1934-07-05 — Page 7

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1934.

A Perfectly Safe Structure

SHANGHAI EXPERT'S OPINION OF GASHOLDER

Mr. W. J. Baker In Witness Box: Houses Too Near Gas Works

Mr. W. J. Baker. chief engineer of the Shanghai Gasworks was another expert witness called to give evidence 'at the" sixteenth ' hearing at Central Magistracy yesterday "of the West Point Gas -Explosion disaster.

Be said that the holder was a very safe structure, and that the disaster was not caused in any way by an explosion in the watchmen's hut. The houses in Chung Shing Street were de- finitely too near the holder and Clarence Terrace too high, and he was sure that the Shanghai authorities would not have al- lowed any holder to be built in soch surroundings. .........

Before adjourning the enquiry, the Coroner remarked "that it would probably be concluded this afternoon when he would deliver his summing-ap. The jury's verdict would probably be given on Friday afternoon.

Mr. E. W. Hamilton sat as Coroner, assisted by a Jury com- prised of Messrs. P. Tester (foreman), Mr. L. Dunbar and Mr. D. Drummond.

Mr. W. A. Mackinlay, of Messrs. Descons, appeared for the Hong Kong and China Gas Co., Ltd., the owners, of the holder, and Mr. W. M. Brown, of Messrs. Hastings and Co, watched the proceedings on behalf of certain property Owncts .. whose pro: perty was damaged by the explosión.

No Recommendations

Forthcoming

Continuing his evidence from the previous hearing. Mr. G. S. Graver of the Drainage Office, Public Works Department, "said that since the last sitting he had made subsequent Investigations and found that the man-cover

was

actually in Clarence Street and not opposite, No. 2 and 4. Clarence Terrace.

an inch on the plate was of nor- mal, practice from the designer's point of view. Actually a plate of 1/80 of an inch thick was ample to form a safe structure: conse-

quently the margin of practical safety allowed in this case W33 8-1.2-

the "H" girder and the vertical stays was very slight and it might have happened as it struck the tank when it came down,

"

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By a process of elimination, he arrival at the fact that something hit the holder from Clarence Ter-made by the Admiralty. race and it must have hit it with Capis-C. "B. Barry, D.S.O. to very powerful force.

Dolphin, as Chief staff. Offr. to Rear-Adml, Submarines: and C. B. Coltart, to Medway, in com- mand (Sept. 28).

Eng. Cdr.-G. L. McLennan, to Hermes (June 21).

Wt. Engrs-W. J. Blackaby, to

RABID

Dog Shot In Tak Shing *Street

bit two people in Tak Shing. On June 24, a chow dog which

Street. Hong Kong was shot by the Police as the animal could' not be captured.

Subsequent examination on the animal reveals the fact that the animal was merely vicious was not in any way rabid

and

en-

"I think I am certain of this." said Mr. Baker, "and that is, that this smash was not caused. In any way by an explosion in the watch- men's hut. Any explosion taking place in there must have been of a very very minor puff-the re-25 (June 28): W. J. McNally, to,

complete the advanced sults do not indicate that there Sturgeon (July 3); and E. P. Bir- to

at.. Greenwich.: gineering course was an explosion of very intense kett, to Medway (July 8).

Schoolmasters. G. N. Pask, to June. 1925, he was the first to force otherwise the watchmen would not have been found in the Sussex, on recommg. (July 18): be promoted to commander (E), H Cowlishaw to Pembroke, for He is one of the very few officers MTE (July 19); and R. JWwho have discharged both execu Hutchinson, to Emerald (on Fe-tive and engineering duties and commg.).

commanded a ship. Before speci- Promotion

alizing in engineering. he was sub- Surgn. Lt-Cdr.-M. B. Devane, to aleutenant of the Minotaur and rank of Surin Cdr. (seny June nrst lieutenant in a China gum- 30).

yard."

Coroner: The minor explosion night have shaken off une or two of the plates?

a

Mr. Baker: I don't think so. In reply to further ques tion

regarding the.. 18 inch seam. Mr. Baker said that he had seen" it but in his opinion the actual split would not have been noticed when the hold-

די !

Royal Naval Reserve Payr. Lt.-Cdr.-T. R. Essenhigh, R.D., to Sussex (June 23),

Actg. Sub-Lt.-J. C. Marsell,

er was indated. When the rivets promoted to Sub-L (seny. May were pulled out the plates would į 9).

L-Cdr.-J. C. Glover,...appt. to Albury cancelled.

boat. During the War he was on engineering duties in the Warspite and Inconstant, and after taking a course in submarines was second-; in-command and engineer officer of K 2, and later in command of F3.."

RETURN OF THE VERONICA

not have sprung as after 24, 15) Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve or 10 years of work the plates;

An interesting little ship is due would take a permanent set ahid

to arrive at Chatham to-day, the he was quite sure that when the Lts.-R. T. Taggart, appt. to sloop Veronica, Captain W. L. rivets were pulled out, the plates Achilles cancelled and J. G. N. Jackson, D.B.O. For 14 years she would, not part. When making Kernahan, to Halcyon (June 30).

has served on the New Zealand iveting joists on this holder, red Surgn. Lt.-E.

R. G. Passe, to Station, which is probably a re- lead putty was used and that Pembroke, for R.N.B. (June 24).

cord in the post-War Navy, In Mr. W. R. Proud entered as Pro- February, 1931, she narrowly es-" formed the joint between the two plates. After the red lead pusty in Payr. Sub-Lt., seny, June 11.caped destruction in the earth-

attached to the joint had been in position for and

Severn Diva.

quake at Napier, Hastings, and ten years it would be easy to rick List 2).

the surrounding districts. She it out with a sharp knife..

had arrived at Napier at 8 o'clock the same morning. and within three hours was thrown aground in a precarious position alongside the badly damaged harbour. Com- mander H, L. Morgan, who re-

In answer to the Coroner, Mr. Baker said that the plating on the windward side was exceptionally good for a 25-year old holder.

internally?—

by.

CHINA SUMARINE COMMAND Captain C. O B. Coltaft, at pre- sent Chief Staff Officer to the Rear-Admiral of Submarthes at

List to command the 4th Sub-

It in-

ps

Very few holders were internally Gosport, is appointed in to-day's ceived the C.MG. for his good ser- examined in 30 years. "Coroner. It is not a custom of the largest in the service.

marine Fotilla, China Station, vices, was for a time the only means of communication with the gas engineers to examine holders cludes 12 submarines of post-war outside world, and it was from his The patches on the side sheet- ings were externally good," the

types, with the new depotship

first wireless telegraphic signal.) He thought it possible, that if patching being rather stronger

Mr. Baker: No. I consider it is Medway, completed

made nine in 1929,

minutes after the i an explosion took place over this than the usual practice. The very safe without internal ex-parent ship. The present C.O. is eruption, that news of the disas- amall section, the gas might have holders in Shanghal' had a grea: amination provided the holders Captain Allan Poland, D.8.0.

Wis communicated. Other got down the three gratings from

riore patches. From the are externally inspected periodi-

Captain Coltart has been in sub-warships

quickly on the the nullah Itself. He did not. point of attention regarding the cally. Very excessive corrosion marines for over 22 years, and scene, and the naval officers and however, think the gas collected supervision of the patching of the would be noticed by an external much of his time has already been men rendered invaluable help un- there could cause an explosion as plates externally, the quantity of inspection.

spent in China He commanded the local civic services could: the drain was absolutely dry. patches rather indicated that the

38 on this station before the function again. The Veronica is

being relieved by the new There was no damage to the man-holder, did receive and had

sloop War. but most of his active ser- hole itself nor the cover and ceived in the past very

vice during hostilities was in the Leith about October. drain.

and careful Inspection.

North Sea, and at the time of the. Armistice he was in command of

many

The Curb Girder,

re-

regular

Referring to the curb girder, Mr. Baker sald that it was a point where the crown sheets and the side sheetings met. 'In designing a holder the curb girder was made

Poon Sap, formerly of 13, Chung Shing Street, first Boar, said that on the morning of the disaster; she was in the

"tang" (sitting room) when she heard a "boom.** She then Jaw clouds of black smoke coming into the house. She did not notice whether the entirely on its own to stand all sound occurred in the house or load and pressure, which came "outside as she was too frightened. | on it. The crown trusses and the The house was not on fire before vertical stays or joists would not she heard the sound..

affect the strength of "the curb girder in any way, It was quite possible to remove that crown trussing, and the holder would still work satisfactorily. It would still be a safe structure while inflated")

When deflated. with

of gas- course, the crown would fall and buckle inwards.

MR. W. 1. BAKER Before calling Mr. W. J. Baker to give expert evidence, Mr. Mac- kinlay informed the Coroner that regarding the question of" in ternal inspection," Mr. Stone had cabled to the Secretary of the Gas Institute; London, who is responsi- ble for the recommendation.. He then tendered the cable to the Coroner who remarked that it was rather interesting and, he would put the cable in as evidence later.

Mr. William James Baker was then called. He said he was the chief engineer of the Shanghai Gasworks, Ltd, the same position Mr. Btóne held in Hong Kong. He had seven years practical ex- perience in England before going to Shanghai to take charge of the Gaswork there in 1931

He was a Chartered Gas En- gineer, a Member of the Institute

"My main point there," said Mr. Baker, "is that the crown trussing and the vertical stays did not al- fect the strength of the curb girder."

-

In reply to a further question Mr. Baker said he did not know that the plates of this holder were as bad as to be put through by a pencil.

away quite

were

CHINA STATION SLOOPS H.M.8. Bridgewater, Comman-

L 20, which he took out to Hong-der J. 8. M. Mackenzie-Grieve, af- Coroner: If you were called to examine the holder before the ex-kong in 1919. In 1925-27 he com- ter her cruise in Japanese waters. plosion, would you recommend manded the Marazion, tender to is due at Shanghai to-morrow, anything?--I doubt whether you and subsequently he commanded month. From July 23 to August the 4th Submarine Flotilla, China, | and should remain there for a would have noticed the pitted con the Alecto, Lucia, and Cyclops. 27 she is to go to Hankow. The dition two months ago. The shock of the smash had shaken them at Portsmouth, in the Home the

and the 'submarines attached to three sloops on general duties or

China Station, the Bridge=" a lot of metal and Ficet, and in the Mediterranean. water. Folkestone, and Sandwich. paint. The main point in his In 1931-32. untir promoted to cap-have all just been recommission- mind was that the holder was a taln. he was in the Operations ed at Hong Kong for further ser perfectly safe structure with very Division; at the Admiralty. slight sheeting. The only idea of

vice in the Far East.

COMMANDER LAWRENCE having thick sheeting to | SALUTING · NATIONAL ANTHEM

Was guard against corrosion and not In future all officers and ratings

· RETIRED Lieutenant-Commander R. W. of the Navy, whether ashore or on to prevent corrosion.

board, äre to salute, if wearing Lawrence, D.S.C. who has retired Coroner: the plates

head dress, at "Colours" or when at his own request with the rank a National Anthem is played, un-of commander, is an old bar of could resist a typhoon? Yes.

will be called to attention, the

College (HMS Worcester). He officer or rating in charge alone served in the RNE. up to 1916, saluting.

You mentioned that

were not excessively corroded, would you say that theyless they are fallen in, when they the Thames Nautical Training

The Coroner then remarked that according to Mr. Baker a missie

when he was granted a commis- from Clarence Terrace had pro-

This is the effect of an amena-sion in the Royal Navy for dis- bably caused the disaster whereas ment to Article 153 in King's Re-tinguished service in Submarine the holder In Wanchal was pierced gulations and Admiralty Instruc-E 14 commanded by Commander Mr. Baker then went on to say

by a rock during blasting operations, announced in Admiralty (Bow Pear-Admiral) E. Courtney that the other point on the 'con- struction elde was that the verti-

tions some years ago and nothing Fleet Orders yesterday. Article Boyle. V.C.) in the Dardanelles cal stays connected the top gird-

happened.

154, it is stated, has been amended and Sea of Marmore. - E 14 on one 3 Turkish er to the "cup" which was on the Mr. Baker replied that in so as to remove any impression occasion stopped bottom of the lift. Their func- Shanghai, revolver shots had been that a different procedure is re-

brigantine, but owing to bad tion was to prevent the sheets fred at a holder and they did not quired of ratings. ashore; "accord-weather could not go alongside.

Lawrence Ing to whether singly or in parties,

vessel, from going inwards under wind go through. pressure. Quite a number of the Continuing, Mr. Baker said that should salute qficers on all occa- found her laden with stores for vertical stays were corroded at the fire might have been caused slons unless they are in an or- the Turkish Army, and set her on the joint with the curb girder. The by a spark through the friction of gantsed party under the orders of fire. In 1918 he was appointed in command of the destroyer Ania- present sectional area of the the holder coming down so sudden. an officer or rating

zon, and since the Armistice he vertical girder had their weakes: | ly.

has commanded the Cricket and reserve" gunboats in China, the

.

NEW FLEET. AIRCRAFT

Of the two new flights which

swam to the

of Gas Engineers and an Associate part 21 sq. inch approximately. Coroner: About the houses in Member of the Institute of They were capable of withstand Chung Shing Street, you think it are to be formed this year for the destroyer Wrestler, and the mine- Chemical Engineers. He hading the tensional load of 16 tons. is sale to be so near the holder? | Fleet Air Arm, one is expected to sweeper Dundalk. In 1929 he be- quite extensive experience in gas.

"I consider they are quite strong-Ching Shing Street is definite- he sent to the Merditerrancan for came feet photographic officer He had seen four gas tanks erect-

enough to do the job, they are ly too near.

duty in the battleships and Home Fleet, and his last duty was intended to do in their present

Have you any houses in Shang-Cruisers on that station. At pre-in charge of the Photographic condition."...

hal so near as that?-Only our sent there is only one flight so School at Whale Island. offices.

employed. No. 447, composed 01 CAPTAIN HUTCHINGS RETIRED Fairey II F machines, and these Can you suggest any

Commander J. F. Hutchings. recom- are allotted to one battleship, the DSO, OBE. who has retired at mendation?-I cannot. As far as Royal Sovereign, and four cruisers. his own request with the rank of Clarence Terrace. la concerned, the London, Devonshire, Bhrop-

ed and had been responsible for the result.

Referring to the deflection of the vertical stays. Mr. Baker said it

was due to buckling. With regard to the deflection of the

He made an examination of the holder here and found internal corrosion on the south-west side rather more than any other part.

"H" None of it was excessively corrod girders, it varied between 1 and ed, and the holder itself was in 3/8 of an inch on a length of 25 perfectly good condition. He had feet. He thought that probably

Coroner: Clarence Terrace of aircraft for the cruisers of the seen the plates and none of them happened when the 11ft crashed or appeared to him to be excessively it might have been in the girder course was in existence before the 1931 and 1932 programmes, then command of submarines during the War. For 10 years, 1922-32,. corroded. The sheet, which was

Ajax, Amphion, Arethusa, Apollo. holder was built. when it was originally erected.

he was at the head of the. considered as the one which cal-

Mr. Baker, I am quite sure the Phaeton. and Galatea. Coroner: Not much of a com-

experimental department at the lapsed, still had an appreciable

Shanghal authorities would not

ASSISTANT NAVAL ATTACHE quantity of metal left on it. The pliment to the gentleman who allow us to built the holders, s0

Bubmarine Depet at Fort Black- Commander (E.) A. L. P. Mark- house, and was granted an award weight of that sheet was 24 lbs. erected it.

near to the houses.

Wardlaw, who has been appointed from the Lott Naval Em – assistant Naval Attache at clency Fund for his invention of Washington was until recently a new control gear for submarine Flect Engineer Officer on the models. He has had 33 years' ser- Africa Station. His career is of vice, Having gone to sea as a mid- special interest as he was the first shipman in the cruiser Creasy in Osborne-trained cadet to speci-China in May, 1901. He was made alize in engineering and the first O.B.E, in 1928.

is so much higher than the holder. the two new flights is to provide and was decorated for his work this is also rather unfortunate. It shire, and Bussex. The second of Captain, has had a distinguished career in the submarine service,

and its area was approximately 13 square feet. That gave an aver-

age thickness of 1/20 of an inch

Exceptionally Good Plating Contiquing, Mr. Baker said he

after distortion and 'buckling.could not agree with Mr. J. G. The other plates on the holder were definitely not excessively cor- roded. The thickness of 1/10 of

Charlton that the buckling of the girder produced an extra strain on the crown The buckling of

You cannot suggest anything to make it safer? No. I cannot.

In answer to the jury, Mr. Baker said that it was quite usual to have naked lights in the yard.

The enquiry was then adjourned until this afternoon.

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