FIRES ON SHIPBOARD.
(To the Editor of the London Times) Sir,-A communication in the Times of the 29th ult, on the subject of fires sets out
thus:
..
"The epidemic of serious fires which has been experienced during the present month and more particularly during the last week in various parts of the United Kingdom is causing much comment in fire insurance circles."
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, THURSDAY MARCH 126, 1903.
To sum up, the present condition of affairs is one which tends as little to prevention as to cure. The flowing are factors which, in any efforts in the direction either of, prevention or of cure, should, I think, be carefully considered,
víz.
t. That every case of ship fire should be re- ported to the Roard of Trade, with its cause, whenever ascertainable, and method of extine- tion, and made public. At present fires must only be mentioned in a whisper. They are a disagreeable subject to a shipowner, especially if his vessels shall for some occult reason have had more than their share of them.
ledge.
The article then proceeds to refer to fires nt #12 drapery stores. involving a loss of more than £ros,poo" Serions and wasteful enough, no doubt; but your well-informed Marine In- nothing is, learned by experience. The name 2. That as a consequence of this suppression strance Correspondent has lately had occas'on preventible cause may operate again and again, to refer to shipboard fires besida which such
the experience of this or that owner not being losses as the foregoing are but a frosty Cauallowed to become comman shipowner know- C⭑515, The epidemic, too, is by no means confined to land, as you will plainly see if you
3. That the madera trade in frozen produce refer to the accompanying tabulation very has, in the opinion of many, produced a new kindly supplied to me by Lloyd's Committee. danger in the form of charcoal insulation, either It is n list of the shin fires, big and little, reliable to spontaneous combustion or peculiarly ported in Lloyd's List during last December prone to ignite; and when once alight very and January. I had thought ask you to difficult to extinguish. print it, but in view of its remarkable length, containing as it does the names and ownership of an less than 70 vessels, 1. resmin frám doing an. Some of these fires, no doubt, had been pre- viously reported by cable, but such a list is in any case grave enough to call for serious alten- tion. As you will, no doubt, remark, amongst the owners are the very best-English, French, German, Dutch, American, as well as others. And though, owing to the heterogeneous owner ships and insurance of the various properties at risk, we rarely get to know the extent of such loss's, the list contains instances in which the values are certainly great The value of the Manchester Merchant steamer, now lying scuttled in Dingle Bay, is put down at £250,000 The Mombassa steamer, recently destroyed in the East, is put down at £100,000, and so on. As to the
SO-CALLED FIRE DRILL ON BOARD THE MAIL STRAMERS,
it pleases the passengers to see the cars in their Sunday turbans under a tropical sky running out the hose; but in the case of a
4. That the modern necessity for prompt despatch oftan results in wool and other pro- duce being shinped either insufficiently dried or improperly packed, with the result of heat- ing and combustion; whilst in the case of exports the progress of inventinn continually adds to the list of manufactured goods on the border line of dangerous,
5. That the vast and always increasing capa- city and the great hold-depth of modern ship. ping add materially to the risk of heating and combustion, especially in the case of "bulk" or homogeneous cargoes.
6. That these conditions render it very diffi- cult and frequently impossible to locate a cargo fire, and consequently to take effective mea. stres, to deal with it in its early stage.
I have not classified these diverse factors. They relate partly to the cause and frequency of fires and partly to their prevention and ex- tinction. Each of them s, eaks for itself.
And
it is not very material whether in this or that detail or particular all my facts or conclusions are correct-I have tried to make them correct
cash balance of £248,341 The rating for the year 1902-3 amounts to izid in the ̈£ over the whole county, including the City, and a further
making together 1514 Among the schemes rate over the county outside the City of 184,
in hand of the council are workmen's dwellings
him, and Wormwood Scrubs; model municipal for 66,000 people at Toating, Norbury, Totten lodging-house in Drury Lane; new bridge at Vauxhall; a Rotherhithe-Shadwell tunnel under the Thames; new street from the Strand to Holborn; new Thames Embankment from the Houses of Parliament to Lambeth Bridge, etc.]
No. of Sale.
Auctions.
PARTICULARS OF THE LOT.
LOCALITY.
Boundary Measurement,
Contents in
pEntimations.
THE WORD OF HONOUR.
that prove to be what they were said to be,- The men who do as they say; the things
how cheering it is to come upon them. We deception is intentional. But all men are not all hate to be deceived; especially when the liars, even if David did say so in his baste. If they were society would be impossible. Everybody knows that business is based on credit, on faith. Millions are bought and sold dally on nothing more solid than the pledged promises of man,-not written, merely verbal. The Stock Exchanges are often called nests o gamblers, yet nowhere in a promise held in greater honour. Therefore when we say that the tried and effective remedy called
WAMPOLE'S PREPARATION. never deceives any who resort to it in hope of GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION,
benefit and cure, we may expect to be believed. PAR
ARTICULARS AND CONDITIONS of For this assurance is given on what it has held on MONDAY, the 30th day of March, record.
the letting by Public Auction Sale, to be done in the past in countless cases,-on its It is only recommended to ac- 1903, at 3 P.M., at the Offices of the Public complish what it was made to accomplish. Its Works Department, by Order of His Excellency the Governor, of One. Lot of CROWN LAND,action in Chlorasis, Anemia, Scrofula, General on the South side and near the crest of the Debility, Throat and Lung Troubles, Blood Kowloon Range of Hills, New Kowloon, in the Impurities, etc. is convincing. It is palatable Colony of Hongkong, for a term of 75 Years.
as honey and contains the nutritive and curative properties of Pure Cod Liver Oil, extracted by us from fresh cod livers, combined with the Compound Syrup of Hypophosphiles and the Extracts of Malt and Wild Cherry. Dr. Austin D. Irvine, of Canada, says "I have used it in cases where cod liver oil was indicated but could not be taken by the patient, and the results following were very gratifying." It is effective from the first dose and agrees with the most sensitive and nervous stomachs. One bottle proves its intrinsic value. It cannot deceive or disappoint you, and comes to the rescue of those who have received no benefit from any other treatment. It stands for the medical triumphs of the age. Watch carefully against imitations." Sold by chemists hera and every where and A. S. Watson & Co., Limited.
!
South side, thear Crest of Kowlon Rangeuf Hill, New Kowloon,
4, 5. 2. W.
tt. ft.
Bo 6,400
Hongkong, 21st March, 1903.
OF
[3610
PUBLIC AUCTION
VALUABLE LEASEHOLD GROUND, situate at Corner of CROSS STREET and ALBANY STRKET. Victoria, Hongkong,
To be sold by Order of the Mortgagee, In ONE LOT, on
carga fire what is the good of it? For before but whether, viewed as a whole, the position at his AUCTION ROOMS, DUDDELL STREET, TAND ELECTRIC COMPANY,
you can begin to put out a cargo fire you have got to find where it is located ; and this in huge modern vessels, is the trouble. A smell of baring, followed, perhaps, by a significant baze from some ventilator, tells you that these is fire in this or that hold; but the hold, crammed full of cargo, is itself as large and capacious as many a chapel, and the cutbreak may be many yards-a cricket pitch, or con. tiderably more from where the smoke steals up the ventilator. To open the hatch is commonly but to be met with a cloud of pungent smoke and to supply the fire with air; there is then only one course-to shut down everything and proceed to flood the hold. And unless the seats of the fire happens by good luck to be just against awinflow, you must go on pomping till the water rises to the fire, which, however, may be near the top. The flooding of a hold is a process which no fire drill can simplify, and, unless the burning cargo can be got at through the process of extinction, must "sooner or later be a process of flooding. (The Banca, steamer, recently at Singapore "Fire while at sea; hold flooded.", And this, whether the holt contain COSTLY PERISHABLE CARGO SUCH AS SILK AND TEA,
>
or whether it contain coal, is all one. And whether the water be directed in by latcars, or forced in by the bilge pumps, or how otherwise, is only a question of various means to the same costly end-flooding the hold. Under the enormous water pressure the bulkhead some times gives way, or even the shaft. tunnel may collapse. When such disasters happen on the wide seas there is a good chance of our hearing that the crew has been pickel up in latitude and longitude so and so. And when a cargo fire breaks out in dock it is the same simple process of extinction, varied by introduction of the city engines and the river floats; for I have never yet heard of a dock company, rich or poor equipped with any other method of fire extine tion for such purposes. A deck certainly has this advantage over the open sea--that you can always scuttle the ship; so far, that is, as the depth of the dock will permit. Sometimes, however, frost is troublesome; witness the Clan Alpine, steamer, at Dundes. ("For hours the flames defied the efforts of the brigades, whose apparatus, an account of the severe frost, could not be brought into operation for some time." Later advices: "Fire now paretically under: about raft, water pumped into hold." I may be reminded that the holds of some of the best steamers now-a-days are fitted with
is as I have endeavoured to express it. If it be so, then I think it will be admitted that it is to us, as the leading maritime Power, a position very discreditable, and that it is full time that level of other sciences tending to the greater an attempt should be made to bring to the security of life and property at sea, the science of fire extinction on board ship.-Your obedient
servant,
Savile Club, Feb. 9. -ondon Times, Feb. 13.
DOUGLAS OWEN.
EXTENSION CABLE SYSTEM.
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.
LONDON, March 3rd.
The Agents-General of the Colonies have inspected the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company's cable-restoring steamers at Grave.
Lodge-Muirhead system of wireless telegraphy, send. Both vessels are equipped with the
The steamer Restorer will be stationed at Adelaide, and the Patrol off Singapore, after laying the Dutch cable connecting Borneo with the Celebes.
A recent cable stated that Sir Oliver Lodge, D.SC., F.R.S., Principal of the University of Birmingham, and Dr. Alexander Muirhead, who have been conjointly conducting experiments in wireless telegraphy, have invented a new system of ethergam transmission, which is claimed to exceed that of Marconi in accuracy,
Of the two vessels named, the Resto-er has rendered good service to the company for some time past, and is well-known in Australian waters. The Patrol is a new vessel, Her trials, which were long and stringent, took place in stormy weather in January, but were nevertheless highly successful, the vessel at- taining a speed of about 15 knots over a long, .continuous run. The Patrol is a very finely modelled steamer with a clipper bow, which, with the stem, are fitted with powerful cable. raising and lowering gear. As the steamer will be employed not only in laying new cables, but also in raising and repairing old ones, she has been fitted for the task with specially powerful picking-up gear, whilst her main engines are designed for much going astern. The vessel is 370 ft, in length, by 44 ft. beam, and is propelled by twin-screws driven ty triple-expansion engines. The greatest atten- tion has been paid to the arrangements for the comfort of those on board.
BANK OF England refuses LOAN.
London, March 1.The Bank of England, alarmed at the expenditure of the London County Council, declined to advance the Coun- cit £5,000,000, but offered an advance of £2,000,000,
Various schemes contemplated by the Coun cil have, in consequence, been abandoned.
[According to Whitaker's, the London County Council had on March 31 last a gross debt of £53,750,000, a slaking fund of £25,000,000, and 4 annual expenditure of about £7,000,000, ex
BO-CALLED STEAM ANNIHILATORS. But steam, unless in the rare cases where it can be directed on the fire, is a poor extingui- sher, and in most cases you cannot make a full use of the ship's steam for this pur pose without more or less seriously retarding the ship when she should be headed full speed for a port of refuge. The an
splendid steamers of the Manchester feet all carry, 1 belleve, steam fire annihilator, and recently used in the case of the Manchester Corporation, steamer, worth with her cargo £200,000, to ex- cellent effect. But a perusal of the captain's clusive of loana advanced to other bodies. The protest, in that case, suggests the view that in council's powers to expend capital money and making for port the steam bad to be used raise stock, or, as they are called, "borrowing alternatively for the main englpes and for firepowers,* are conferred by the annual Money extinction and the fire, though smothered, was Act, · The Act of last session - sanctioned, only extinguished by shore assistance. In the for the year ending March 31 next, expen case of the Manchester "Merchant, steamer, ditors on various services and improve- now awash in Disgle. Bay, neither team nor ments not exceeding £8,300,985, but any other form of extinguisher could be of large proportion of the amount was a re effective use, the locality of the to being the grant of unexercised powers contained in pre- cattle dock not provided with transverse bulk. heads. Some day, no doubt, such a method of carrying a bonfire c will be considered dangerous. At present there is, I believe, nothing uncommon in the, best proof of which is that the cautious owners of the Manchester Merchant steamier assented to it.
BE for ASAHI JAPANESE BEEK-
窳
vlous Act. The Act also conferred powers to lend during the year to the School Board, Metropolitan Borough Councils, and other public bodies not exceeding £4.150,000. The estimated receipts for the year ended March 31 next amount to £4,595,364, and the estimated expenditure to £4,347,023, leaving an estimated Ad Glas
A SK for ASAHI JAPANESE BEER-
FRIDAY, the 3rd April, 1903, at 3 P.,
by
MA. GEO LAMMERT,
Auctioneer.
THE PROPERTY consists of the PIECE
is held from the Crown for the residue of the of GROUND registered in the Land Office as Section A of Inland Lot No. 428 and
dated the Bih day of December, 1855. Term of 999 years granted by a Crown Lease
For further Particulars, apply to
EWENS & HARSTON,
Vendor's Solicitors, or to Mr. GEO. P. LAMMERT, Auctioneer. Hongkong, 25th March, 1903.
Notice of Firm.
CHINA TRADERS' INSURANCE COMPANY, LIMITED.
NOTICE.
[377€
CONSEQUENT upon the Retirement of Mr. W. H. RAY, owing to ill-health, Mr. JAMES WHITTALL has, from This Date, been appointed SECRETARY of the above Company.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
.E. W. MAITLAND,
Acting Secretary, Hongkong, 17th March, 1903
✓
Intimation.
4
THE CHINA & JAPAN TELEPHONE
LIMITED.
HONGKONG EXCHANGE,
Open Day and Night,
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
EXCHANGE LINES, $80 Per Annum.
PRIVATE LINES, $100 Per Annum,
NO CHARGE FOR INSTALLATION.
T..
N.IL-A special charge is made fur lines of
more than average length.
ELECTRIC SUPPLIES OF EVERY DES
CRIPTION IN STOCK,
INCLUDING :.
[33:0 BATTERIES,
SANITAS
FLUID
OIL
CRUDE FLUID POWDER EMBRODATION] BOAPS
DISINFECTOAS)
INHALERS
FUMIGATORS
SANISAS
IOINFECTIO FLUID
CHEMICALS,
NSULATORS,
Mails.
NIPPON YUSEN KAISHA.
(THE JAPAN MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY.)
PROJECTED SAILINGS FROM HONGKONG,-SUBJECT TO ALTERATION,
3TEAMERS.
DESTINATIONS.
WAKASA MARU. KOBE and YOKOHAMA
SAILING DATES.
?FRIDAY, 27th Mar, at
Daylight
(SYDNEY and MELBOURNE, VIA) FRIDAY, 27th Mar, at
J. B. Macmillan......... {K
KUMANO MARU ......................... E. W. Haswell..........
E. Christiansen....
KAMAKURA MARU
H. Peterson
TOSA MARU”,
MANILA, THURSDAY ISLAND, TOWNSVILLE and BRISBANE .....
U.S.A., VIA
4 P.X.
(VICTORIA, B.C., and SEATTLE,TUESDAY, 7th April, at
SHANGHAI, MOJE
KOBE and YOKOHAMA ......................
(MARSEILLES, LONDON & ANT-]
WERP, VIA SINGAPORE, PENANG, COLOMBO and PORT SAID
4 P.M.
SATURDAY, 4th April, at
Daylight.
and Europe, in connection with the GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY and Atlantic Steamer
Throngh Passenger Tickets issued for the Principal Cities in the United States, Canada Round-the-Warid Tickets also issued. Between Moji and Kobe, ist and and Class Through Passengers have the Option of Travelling by the Sanyo Railway."
toral Branch Office in Prince's Building, 1st Floor, Chater Road.
For further Information as to Freight, Passage, Sailings, &c., apply at the Company's
Hongkong, 17th March, 1908.
ORIENTAL
PENIA
STEA
COMP
THE PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY,
STEAM FOR
- 1 KAITS,CEYLON, AUSTRALIA, INDIA, ADEN, EGYPT, MEDITERRANEAN PORTS, PLYMOUTH AND LONDON, Through Bills of Lading issued for BATAVIA PERSIAN GULJ, CONTINENTAI, AMERI• CAN Rod SOUTH AFRICAN PÕUTS.)
THE Steamship
"MALTA,"
Ma
Captain C. L. W. Feild, carrying H esty Mail, will be despatched from this fai MARSEILLES and LONDON (DIRECT) on SATURDAY, the 28th instant, at Noon, takin, Passengers and Cargo for the above Ports.
Parcels will be received at this Office until P., the day before sailing. The Contents and Value of all Packages are required.
Shippers are particularly requested to note the terms and conditions of the Company's Bills of Lading.
For further Particulars, apply to
E. A HEWETT,
Superintendent. Hongkang, 14th March, 1903
NORTHERN PACIFIC STEAMSHIP COMPANY.
[4
BOSTON STEAMSHIP COMPANY. ELECTRIC BELLS, BOSTON TOW-BOAT COMPANY.
LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS. SWITCHES,
PROPOSED SAILINGS FROM HONGKONG,
VIA
SHANGHAI, INLAND SEA OF JAPAN, KOBE AND YOKOHAMA¡ FOR VICTORIA, B.C., AND TACOMA, IN CONNECTION WITH NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY.
TELEPHONES,
VIRE, &
Steamers.
COLORLESS FRAGRANT
PRICE LISTE ON APPLICATION. ^
Tremont*.
ELECTRIC BELL INSTALLATIONS, Erected and kept in order.
Olympia Tacoma
NON-
POISONOUS
оска нот STAIL KILLS ALL DISKAGE CERNS. OXYORNATES
THE AIR,
Sulphur Gandina - } KINGZOTTYS Formia Fum'autora) PATENTS,
**HOW TO DIBINFECT" Rock Free,
THE "SANITAS” OỠ, with, Bethnal Green, LONDON, 1
DISINFECTANTS
CHINESE-AMERICAN
Estunaus given for all kinds of Electrical
work.
Tons. Captains, 1903,
9.606J. W. Garlick... Mar. 28 2,837. Truebridge... April 8 2,812 A. Dixon April 17
2A.
Steamers marked (*) bave 0 passenger accommodation."
The attention of passengers is directed to the very cheap rates offered by this line to the Pacific Coast and to the Interior and Eastern Cities of the United States and to Europe.
Special rates allowed to members of Govern- ment Services
Through Bills of Lading issued to Pacific Trained Mechanicians sent to Out-Ports to 6t Coast Points and to the Principal Cities in the
up Installations if required.
NOTE ADDRESS, ICE HOUSE ROAD.
United States and Canada.
For further Information as to Freight or Passage, apply to
A. B. MIHARA, Manager.
COMPAGNIE DES MESSAGERIES MARITIMES.
PAQUEBOTS-POSTE FRANCAIS.
NOTICE
STEAM FOR
SAIGON, SINGAPORE, BATAVIA. COLOMBO,PONDICHERRY,CALCUTTA, DJIBOUTI, EGYPT, MARSEILLES, MEDITERRANEAN AND BLACK SEA PORTS, LONDON, HAVRE, BORDEAUX1
ALSO
PORTS OF BRAZIL AND RIVER PLATE,
ON TUESDAYhe Company's Steamship
TUESDAY, the 7th April 1903,
"SYDNEY," Captain Blanc, with Mails, Passengers, Specie and Cargo, will leave this Port for MARSEILLES, v Ports of Call, WITHOUT TRANSHIPMENT.
Cargo and Specie will be registered for Lori- don as well as for Marseilles, and accepted in transit through Mamailies for the principal places of Europe.
Shipping Orders will be granted till Noom only on MONDAY, the 6th April, Specie and Parcels received until 4 P.M..on the same day. No Cargo will be received on board on TUESDAY.
Parcels are not to be sent on board, they must be left at the Agency's Office. Contents and Value of Packages are required.
For further Particulars, apply at the Com pany's Office,
G, DE CHAMPEAUX, Agent. Hongkong, 24th March, 1903.
Wotel.
(1004
KING EDWARD HOTEL.
A HIGH CLASS PRIVATE HOTEL.
LADIES' AFTERNOON TEA ROOMS.
PRIVATE BAR.
AND
BILLIARD ROOMS..
Rooms specially reserved for Captains of the Mercantile Marine,
Hot and Cold Water throughout, Electrically Lighted.
Electric Passenger Elevator to each Floor, Table D' Hote at Separate Tables. For Terms, &c., apply to the
MANAGER.
Hongkong, 2314 October, 1902, [ód
To be Let.
TO LET or FOR SALE.
X ELSIOR," No, 10, SAN LOURENÇO,
EMacao
From 1st April next
Apply to
DR. G. P. JORDAN,
2, Connaught Balldings. Hongkong, and March, 1903.........
DODWELL, & CO., LIMITED,
General Agents, Hongkong, 21st March, roo3.
(6740
Two
For full Particulars, &c. &c., Apply to
W. STUART HARRISON, AM, INST. C.E,
Manager.
Hongkong.14th October, 1902.
[20
Take
All
COMMERCIAL COMPANY, IMPORTERS, EXPORTERS AND MANUFACTURERS.
CAPITAL
***
"M
$1,000,000 U.S. GOLD,
HEAD OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.
W
ATE beg to announce that the HONGKONG BRANCH of the above Company has been
at Nos 20 & 23, CONNAUGHT ROAD, nearly opposite Blake' Pier, We are DIRECT REPRESENTATIVES and AGENTS for numerous Manufacturers, We CARRY a varied and extensive line of SAMPLES, and our patrons will find same of distinct advantage when ordering through us,
w
CHINESE-AMERICAN COMMERCIAL COMPANY, Nos. 4o & 31; CONNAUGHT ROAD/
phony, 24th March, 700
Insurances,
"STRONGEST IN THE WORLD.”
Equitable Life Assurance.
Contracts
Have Loan and Cash Values and
Embrace all good features of
Rival Companies. The Standing, Strength and Stability
of the Company is unquestioned.
For Rates or Information, Call on or
Address
50]
F. KIENE,
14, Des Vaux Road,
NORTH GERMAN FIRE INSURANCE
· COMPANY OF HAMBURG,
TO LET
PRAYA EAST "WO SPACIOUS GODOWNS-Nor
Apply to-
H. N; MODY,
Victoria Buildings. Hongkong, and February, 1903. [15134
TO LET.
EVERAL NEWLY BUILT EUROPEAN HOUSES in LEIGHTON HILL ROAD. Apply to
THE HONGKONG & KOWLOON LAND & LOAN CO, LD No. 8, Queen's Road West,
Hangkemy, 20th October, roo3:
THE
TO LET.
HE RETREAT"-MOUNT KELLETT
HOUSES in LEIGHTON HILL ROAD, FLATS in MORETON TERRACE, CAUSE- WAY BAY, facing the Polo Ground. No. 1, RITON TERRACE, QUODE GODOWNS BOWRINGTON, Prays East, Apply to 2009 godsd AD THE HONGKONG LAND INVEST.
TAZAMENT & AGENCY.CO. LD, 133Hongkong, 37th January, 1903.
“HE Undersigned AGENTS of the above THE
Company are prepared to accept First Glas FOREIGN and CHINESE RISKS at CURRENT RATES, EVE
SIEMSSEN & CA --Hongkong, alth May, 1895.
י.
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