1918-03-13 — Page 3

Page

You told us there were about 300 people in your shed when the Derby was run How do you arrive at that figur- Simply an estimate.

Had you seats in the stand?-I had s8 chairs only in front.

I think the entrance to the upper for was quite separate from the entrance to

THE HONGKONG

Have you any idea why these boards are put there --None,

DAILY

PRE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18ra. 1918.

By Mr. Steavenson-He did not manage to get the money out of the till before

You only noticed it in the ease of four he was knocked down. The money was uprights? Yes.

You did not make any enquiries? No. You kept it to yourself!-Yes, I did not take much notice, but I saw the uprights were placed on the boards.

lost, No intoxicating liquors were sold. By Mr. Bowley He was a shroff in the Victoria Theatre. He did not keep a refreshment business. The Secretary of

Y. Ban said bre refreshments in

the lower floor 1-Quite. The doorway The Crown Solicitor With regard to firm were supplying on wing

and there to it..

They were made direct with the No. boy of M. Y. Ban by Mr. Ola

PONTIFICAL REQUIEM MASS AT

BHAMEENS

A Pontifical Requiem Mass for the repose of the souls of those who perished in the recent disaster at Happy Valley, Hongkong, was held at the Roman Catholic Chapel, Shameen on Monday, at 8 am, and attended by almost every Bishop de Guebriant officiated munity member of the local Portugues Com and was wisted by the Rev. Father Floquetes. catafaique on the nave of the Carpel

to the upper floor was eight feet wide I the refreshment. arrangements, were they sheds Nos. 4, 5 and 6 on the racecoure Wreaths were placed at the foot of the

were two gangways leading up made direct with MY San-No They did not provide refreshments at In addition to that there was a tande staircase leading to the basement (--) #8,

Mr. Lo: When No. 9 stand gave way in 1914 did all the people get cut ?--I

can't say.

The Coroner: Was that accident men tioned in the newspapers at the time?- I could not say. I only complained Mr. Hough and asked if things could be nitored so that we could have one storey stands all along.

Mr Lo: Do you know if any work was done by the contractors at the time to repair the damage1-I believe they put Another upright in

Did you at the time form the opinion. that three storey matsheus sero unsule?:

The Coroner Did shed No. 7 fall in

the direction of the rave-course or the golf club-It fell directly on our shed, neither backwards nor forwards.

CONTRACTOR RECALLED.

Kwok Kün was then recalied to give evidence regarding the uprights resting on boards

other stands. As far as he knew all the One floral tributo bore the following lines:

192 Membri ground His viands had been cooked before hand, they were only heated up on the

Midst such stress and storm and strife, Weep not, mourn not any more firm provided chatties and charcoal for Ye, who unger on the shore this purpose,

By Mr Bowley His firm did not take out a licence to provide refresh ments Lo. His fokie did not serve

refreshments in any other sheds. He was not aware that notices were put up

By

The Coroner--It is a question of No, 12 inviting people to go to MX Ban

refreshment booth in various stand shed. The upright poles were not resting By Mr. d'Almada: He did nu; BOS

complete, cooking range in the shed, on the ground were they On boards.

frying was there, y How many layers of boards were under.lore or less everything required for neath the uprights, one or two?-Two,

ܪ܃

one on top of the other

Was it the state underneath each up right Yesuda

Was the upper board Enstened to the

Was it the same in the other sheds by lashings Yes

Mr. P. Xavier, the proprietor of the

MR XAVIER'S EVIDENCE Hongkong Printing Press, said he had share in the Xavier booth, No. 7, on the race course. He had had the stand for This year he obtained the PWD.

For the loved ones gone from hte Crud fate has torn away

Young and old from many a home, ***** Out of "evil" good aes como. Thuirs is now the Better band.

Theirs is peace for evermore... Do not mourn, little band,

Though they suffered, yet to say

Ye, who linger on the shore

A SHAMEENITE.

On the invitation of Mr. Abilio Basto, the Portuguese Vice-Consul, who had charge of the arrangements, the Rev. Fr Netto, of Shiu Hing delivered a touch ing sermon after the Mass. His allusion recalls the beautiful lines:

1. did. I told Mr. Hough that, there lower board in any way --They were Lied about nine yeast, and gave instructions to the butterfly having its wings singed,

would he a serious accident one of these

days if they had matsheds of three storeys. You realised that you owed some duty

stand? to those who entered your Yes.

DWN

Then why did you merely report Mr. Hough I thought that as Clerk of the Course he was responsible for the whole place.

Government.

Ye

You still have the same opinion that three storey matsheds are dangerous

Did you not feet that it was part of the duty you owed to those who eat your stand, to lodge another complaint? did not think it necessary as

new This has been done in the same way in previous years?—Yes.

Boor por

The desire of the moth for the star.

Of the pight for the morrow. he devotion to something afar

From the spliers of our surrow,

The clergy then left the Sanctuary and went in procession to the catafalque, where the Last Benediction was pro- nounced by his Lordship and the Requiem Eiertem and the Requiescat in Ľuct vero The solemn piety and devotion of the

to the contractor to erect the stand the same as last year. The stand was of tree stand of three storeys, he balused, for three years He

know

The ground had one last year storeys. He had haf The enquiry was then adjourned for oor was used for refreshments, the first was used for eash sweeps: the top door and was half only Was THE CONTRACTOR'S VERSION OF

THE 1914 ACCIDENT, specially for ladies. No special in

tions were

given to the contractor Kwok Kun, continuing his evidence, year. He examined the stand on the day answer to questions by Mr. Bowley said before the inces when all appeared to be order. No cooking was done in the uprights in the central sheds were in good tanrdinary chatty was usedang by the clergy, But he denied that did not know resting on pieces of hoards lashed to the the

floor boards. The second board was used to boil water. Charcoal was the fuel that at the time.

But he told you?--He told me to comto prevent the upright from breaking the There was one main entrance to the shed congregation gave one the impression plain to the Government. I took it that single board. He was not told by anyone on the first floor There was no entrance that the service was more than a conven- be, would carry on my complaint to the to adopt this method which had been on the ground floor. The door on the tional expression of sympathy, 1t was, used by him last year. Previously the first floor was about two yards wide. At indeed, an outward manifestation of a uprights rested on the single board only the time of the collapse he was close to genuine sorrow, not only for the relatives The Crown Solicitor In 1014. Mr. the door. He heard a noise of people and friends so tragically snatched away Blake said a floor in Colonial shed No. 9 trying to run He thought there was from life, but also for the hundreds of

the shed collapsed. It fell towards the fan appalling catastrophe.

top Unity

Stand. He fell down on the

In mourning the loss which their com came down. Do you remember that fight or sonic trouble of that sort. Then fellow-beings who have been the victims

and Did you never hear of it--One board of his two sisters. One sister shouted munity in Hongkong bave sustained the Portuguese residents of Canton extend help. He told her not to shout would try to save her. His wife and What do you mean by one board for wooden stool or chair being dropped with the matting and many of his relatives other communities their deep Gympathy

escaped

through the hole. One of his in a common sorrow. They avail them- The hole on the matting selves of this opportunity to record as force on to the floor

through

estimated that there Catholic Bishop of Canton, not only for matshed Ho side of the Golf Club, No Bre started Mongseigneur de Guebriant, the Roman

200

people, or a more, if his officiating at the Requiem Mass, which Bi was auch a tangible mark of sympathy, in his

Vore missing. All nationalites were with them, but also for the great interest how many invariably manifested in promoting the presentet, ]

Iost say

About 500 the Row Father Pradel, of the Roman tickets were issued for his Catholic Chapel, Shameen as well as to stand. There was no charge for admit- the Reverend Fathers Floquet and Netto tenor to the stand nor was any charge and the French olargy, they are also made for tea. Whisky was provided greatly indebted for assisting at the

in He had a pari mutuel and cash sweeps solemn Requiem Mass. Mr. Abilio Basto

broke, that

he

Hough was head of the Jockey It broke owing to the leg of a Chinese children were there A hole was made in to the Chinese Japanese, Indian and

He seemed to ignore my complaint put me off.

at

just now that the collapse was due to the sheds was that your original

When you expressed the opinion

Was that all the damage Yes. sisters they escaped was on the well their deep sense of gratitude to i

The Coroner Did you repair it opinion the one you have held all along, Yes, there was a hole. The board was

or is it the result of the present diseseimply replaced with another piece

Three storey

Was there any panio No. matsheds have not

ways, bees top heavy in my

niwaya,

They have been so only since

was ordered to be done

uprights on

1010 BoBrúð

Do you know when the

OMR OLSEN'S EVIDENCE

Mr. Olsen,

partner of C. E. Warren,

of associated with Mr. Blake in the

lives

were

Fran Four from

not

originated ownership of the Unity stand, said Be the Crown Solicitor welfare of their small community To

be obtained the permit for the erection invitation of sheds 4, 5 and G from the PW.D. Ho told the contractor to build the shed as in former years. The matshed was built according to Instructions. He examined

opinion

that thres You expressed the storey sheds were top heavy because you considered that they could never be safe buil

in this way-That is so. The Coroner. I don't think you form ed a very strong opinion na to the safety it on the Thursday and Sunday before on which he took 15 per cent commi5810 worked indefatigably, and Mesara Fer

sheds

He

believed the

collaps

these years This year I did because stand on February 26th when the collapsed. Rowley lay

storey of these three not have stayet next door to them all contractors put down Booring and on top of that was a board three feet square for the upright. It is really a board board. The contractors rested upon a every upright on a board above floor loved. Each upright rested on two boards, the upper one being loose.

sbed

Was your shed built on this system No. The sprights were on the ground you noticed this systeru in which shed No. 18. On Monday night after the first day's racing.

hor.

was due to

over was good and sound. He was in the crowding

was it that the You say there escape was no fire-They could not get out occurred. He was behind the pari-mutue! people lid not counter when he noticed the rush of people from the shed to the gateway became they were pressed down. My You had no way out of the basement, Shortly afterwards he noticed the partisister had a board on top of tion wall between 6 and 7 coming on to their stand. Then he noticed the floor except by going upstairs That is so of No. 6 began to sink slowly. He was Had you chairs and tables in the base. thrown down and when he got up hement? No chairs, only a bamboo table. shouted to people not to be afraid. That The Police made no objection to your stopped the stampede to a certain extent. having a refreshment saloon without any

ti--No objection. He got over the counter and assisted door to it some of the women to escape on to the Had you anyone to collect the tickets

Did he collect the tickets No. People showed the tickets! Only had The Coroner Fractically any respec- characters might be asked for tickets. * table person could go in Tes

underlook the printing free of charge

HONGKONG MAGISTRACT. THEFT OF TOBACCO.

A Chinese pleaded guilty to stealing a quantity of cigarettes and tobacco, valued

It was stated that while the complain ant who is a hawker, was closing up his store for the day; defendant stole a box made off with it. He was followed and containing the cigarettes and tobacco and

Did you notice it in No. 7 or anywhere secourse. He turned back and saw at the door-A Portuguese watch arrested

else-No, I had occasion to go to No. 12 You had not noticed this practice in

No. previous years

In your opinion this practice renders three storey matsheds unsafe-I do

Up to the time you made that investiga tion you did not consider the maths unsafe? No.

You entered a pro

a Frotest 1914 ?—Yes.

of me

in

Mr. Bowley: Did you have any elec tric light in the shed? No, un oil lamp in the basement.

An oil lamp and a charcoal chatty and no water A jar of water. For making tea--Yes.

Mr. JB Wood sentenced defendant to tires weeks hard labour.

UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF OPIUM

A Chinese was charged with being in

opium, unlawful possession of twenty taels of

It was stated that defendant was No one counted the people in your shed, arrested on board the Zas Ming, with the

opium in his possession, I suppose 1--No one

From what direction did you hear the Mr. J. R. Wood fined defendant $500 noise you referred to 1-On the second with the alternative of four months' hard floors people in the matshed running labour.

some Indian constables ripping up the floor boards in order to enable people to get out. He was one of the last to leave the stand by the back way. The matting had been ripped off and he jumped on to the roadway. Diredly he got out he saw a fire. This was about five minutes after the collapse. The fire was amongst the central stands. This was the thir That was because of the accident in eonth year he had had a share in the that year. You did not enter a protest matshed. Ho could not say what caused against three storey matsheds being on the collapse. He did not know anything

of the accident in 1911; he only remeu safe-No, but when I saw three storey bored M. Blako telling him about, it at matsheds alongside

That would not matter so long as they the time, get

Tany impression that three storey matched estimate that there were about 300 people How

It may have been crowded I have no - idon, because You did not form an in the stand on the upper floor at the at that time?--I cannot upssfa

because I was engaged in the Send time of the collapse, opinion-That is so really to suppose INMATES OF THE STANDS.

had no rosson were unsafe e until at the last minun John Deakin, constable a

Deakin, constable at Government yon noticed certain poles on

House said he was in Mr. Blake's stand boards? That is so

that and thought they on February 28th He was assisting in You

the pari mutuel. Just before 3 o'clock nofel express any opinion he was behind the counter where place your uncle But you did not

that time No, 1 was busy with the betting tickets were being sold. He heard Civil Service Club sweep.

were stable. You had, I think, a tmy By Mr. Breavenson E, would down the OBOT the foo floor

were

You

they

this

Year

were angate

st

9

what

tween his stund and the next swaying was thrown down. For a few moments backwards and forwards. It fell and he there was a stampede. He did not see any sign of a fire until he got out of the back of the shed. He had no opinion as to what was likely to be the cause of the collapse

sweep

The

BeConil

were on the

You bad little to do with it. No.

HONGKONG POLICE RESERVE

EQUIPMENT PARADES

in the cash ORDERS ISSUED BY KG. 7. C. JENKIN, D.B.P.

(LESKETS). the nowse you heard was on ka floor of your own shed Yes d'Almada: Your uncle was the All ranks will parade at Headquarters Club as set out below Rifles, am this, shed 11-Tes man in sole charge of

and armlets whistles munition very acle perished in the flames -- Yes.

chains and truncheons to be produced Mr. L

by those in possession of same. the time

Uniform, caps with covers — Xavier, your

was in shed No. 9

of No. 7 at collapse ?

Mr. Stevenson: You say you time!That is so

Thursday 14th, Inst.

No, 5 Plascon at 5.30 p.m. No. 6 Platoon at 5:15 pm.

You were in cerFriday, 15th inst

the c

Mr. Bowley As the result of wa creaking noise and, turning about, MrBowie There Who the happened in 1914, when the floor of Nobo saw the matting of the partition be

partially collapsed; were any extra supports put in Yes, as far as I know: the contractor was sent for.

Then your protest had some effect be cause extra supports were put in Yes The Coroner Extra supporis were put in at that time because the floor was weak. No alterations have been made

RER. Wood, Sanitary Inspector, said since then? That is so

he was in Unity stand on February 6th Were

the extra supporte pat in following years? We had extra supports when the collapse occurred. At the time I know nothing about the electric light went out, came on again and finally went out. There was very

the

cause of the collapse was fine to over- crowding. Which stands Other stands. What numbers cannot tell you

Japanese and a Chi nese booth that. I went to a

others, think similar extra supports little panic Cooking was done on the Stevenson: How many people

the

At 5.30 p.m., all mm of Platonas) to who have not previously al tended

Staff Mounted Police, and Ambul

ance Platoon. Tuesday, 10th iust. ---

Band and Buglers and Drammers.

20.1 FLATOOK

Co.-Sergt. Major Wills has been granted 3 months leave from the Colony. Inspector Eustace will act as Equip ment Officer and Crown Bergeant

Goodwin a Warning/Offlcar (Tele- phon:-Day, Kat: Night, K.28).

get in, and found it impossible to Monday, 18th inst

The Coroner What time was that That was the first day

put in ours

About what time Just after tilfin. Not the second day o Was the crowd big on the second as on the first t day I cannot szy. Don't

you

ground, floor and about 2 o'clock be dow were probably put into the other mat sheds at the same time? They may have lir. Blake go to the kitchen and heard wers or the Japanese stand on t brent

Mr. Bowley: With regard to the board him order all fires to be extinguished first day of the races-I cannot say

was then adjourned until By Mr. Steavenson-He would on Friday year. How many uprights did you sider that there were about 300 resting on a board that you noticed this except one to be used for boiling water. notice resting in that wayt-Four up the stand just before it collapsed WARNA rights

the Golf Club side of Nor 12 Long Wei Wan, a throff in M. Y With regard t

San's restaurant, on the ground floor of do the boards on the ground

actually touch the

wood Unity stand, stated that there were about ground-I think some pieces of go under the boarding 3 do not think ten people in the restaurant when the the lower boards are really on the ground collapse occurred. At the time there were only two chattien lighted. He was You say the supporting boards were

knocked down by a part of the shed fall two feet square, how thick wore they 1--

20g on him About one inch

on t

The ensairy

SYMPATHY FROM MAJOR- GENERAL DALTON.

A telegram has been received from Major-General J. C. Dalton, Chist Com misioner of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, expressing the sylopsth of the Brigade with the sufferers in the recent Race Course Disaster.

No. 5 Pistoon, Section 10-P. 415 3. Y.

Cruz

By Order,

TT Hough, 81 (R) and Ailjutint. Hongkong, March 19th, 1918

Other Local News will be found on

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