1933-05-31 — Page 11

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY,

CHINESE DOCK LABOUR

WARM TRIBUTE" BY MR. C. M. MANNERS

IN ROTARY ADDRESS

STORY OF FINE WAR WORK IN

*MESPOT "

Mr. C. M. Mannere, O.B.E., in addressing the Rotary Club yesterday on the subject of Transportation, tackled his subject in the most interesting manner, of giving a number of personal re miniscences of an unusually interesting and entertaining nature. After a number of stories of his own life at sea, Mr, Manners told of his experiences as a transport officer in Mesopotamia during the War. Mr. Manners paid a warm tribute to the Chinese mechanic and stevedore, and after relating how he used to algh for a good Chinese No. 1 and his gang, to replace wretched local labour, he told

how such a gang, many of whom he knew well, acinally turn- od up and astonished all the "brass hats" by their wonderful work in unloading and handling cargo. They more than lined up to the reputations he had claimed for them, perhaps to the polat of making his colleagues sceptical about what Chinese could do! The Hon. Dr. S. W. Tso, was in the chair.

In the course of his address, Mr. Manners said:-

I was born in Derbyshire in the middle of England, and consequent- ly the first sailing vessel I ever saw was the "Netherby" of Liverpool, | a full rigged ship of 1,400 tons Register; she was loading general arg in the Salthouse Dock for Sydney, Australia, and I sailed in her as articled apprentice together with six other first voyagers (This by the way was well over years ago).

those days; we had

mert.

#

ciation in which I carried my, ciga rettes for a long time thereafter.

:-

From a Collier.

Another ship I recollect which was discharged in record time by Chinese labour was a steamer be longing to the Paiping Syndicate named the "Sir Richard Audrey," which unfortunately went to Davy Jones' locker somewhere in the War Zone in 1915. This vessel was built 30specially for the carriage of coal, and was considered one of the finest

I eventually quit the "Netherby without the formality of saying "Good Bye." but found life on shore not so good, so it was back to the sea again, where I eventually took over as Third Mate with the (to me) magnificent salary of £4.10.0 per month,

colliers afloat.

the

Chiness to the Rescue in "Mespot."

ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A JOURNALIST

Scientific Detective Work

HANT'S AND A REVOLVER BUTT UNDER MICROSCOPE

MAY 31, 1933

BONHAM STRAND PROPERTY CLAIM

-SON'S ALLEGED FORGERY

The case in which Li Tư Shi, administratrix, with the will an nexed, to the estate of her lato. husband, Li, Woon Nam, of. Toi Shan, seeks to recover the pro party known as No. 73, Bonham Strand West from Pong Taoi Ching of Shatin, was continued before Acting Chief Justice, J. B. Wood, at the Supreme Court yesterday,

Anyway the Director of Person nel informed the General that a' vessel was arriving the following morning with 184 Chinese on board, und that these 'men could be made available if necessary; they were. made available, and I boarded the vessel as soon as she arrived to find out what sort of men I had obtain- ed. To my joy I found an "old

The magisterial proceedings friend named Man on board, who against Chan Ki, 2, 3 chicken had been a fitter in the Hangyang carrier, who is charged with the

It was alleged that the property Ironworks and who informed me he attempted murder of Lo Wai

assignment was a forgery perpetrat- had with him 163 artisans capable Koung, the proprietor of the Tied by plaintiff's adopted son, Li of running any sort of machine shop Am Daily News, were concluded Kai Loy or tackling the building of a 10,000

at Central Magistracy yesterday ton ship.

when Mr. Wynne-Jones committed When the men were mustered him for trial at the next criminal recognized many faces from Poosions. tung, and on further enquiry I found about 10 per cont. were artisans and the balance wharf coolies, most of them known to me by sight.

I talked like a Dutch Uncle to Mau, who agreed to do all he could; when the Captain, Chief Engineer, Officers and men of the "Chekiang" Ustered to my tale of woe, and they also promised to assist in every way possible; as a result when Mau and his gang turned up the hatches were off, the derricks up and every thing ready to start-every mother's son on board that ship helped to get the stores off loaded, and the work so impressed the brass hats that immediate requisitions were made for more Chinese for Mesopo tania. This became more urgent after the arrival of the Devongse, under Capt. Shearer, who now lives in Kowloon Tong, and whose good work with his Chinese crew was a revelation, to these poor devils who had to contend with local labour. Captain Shearers' work is talked nf even to-day, and although he did not acquire an O.B.E. he can al- ways recollent that he proved his worth to the Empire and proved that Chinese labour, properly man aged, is equal to the best in the

world.

45-Ton Launches for the Tigris.

J

Mr. H. G. Sheldon and Mr. Leo D'Almada e Castro, Jur., (instruct od by Messrs. Lo and Lo) appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Eldon Pofter, K.O., and Mr. F. C. Jenkin, K.C.. instructed by Mesars, Hastings and Co, for defendant.

Plaintiff, on 'baing recalled, said

The incident occurred outside a shop at No. 19, in Lyndhurst Ter race, on the evening of April 18 when the complainant, who we that the deeds of the property were walking along the pavement, had kept in the tray-compartment of an Eve shots fired at him. Fortquately American trunk. From the day of he was only slightly wounded in the death of her husband until the the left shoulder, and his alleged found the deeds missing, in July, assailant, the accused, was caught 1031, she had not looked inside the after a long chase through several tror. Jenkin: I put it to you that the deeds were in Hong Kong for well over a year after your hus band's "death. If they were Hong Kong at all it must have been after they were stolen:

streets.

Mr. J. A. Fraser, Assistant At torney General, appeared for the prosecution, and the accused was represented by Mr. Horace Lo who reserved his cross-examination throughout the proceedings.

די

in

I put it to you that the deeds wore entrusted to Wong Wah Kong Stain on Accused's. Finger, by you and taken to Hong Kong At yesterday's hearing, evidence for the purpose of having the pro- regarding the stain found on acperty put in the name of your son, cused left hand was given by Li Kai Loy-No. That is not go Mr. V. C. Branson, Government Analyst. He said that on the oven ing of April 18 the censet was brought to him, his left hand being covered with a handkerchief. He examined the hand and found dark grazed stain between the thumb ball and the palm.

Did you know that at the public auction of the property some one tried to prevent the sale of the property going through-I was told that Ng Yu Hon had said at the sale that the property belonged to Li Tse Shi. That was about August 3, after I had returned from

Canton.

Witness denied that her son was at Ng Yu Hon's shop when she went there after being taken to the Police Station.

seen "your. Don He first washed the stain with" Have you ever petroleum ether and then with dis-since you beat him at Toi Shan.-1 tilled water after which he rubbed No.. If I ever see him again I it with ather, benzol, alcohol and will slaughter him. cotton wool. The stain was, then straped with a sharp instrument, removing some skin as well. From the first solution-the, petrol ether extract-be found a very slight stain ultraviolet, lamp. It gave a dif- of grease which glowed under an

ferent colour from human sweat.

Li Choy Loy, nephew of plain- tiff, said he had received a letter that the property had been sold. from Ng Yu Hon iaforming him

He wrote to his aunt who was then

Hong Kong From the second solution, witness in Canton and later met her in found that the stain contained After further evidence had been sodium, potassium chloride, sul-taken, the case was adjourned. phide, nitrate and some traces of iron. From the scraping he found metallic lead and trace of iron.

This ship was my first introduc tion to "Transportation." and I The Syndicate were anxious to certainly learned ♫ lot in prove that "Sir Richard Third Audrey" could do what the Captain Mate whose chief joy in life and builders said of her, and as a was to impart knowledge to result of a consultation regarding jor devils on their first voyages-discharge, after a long pow wow, he always carried a piece of ratline at which we had learnt that a stuff, which be called a "reminder" similar vessel had discharged. in so and there was a wonderfully hard many hours, we undertook to beat knot at the end of it. He could this record. The ship arrived and' hit quicker and more accurately we started work, and finished over

Before I leave Mesopotamia, I with his fist, foot or the aforemen 3,000 tons in under 1 working must tell you of a problema in tioned "reminder than any other hours. This at a baskets to the ton Transportation whih was successful person I have ever been obliged to with every basket filled in the hold,ly overcome by one of our lads hoisted on to a platform on deck from China...A vessel arrived from and then carried to the dump with England loaded up with supplies: bamboos, not forgetting that it had she was a captured German steamer to pass over the scales en route. named the Rohenfels, or some These achievements, although note-thing like that, and she had on worthy in themselves, I found to be board two steam launches, carried only all in the day's work to the on deck. I asked her Skipper how

discharge those In reply to Mr. Fraser, witness HUGE OPIUM HAUL Chinese labourers, and it was there he proposed to Needless to say, Ifore with justifiable confidence that launches, which looked to me rather said he should not ordinarily expect

13,770 Taels Involved thought myself a devil of a fine employed them in this work Bur heavy telling me just exactly what to find nitrate and lead from a man

he thought about soldiers in gen-hand. fellow, but was soon shown that I ing the last War

erai and myself in particular he Continuing, witness said that on finished up by informing me the May I he received three cotton the "old man was 52 years of age

launches weighed 45 tons each, that swabs from the police. He examíð- and the Mate 76. He came from

hia Jumbo derrick was capable of ad them and treated them as be The transportation difficulties exifting a maximum of right tons, did the stain on the accused's hand. Storanway, and I was in his watch; although he didn't carry a remin-perienced during the late war ap and that he would stand a

He found they contained a small derground with him he had a peared at times unsurmountable, way from under if even that weight amount of grease, and also the wonderful way of showing me just and those responsible for surmount was handled: " where I got off and emphasisinging them were very largely Super-

various minerals also found in the accused's hand, my abysmal ignorance. Rè must men. Such names as Sir Henry have sailed West years ago, but I Thornton, General Gray, General always gratefully remember what Holland and many others are com he taught me about ships and cargo. Iparatively unknown, but those of us As you will have gathered, most who know the magnitude of the of my working life has been spent tasks confronting them and the in China and Hong Kong, and it efficient way they got those jobs naturally follows I have come into done will never forget it. In the close contact with the Chinese; course of my duties, I had occasion believe it or nut, as Mr. Ripley to visit such ports as Cardiff, Liver would say, the Chinese Coolies and pool, Avonmouth, Bristol and Lon-

knew nothing or less than that;

+1

War Reminiscences.

FOUR CHINESE CHARGED

WILL POSSESSION

Before Mr. Wynne-Jones at Con tra! Magistracy yesterday, Chan Ning, oxswain, Chan Ming, en gineer, Tsang Chi Ting, com. pradore and Yip Tam Po, tallyman A Revolver Experiment.

were charged with having in their possession aboard the Kwang I On May 6, witness went with In- 13,770 tuels of raw opium valued

Scott, tho accused and his solicitor, Mr. Hin Shing Lo, appearing for spector Chester Woods, Sergeant at 41 000 to Kennedy Road Range, where the defence, pleaded guilty on he Sergeant Scott fired five rounds half of the fourth defendant, but from the same revolver as that used denied the charge on behalf of the by accused in his alleged murder other defendants The second de- attempt. He fired with his left fendant was subsequently dischar

ged.

Artisans are amongst the finest of don, and both at these ports and in for advice and assistance. Jock hand covered with a glove. There According to Chief Preventive!

band.

We had a floating crane which was about 20 years old and which when new was capable of lifting 30 tons; at this time it was guaranteed had been warned to exercise great to lift 10 tons at a pinch, but we eare with that weight. This job seemed to me to require some care. ful consideration and thought, and I therefore decided to call on my friend Daily of the A.P.C. (China)

Daily fashioned sheer legs on an

was a stain on the glove, and when Officer J. W. Buller, who prosecut- their class in the world and I have France only Herculean efforts on old pontoon and safely discharged witness axamined it later in his ed. Kwong I was a small cargo bout, thaus times basked in the reflected the part of those responsible for the 43 tons lifts--the last 10 feet of laboratory, he found the same mate which plied between Wuchow and glory of their achievements in solving the transport problems pre the second lift landed in the River rials as those in the accused's left Hong Kong, The seizure was mode

vented things from developing into transportation..

a short distance past Castle Peak greater chaos than was even at the Tigris with a most terrific flop; when lowering away, every rope

The worst time appärent..

Detective Sergeant MacDonald near the Brothers Island. A Record Unlading.

and wire connected with it carried

was then called. He said that on ship was east of Sau Chau. After On my arrival in Mesopatumia in away but it landed in the water On one occasion a good many 1916, I realized that things were just without a scratch and in spite of the evening after the shooting, he firing one shot, the Itevenue officers years ago

Dodwell's steamer as bad there as anywhere, and I snapping wires, falling derricks, went to No. 19, Lyndhurst Terrace boarded the ship which appeared arrived alongside the Eastern onged for my old Chinese No. 1 sheer leg and erines no one w where the outrage occurred, and to have made no perceptible motion opium was concealed in twelve What in Shanghai: as you know, and his gangs. At that time all the injured, except that every body made a thorough examination of for three-quarters of an hour. The most steamers are in a hurry and labour came from India, and when concerned lost ten years growth in the premises. He found four sacks, each of which had iron bars All of them are more important compared with the labour available about ten seconds. The photograph bullete in various parts of the pre-tied to their necks. The sacks lay

on the deck. than any other vessel in harbour, in China it came out a very poor which I am passing around will, mises.

After the Station interpreter had In their statements, the first de especially if they, belong to the second. As Receiving and Despatch give you some idea of the work

Piebald Star" Line or the Buting:Officer, all the stores for Force done, the rigging of this gear was given evidence regarding the state fendant said the ship experienced under ment made by accused when charg engine trouble at Sau Chau, while tered Bun Fast, Freight ServiceD passed through my organizadone mostly by Chinese

broke down in Chinese waters, Hoyway this vessel, the "Lothian "tion for distribution to the various Daily's supervision, and as a resulted, His Worshipy se stated; commit the second man said that the engine The third man made no statement. from New York required to finish Depots, and with the labour avail-over 3,000 Chinese were recruited ted the accused for trial, ku dy

and the fourth defendant stated' lischarge in a quarter less than no able I acquired msay gray hairs for stevedoring and whart work

the ship was stopped in Chinese in trying to get a move on in-ne-and over 10.000 artisans were re-

waters for afteen minutes owing to cordance with orders.

engine trouble.

Lime, and they were: prepared to pay anything to get it done. She

had 4,000 odd tons of general cargo

14

MEMORIAL DAY

OBSERVED BY THE AMERI-

CAN COMMUNITY ...

Mr. Büller pointed out that the place of seizure was well within British waters, and to this M. Lo agreed. In order to get to the en- gine room or stokehold, said Mr. Buller, one had to walk over the sackada

His Worship The only deduction

cruited in China for service in Mesopotamia and East Africa. The culminating paint came when | Not one of these men returned, with to discharge, and various estimates B. & 3. ship, the "Chcking." as to the minimum time required arrived with essential stores which a bad record, which is surely a wonderful achievement for men were bandied around. We told the it was absolutely necessary should such as these who had no motive stevedores and wharf coolies that be discharged with despatch a few for every ton thischarged over a cer-days before she was due to arrive for going except good wages and

a knowledge that they could do Memorial Day was daly observed tain amount and within a given we had our usual weekly confer their job when called on.

by the American community in time we would pay them double ence at which all the heads of the

Well, Gentlemen, if these some-Hong Kong, yesterday. The Ang rates without any deductions, and varions departments were suppost-d every man should receive the money to air their difficulties and every what rambling reminiscences have on the American Consulate General I can draw is that everybody knew

The U.8.8. Isabel fired; a salute openly on the deck. personally. Those coolies worked body present was expected to help lightened the postprandial heati was flown at half-mast until noon. the sacks were there as they lay

am glad if they have

gund at of twenty-one.

One The hearing was adjourned until i meal hours and sleep hours without the other fellow out. General Graynes, I

minute intervals which

WEB to-morrow afternoon. changing gangs or easing up for a asked how long it would take to wearied you, I can only express my moment, and when the abip was make the stores ex Chekiang" torrow and blame it on the devoted answered by H. M. 3. Tam leared they had done it in exactly available, and the O.C. stevedores head of "T.B." I'must thank you The flag of the U. 8. 8. Isabel was half the time the most. optimistic gave it as his opinion that it could however for your forbearance, and flown at half-mast and H. M. 6. had predicted, and completed disot be done under two weeks; I for your courteous hearing of my Men-of-War in port also displayed the American ensign at half-mast during the day. charge moreover with only three then chipped in with the remark attempt to justify my tiffin.

that if I had a few Compo coolies broken packages to account for available I would not only dis have forgotten the amount we paid

charge inside two weeks but eat the out, but I know when we saw the damned stores, into the bargain- The brewing trade has always figure I had visions of the wrath of tempers were easily, frazzled in those had to be taxed and watched and Dodwell's inipan descending on our days, with the temperature regis controlled over since Cleopatra's heads. Instead of this, we received tering 120 deg. in the shade night

particularly nice written acknowland day, and I suppose that was day, and nobody thinks that Cleo ledgment of our services, and a the only reason I wasn't taken out patra was a kul-joy-Lady ditor,

M.P.

more correto expression

and shot

placed at. the base of the Wanchai Monument,

The following American ladies] As is customary, the American took part in the commemoration Consul General, the Commander of gremony: Mr Ballantyne, Mrs. the U. S. B. Isabel and other mem- Benson, Mr. Bigger, Mrs. Clark, bore of the American community Mrs Drapar, Mrs. Duclos, Mra. visited Happy Valley Cemetery Emmert, Mrs. Howard, Mrs. Jonk- where the American ladies laid kins, Mrs. Le Fevre, Mrs. Marshall; wreaths on the graves of Americans Mrs Muztail, Mrs. Sanger, Mr. buried there. A wreath was also Shannon, Mrs. Sommers Mi Continued at foot of next Column) Tyson, and Mr. R. 8. Hall.

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