"The sea, at all other times in this harbour so still and smooth, was now fiercely agitated, and had already encroached upon the island far beyond its natural bounds. Ships drifting from their anchorage were seen rapidly nearing the shore, while their crews were labouring hard to cut away the masts, their only chance of preservation. Occasionally, as the atmosphere cleared across the bay, several ships could be seen in one spot, giving one another a friendly embrace. Ships of seven and eight hundred tons were on shore, in water which on ordinary occasions is barely knee-deep. Innumerable boats were scattered in fragments on the beach, while underneath and around them were many mangled and lacerated corpses of Chinese.
"At 3 p.m. the typhoon was at its height; the wind and drenching rain continued unabated, and torrents, in form of cascades, poured down the hills, sweeping everything before them. The houses had all been destroyed, and no covering remained to protect the inmates from the raging elements. The natives were running wildly about, vainly beseeching succour from their gods. At times masses of loose stone would become separated from the mountains, and roll down the hill like a huge avalanche, threatening destruction to all below. The last days of Hongkong seemed approaching. It was a grand but truly awful sight.
"It will be easier to conceive than to describe the helpless and wretched condition in which the inhabitants of this newly-colonised island spent this night.
"On the evening of the 25th, and the greater part of July 26, the island was again visited by a typhoon, which, though not so violent as that now described, swept away all that escaped the gale of the 21st. It destroyed the temporary buildings thrown up, and exposed the wretched inmates a second time to the fury of the dreadful tempest of wind and rain. The losses sustained, both in life and property, by these typhoons have been fearfully disastrous. The closeness and oppressive nature of the atmosphere some hours previous to their coming on, evidently indicated the approach of a storm; and the native population, who are generally pretty correct in their indications of the weather, foretold, as did also the barometer, on both occasions, that a typhoon might be expected.
Whether Hongkong is or is not in the earthquake zone is a point for debate among scientists, but the fact remains that severe earth tremors have been felt here on a number of occasions.
Many residents will remember the scare caused by the tremors in 1917. Cracks appeared in several buildings and some minor damage was done. Coolies did a roaring trade in "dragon's hairs," for it is a Chinese superstition that earthquakes are caused by a subterranean dragon becoming restless.
When the dragon changes his position, it is said he sheds some of his bristles. Possession of one of those bristles is said to bring good luck to the owner, and coolies experienced no difficulty in finding about the streets enough bristles to cover 20 super-dragons.
The Friend of China on September 2, 1846, published a story of the first earth tremor felt in Hongkong since the British occupation. The quake must have been a severe one, for it set bells ringing and brought a great deal of crockery crashing to the floors. Some alarm was felt for the stability of the new buildings, but, fortunately, no serious damage was caused.
Old Chinese residents were interviewed at the time, and declared that shocks were experienced every two or three years.
A number of letters on earthquakes were addressed to the Friend of China. One reader said the sensation was like a heavy wave breaking on his house.
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Page 271
16.
"The sea, at all other times in this harbour so still and smooth, was now fiercely agitated, and had already encroached upon the island far beyond its natural bounds. Ships drifting from their anchorage were seen rapidly nearing the shore, while their crews were labouring hard to cut away the masts, their only chance of preservation. Occasionally, as the atmosphere cleared across the bay, several ships could be seen in one spot, giving one another a friendly embrace. Ships of seven and eight hundred tonswere on shore, in water which on ordinary occasions is barely knee-deep. Innumerable boats were scattered in fragments on the beach, while underneath and around them were many mangled and lacerated corpses of Chinese.
"At 3 p.m. the typhoonwas at its height; the wind and drenching rain continued unabated, and torrents, in form of cascades, poured down the hills, sweeping everything before them. The houses had all been de- stroyed, and no covering remainded to protect the inmates from the raging
elements. The nativos were running wildly about, vainly beseeching succour from their gods. At times masses of loose stone would becoms separated from the mountains, and rolldown the hill like a huge avalanche, threatening destruction to all below. The last days of Hongkong seemed approaching. It was a grand but truly awful sight.
"It will be easier to conceive than to describe the helpless and wretched condition in which the inhabitants of this newly-colonised island spent this night.
"On the evening of the 25th, and the greater part of July 26, the island was again visited by a typhoon, which, though not ao violent as that now described, swept away all that escaped the gale of the 21st. It destroyed the temporary buildings thrown up, and exposed the wretched inmates a second time to the fury of the dreadful tempest of wind and rain. The losses sustained, both in life and property, by these typhoons have been fearfully disastrous. The closeness and oppressive nature of the atmosphere some hours previous to their coming on, evidently indicated the approach of a storm; and the native population, who are generally pretty correct in their indications of the weather, foretold, as did also the bar- ometer, on both occasions, that a typhoon might be expected."
Whether Hongkong is or is not in the earthquake zone is a point for debate among scientists, but the fact remains that severe earth tremors have been felt here on a number of occasions.
Many residents will remember the soare caused by the tremors in 1917. Cracke appeared in several buildings and some minor damage was done. Coolies did a roaring trade in "dragon's hairs," for it is a Chinese supersitition that earthquakes are caused by a subterranean dragon be- coming restless.
When the dragon changes his position, it is said he sheds some of his bristles. Possession of one of those bristles is said to bring good luck to the owner, and coolies experience no difficulty in finding about the streets enough bristles to cover 20 super-dragons.
The Friend of China on September 2, 1846, published a story of the first earth tremor felt in Hongkong since the British occupation. The quake must have been a severe one, for it set bells ringing and brought a great deal of crockery crashing to the floors. Some alarm was felt for the stability of the new buildings, but, fortunately, no serious damage was caused.
Old Chinese residents were interviewed at the time, and declared that shocks were experienced every two or three years.
A number of letters on earthquakes were addressed to the Friend of China, One reader said the sensation was like a heavy wave breaking on his house.
Page 270Page 271
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