1933-06-30 — Page 7

IN THE DAYS OF THE

CLIPPER

PEN PICTURE OF HONG KONG'S EARLIEST HISTORY

AMERICAN MERCHANT'S RECORDS

The following article on Hang Kong in the days of the clipper ship has been sent in to us by a reader:-

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1933.

FORGED GUILDER

NOTES

TWO CHINESE ON SERIOUS CHARGE

two

Before Mr. Schofield yesterday, Ngai Hak Lan was charged with having folaniously uttered forged ten, guilder bank notes of the Government of the Dutch East

Indies at 317. Des Voeux Road, on June 13 while Kong Sau Kwong was charged with aiding and abet ting him.

Sub-Inspector O'Donovan, proAG. cuting, said that the complainant was passing through Hongkong from Foochow. On the arrival of the steamer in Hongkong, he went to a boarding house, and met the defendants in the sampan taking them aahore. The complainant got inta conversation, with the defend- ants and another man, Chan Mui Tsai, and the defendants asked him whether he was going to Java. Complainant replied in the affirma. tive, and the men spoke about ex-

When they landed the first de- fendant invited the complainant to the Empress Cafe, and there, asked complainant whether he wanted to exchange money. Complainant

INQUEST ON

ON WONGNEL-

CHONG FATALITY

CORONER'S THREE POINTS TO JURY

ARCHITECT ON JURY: SOLICITOR SAYS

MIGHT PROVE EMBARRASSING

Sitting as Coroner, Mr. W. Schofield yesterday open- ed the inquiry into the collapse which occurred on June 3 at 15, Yuk Sau Street, when two people were killed and two others injured.

The coroner told the jury at the outset that there were three points they had to decide, viz., the cause of the collapse, the person or persons responsible, and possible measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

· Mr. F. G. Jenkin, K.C,, instructed by Messrs. Woo and Nash, appeared for the contractors who built the house, Mr. M. K. Lo represented the owner of the house and Mr. H. J. Armstrong appeared for Mr. A. J. Lane, the architect.

Witness assisted the amah

The jury

were. as follows:-: state. Messrn. R. A. Rogers (foreman), as best he could.

Little.

A good deal of time has been de-· In those days of Hong Kong, it voted to the study of the namies was apparently a hazardous busi- of streets and buildinga of old Hong neas to secure a pilot to bring ships Kong, but few of us would or could into the Hong Kong harbour is recall even with mild interest the may be appreciated from the fol Hong Kong Harbour in the days lowing entry: of the clipper ship. The earliest.

June 17. Little breeze sprang foundation of shipping and com- merce of the Colony was undoubted-up and we stood in, hoping to get ly laid by these clipper ships. sight at a fisherman or pilot. Our Ametien, it can be said without hopes began to diminish, when the fear of contradiction, furnished the mate from the top gallant fore- Castle discovered a boat putting speediest and surest bottoms that the world's carrying trade had ever towards us, this was quite encourag-changing money." known. That period of American ing and we stood for it, but n clipper ships lasted until the great squall sprang up and added to our development of the steamship, and innumerable misfortunes by shut until the American national policy ting it out from our view. Soon it boat about a mile ahend, hove to for us to come up," when they threw up a line, and "one of the party During the early nineteenth

came on board, dressed in India thin black linen century, both before and after the rubber pants,

frock, and a large bamboo hat, occupation of Hong Kong, the American merchants carried on at flourishing trade between New shaped like a parasol. He showed York, Canton and Hong Kong. the Captain, his book of recom Kerosene oil constituted one of the mondations, and waited quietly for

him to state his wishes. The con biggest items in the import trade versation was as follows--Captain, to China and tea ranked highest you take ship in Hong Kong in the export from China.

Pilot, very well-I take you in." time before the present princely house, Mossrs. Jardine, Matheson & Captain. How much you charge 1" Co. rose into prominence, Russell Pilot, How much you pay last & Co. were already well established time1" Captain, "Fifteen dollars" -Pilot, very good-I take you safe, he manifested considerable shrewdness, and I was surprised to co how intelligent he was."

in regard to navigation laws threw cleared up, and we made out the aid he had no money on him, but Li Koon Chun and Mr. A. C.

the foreign carrying trade into the hands of other European powers.

were

Some-

went back to the boarding house, and returned with 840 in Fpochow money. The first defendant gave him in exchange two guilder notes The and seven piece of silver. complainant accepted the change as being correct exchange.

Forgeries Discovered.

Dr. Li Sung, who lives near the scene of the collapse, gave evidence as to readering of first aid to the various injured people.

Owner's-Evidence.

Mr. M. K. Do: Will your Wor ship allow me

to mention, that while there is no possible sugges- tion of bias against Mr. Little (who is an architect) it seems to me, that Mr Kwok Wai Sam, the owner in a case of this kind, it might be of the house, who lived at 15, Yuk ambarrassing for him to adjudicate. Sau Street, said he was not at home The result of the inquiry may de at the time of the accident. The He consulted a friend at the

pend very much on the expert evi-house was occupied by members of boarding house, and as a result dance on the particular construction his elder brother's family and his went to a money changers shop and of the verandah. I don't know if own. He was at West Point at 9.30 was told that the two notes were

your Worship has any authority to when he received a telephone mes- went to his address at 134, Con-exempt Mr. Lättle, but I imagine sage. He rushed home in a car. he would be very embarrassed to and he saw a crowd outside his forgeries. The complainant then naught Road West. While he was talking to Chan, a detective came serve. I am not objecting to him, house, while inside he found many up, and Chan took them to 38, Con- but I ought to point this out to you. relatives and the Police. He was naught Road, Weat, where they I don't know what Mr. Jenkin feels told that besides the amah, Jessie

about it.

found the two defendants. Accord ing to the rate of exchange that day, the $40 Foochow currency was worth guilders and 40 cents, and the complainant had really receiv ed 23 guilders.

Deeper Colour.

in Shanghai, Canton, and after wards Hong Kong. Russell & Co. succeeded by the present Messrs. Shewan, Tomes & Co., the

"As we neared the land we majority of the American engaged in the foreign trade in China were noticed several vessels coming out, Some years ago, bound to Shanghai-California and from Boston.. while I was in the United States, England. The Islands look splendid I had the privilege of visiting a with the setting sun shinning upon town some distance from Boston in them, and had the appearance of

Lee Hung Pui, an expert from ran in to within the Netherlandische Bank, teatised which" were several families who copper, we were the direct descendants of these stone's throw of one called the to the two notes being forgeries. Island, which looked He said that the colour on the pioneer Americans in China. By Camel's happy coincidence, I stumbled upon beautiful with a heavy stream of surface was deeper and the design more distinct than in the genuine a private journal recording the water running down from the top voyages to China and return dur- of the rock. The wind dying away notes, and the texture, was also ing 1851-1833. These Journals were but the tide setting in, we kept on stiffer, though not so tough as the from the pen of Mr. Henry Blaney our course between the Islands, genuine notes. The back of the forged notes also appeared to be smeared with wax, and the figures of Boston-during his passages although's number of ships had rún from New York to Hong Kong and under the land, and anchored.'

were more yellow. The printer's a voyage from Shanghai to New

June 18, 1851. Just before day-name in the forgeries was also much mer than in the genuine York while in the employ of Wal- break, wa noticed lights ahead on cott, Bates & Co. In the introduc- shore, which our pilot informed us tion of the Journal, the editor says, was Hong Kong, and at daybreak The Outward Journal was sent we anchored within a half dozen to his family in Boiton, after his arrival out, as the narrative of ship's lenghts from the shore. It his experiences. The Homewards pleasant sight to us after Mr. Rice, a Boston Gent., nephew Journal, of course returned with being knocked round on the water of Burroughs, who used to reside in

for 92 days. Soon a bont came off. i Hollis St.

notes.

Mr. Jenkin: I should like to as sociate, myself with Mr. Lo.

Mr. Armstrong: I should like to say the same.

His Worship: I can see the Mr. Lo: Your Worship, our posi. point, of course. tion is really nothing more than this. Having pointed out the posi

your Worship tion, if Mr. Little likes to apply for exemption and if has authority to grant we hope you will do so. We have, of course, no objection to Mr. Little serving at ali

His Worship: What is your opinion, Mr. Little?

Mr. Lattle: I am quite indif- ferent, sir.

The inquiry then proceeded with Mr. Little on the jury. The hearing was adjourned.

him. Both were written chiedy as and Ceo, Haskell-son "of Coolidge

June 19 (and later). At dinner, intimate family letters. Those enand Haskell, Boston, and brother which is at 3 o'clock, Mr. Schwer tries in the Journal that are of particular interest and concern to in-law of Henry Burdett, Boston, mann took his seat at one end of us would obviously be Mr. Blanley's jumped on board, and I was glad the table and placed me opposite experience in Hong Kong, and, to see him looking so finely, Inhim, as my future seat to assist him thence to Canton. Before quoting stead of our bringing him the paper in doing the honours: The three the exact words from Mr. Blaniey's of the latest dates, March 13, he Portuguese under clerks-dine at an shew us one of 8th of April, and earlier hour and at another table, Journal, it is interesting to ob-

in it I noticed additional trouble I never saw a table better provided serve, in these days of aeroplane with the negroes of Boston, and for or better waited upon by six wireling of the globo in eight days, that it took Mr. Blanley to travel Fletcher Webster being arrested Chinese servants surpassing any I from Shanghai to New York, after for stopping a watchman from ring have seen in the U.S. a very pleasant voyage, 105 days ing n bell, etc." made up as follows:-

From Shanghai to Anjer

(Java)........ From Anjer to Cape of

Good Hope.

"The mosquitoes never seem to Immediately upon landing in Hong tire of me, and despise such pro- Kong, Mr. Blanley spoke of pre- verbs as Too much of a good senting his letter of introduction to thing" or "Enough is as good as the American Consul, who had a feast," even now while I am

The Coroner: Gentlemen.-The present inquiry is being held to con. aider the circumstances in which a met her death on the evening of Chinese woman named Tung Kai, June 3. She and three other persons were on the second floor balcony of 16, Yuk Sau Street, when it col lapsed. One other person besides the deceased, was killed and two others were injured Your duty will be to ascertain (1) What caused the collapse; (2) was any person responsible for the collapse] and if so, who?; and (3) can. or should any measures be taken to prevent similar collapses in future.

Kwok, Aida Kwok and Gordon Kwok

hie жете injured,--all brother's children. Their parents were away in Fiji Islands.

The room adjoining the balcony was a sort of spare bedrooms, for the use of visitors or for the child- ren when they came home from the week-ends from their school in Con ton

The house was built in February, 1931, and was completed in Decem

The land ber of the same -year, was purchased at a Government

the plans, which were finished in auction and witness instructed Mr. Tong Kwong Hing to draw up November, 1930. He obtained esti- mates from several contractors for the building of 15 Yik Bau "Street. and "four, other houses. He finally gave the work to the Wing Tak building contractors. The price for the whole of the five houses war $142,000,

In answer to the Coroner, witness with the house was that there were said that the only trouble he found minor leaks in several places.

Complaints During Construction. of construction was going on, he visited the house twice a week and on one or two occasions he had com- plained to his architect, that the stona or the cement, or the bricks used were unsatisfactory. Witness had from time to time seen

The witness. architect or his men on the site had two clansmen, a mason and a under construction.

farmer to watch the progress of the work. Both men, said witness, had no experience in re-inforced con- crete construction.

Witness said that while the work

the

Eye Witness' Story.

Evidence was given by a fitter employed by the Dragon Garage

In answer to another question by who was an eye-witness of the collapse. He said he heard a noise the Coroner witness said none of his 38 days already resided in the Colony for writing I am duly armed with hand on looking towards the house family was connected with the build,

eight years. Incidentally, it may towel whirling round my head saw and falling. The verandah col-ing trade.

17 days

Frora Cape of Good Hope

to St. Helena

15 days. From St. Helens to the

Equator

................. 14 days From the Equator to New

York

he mentioned that the descendants whack, whinek, to keep off the of this first American Consul in tomentors. You can imagine what Hong Kong are to-day in our midst. quantity of resolution and persever

ance-whack, whack,-I take to pen. Mr. Blanley stayed with the you these lines...

speed and he saw several people The hearing will be continued on in the roadway in an unconscious Monday.

A SHROFF'S GUARANTEE

PLAINTIFF'S CLAIM ON STOLEN MONEY UPHELD

the whole of Sunday's takings which amounted to $165.17. Chiu had also disappeared by this time.

21 days American Consul at his house for have made several visita uut-

a night and the next morning (Juno 105 days 19, 1851) started for Canton in the side the factory walls to the Chinese steamer as he was afraid that the shops, and found a great many in- Da March 13, 1881, Mr. Blaniey ship would be detained by calms teresting things. I visited a por

Mr. F. 0. E. Rendall, for the embarked from New York on the on the way up. At 6 pm. Mr.rait room, and saw some very fine clipper ship Samuel Bussell at Pier, Blanley arrived at Canton and paintings and portraits the Chinese 27 East River. By June 13, 1851, landed on the stone steps in the are considered fine copyists and Before the Punas Judge, Mrs defendant, submitted that he had the olipper ship was 130 miles from garden opposite the America copy & picture, or take a portrait Justice Lindsell, yesterday, Wai no case to answer and remarked very faithfully, I heard a story of Yus Foon, compradore of the Great that when his client signed the An Island called the "Asses Ears," Hongs. Mr. Blanley stayed with a one of them,A lady was baving Northern Extension Telegraph Com letter of guarantee, he did not know and 230 miles from Hong Kong. Mr. Schwermann.

her portrait drawn; as the work Perhaps some of the readers of this The Journal continued to describe proceeded she expressed her strong pany, made a claim of $715.15 from that it was to cover monies collect Journal may be able to identify this Mr. Blanley's experience in Canton disapprobation at the performance Chiu Sau Cheung, in respect of a ed in the office.

S'pose," said the painter," you fetter of guarantee under which he Mr. W. A. Mackinley, for the Island of 230 miles distance from in this strain:

smile a little, he lookee better Hong Kong. On June 16, 1851, Mr. Blanley said that he and his fellow brick building, about the size' ol] –(difficult for the Chinese to pro-has shroff and ranner by the Tele with "Mr. Rondall" on that point, "Our house is a new four story was useless, for when the pigeon Chiu Sou Pan who was employed plaintiff, said that be disagreed passengers on board the sailing adding that the latter of guarantee vessel felt quite encouraged at the tion of our, being a story higher stitate the Anglo-Chinese) was dispute was alleged to have been prospect of getting a pilot, and of soon seeing Hong Kong, but were and furnished as fine as any house done, her indignation was so great embezzled by Chiu Sau Pan. doomed to continued disappoint I have seen in Boston. I found my and as disagreeably expressed that room all-ready, and furnished at the irritated artist exclaimed, # If the expense of the House, all the handsome face no got, how hand "Af 11. a.m. a dead calm; sent furniture being made of Camphor, we can make?” up our royal and skysail yards to Wood which is very fine There get the benefit of the best breeze, are at present stopping with us,, At 12 M. the sun just discernible. Spanish Gout the owner of Captain took a sight and found us ship which we are loading for to be 10 miles from land, but it Manila, 1 German Captain, and a

(Continue on neri. Opiumn) „óf Boston was cloudy and could not see it!

ment.

Mr. Blanley later, commissioned a Chinese artist to make for him a portrait of Lady Blessington This painting is now in the posses son of his son, Mr. Dwight Blaney

1.

one of his duties was, to look after the money in the safe.

covered all the shroffs duties and

Judgment was given to plaintiff It was stated in evidence that Judgmen $777.43 was collected on Saturday with costs with leave to take out and 897,42 on the following Sunday 1 $185.17 to be paid into Court, prior to Chiu taking over duty, The sum collected on Saturday was put in the safe and the key handed over to Chiu When plaintiff went back

We must resist the return, of

with all the fer command.

to the office on Monday morning, this he opened the safe and found that 8050 in notes was missing and also

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