Typhoons, coming periodically (and during a long period when the more modern systems of warning were undreamt of) did considerable damage as well, adding to the toll of life and property taken by the big fires. Then occasionally a disaster of some other kind would occur, and I take the following extract from a newspaper account of a catastrophe of nearly fifty years ago.
On Sunday, February 24, 1884, occurred one of the most terrible shipping disasters in the history of Hongkong. The vessel concerned was the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Company's steamer Yotsal which, during the five months previous to this date, had undergone a thorough overhaul and repair at the Kowloon Dock. These repairs included the substitution, for her old boilers, of a pair that formerly belonged to the steamer Yatlung. The repairs and alterations having been completed the vessel made two trial trips, when everything was said to have passed off satisfactorily. As a result of these trials, it was decided to place the ill-fated vessel on the run to Macao.
On the morning of February 24, a number of Hongkong residents were invited by the Secretary of the Steamboat Company (Mr. P. A. de Costa) to accompany the vessel to Macao. They were: Mr. J. S. Brewer, Government Marine Surveyor, Mr. R. Fraser-Smith, Editor of the Hongkong Telegraph and Mrs. R. Fraser-Smith; Mr. P. A. da Costa; Mr. J. M. Fraser-Smith, Sub-editor of the Telegraph, and Mrs. J. M. Fraser-Smith; Mr. G. Frizell, draughtsmen in the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company's office; Mr. D. E. Caldwell, solicitor; Mr. W. L. Scott, Superintendent of the Kowloon Docks; and Mr. G. F. Pinker, foreman engineer at the last-named establishment.
The guests were received by Captain Hoyland, master of the Yotsal, and the vessel steamed down the harbour at 1.15 p.m. taking the inside passage to Macao.
At the outset of the voyage there appears to have been difficulty with the boilers. Before reaching Capsingmoon both Mr. Pinker and Mr. Brewer went to the engine-room to ascertain what was the matter. They found the boilers priming.
All went well, however, until nearing the Two Brothers, about 18 miles from Hongkong, when the starboard boiler exploded, blowing the afterpart of the steamer to pieces and occasioning serious loss of life. When the disaster occurred, the master of the vessel and the guests were seated at tiffin which was being served in the saloon. It was while they were thus occupied that considerable noise, as of steam escaping, was heard from the engine-room. Shortly afterwards the explosion took place, blowing the inmates of the saloon through the roof. Many of those on board were killed outright, and others narrowly escaped from drowning. A Chinese junk came to the rescue and took the survivors back to Hongkong, where they arrived at the P. & O. Company's Wharf at 11.15 p.m.
Those who lost their lives in this sad disaster were Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Fraser-Smith, Mr. P. A. da Costa, Mr. G. Frizell, Mr. W. L. Scott, Mr. G. F. Pinker, Mr. J. D. Wood (Chief Engineer), nine Chinese firemen, the Chinese compradore, two Chinese stewards and two Chinese sailors. Capt. Hoyland was severely injured and was taken to the Civil Hospital, while the other survivors, who suffered from bruises and shock, were able to proceed to their homes.
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2.
Typhoons, coming periodically (and during a long period when the more modern systems of warning were undreamt of) dia considerable damage as well, adding to the toll of life and property taken by the big fires. Then occasionally a disaster of some other kind would occur, and I take the following extract from a newspaper account of a catastrophe of nearly fifty years ego.
956
On Sunday, February, 24, 1884, occurred one of the most terrible shipping disasters in the history of Hongkong. The vessel concerned was the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Company's steamer Yotsal which, during the five months previous to this date, had undergone a thorough overhaul and repair at the Kowloon Dook. These repairs included the substitution, for her old bollers, of a pair that formerly belonged to the steamer Yatlung. The repairs and alterations having been completed the vessel mede two trial trips, when everything was said to have passed off satisfactorily. As a result of these trails, it was decided to plece the ill-fated vessel on the run to Macao.
On the morning of February 24, a number of Hongkong re- sidents were invited by the Secretary of the Steamboat Company (Mr.P. A. de Costa) to accompany the vessel to Macao. They were: Mr. J.S. Brewer, Goverment Marine Surveyor, Mr.R. Fraser-Smith, Editor of the Hongkong Telegraph and Mrs. R. Fraser-Smith; Mr. P.A. da Costa; Mr. 9. M. Fraser-Smith, Sub-älitor of the Telegraph, and Mre. 9.M. Fraser-Smith; Mr. G. Frizell, draughtsmen in the Hongkong and Whampoa Dook Company's office; Mr. D.E. Caldwell, solicitor; Mr.W.L. Scott, Superintendent of the Kowloon Dooks; and Mr.G.F. Pinker, foreman engineer at the last-named establishment.
The guests were received by Captain Hoyland, master of the Totsal, and the vessel steamed down the harbour at 1.15 p.m. taking the inside passage to Macao.
>
At the outset of the voyage there appears to have been difficulty with the boilers. Before reaching Capsingmoon both Mr. Pinker and Mr. Brewer went to the engine-room to . ascertain what was the matter. They found the boilers priming.
All went well, however, until nearing the Two Brothers, about 18 miles from Hongkong, when the starboard boiler exploded, blowing the afterpart of the steamer to pieces and occasioning serious loss of life. When the disaster occurred, the master of the vessel end the guests were seated at tiffin which was being served in the saloon. It was while they were thus occupied that considerable noise, as of steam esoeping, was heard from the engine-room. Shortly afterwards the explosion took place, blowing the inmates of the saloon through the roof. Many of those on board were killed outright, and others narrowly escaped from drowning. A Chinese junk came to the rescue and cook the survivors back to Hongkong, where they arrived at the F. & 0. Company's Wharf at 11.15 p.m.
Those who lost their lives in this sad disaster were Mr. and Mrs. 3.M. Fraser-Smith, Mr.P.A. da Costa, Mr.G. Frizell, Mr.W. L. Scott, Mr.G.F. Pinker, Mr.J.D. Wood (Chief Engineer), nine Chinese firemen, the Chinese compradore, two Chinese stewards and two Chinese sailors. Capt. Hoyland was severely injured and was taken to the Civil Hospital, while the other survivors, who suffered from bruises and shook, were able to proceed to their home
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