CO129-564-6 Typhoon- reports of damage- etc 9-9-1937 - 6-11-1937 — Page 22

Report by the Chief Preventive Officer.

22

The following is a short account, as requested,

of the events in connection with the typhoon of 2nd

September, 1937.

About 3.30 a.m. on that date Revenue Officer

Ward observed the S.S. "An Lee" being driven towards the

Praya near the Imports and Exports office. He telephoned to me and together with a party of Police Officers (Sub Inspector Goddard, Lance Sergeant A. 95 J. Hayward, Lance Sergeant A. 170 W. Scott and Lance Sergeant A. 183 R. Davies)

and Revenue Officer Ellis we succeeded in bringing thirty-

two members of the crew of the "An Lee" and eight members

of the tug "Tai Koo Kuai" to the Imports and Exports Office where they were provided with temporary accommodation

and treatment of minor injuries.

G

the

Sometime after 4 a.m. it was decided to carry

out an investigation of conditions on the Waterfront. Roped together we got as far as the Winglok Street Wharf

and removed to safety several persons marooned on wharves

who were in danger of being washed away. Progress beyond

that point was deemed impossible and the party returned

with considerable difficulty to the Western Market

water was waist high and occasionally higher. A detour

was then made by Des Voeux Road Central in order to escape

the full force of the wind but even there some of the

party were blown over by some violent gusts. Unfortunately

the scaffolding around the Imports and Exports Office had

collapsed during our absence and the last few yards of the

journey proved to be the most tedious. Except for a few