the jinrieksha is not known by the police, who hope he will turn up voluntarily to give evidence, and see if he can identify either of the men in custody. Other vehicles were interfered with, but this seems to have been the most serious case. During the morning also a lot of rabble gathered

&c., on the Prays, and seemed inclined to do some mischief to the place, doubtless in revenge for the hong having attempted to set the bouts to work 18.g. Stones and other available missiles were

thrown into and at the house, but before the disturbance had time to reach any serious pro- portions, a body of police appeared upon the scene and scattered the mob, who were scarcely so spirited as on the previous day; probably the punishment they received in the rioting was more than we are aware of.

The streets were well guarded during the day. Military and police patrollod a considerable area, and bodies of police were posted at the junction of Gap-street and Queen's-road, and other spota. In the morning the Buffs were relieved by a body of the Royal Artillery and Gun Lascars undor" Capt. Brackenbury; thus the whole garrison is arranged so that detachments go on street duty, and are relieved in turn by others. The same guard was maintained in the streets yesterday, the Tang Wah Hospital being still utilised for quartering the men in. The police are being very hardworked over this trouble; their num bars being limited, and the proportion on duty being so much larger than usual, they do not get much rest, and will doubtless be glad when the town quiets down again. Their conduct during the riot was in every way satisfactory, and amply demonstrated the efficiency of our civil defenders.

All Saturday morning the Recreation Ground and Gap-street were full of a low looking mob, and Queen's-road West in that neighbourhood was plentifully supplied with gangs of idle rase, but they remained quiet, being probably overed by the display of force pat ont by the authorities. In the afternoon the crowd had noticeably thinned down, and the Recreation Ground was nearly empty. The bearing of the rabble was still hos- tile, but all these unusual appearances were still confined to Sai Ying Fun-chiefly within a stone's throw all round the Recreation Ground. East- ward there were no signs of any trouble whatever, nor in Central District.

The occupants of the French Convent are feeling the pinch of the times keenly for they have the greatest difficulty in getting food, the Chinese being unwilling, or what is more pro- bable, afraid to supply them.

Concerning Friday's proceedings, we have gathered some further details with reference to the attack on Dr. Hordor. This gentleman came out to join the Church of England Mission and take charge of the medical branch of the Mis- sion at Pakhoi, and has been in the colony about twelve months. On Friday he gained an experi- enco such as happily fails to but few in a lifetime. We are informed that at one time he was actu-i ally in the hands of the mob, by some of whom he was seized by the thront, und was so near being strangled that he gave himself up for lost. In the midst of the scuffle, however, some money fell ont of his pockets; when the wretches suffered their greed to overcome their thirst for blood, and let go their hold of the unfortunate gentleman to grab the money, which all-those around were scramb ling for Liberated for the moment, Dr. Horder saw another chance for life, and he dashed off at the top of his speed, with the mob howling at his heels, and pelting him with bricks, &c. How he managed to keep ahead of this pack of bloodhounds until he reached the body of police under Inspector Perry at the foot of Gap-street we have already narrated. He was then quite exhausted, and after being escorted to the Civil Hospital, he proceeded to the house of the Rev. J. B: Ost at West Point. It appears almost certain that Dr. Hordor owes bis life to the little accident of his money being scattered; had it not been for that most fortunate circum-

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