1918-03-12 — Page 5

Page

RACECOURSE DISASTER.

ENQUIRY CONTINUED. CONTRACTOR'S EVIDENCE.

HOW THE SHEDS WERE CONSTRUCTED.

The enquiry into the Race-Course disaster was continued at the Magistracy on Monday.

Alter Mr. Lo had handed in the names of certain other persons whom he had been asked to represent, Mr. David Wood was recalled to give evidenco concerning the correspondence between the Golf Club and the P.W.D., which had led to the alteration of the letting conditions of

the aitos in 1912,

MR WOOD RECALLED. Mr. Wood stated that Mr. Chatham had been mistalten in saying that the kupresentations which led to the alteration in condition No. 6 had been made by the Golf Club in writing. There was cor- respontanos regarding the conditions

Nos, 7 and 8.

The letter written by Mr. Halifax as Secretary of the Golf Club to the P.W.D. was then read,

TBB

THE BUILDING CONTRACTOR

HUNGKONG DAIGY PRELN TUESDAY MARCH 1918, 11918

Are there hay matsheds in existence without poles stack in the ground-Yes Where The stands belonging to the Lusitano Club,

Kwok Kun, continuing his evidence from Saturday, said he did not dig holes for shed No. 16 He simply, forced the

Apart from those on the Racecourse poles into the ground. The weather was Tery dry, but this would not affect the There are none now standing. They have lashings in any wa

all been pulled down. because the lashings. were soaked before use. He examined. When you stated that you inspected the sheds on February 26th did you go inside the sheds on the first day of the race the sheda-I went inside on the ground meeting and found them all in order.

floor He did not go in to the upper stories confining his examination to the ground floors. He was on the Race Course when the collapse occurred, outside No 19 shed on the Rase Course sido. He heard

You stated that stand, No 7 bad crack, but he did not eco any motion of cocking stove. Is that true-Ves thought the collapse was due to the Mr. Steveosen-Are the prices charged the sheds. He ran to call his jakis its Are you positive-Yes, inside the shed, stampeding of the people. In bis opinion for the motsheds similar this year to the shots were overcrowded last les

Mr. Bowley--You were in front of No. Can you tell me why you charged more 10 when you heard noise. Where did for shads Nos, 4, 5 and 6 than for the the noise come from Somewhere ne other stands Because the work was the centre of the row of sheds, more difficult on those sheds-

Did you look at the centre to son what

had happened?--I did not. 1 at once ran to the storehouse to fetch my fokig

Did you take any particular note of of cooking utensils 7 did not take any particular note, but I noticed one shed without cooking utensils,

Who gave you instructions regarding the construction of these sheds --I did nok take the order, the doors of Nos

Did you support 4,

more strongly than the floors

the Bowrington Canals the reds Just the same

Is your storehouse at Wanchai-On

Had you any trouble in getting back to the Race Course with your fokul-

Mr. Bowley-Condition & was amendes. we were hindered by the crowns ed at the same time as conditions 7 and

8 were added?--Witness-Yee: Condition 6 previously protected two golf greens and afterwards the condition was made to protect the whole area, That was evidently the result of conversation. There was nothing about it in the correspondence.

Before these condition were introduced on the recommendation of the Secretary of the Golf Club there was no fence across there I cannot say no fence

As the result of putting up this fence the struts at the back of the mataheds immediately opposite the Golf Club house were ordered to be omitted 1 don't know.

teen

1911 had 360 noticed that the struts at Previous to these recommendations in the back of the sheds tande holes in the

· ground ––I know nothing about that.

1 am asking you as a golfer and as member of the public whether you noticed before 1011 that the struts destroyed the ground or interfered in any way with the golfers--No.

The chief photographer of Messrs. Me Cheung then produced photographs of

the mataheds on the Race Course taken in 1014, 1915, 3018 and 1917.

When you got back the shede had

collapsed Yes back to whe

Did you not receive instructions to add another row of bamboos?—Yes.

The Coroner-Why were these extra bamboos required? It was found that the spacing was too wide,

Who found that to be so-The Govorn

inspector.

Did you see any sign of fire before the matsheds fall-Not until after the col lapse;

Have you formed any opinion as to the cause of the collapse-No

Subsequently you saw the lantshade »on fra Whereabouts did the fire begin -- In the central matsheds.

Continuing, witances and be bad the Jockey Club boss coupled up at once. It was a private hose used for wälering tho course. The fire broke out two or three minutes after the collapse. When the collapse took place No. 6 race was about to start from the five furlong poet. Ba could not recall any sudden whether the numbers in the mattheils were please addon rush of peo

Crown Solicitor Did you notico larger than usual this year The first day it seemed to me the attendance was quite up to previous years. The second day I should say it was an average attendance. I

am speaking more of the attendance in the Jockey Club compound The sheds seemned always to be full

Mr. Gauge All the Chinese ladies in

1, 2 and 3 escaped without injury And there was

ΠΟΥ

the chaizsi-Yes, all were saved.

SET maient time to

Baye

Was cooking forbidden It was not forbidden, or allowed. The question never came up.

Mr Bowley-At the time of the collapse the ponies were waiting at the starting post Some had arrived there. Others were on their wayed there Mr. Lo-Did you keep a record of the the race C

All the

ponier were

on the course for number of workmen engaged for these race

Have matsheds ? No, MP

you any appliances for the pre How many men did you haveEach vention of fire in the Jockey Club build day I had from 70 to 80 people. ing-Nothing except a hose that is usod sheds? February 24th at 4 o'clock in the number of buckets. They are used for When did you actually finish these No fire buckets Yes, there are any

for watering the course.

afternoun.

watering the course; they are not special- ly kept in case of free

You inspreted the sheds on Monday and again on Tuesday?--Yes,

Wore any meribers of the Fire Brigade in attendance in the enclosure-Yes. several in

Continuing, witness said he was on of the original partners in the Bac Hop firin. He and Ma Fung wore the originalment partners. Ma Fung died three years ago and his eldest surviving son had taken his place in the firm. They employed between 70 and 80 men. In addition to building matsheds they also erected scaffolding. They had built many large theatre matsaads in the Colony, some of which accommodated as many as 3,000 people. The highest theatrical matshed was 100 fect ligh. During his 10 years experience he had never previously exon son of his auntsbeds destroyed by had any of his matsheds collapsed except fine, nor during the whole of that time in typhoons. No person, to his know ledge, had ever been injured through using matshed created by his firm. He received orders from the 13 owners of the the strut to that? It is usual. elsewhere Yey were call matsheds, on the Race Course to build

Did you drive polcs into the ground. those shods. He supplied all the mate this year in order to attack the struts rial and after the races he was to have to then-Yes I inserted a short piece removed all the abode. While the mat of pole into the ground and fashed the sheds or scaffolding erected by him were end of the strut to that pole

For all struts-Yes, every one the

About two feof,

How deep did you drive

in use it was part of his contract to keep

The Coroner Why did you inspeet oo Tuesday ?--I went to see if any altern: lashing When you have the struts is tions were required to the boards or the

it usual to dig a hole some two feet into the ground, drive i pole into it and then

ment with them to let them know in the On duty 1-1 do not know whether they were on duty or not. I had an arrange event Jockey Club

a firo report coming to the

That is if

called to s If they

some fire There was no hose cart or fire engine in attendance No. 2

Or any fire escapes?—No.

training course nearly every morning i

Mr. d'Almada I think you go to the Yes Boy

them in repair. It was the practice of sameve the poles? the matsheda being built? I cannot give

Can you tell me when you frat saw you the date. They were being construct-

his firm, as far as possible, to inspect MR. A. E. WRIGHT RECALLED.

every job every day. The prices shown to How many struts did you have for the ed all the time for three or four weeks Mr. A. E. Wright, recalled, said he had him were those for which to act as 19 sheds on the racecourse side more before the rac re visited the Bace Course that morning to erect these mataheds. The total was than a dozen, I suppose - More than

ne bole in the front, of shed No: 6. He of it. The value of the material lost in then if you had driven those poles don't remember had only one storey ad made another inspection. He found $1,370, but he had not moved Ust that. appose more then ago theta

Do you remember that

that twenty odd

years found holca in the front of the ditch the fire was about $11,000. He was about two feet into the ground you would Mr. Lo-Can you where the struts had been. There were insured. The malaheda were just as

you tell me whether there Beveral other holes, or rather depresions, strong this yeas as they were in previous expect to find them there now 1-Struts was & fire engine in attendance last about two inches deca, chiefly in the years. The matabeds still standing were were attached to the wooden fence a year -There was not one within the front, and a few along the lack of the built by him. The sites were marked on which you drose into the ground-Three have been one outside which did n

How many struts were scoured to poles Jockey Club compound There might matsheds. He produced in Court the by the PWD. Each owner gavo in

not Have you formed an opinion with come to mid he had been informed that portion of the pole which he had with structions as to the height and arrange.

my observation drawn from the hole in front of shed nionts of the various matsheds. The en respect to the collapse), I cannot give an opinion, because I know my work was with the instruction, and the owners also

Ü.

It bad penetrated the ground about trance to the sheds were in accordance secure and sound.ee ATUMI has been in attendance last

nine inches. He also produced a portion

pointed out that in die sprain, Superintendens of Police to the water supply for the Jockey Club stand 7 Steavenson Is there any separate

watering the

collapse they would have collapse haveste water supply for

of the pols which he had taken from a fixed the width of the gangways and hole opposite No. atairenses. No owner told him to make course ride it might have pre

The Coroner The sheds at each end provision for cooking. At the sheds at are constructed differently to the sheds in either end of the line he placed the poles the middle. In the middle, I believe, the either on or inte the ground, The in- line the poles were in the ground of the golf house might have been given poles rest on boards. At each end of the straction, not to place struta in front think there has been a misunderstanding to Ma Fung son years ago and the The middle shade wore placed on boards, usual practice had been followed in recent

ground and they made depressions in the ground..

At the ends the poles rested on the

it was a small fire and we could la that adequate for all the stands —— it depends on the dimensions of the fire. it quickly I should say it would be get very useful by water in the nullahe

Is

there is usually a little If all depends upon the weather. Th

the golf or if you had put strats on ved the collapse--if they wanted to Even if there wore struts, on the golf

side to the golf course side would not

ourse, side they would have fallen

If there was a rush from the racecourse the struts on the golf course side have years. When, the strute wore removed pincet-Nokep masheds in their stronger bracings were used even if there were strute Witness then gave evidence regarding I think sheds 17 to 19 and sheds 1 to 3

they would have fallen. Mr Bowley-What in your opinion, the way in which the sheds were con did not collapse That is so. Where does this water for the race did not fail -Because they were lower Blue Pool. It is a Governemat supply Have you aby theory as to why they course come from It comes from the through the usual Did you go to the Jockey Club mat- before the races I went two or three clums sheds 1, 2 and 31-Not during the racze; before the races I wont two or three time

Kwok Kun, continuing his evidence, do cooking at those matcheds for a num not come to

Do you think it safe for

There

was the reason for the differential treststructed, the polms used, etc., and was nient of the central sheds and the sheds still engaged in explaining these details on the two wings I think the contractor when the inquiry was adjourned Do you know it has been customary to found that the ground at the ends of the line was rough and that he conse quently omitted the boards With regard the first day of the races, and again on The ditch in front also, that was not the Tuesday morning when he found years I cannot say it it is as many as turfed and there would be no objection them all right. His foreman also ten years, to holes there, inspected the sheds on Tuesday morning; dong thore If they are not careful and went to see that the attendants were în

cooking to be The surface Ims been raked over and His firm had inspected the scaffolding of let fre drop eat it would not be saferrangements had you for sup- walked over very considerably and that the old Mercantile Bank which was being would tend to fill up the holes?--Yes. reconstructed at the corner of Ice House Coroner In which year did you refreshments to the Chinese ladies

Were you the Building Authority in Street and they had shored up the build- torget. They have been built all along

building three-storey matsheds 11 1911 Younging considerably,

This is a photograph of the matsheds By Mr. d'Almada-His partner Ma in 1914 and you will see there is only one Was the proposal to fence off the Course in front of the Golf Club-house Fung was sole partner in charge of the of three storege-Yes, that is so and to construct gangways between the business, when he was alive Winds you build a similar matched in fence and the inatsheds referred to you? was then foreman in charge of works and 1913-Yes.

I believe ao.

he received instructions from Mo Fung. Do you know before

ore the foncs was Since la Fang's death witness had been agol-I cannot say,

Did you build them like that ten years provided that the central matabeds were in charge of everything; Me Fung's son This year you built four with three supported by strats resting on the know nothing about the work. Witness storess Te

Yes. ground in front of the golf course I was the only one responsible for the erec

year how many did you build f- I think

Last

Have

We did not supply any.

stands in the enclosure practically fire Mr. Godge-Would you consider the prooil-Some are built with reinforced concrete and some have a lot of wood in them. You cannot call them fire proof

There wore, I understand, 10

1to chairs in the Jockey Club matsheds and 130 were saved and 30 burned? I ander- stood that all the chairs were saved. All those that were hired have been FO

do not know for a fact; I believe it was tion of the matsbeds on the racecourse Three, the matsheds been built with wells and I have a receipt for

bis concluded Mr. Hough'n

so, and, as far as I know, similar struts On the Saturday previous to the racer in the middle before this year -For a hut before he left the box Mr. Bowley ware used this year.

the Government sent an inspector duwn

long time,

matsheds maken this year was then pro- also carried out an inspection when the

was present Court «

Did you test the work when it was of the finished to see if it was strong enough? Laid hot-roake any sesta. I insposted it to and judged.

MA. HOUGH'S EVIDENCE

Mr. Bowley-Dora think 4 February 7th ding

it possible On that day you commenced taking the matched

the

that

enquiry which would deal with

was another phase

Hough had to s

with

ne

Hough#1

in the with Achter of

tho caretaker at the

in front of the golf club house-Yes, it ing operations until February 16th or these ladie de socommodation of the collapse she at once told all those in

is possible.

17th We started immediately.

done

A photograph of the back of the central to look at the work and the same man

duced and it did not show the existence work was in progress The Inspector of any such struts. A. photograph of the did not make any suggestions to him or nama shed taken from the cove received with respect to the matahede Race Course speak to him. The only instructions he side showed struts

Coroner asked if the photographs were from the owners, could be proved, and Mr. d'Almnda Mr. d'Almada When did you actually the racecourse, said sites Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Couvent, then save videnoo. She stood Mr. T. F. Hough, honorary clerk of Jockey Club sheds, a pupil of the French stated that the man who had taken them commence building these matsheds On wore purchased by his order on behalf at the doorway of the sand with a coo

of the Jockey Club Bubenquently one The Chinese ladies were admitted free Coolies that the contractor since 1811 was told by poles to the course, is that not so 1--Yested of one story was built on the of charge. When she heard the noise of someone to omit the struts immediately You did not actually commence build

The Jockey the same for many years and the side and others through the d

Club had the shed to leave Boma escaped at the The Coroner No instructions to omit put it to you that on February 17th The firms of so Hop was instructed to enough to bring all t

door All BS170 kind of matshed was always erected. them were given in 1917-No. you had not a single polo pát up? Why build the shed, and he was quite satisfies cooking was done at the

I got away only and there was

chairs down me Mr Bowley--If such struts had been not

with

hey the erected since 1911 would they have tended The Coroner How many sheds were collapse on the racecourse Nos. 1, 2 and communication between the

construction. He saw the shoda By the Crown Solicitor-There was no to injure the turf in front of the Golf erected before China New Year 7 The 3 did not collapse: Joes of life there. The caretaker in charge of the Jockey

roofs of the first six sheda

burned.

shel and the others the Jockey Mr. d'Almada Were the Government As far as he knew there were no arrange. Clah sheds, gave somewhat similar evi- regulations ever shown to you or read meats for cooking at that shed. The dance, and the enquiry was then over to you --Formerly

Jockey Club had a door keeper there saded DDA How long ago1-Bix or seven years two female attendante. He was in No: When you were first informed that you & privato Box in the Jockey Club endahu were not allowed to dig poles in the cloure when the collapse occurnal continued ground what opinion did you form si to the stability of the methods Safe

tracted The Coroner-Were you content not

Was Grat

by hearin content when you were told not to put

PE the piles inte the ground?-Content

house-Yes, I think so.

The Coroner Do you mind Mr. Bowley, attributing a little common sense to myself and the jury

Wright added that if the struts were attached to sleepers there was no need for them to go into the ground. The damage to the ground world then be very light indeed.

The Coroner then asked for the photo graphs which had been produced to be proved, and Mr. d'Almada stated that The man who had taken them had perich ed in the famex The men in Court to whom ho had referred "had

Mr. Almati The sheds would have been stronger if the poles had been put into the ground1 Just the same se photographs taken, Kven for three storien ?→→→ ex

The Coroner I accepted the photo graphs on the understanding that they could be proved, I am afraid we cannot affich much importance to them now.

Apart from the Racecourse, mataheds do you ever build, matsheds in that was

Yes

Where In Taumati

but

The Crown ention Nutral the Magi

the

begin to move. The first movanené vás of hamboo I saw the Central Stand between the Colonial stand and Aying three flags. The time was three or four minutes to three

tinuou

Clab

| adjourne

be no sitting on Wednesday at the enquiry will be Friday and Saturday, and rate and jury will sit con- throughout next week, if

We regret that, owing to a Taphi en error in broncodings Kwok

the foreman builder-to

stated that I was the one

In what direction did they seemed to quiver and then I had impression buat some unseen force was of the ma pulling them backyard away from my to secure. dimction towards the golf course, after have been which they just seemed to suberido... I the ground (2)

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