Old Hong Kong-2 — Page 103

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Earlier days of the Colony are recalled by the reminiscences, a portion of which appeared yesterday, written by one of Hongkong's old-timers, Mr. J. G. Liddell, a former employee of Kowloon Docks. In this narrative, there is an interesting reference to Mr. David Gillies (see 29-8-33), whose name will always be associated with the pioneering dockyard enterprise of the Colony. Mr. Liddell's narrative continues:

"Mr. Gillies had been out of the Company for some years. Whampoa Docks had been given up and he had started on his own in Hongkong as a Consulting Engineer. Later, he returned to the Company as Secretary and General Manager. When I returned from Home, they had made Kowloon the Chief Engineering department. I was to have got the Cosmopolitan Docks, but eventually, I had a desk in the office and was a general 'roust-about' for the remainder of my service.

"My wife's tombstone is on the right of the entrance to the cemetery, on what was then called the Old Residents' Corner, near the stone erected to the memory of Scott, Pinker, and Frizell. Poor chaps! (The reference is to an accident which occurred on a small steamer, named the Yat Tsai, one of the boilers bursting when she was on a trial run. Several others also lost their lives, the party being at tiffin when the accident occurred. This happened in the latter part of 1883. See 11-11-33.) Had I not met with an accident eight days before, my name might have been added, and that of Mr. Gillies' too.

"He was at Manila, and I was acting for him in his absence. No European at Aberdeen, and I went round to ship a steam launch on board a steamer for Singapore. I stepped down off the hatch to see if she was clear of the rail, and the 'strop' of snatch-block in the corner of the hatch (leading quarter rope to winch, it was blowing half a gale) carried away, and me with it.

"That resulted in a fractured leg. The Colonial Surgeon and my own doctor made a mess of it, and I lay for months and got so weak that I was ordered another trip home. The Company treated me very well, and when I got out to Hongkong again, I resumed my old place in the office.

"I don't suppose there are many about now (1920) that know me in the Docks. I saw A. G. Gordon's name lately in the Glasgow Herald, announcing a daughter's marriage. Gordon was in the Dock with me. Shewan and Tomes will remember me—the former by repute, and the latter because I did business with him for Russell and Co. Angus Sinclair—my late wife's kinsman—was Superintendent Engineer for Jardine's steamers, Capt. Goddard was Surveyor to Lloyd's, and Roach was a Douglas Captain.

"I have been in South Africa with my son and family for over 10 years, in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, and Bulduin (Transvaal). I am fairly well, but my eyesight is failing... Kindly excuse an old man's exuberance. I am sure you will do what is wanted, and I thank you very much in anticipation."

As stated yesterday, Mr. Liddell lived for nearly ten years after he had written the foregoing. On his death, late in 1929, the document became released for publication. It merely remains to be noted that the inscription he desired placed on his wife's tombstone was duly added.