1934-06-20 — Page 10

10

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1934.

Owners Had No Margin Of Safety DOUBLE TRAGEDY U. S. BASEBALL

F

EXPERT SUBJECTED TO LENGTHY

CROSS-EXAMINATION

VJ

Mr. Butterfield. Concludes His Evidence In Gas

Disaster Inquiry

That the owners of the gasometer had no margin of safety for anything unexpected, was the view expressed by Mr. W. A. Batterfield, chief engineer of the Asiatic Petroleum Co. (5.C.)." Lid. At Thairki Mágištrany- yesterday 'when he concluded his expert vidchte in the enquiry Into the West Point gas explosion disaster of May 14.

Mr. Bütterfield who examine the gasometer at the request of the Government, was cross-examined at length by the solici- tor for the Hong Kong; and China Gas Co., Ltd., Mr. W. A, Mac- kinlay.

Mr. E. W. Hamilton conducted the enquiry, with the assis- tance of a special fury comprised of Messrs. P. Tester (fore- man), L. Dunbar and D. Drummond,

Mr. W. A. Mackinlay, of Messrs. Deacons, represented the Hong Kong and China Gas. Co. Ltd., and Mr. W. M. Brown, of Messrs. Hastings & Co., watched the proceedings on behalf of Was damaged by the certain property owners whose property -disaster.

w

"Corrosion Works Unevenly"

It

not be reasonable to go and make holes all the time.

What would lead you to suspect the plate? The condition, of the plate" under the patches. You will

Before Mr. Butterfield went into the witness box, the Coroner en- quired of the Hon. Mr. Wolle i be knew who was the correspondent, to a London paper who wrote that the gasometer was blown sky-know by the mere fact that the

patches had perforations. " high and razed to the ground!" Mr. Wolfe: I don't know.

Assuming that you are only must be some irresponsible person, allowed to go round and look at the outside of the tank without us- In reply to Mr. Mackinlay. Mr.

the drill. Butterfield said that, externally. Ing the hammer and the gasometer had been well math- what would you do?-It all, de- tained. It had been well painted, pends on how you put the bolts in. and its general appearance

That you have to ask Mr. Stone. quite good.

I am talking about the inspection?

was

Mr. Mackinlay: Coming to the question of corrosion, you nowhere found the plate less than 1/40 of

an inch?

Mr. Butterfeld: No.

In your experience, corrosion works rather unevenly, does it not? In some cases, yes. It most frequently works unevenly.

should go round tapping and test the general condition of the plate. There are many ways.

You said that you found inside some of the plates scale about 1/20 of an inch thick I found patches of scale on the inside about 1/20 of an inch thick.

What was the composition of the scale?--I have act the faintest idea. It was reddish in colour but was not rust. It may be paint.

Explosion in But

From the thickness which you got and the fact that the plates da one side were better than the other, would you agree that the dorrosion on' these had been work- ing unevenly? On the affected.You say that you considered there plates I should say the corrosion had been working evenly. On the other plates I should say uneven- 13-

But on the damaged plates you got the thickness varying from 1/10.of an inch, the original thick- ness, to 1/40 of an inch. Does not it suggest anever corrosión?-By even, I mean that the plates were similarly affected by corrosion.

Is there a time factor in cor- rosion? No.

was an explosion in the watch- men's hut caused by the gas get- ting ignited there?-Yes. It was formed by some sort of naked light

The explosive mixture that went off was gas and air? Yes.

You consider that the gas was carried in by air currents? I think

that is very likely.

You have no technical knowledge of the experiments that have been carried on in regard to wind cur- rents? No.

Would you be surprised that most of the gas engineers in the world would not agree with you?- That is my opinion.

The opening in the seams with 16 rivet heads out. Is it possible that these were pulled out by the fall? No. Had that happened the seam would not have been Alled with red lead: It had apparently beeg patched. The presence of the patch indicates previous

damage to that seam

If that seam had been open be lore the holder fell, would you not expect that gas escaped from there to igalte?-Not unless there is a naked light. The gas may have come from that seam or any other place where there was a naked light,

There was a hole in the gas0- meter out of which gas was es- caping and that as somehow ignited and turned" back?-Some other portion of the plate may have fallen to cause the disaster.

You will agree that it may have been caused by the fall?—Yes. It may have been by anything, But the rivet heads must have been there before, as indicated by the red lead.

Not Engineering Repair You also said that you do not consider it right to putty cracks? It is not an engineering repair.

Will you take it from me that It is a gas engineering repair? That is the thing which I have no

knowledge whatever.

Do you agree that in oil, putty will keep soft? It can only be kept soft in a dry place.

That putty was exposed to the air

ir on the external side.

IN BUNGALOW

Planter Shoots Woman And Kills Self

Interference By Rain

St. Louis. Boston

COLLEGE GIRLS MAY MARRY

But Must Remain In Bachelor Quarters

A sensation has been caused in college circles in America by the

BETTER RURAL CONDITIONS

Government Taking Active Interest In People

Kashing, Che., June

The silk cocoons are unusually good this season. Farmers are

decision of Miss Eleanor Dodge, Dean 6r. Vassar College, one of the best-know girls' colleges in the selling at the lowest prices for United States, that students may years 0

marry and continue their studies BS before.

New York, June 19. Rain interfered with the base- ball programme yesterday, one Singapore, June 12. game being abandoned and many The death in tragle circums-postponed. The following games tances, is reported of Mr. J. W. RO-

were completed: --- bertson. proprietary planter of

American League Gadakawela, and owner of Wala- kada Estate (Balawinne). At the Magisterial inquiry it transpired that Mr. Robertson shot a woman, Nachchire, dead, with

a double barrelled gun and later shot him-- self with the same gun. Á son of Mr. Robertson, Mr. Norman Ro- bertson; is lying in a critical con- dition in Kahawatte hospital as a result of a knife injury in the chest

"

* Mr. S. Rodrigo, Ratnapura Po- to the lice Magistrate, motored spot on Sunday, accompanied by Mr. J. Deheragoda, Superintendent of Police, and held the inquiry. The inquiry was resumed yester- day at Kahawatte hospital.

The evidentt "of several wit- nesses, including that of Mr. Ro- bertson's aged mother was record- ed.

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Detroit New York Gehrig

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Chicago

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DROUGHT AND FLOODS

Bandit Disturbances Reports 'From Several Districts

Secret marriages, however, will be frowned.

upon, and

married students must remain in the ba- ehelor, dormitories.

While there is very little

it any pront, yet the circulation of

money. produces a better feeling Оде among the country people. man with a small plot of mulberry trees that cost him almost nothing but his own labour, realized $15 net for his trop. In the best of past years, he has obtained as much va the same amount of $50 from

Miss Dodge explained that the College Faculty, did not believe in long engagements because of the emotional stráln involved. At the | work.

*

same time it recognised that those His case is perhaps a lttle, bet- girls who were engaged for a long ter than the average. When silk perfod and were of college age was sold at high prices, large were frequently not in a position fortunes were made by individual | to assume the full expense of mar- ¦ entèrprise; the government was

ried life.

daly concerned about collecting Such conditions in the past fre- taxes. With the decline of prices quently resulted in secret mar-in the world market, the govern riages, which were to be deplored ment is now tüking more interest because they necessary involved in urging improved culture and "deceptions and falslocations" making efforts to find a market which were bound to become a Much the same may be said of the source of unhappiness and trouble tice planting. Those in authority to the man and giri..

are trying to apply scientific met- The local undergraduate paper hods to improve quality and en- agrees heartily with the Faculty's | large quantity production. Occa-

"broadminited views," and points sionally a farmer is made to feel" out, that marriage may be a desir-thas he is no longer the "forgot-

able consideration for some girls ten man."

because of the emotional security aforded while they are undertak- Ing work and obtaining education,

Collin Robertson, the 15-year-old son of the deceased, said that his father reprimanded his elder bro- "Pther Norman, on Saturday morning and kept on taxing his brother with unseemly behaviour bringing disgrace on his good name and that of the family. This went on" from morning till noon.. After breakfast all retired. After From the degree of hardness of his slesta his father resümed re- the putty it had only been in post-primanding witness's brother. Nor- tion for about a month? Yes.

man asked him to desist," where- upon his father picked up a brass rod and attempted to strike Nor-

Stabbed Filmself in Chest Norman jumped forward and

who held

father,

fell

more father became still His

Попе angry, and saying that

had his sons

previously laid hands on him, said he would shoot Norman. The latter said it was not necessary as he would do so himself. He fetched some cart ridges, but not finding a gun went out to the verandah with a clasp

Tht process of restoring order What do you think, made the knife and stabbed himself in the

and security throughout the pro- The government authorities seem plate fall? Possibly concussion chest, saying that it was his end. vince goes on very slowly. in to set great hopes on the opening trom the explosion in the watch and fell unconscious.

West Fukten, where the Reds are of motor roads, which they are men's hut.

Then the woman. Nachchire, supposed to be surrounded ("bloc You say there was no margin of

Kaded" is the official term) by the safety for anything unexpected, about 30 yards away from the Central Army troops, "they still ap- what margin of safety should we bungalow and kept crying. out: pear to have a large amount of have?-I don't know what margin "Why is this murder being com- uberty, and quite recently they People in the bungalow were able to occupy the city of you should have but I do know mitted?"

but she that you have no reasonable mar- asked her to go, away, ain of safety.

continued crying out and refused Would you agree a 4-1 margin of | to go away. Just then witness safety-Yes. It would be sufficient. heard two reports of a gun almost for reasonable sound plates.

upstair

It may have been there for a should be considerable time?-N astonished if it had been there for two months.

The deposit which was removed from the bottom of the tank which you say

was composed of some tons of rust, it was not rust was it?it is an unfair question to ask. I cannot say. It depends on the Government Analyst.

Surveyor's Evidence

of

came

On

the scene. She

ST004

∙simultaneously from an

room of the house and saw the Mr. J. G. Charlton, A.M.I. Mech. woman, Nachire, drop where she E., Assoc. MIN.A. MIME., is- was She struggled and died al- tant Government surveyor, then most instantaneously. He ran up- gave evidence. He said he had no stairs and saw his father with a experience of g85. On the day. gun in his hand. Witness and following the explosion, he made other inmates of the house tried an examination of the damage end to disarm him, but he refused to [found that the gasometer had sub-give up the gun, saying that he

sided to its lowest level.

would hand it over to the police. for cartridges,

Mr. Chariton then gave a techni-Witness searched

cat description of the sheetings but found none on his father, found, after which the enquiry was adjourned until 2.15 p.m. to-

Would you be surprised that a

Will you agree it must have been plate could be corroded right a very strong current to carry the through in its first year and got gas from a point of 80 feet above on to 40 years?-I should be as-ground Tevel down at an angle of tonished, that a plate of 1410 of 30 degrees?-I understand there An inch in thickness could go was a 22-milé an hour wind blow-day. through for 40 years and remaining, and taking into consideration it original thickness.

the surroundings, it may hit the wall and come back.

Perforations and Cracks

ཐ་ ་

But you would not be astonished, would you, if it did not corrode right through - in 40 years?—I should be greatly surprised. I am not referrlig to plates which had been opened and examined at re- gulat intervals. I am referring to plates which had been left unat- tended...

Was the explosive mixture,, low of high explosive-I believe it was high explosive, but I am not sure. I don't profess to have any knowledge of gas.

Explosion In Both Huts

Do you consider that the damage to the hut is more consistent with the high explosive than the low What do you mean by unattend-explosive?- don't know whether ed-in this particular case, it was it is high or low. All I know is only maintained externally.

that there had been an explosion.

There was no explosion in the smaller hut, the gardener's hul?~~" I am of the opinion that there was an explosion in both huts- There was a small explosion there. Two ledow panes out of a total of six were blown away.

DAVIS CUP TENNIS

McGrath Beaten

if.

Heard Two Reports After sending Norman to the hospital all the inmates gathered on the verandah His father also was there with "the gun. Late in the evening his father went to the office room saying that he was going there for his prayers. The others also went to their respec- tive rooms for their evening.devo- tions. Winess heard two reports of a gun almost simultaneously Paris, June 18. from the office room and, on rush- In the Davis Cup match, Merlining there, found his father lying (France) effected another surprise dead in a pool of blood with his by defeating McGrath. Australia, double-barralled gun by his side. Bowever, had beaten France for Later, the police arrived and the right of entry into the European sub-Inspector found two letters, in Zone Final.

his father's office room. One was Merlin beat McGrath 4-4, 6-1, addressed to witness's elder bro- 6-3, 6-0.-Reuter.

ther and in the other he stated that he was committing suicide. also two telegrams There were written by the deceased, one ad- dressed to witness's elder brother and the other to witness's bro- When you say a small explosión.

Paris, June 18:

ther-in-law with the words: you mean to say that it was large

Australia" scored her third point (Daddy killed himself." enough to kill three persons?--I

semi-final of the Davis If you had had to inspect the don't know who it killed. It blew in the

A post-mortem examination of Jack Crawford the boiles of Mr. Robertson and tank you would use a test hammer, out two sections of the asbestos roof Cup on Monday. and if you are uncertain of the and that was all the damage I no- (Australia) defeated Boussus 2-, Nachchire was held by Dr. C. N. condition of the blate, you would ticed. I was under, the impression 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 but Merlin beat the winslow, of Kahawatte. shut down the plant, is that right? that the people killed were in the Australian, MacGrath, 4-6, 6-1, No, Before shutting the plant watchmen's hut, as the major 6-3, 6-0. Thus Australia with a 3-2 victory qualified for the Euro- should ascertain if it were neces-damage was in there. sary to do 80.

How do you suggest the gas got pean final which will be fought out against Czechoslovakia next How are you going to ascertain ignited here? By naked light.

What sort of naked light? | Friday. Transocean Kuo Min. that? If there were patches we

idea. Any naked light would start a new container. If I have no know is age, I should have sus- would do it.

You considered it injudicial for pected that there was corrosion

In the Kaskoniais assuming I have any naked lights so be

to find

I think you said that there were certain perforations and cracks caused by corrosion which you thought would not be visible by an external Inspection before the explosion? I think it is quite possible that the perforations may have been

been sealed by rust which have been removed at the shock of the plate railing down.

and bus condition. I should

NEXT MATCH ON FRIDAY

(Special to the "Hong Kong Batty

Fress" (Copyright.)]

QUEEN'S CLUB TOURNEY

London, June 18.

www.

Norman Robertson lë lying in a critical condition at the Kahawatte hospital.

FLYWEIGHT TITLE

Manchester, June 18. Tackle Brown, British holder of neighbourhood of the gasometer, The Queen's Club Tournament, the world flyweight boxing cham- Angelmann, put a drill through to ascertain boilers, etc.?-In my opinion, hav-preliminary to the Wimbledon pionship, and Y.

Ing many years to do with danger Championships which commence French challenger, fought to a the thickness of the plate,

Do you suggest that on our week-ous goods storage, I consider it on June 25, started to-day, onlý | draw over 16 rounds in the title ly inspection we should put a drill dangerous for any naked lights to result cabled by Reuter Pennell bout at Belle Vue this evening.-

beat J..T. San by 6-4, 8-4.-Reuter, Reuter,, through? Certainly not. It would be in the vicinity.

Improvements Noted.

We are hearing a good deal about the "New Life Movement" but we do not see much of it yet put into effect. Some are saying that there

will be another five minutes en- nusitism and then the same life

as before.

Under new management, the railway nursery between the stat

lon and

the city is much im-

Foochow, June 7. Up to a few days ago, the Yungan (April 18 was the exact farmers were greatly distressed by date) after heavy fighting. They the serious risk of drought, a withdrew in a few days with there had been no rain worth plenty of loot and many captives; mentioning for many weeks. But but a large body of "Red Bandits" now everything is changed and came in and did much damage. after a few thunderstormis as B On May Lu Hsing-yung attack- kind of warning, a steady downed the city, and drove out the proved. Thousands of young trees pour, has set in, with the usual bandits; but much of the loss and shrubs are taken from it to result that people are now saying respecially that of the electric point along the line. With new Low-lying light plant), cannot be made good paths the public can enjoy it very there is too much.

More recently much as a park. After long neg- lect, the canals about the east gate ground is already under water, for a long time.

and and it looks as if the rice plants. Shahsien has been taken Reda,

and are being cleaned out and deepen, which were so recently dying of evacuated by the thirst, will soon be destroyed by disturbances of varying, gravity, are for. Lucreased eram Tous post dis-way has encouraged numerous boat

lines to bring pasengers to Kashing. to take the trains. More tickets are sold here than at any statlón between Shanghal and Hangchow. The telegraph and post-office are Co-operating in handling telegrams. The telephone now connects all the cities and market towns of this section. Wireless set are on the

the food.

reported from almost every trict.

pressing forward as fast as they can, as a means of keeping order. But the whole question is most complicated, and there seems to be no short-cut to the reign of peace which is so sorely needed."

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