1929-02-01 — Page 5

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SLAUGHTER HOUSE FRENCH WOMAN'S

RAIDED.

DEATH.

DARK DEED IN CANTON. | TRAGIC SCENE IN A HOTEL.

[FROM DER CHINESE CORRESPONDENT. 1.

POLICE MAKING ENQUIRIES.

The guests and management of CANTON, Jan. 31st. An odd and sensasional attempt the St. Francis Hotel were roused at armed robbery occurred in Can-from their sleep carly yesterday ton on Tuesday night. The very morning, hea Masa Darius Mar- original point of attack by an arm-sily, one of the guests shouted out od gang, some half a dozen strong, that his wife was dead. was the public Slaughter House in Hons, and Mdme. Marsily arrived Leung Hing Matos. The robbers at the Hotel on December 4th, Inst took advantage of two things year. They booked room No. 908,

Since then, they first, that the place is never lock.without board. ed, as no one imagined it would had made several trips to Canton have any interest: for robbers, and, and Macao. They were a second, the constant failure of the quiet couple and neither husband electric light.current.

nor wife made many friends in the batel. Mdme. Marsily who was 85 attractive looking woman of about 35, was understood to have been connected with Madame Clerget's dress-making establishment.

TORY

Yesterday morning, at about 3.30

About fourteen fokie live on the place and for years have enjoyed complete safety despite their open door" policy. The bandits waited till the lights failed just before. 11 pm, and then quietly entered. The fokis were scund asleep, their hourem, Mrs. B. Thompson, of the of repose being from 8 pm till who lives in the hotel, was roused Advertising and Publicity Bareau, midnight, at which odd hour they start the day's work. Each in turn bx, & room boy, who told her that was dragged off his bed and while lady on the floor below was very one gunman held a pistol to his and asked her to give assistance. ribe the others quickly bound him Coming out of her room, Mrs. with steel wire and gagged him Thompson looked over from the with a dirty ag. The whale party balcony and saw Mona Marsily in was most efficiently trussed and in French, at the top of his voice & frantic state. He was shouting, then horded into a small room, one that his wife was dead and at the gunman mounting guard,

same time enjoining every one to keep quiet.

The rest of the gang started to ransack the place, and then made their way to the Arst floor where the manager was sleeping.

TO THE RESCUE.

found the couple's room door was Coming down Mrs. Thompson ajar. She heard Madame Marsily groaning and on entering the room found her in what appeared to be convulsions. Bat the noise already made. other guests and the manager, Mr. By this time the though light, had aroused the Hannigs, were on the serne. manager who guessed what had

Between them they tried દર happened. He crept stealthily outpacify the husband and at the on the verandah and though afraid same time summoned the police to shout or blow his police whistle doctor and ambulance. The police he hoped attract the attention arrived as soon as possible, na did of a passer by and summon help. Dr. Wang, who could only say that He had locked his door but just life was extinct. The body of the as the robbers were hurling them-unfortunate woman was taken to selves against it one of the abat the Mortuary in an ambulance and toir butchers turned up. Finding the police took charge of several the door locked he proceeded to bottles, which they found in her heat a tattoo against it with his room. bamboo pole. At the same time The husband when questioned by the manager, summoning all his some of the guests was said to have courage, blew a long blast on his stated that he woke up at 4 2.1. whistle,

The gang thought the police had He heard his wife groan, spoke to her, but got answer. Be felt arrived and the hammering was her hands and found that she was caused by rife and revolver butts. cold. He was frightened and when They fled by the back way in con- he switched on the light to look at fusion.

his wife, he saw that she was dying. Opening the door, he rushed out for assistance.

Outside a police patro heard the whiatic and dashed to the scene, but just as they had sighted the decamping robbers the lights again failed, and every member of the gang made good his escape. The only thing left behind was one

τενοίτετ.

The police quickly freed the un. fortunate folis who were soon busily engaged upon the night's work.

CANTON'S "SUBURBS TO SUFFER.

· ELECTRICITY TO BE CUT OFF.

-A YOUNG LADY'S TRAGEDY!

[FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT.]

CANTON, Jatuary 31st. The Municipality has ordered that from February 2nd, onwards, the electric current to Honam, Fong Tsoon, Fati, Sai Tecon, Nam Ngon Shek Wai Tong, Five Eyed Bridge,

Enquiries at the French Consu- late revealed that they did not know the unfortunate lady. Mous.. Marsily has, however, called at the Consulate on two or three occasions in connection with his business. Beyond that the Consulate was unable to give any information.

It was also stated that the couple on taking the room said that they bad come from Baigon. The Police are investigating the matter and it is understood that a post-mortem examination has been made.

The funeral of the unfortunate lady will probably take place this afternoon at the Roman Catholic Cemetery..

MARSHAL LI TSAI HSIN EXPECTED TO-DAY.

A SHORT VISIT TO CANTON CITY,

MEETING WITH HIS BROTHER.

Ip Po and Hong Lok, including Lingnan University is to be cut off every evening from 6 p.m. to 10 Marshal Li Tsai Hsin, according p.m. The Company has all along to official sources in Canton, is ex complained that its generators are pected in Hong Kong by the F. being overloaded, largely because of.. Morea, which is due here general electricity stealing through early this morning from Shanghai out the City and that it is not, The Marshal is accompanied by Mr. therefore responsible for the pre Tang Ka Yin, his chief secretary, sent lighting failure. The Author Mr. Liu Tso Po, a former Commis, ities hope tha: by sacrificing these sioner of Civil Affairs for Kwang outlying and less important parta tung, Mr. Lina Peo Fang, secretary of Canton they will be able to

business quarters which present the More tempting propositions for armed ganga.

The Municipality has promised

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1st, 1929.

SINKING OF THE HSIN WAH,

PASSENGER SURVIVOR'S BATTLE FOR LIFE.

CREW EAGER TO SAVE THEIR OWN LIVES?

ki

POLICE RESERVES ON PARADE.

A SMART TURN OUT.

*

COMMENDED BY THE C.S.P.

Yesterday afternoon the Hong

FURTHER DISCLOSURES AT INQUEST. Kong Police Reserve

A forcible attempt by the crew of the an. Hsin Wah to prevent passengers from entering the lifeboat which saved twenty out of the twenty-six survivors of the disaster was alleged by a passenger in his evidence at the resumed jaquest proceedings yesterday.

• Including this witness, who had to fight his way to the boat by slipping down the ropes, four passengers and sixteen members of the crew were rescued by a fishing junk after daylight. The quartermaster and the bos'un were, questioned regarding their efforts to save their own lives in preference to those of the

passengers.

•

The last witness before the adjournment was the Harbour Master (Lieut.-Comdr. G. F. Hole, R.N.) who said he first heard of the sinking of the vessel when he reached his office at 9.30a.m.. As the news of the stranding of the vessel had been received at 4.23 a.m., witness considered that he ought to have been advised of the sinking when the news was received by the Boarding Officer at about 3.30 a.m..

At the close of the proceedings it was announced that steps will be taken to call a steward who is still in hospital. This man was rescued from serié rocks on an island far away from the scene of the wreck. He get there on a raft, with two companions, but they went mad after they had reached the shore, and plunged again into the sea.

The inquest proceedings were resumed in the forendon and lasted all afternoon Mr. R. E. Lindsoll

(Captain AW. Davison and was sitting as Coroner, with a jury

Messrs. J. W. C. Bonnar and Wong Kwong Tia). Further evidence of translations of the tape in use on the machines at the Radio Tele- graph Offies and Waglan was given by Mr. F. A. Kemp, Government telegraph engineer.

Witness stated that there was no

tape between the hours of 3 and 4

record of "repeat" on the Wagian a.m., but there wers several re peats" recorded in connection with

the 4.4 a.m. message..

After examining the translations, the Coroner suggested that there seemed to have been a refusal on the part of the operator at R.TO. to take down the message, but wit ness did not agree. He admitted there had been some delay in taking the 5.30 a.m. message, but thought it could not have been more than five minutes.

Word on

parade at the compound of the Central Police Station for their annual inspection by the Captain Superintendent of Police, the Hon. Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe, C.M.G.

*

服务

There were about 100 men сд parade, drawn up in four com- panies, the Chinese Reservista, tha Indian Reservists, the "Sharp- shooters and the 'Flying Squad." Mr. D. King, the Commissioner of Police Reserves was in command, with. Mr. F. E. Mowfung, AS.P.R., of the Chinese Company; Mr. Sidar Khan, A.S.P.R, of the Indian Company; Mr. E. R. Dovey, A.S.P.R., of the Sharpshooters, and Sub-Inspector B. O. Randle, of the Flying Squad.

The companies carried out a series of exercises with commend- able amartness and after being drawn up, each company in two ranks they were inspected by the C.S.P.

Following the inspection, a hol- low square was formed. and Mr. Wolfe, in a brief speech, said that he was extremely sorry to have had to call the parade st such short notice but he was leaving for Home shortly and he wished to see the Reservists on parade.

Mr. Wolfe congratulated the Re- servists on the extremely good work! which they had put in during the

thanks of both the Government and he felt sure that he was voicing the year, and in conclusion said that

the public, who were very pleased with their services.

Evidence of Dommodore's Secretary, Evidence of the receipt of the messages that morning by Leading

Naval Dockyard office having been Seaman Coutts in charge at the

given, Pay-Lieut.-Comdr. D. H Pasmore, Secretary to the Com- modore, stated that the first message of the grounding was heat deck he saw a number of transmitted to him shortly after it was received at 5 o'clock Witness Passengers trying to get a boat out and the Chief Stal Officer of on the port side, but they did not

30

know how to do it. When witness

H.M.S. Tamar then examined the chart. Knowing that the Taikoura to the starboard side be aw tug had gone, they decided to take boat being lowered by members of the crew. They were pushing action. The second message the passengers back and keeping conveying the sinking reached wit them away from the boat. Witness

oss ut 5.30 am. Witness continued that the Ad. was also pulled away, but fought would have taken two hours to miralty tug on duty that morning his way through and slipped down s rope into the boat. An hour later raise-steam. It was a small one, witness and the others in the boat and considering the bad sea it

were picked up by a fishing junk. would probably not have been sent

He was suffering from cold and was out. It would have taken six boura at once put below in the hold. to get a larger tug ready to proceed In answer to questions witness. to Waglan, and considerably longer stated that while he was on the boat to get one of the destroyers in deck he saw no Europeans except harbour ready. There was no ar- the man who gave him the lifebelt. rangement with the Government for This The Quartermaster on Duty," reseus in such cases, and no ship assisting in lowering the boats in- Sze Po Lum, a quartermaster of is kept in readiness. A destroyer, cluding the one in which witness the sunken vessel, stated that be however, was out that morning and got away.. was on duty between midnight and could have been diverted, but it 4 am on January 16th. It was his would have taken three hours to duty to wait for orders in the wheel get to Waglan. The messages did house below during the last twe not indicate the nature of the ves hours At 2.25 a.m. the witnessel in distress or whether it carried said he was asked by the Second passengers. Officer (Kuo Ching Hui) to go and read the log. This he did and reported that the reading was then 124

<

It was the usual practice for thence. As regards broadcasting of such mishaps, witness said this was officer on watch to call the Captain not done by H.M. ships but by

D'Aguilar,

himself.

When the ship struck between 3.30 and 3.40 a.m., witne was in the wheel house, where he could not sen ahead, and therefore he did not know

Obstruction By Panic Stricken Passengers.

European

WAA

afterwards

Karbour Master As A ̈Witness. Called as a witness, Lieut.-Comdr. G. F., Hole, the Harbour Master, said he was not aware at presect of the existence of any system for automatic broadcasting of poenr rences of this kind.

Witness said that the Commodore was advised of the message at a

At 4.25 . he was informed that 8.M. In case the Commodore waa

a ship was ashore off Wagian. This not available, the Chief Staff Officer would consult with the Cominformation came over the tele- After the Waglan light was sight-mander of the Dockyard, and the phone from Mr. Thompson. He ed, witness could not say if thhas instructions to despatch assist

was satisfied with the steps taken Second Officer called the Captain.

when he was told that the two Dock Companies and the Naval authori ties had been notified, also that a tug was being sent from Taikoo.

It was not until witness reached his office at 9.30 a.m. that he knew of the sinking. He considered that advised about the sinking when the he certainly ought to have been second message was received at the Harbour Office. Seeing the message on the table witness sent for Mr. Thompson and asked whether it had been broadcasted, his great fear.at that time being that some ship entering the harbour might run into the wreck. After discussion it was decided that in the circum- stances there was no use in bread. casting it at that time.

Speaking about police lanaches witness said that the No. 4 launch

whether or not the ship was on a dangerous course. So far na wit ess was aware there had been no alteration in the course. As soon as the grounding occurred, witness roused the crew and went on the bridge where he assisted in sending distress signals. The Captain and the other quartermaster were there, but he did not see the Second Officer.

Cheng Ki Saag, who said he had The next witness was the bos'un,

served aiz years on the vessel. He was roused by the shouts of the quartermaster a few seconds before the ship strack. The grounding oc curred while he was running to the boat deck for a lifebuoy. Many passengers were already on the boat deck in a state of great confusion. On the boat and main deck there wero 800 lifebuoys, all of which had been served out, and there were also Witness observed that the No. 1

Witness noticed that the star-eight rafts. of the Canton Political Council, and board lifeboat No. 3 had already Nanking.

stated to be visiting Canton to see

four passengers.

18.

1012

Steward And Cook To Bá Called.

This, was all the evidence, in the

secure a reliable service for the Mr. Koo Ying Fan, an official from been partly lowered and he got into lifeboat was full of passengers was the largest one at present and Mr. Koo is officially it by sliding down the falls. There which rendered it impossible to she was a good, ses boat, but in to the repair of his father's tomb,the boat was supposed to hold moment somebody shouted from the launch suficiently sea-worthy to were twenty people in it. Although raise it or swing it out. At that his opinion there was no polica and, when this has been done he thirty or forty people, witness con lower deck that No. 3 lifeboat had stand the full force of a storm. In that the supply of electricity will be will return to Nanking. restored as soon as the Light and Mrs. Li Tsai Hain, Br. Chao Hsin sidered that twenty was

a safe been lowered, and witness ran such cases it would need a sea-going Power Company has got ita genera- Chu and a special representative of number seeing that the seas were

there. He had been about half an tug like the Henry Keswick Wit General Chen Ming Shu are expect big and water had already been hour on the boat deck, but neither ness added that for reasons of tors in proper working order,

shipped.

saw nor heard any of the officers economy: The Government is also considered in Hong Kong to meet him."

Instructions were given by the Witness had also heard that the kept under steam except during

the Kausing ing a thorough investigation into It is believed that the Marshal the economic position of the Com-will only pay a short visit to Can Chief Officer to lower the boats, wheel house on the poop had been typhoons.

and he actually saw this being done carried away. He got into the boat pany with a view to making it lower ton, returning to Nanking in time

in the case of his own boat. There and when daylight came found its charges. There are very high to attend the Third Kuomintang

was another which could not be there were in it sixteen members of and are the subject of perpetual Conference. He hopes to meet his

swung out because it was overload- complaints on all sides.

younger brother, Mr. Li Tani Wan, Tour correspondent witnessed who has just returned from Europe "ed with passengers who would not the crew including himself and afternoon. Inspector Ogg mention- ed that the testimony of the other move. Witness did not assist in typical contretemps last night.where he has been studying political

The Coroner remarked that it survivors aculd be more or less the Just after the Lights had failed for economy and political science Thewinging the boat out as he was was a nice thing for abos'un same as that already given.-There-

He did of a ship to do-let the passengers

was a man who worked as a cook the tenth time a smartly di essed two brothers will probably pay sending distress signals. young lady who had been oat shop-visit to the tomb of their mother see any members of the crow

dia while the crew escaped. Wit on the vessel present in Court and ping stepped off the pavement in who died about a year ago and is pushing the passengers away from the boats. In the case of his own

ness replied that there was no help a steward still in hospital who the dark, and, missing her footing buried in Kwangsi.

for it. The seas were so high that could be brought at the next hear- measured her length in a pool of It is expected that Marshal Li bost he was unable to explain the muddy water. She so far forgot will leave for Nanking on February Presence of more members of the there was no time to wait for ing

passengers. Witness said that he The question of the capabilities crow than passengers. Herself, as she viewed her ruined 20th.

Questioned as to boat drills, wit the No. 1 boat which could not be watch when the ship grounded, was could not move the passengers from of the Becond Oficer, who was on "brocades to say-!

ness said this was not done on the swung out. Others were swarming again, brought up. Mr. Watson of this epidersic into their terri ayage to Tsingtao and back to round it. He did not cut the ropes (who is watching the interests of CHOLERA IN LUICHOW..

tory, bringing in medical supplies Hong Kong, but drill was carried which held the boat to the cavite to the China Merchants Steam Navi- from Hong Kong, whereas the out on the previous voyage when OFFICIAL PRECAUTIONS. military surgeons are paying great they were at Canton. It was done enable it to float away when the gation Company, owners of the vessel), stated that he had, embled to. ship went down. attention to the question of proper with only one boat. All of the

the head office in Shanghai for Owing to irregular climatic con- sanitation in the various military crew were old hands, who had Boat's Urew Drive Passengers

details and had just received a served at least two years. ditions brought about by the barracks, what

reply, but it did not give more draught, says the Canton Gasette, The local Police Headquarters Witaces was questioned on Lam Ng, a cargo coolis of the information than that he had al- sholers has been prevailing in the have been instructed to assist in statement that he was asked by the Kowloon Wharf and Godown Com ready obtained from the represents districts of Luichow and Oppo in guarding the public health by caus. Captain to get into the bost. He pany, stated in his evidence that tive who is here. He understood Ah Southern Fegin taling in the obervance of cleanliness the in this in the atcerage the alarm that at navigation school

said that the Captain ordered he was one of about 180 passengers that the Second Officer had studied many deaths. There is a fear that the part of the public. A vaccina the disenso will spread to other tion campaign has also been start had already been done, he got into the ship had struck a rook was clients, but he would try to get Jocalities. The authorities in Faked, while people coming into the Witness asserted that the given they all fan to the main deck, more details of service hoi have been taking all precau locality from Luichow are subject-Captain told him in English A European there gave witness tions, possible against the incursioned to medical examination before quartermaster, you had better get (Continued at foot of next column.) being allowed to effect an entry into the boat.”

Я

Away.

lifebelt which he put on. On the (Continued on next Oolumn),

MO

The proceedings will be resumed this morning and continued in the

alternoon.

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