1918-03-22 — Page 2

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HONGKONG DAILY PRESS FRIDAY MARCH 22ND),

THE RACECOURSE DISASTER.

COLONEL JUHN WARD'S, EVIDENCE

A MUDEL MATSHED STRONGLY CONDELNED.

THE QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT INSPECTION.

WEAKNESS DUE TO VARYING HEIGHTS OF THE BOOTHS:

The enquiry into the Race Course snator was continued at the Magistracy yesterday.

COLONEL WARD'S EVIDENCE. Lent. Col. John Ward, M.P. OMG enid he was present at the Race Coure on February 28th and aw the collapse of the matsheds. He was in the RA box

✰ the time, He first saw the people who were standing outside the sheds to his right run away from the sheds towards the Race Course Undoubtedly some was ing had been given to them by something People in the stands then took the alarm and all seemed to crowd in one direction N-East to 6-West. The top part of the stand which he thought was No. 8 sink

CRITICISM OF A SHED MODEL.

The model of shed No. 18 was them shown and Colonel Ward was asked if it WEB constructed on sound principles

1916

Shed No 16, no of course was the case with all the sheds, had a very narrow frontage compared with the depth, from front to back."

Colonel Ward replied: It is absolutely safe unless it derives support from buildings on either side. The bracing is perfect to resist pressure where there is the least danger of pressure The shed constructed in each a way that it can 18 not fall backwards or forwards. There is nothing to prevent it falling sideways, There is no doubt that the builder did rely upon the buildings on either side.

Do you think the cause of the alarm might have been due to anything inside the building-1 have no opinion.

Do you think it likely that the alarm could have both caused by n Are The fire broke out so quickly after the roof had settled down that it might have been thak Bat I saw no indication of the fire before the collapse.

By Mr. Bowley: The H. A stand was on the far side of the race course from the matahods and he hath a ge view therefore of the whole range of sheds All his observations were made from the frait.

A strut outside. No. 17 shed would help to support No. 161 Oh, yee. E

Each of the lateral rafters or purlins in the roof of No. 18 would tend to an port the next shed Yes

Mr. Hodgson who watched the collapse from inside the course told us he was quite positive shed No. 14, the one just to the right of the three fings, moved first I brought down No. 15 and shed No. 16 did not fall until later -Oh, yea

Colonel Ward added tha

doubt about it at all. Nearly the whole of the uprights were of bamboo,

fr Wright, the Building Authority, internosed with the information that these were the main poles and that the subsidiary poles wero of bamboo, but, Colonel Ward insisted that nearly tha whole of the building Was of bamboo.

The Coroner When you saw the sheds being orected did you think the rights auitable for the purpose of standing the strain I thought they were in the ordinary way. It being erected stammed to me that the matrial used was ordinarily

ly serviceable.

NO NEED TO ENQUIRE FURTHER. Mr. Stevenson referred again to the model of shed 16. in Count and Colonel

Ward remarked. If that is a model, that is the cause of the whole disaster. You don't want to investigate any fur- her. I always wondered why it was so many people could get into these places and how it was they had the enormous strength they had. But when I mention- ed the matter I was told by everyone Oh these Chinese have done these things for years. They know." And that Just before the collapse people were settled it, experience ought to decide i

I

The Coroner: Do you think he Kistaken 1-Positive, quite positive, aw the roof between Nos. 8 and 9 give way and then the whole building went from end to end,

vertically from four to eight feet and if all the other buildings were constructed standing between Nos. 8 and 9, outside thing of that sort

in the same way one can quite ses how the atudent occurred.

were

The Coromer: If all the shads consisted on the same principle then the whole row would be unsafe or

then the whole building as one, as though it was all laced together from end to to leaned steadily over for about 10 feet, until it reached a certain segle when it all went down with a rush, with the exception of the two lan-to buildings attainly the south-west end. Those afforded great resistance owing to their structure. Part of the roof of 4, 5 and 6 was crushed by

In your opinion it does not matter in the least about the strute being at the front and back-Not the least.

The strain was not in that direction Na, sir.

1, 2 and 3 stood whole, Continuing, ho

The shape of the sheds Nos. 1, 2, and 3 said he was Secretary of the Navvios 4rd

practically acted as strut for the Builders' Labourere. Union in Engiendommerplant for thirty years. They attended to saf structure at that end of the row ?--They

did. Perhaps the builders intended that folding all over the country and he him- self had had considerable experience in

the shed in front. Those were the people Mr. Steavenson: How are the num

bers for the stande limited at Home? who ran f-Yes, air.

Mr. Bowley Tho different heights of the sheds was a great source of weaknes 1

Yes, quite

The number to be accommodated is pat

p at the entrance to the stand, and the

A number is noted in the licenco.

We have had it in evidence that these sheds fell, as you say, from N. East to Do the contractors have to submit withi West and also it has been stated they their plane, details of the material to be fell slightly backward? The curve of the used, the sizes, etc. You have to describe building would give that impression exactly what timber, you will use

Do the County Council inspector carry As far you observed they did not fall

they fall prac out any tears with sandbags1-1 krow of forward 1-Oh, no tically on the

places

they previously no tests of that description, becausɛ good Occupied.

timber is nearly always able to bear a certain definite strain. tub these

The gang ay at the back of the the was blocked?Yes The anglo of the roof would spread out flat and cover the gaus

COL WARD ON GOVERNMENT

INSPECTION E

Doss the contractor who puts up temporary stands in England have to supply fire appliances himself, or are they supplied by the authorities --I do not think there are any special precau I don't know. These sheds 1, 2, and 3 *These sheds were inspected by the Gov tions because wherever a stand is erected connection with collapsa. He had also could have been shifted bodily along the ernment Inspector" and he passed the there is always an ample provision of

had also ground, but unless the lashings all broke sheds Don't you think he ought to have water been appointed by the Government in the would not or Shed 16 is of pointed out I would not

noticed the weakness which you have

TAE RESCUE WORK. The Crown Solicitor

Mr. Lo: What steps did you take to England to enquire into the cause of three storeys and Sheds 11918, and 18 Judgment on the Inspector of Buildings prevent people going to the remue of accidents which had carred in. Birken- are only ang swerft te a stampede The CoronorSNELLA others 1-Well, I judged as to the dumber

story Would that make any in the Colony. differase to the occurred on the upper door of Shod 3, that

Race Course

The

that is in

in the direction

the 1914 matsheds

the

rende

Bressy substance of some sort. LaderOBURY ANN e a Tho

Y

pass any

you might say

eight

You turned people back whether they

hend and in Monmouthshire. About

carefully considering the whole rescue work and there were considerably twenty smonds after the collapse on the for instance, there would be no resistance to me to your conclusions of acople who could conveniently do the pared to the strain on either side. Wherevor matter But do you think that if you more than were injured. Some I am the foors in the adjoining sheds are not bad inspected the sheds yourself you ofraid were trampling on parts of the The Coroner Une moment, Colonel exactly level you would get the thrust, in would have passed them I would not building under which people were lying Ward. You saw the collapse before you ease of a stampede, at the point of least say positively. I should, however, have and did damage to many

resistines, prefe

sported in my to myself that if all the The Coroner. At want time did you heard a crash Certainly, I saw the

the order to excludo anyone! I collapse and heard the crash afterwards.

Photograph of the Hoors had been on the same level, they was then produced, and in answer to a would have resisted camper. That is the about sever Framaleate the V BL

THE PRACTICE AT HOME.

Mr. Lo I take it your instructions Wrouge weak spot. The shode otherwise are all

Mr. Bowley No doubt you have been only related to the racecourse sidh You Continuing, Colonel Ward said about The difference in the floor levels must a great many temporary sheds at Home were not in front of the stands at the twenty sounds after the collapse lo saw weaken the row of buildings - That ist unismited number of people in the stands to the scene of the art in generalight Is it the practice there to allow an time? Yes, but my authority extended black smoke issuing from the wreckage be the

There is no expert in the at a point about halfway down the rear world who would not admit that Ne, never. We have to get a licence from The Coroner Your cordon was right half of the collapsed roof of Nos. 8 and 9, With reference At first it looked a though it came from vious witness to the evidence of a pre the County Counell that the stand will hound the building, including the golf Chinese accommodate a certain number of people olub? Yes, just this side of the Mont- burning oil. Then, a red flame broke words Kot-tai." If the

regardinga were cut and you must not allow a single onementen voor through the roof. The ames was of low town would that affect the building above that number to enter or you will Mr. Lo Can you my whether there such a colour that it was either from here it only ma sot of aging and Before such licence is fegued the stand the golf club side-That is why I was nder yourself liable to prosecution. were sufficient people for rescuo work on burning fat or burning Ol or some to would weaken the bending did

if

County Council standing where I was as that I could

the whole site.UNY [185 ho instructions of HE the Governor, Thi

And T anyone had cut the

uppies its capacity wou

would be given through the GUC, he had lashings at the bottom of the upright measured Oh yes, and the structure were going to rescue their own relativan cordon down round the sheda. This was what would have happened In & weight would be examined generally or not In cases of that kind you have done and order restored in about four bearing structure so long as the pole You don't think a County Council In to extremely careful that you don't minutes. Twenty-three minutes from the sand it is equally safe whether there specter would pass these buildings for allow such a concourse of people as to

anlimited number of débriz was enveloped in flame. The difed are hings or not. I do not think that sa

not allowed No one would show the enormous number of people

fpeople-Sush

do positive injury. The photographs tion of the wind which was bguio

the cutting of the lashings, at the bottom a thing

To creet (temporary struggling about on the roof and I am breoze was almost direct from the South high would have had any effect contemplate that

No doubt in a thrust the thing would not be bought of fearful now that a number of people who

Lany number to East to North West Had the breeze bed asking is

important,

but only to hid in such will not in temporary were trying to get out were tirampled end on he did not think ten minutes portion the pop which is taking, the wooden stands a home 2-Not as far our opinion is th would have been allowed for resens work weight, luckily it blew from front to back Hi The lashings of the cross bracing are I have seen, in temporary hands of this thought shed No. 1 vas burnt out before the main lashing, and if they were cut description and Na 19% is forty five minutes the fire had the building world become unstable. The fi connection which, would

hich would perhaps he practically burnt itself out, and in

Jashings for the most part are twenty-six hours the site we completely merely to keep the uprights in position, cleared, and so far as he could discover

and they would remain in position 570 bodies had been found About 30 bodies were found in the front of NE 1 Aish the matshed, collapsed tod him stand. It might have boon between 10 Colonel added that the direction of the County Council were such They were all in a heap together and t

even, the War O and 11. but just thereabout Nearly 300 to us opinion that the collapse was not men into torm until they had nut up a three hundred wore killed before the Bra budies were found to the rear of No. 8 or D'on a space not more than 12 feet again to the model of No. 16 shed, he with a red fire extinguisher, so that the Would you draw, from that the infer-

dung to lashings being cut

post, not malde bat outside every one, same pages square! They were piled quite high, ona remarked. No one would on the other. The greater mumber, he builder

The great care axaraised in the choice of each single lest maken thous Lignes beyond all doubt the most perfect evar produced.

084 per box duty paid.

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outbreak of the fire the whole of the in

reet

in

Your opinion is that no more people could have been rescued if you had

allowed more to help t-Nathing except it has nothing, to do time would have allowed anothu, single

We At Honey had dividual to be saved.

battalion; really You say that from what you saw shet woodwork No. 8 collapsed first and that 200 bodien

ther the lashings were cut, or not, if the can fammable materiel The ruls were found in front of sheds 8 and 91–

hute for my first washuted with weight was on them That is 60

Ofice could not put should say that two hundred out of the

moment a but was But there were

would assume from their attitude, hadi ormar, not even & local bain no means to put it out at anboards Wience that the abed was overcrowded

In of

against

There were 300 bodies thumped down-im

been killed by the college and thot by the was something orting this unies store great risk of fire from sucking. Do you space four yards aquara. I should any fire. Otherwise, the bodies were evenly The Coroner. Do you think the shed

By know what. distributed, except at the extreme ende more unsafe when the upper floor is where no bodies were found – bij

empty

that

are taken notices

the collapse took place and they were issued sitched down some kind of hole Ther were piled several feet high. Phriously must have heen smothered or killed, or the unconscious before the fire came anywhere

gravity, 16; higher and them to dress is those except just few at the ton

The Crown Solicitor You have taken lithotom

an interest in mansed onstruction shed is have tached 10 benton was interested in the work

Can you tell me the difference between the acaffolding need at Home and the scaffolding of matebeds. There is no

ing except in the mobstance used in tying.

the builder considered that the people who top of sheds or at the back-lo front dene. That is a proof that there more

pore unsa fo. An

Apparently you took charge

vers you yourself Attarded the recos

acos would be mostly at the

Did you notice how long it was before have beer tona of people in that one thon lo guard against any strain caused seemed to me to have complete scope from The original cause of the disaster may from or back, and ha took every precan water was playing on the freThe fire structure on an nan diguna

Nhom shi dùng backward and forward

weak

difference whatever, in ordinary, nesfoldbank you think the building fell be beginning to end I should say it was bave been overcrowding on the top floor

al Foran or because of some

35 or 40 minutts before I saw any water. of No. 8 Then there was a thrust sgainst At Home Tope is uset, and you can judge Count I think it was due to genused nearly every year for the accommoance was offered Without doubt.

Mr. Stevenson The structurea are the next shed at a poin, where no resist strain The people

moved from have no idea what Brain a piece of cane like a know where the staircases were in and anfficient to carry the heavy strain very nearly its tensile strain, whereas I North East to Bouth-West, and I should dation of a great number of spectators The enquiry was then adjourned for string spesies or how you can judge it these sheds.. The stampede serred It would be very difficult. One piece all one direction he direction in of moving body 1 If they have polos

to be might be stronger than another.

which

Do you consider the timber used proper tilin

OTHER SPECTATORS

ướt htt

the building toppled over

thin as thick as those shown in the model in Richard H Hamson * What difference would there be, be-

a while host of people get on just one proportion to the size of the building, on board the 36. tween upright polen resting on board on point trying to get

* when the yea. The structures I have seen hare photograph which be Ha the ground and poles inserted a few inches auddin weight upset the

the ground ist would not make the top part of the bad stability of the seem capable of accommodating a reason matsheds on the morning lightest

difference Ling

England, the seem to one the the bold did not able number of people. If the same poles trophe. He stated that ho

part upright poles of wenfolding wet on board building went only the roof and the taken of them then you are inviting a

The are used often and great care is no shod at the time of

spectator if the

ground

fret foor. But all that was the second disaster.

people the ground Otherwise, the poles usually rest

[It, was stated that the poles used in a which caused

ed everyone standing in

ground surface

going to a very

Lrt the case of the

uneven in

marged for item. The brst thing was the root the mode) of the shed produced in Court

any difference it the poles were the

short distance —It would ground maze no différembo whatever

The Coroner: Did you actually inspect thes shede - Azma fida when under com struction, but 1 did not thoroughly or closely insect them, I went through them two or three times.

of the building to rush across the race were not in proportion to the size of the

the buildings were anding building.} an

& doten people on described how noises, and then saw

idThere wOS ing in The Corner: A sound bamboo would indicate why the people should be servicable for an upright for such fell stampede, Those people

front rem

these-It depends upon the size Foot away and then all the stands seemed to get up as with one

of the bamboo ázid make a bolt for

The Coroner collense was the stran point of

Mr. Boyley Bamboon were not used

Bron, the

Hrs Breavenson

thongm, they