1906-07-03 — Page 4

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A. S. WATSON & CO.,

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In the manufacture Waters the following are essential

PURE WATER.

UP-TO-DATE PLANT..

THE BEST OF MATERIALS

AND

in

DEATH:

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 13 1906.

On the 27th June, at Shanghai, ALEXANDER MILLER, and Enginest sa. Peskawur, aged 38 years

The Hongkong Celegraph

Hongkong, Tuesday, July 3, 1906.

THE YUNAAN RAILWAY,

Our contemporary in Shanghai, the Art China Laily News, has long and deservedly enjoyed a high reputation for accuracy and reliability, a reputation springing from the due regard of sober fact unadorned by the High Class Mineral embroidery of fantastical views. But it aceis probable that the Arms has been led: astray in ita account of the sufferings endured) by the coolics, who were recruited at Tien: tein as labourers on the Yuunaa railway. The information on which the newspaper in question based its remarks was forwarded by a member of the China Inland Mission, who declared that he took the story direct from the lips of broken-down coolies, who were EXPERT, MANIPULATION. trudging all the way from Yunnan back to their homes in Tientsin. Not satisfied with one witness, the missionary took corrobora- tive evidence, and then proceeded to per a graphic picture of heart-rending" atrocities" inflicted on these coolies by a callous and inhuman French Company. Unfortunately, the language of the missionary was so pathetic that an ordinary reader was apt to consider it high-falutin. It was too vivid altogether, the tale of gangs of mes kneeling at the missionary's door and begging for help. He related that : ** As soon as they went to work [in Yunnan] they began to sicken and die; so the foreman turned them adrift to get home as they could. The stranger of these refugees have now passed us and the poor, struggling rearguard are upon us. They can scarcely rise after sitting down at our door to beg. Armed guards stood over them while they were at work; they were starved, beaten, re- fused their wages and turned adrift in the end to fend for themselves. Such is the missionary's tale of woe, and the Aezer con; ments upon the letter in terms which would

All these conditions are obtained Waters of our manufacture.

Absolute Purity. Repeated analyses both locally and at home guarantee this.

Up-to-date Plant. Our policy is to continually introduce every modern in provement in machinery and appliances and although such changes are invariably costly in the first instance the results attained in Porfoot Aeration and economies in working justify them.

The Finest Materials only are used. English Experts manage our factories,} and our Waters are acknowledged by lead ing English Makers to be equal to those of

· their own manufacture.

another condition of things...The contract was framed and signed before this new spirit had come into being. The preliminary con- struction work was commenced before the patriotic feeling liad been manifested. And it is only now, after two years, that we have fresh allegations made against the Yunnan contractors. That they made mistakes they do not deny; that they did their best to re pair those mistakes seems evident; in these circumstances, it would be well to wait for further corroborative evidence that the con. tractors have reverted to the methods of the tyrant before accepting as gospel the highly coloured account furnished to our contem. porary.

+

LOCAL AND GENERAL

hargely increased its capital. It is carrying on Tile Royal Langkat Petroleum Company has negotiations for a fusion with the Shell Com. piny.

The

Ts Juce sales of opium in Bengal were 20 lakhs better than the climate and the May sales in Bombay 2 lakhs worse. The total for 1 two months was 181 lakhs over the estimate RETURN of visitors to the City Hall Library and Museum for the week ending the 1st July, 1906: Library, non-Chinese 294; Chinese 154; Total 448. Museum, non-Chinese 86; Chinese 2,781; "Total 2,867.

YUNNAN RAILWAY.

ALLEGED ATROCITIES ON COOLIES.

„REFUTATION „DY MR, GASTON LIEBERT,

Some reinkable allegations have appeared recently in the North-China Duly News con- cerning the conduct of the Company which is constructing the Yunnan railway towards the coulies employed on the work. These allign tions against the French company emanated in the first instatice from a missionary in the North, who retailed the stories which had been told him by some coolies who had been em ployed on the railway, and a most lurid picture was drawn of the miseries and sufferings

details bad not been understood by the Con TELEGRAMS.

pany.

COOLIES SATISFIED. "When some of the agents of the Company came to Canton, and Hongkong to go on to Tientsin to recruit coolies they got a good deal of advice from the different Consuls. Igave them a lot of advies and so did my colleagues in Canton and Shanghai. The roult was that the condition of things was very quickly altered. The second and third batches of coolies when they arrived at Haiphong and the Namti Valley found everything ready for them. Now they are perfectly willing to work. They could find zothing to find fault with. They have medical attendance, sice, food and

all they want.

"FRIGHTFUL STORIES."

"Some of the first batch of coolies who bad-

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH"

BERVICE.

RISING IN CHINA.

REBELS HOLD A CÍTY.

PREPARED TO WITHSTAND A SIEGE.

[From Our Own Correspondent.]

Shanghai, 3rd July, 9.10 p.m.

Five thousand members of the Red

which the helpless coolies were compelled not been treated so well as they had expected Association are now holding the

-not through any bad-will, but through town of Hsinchenghsien. ignorance of things in China-came back

to endure at the hands of their taskmas. ters It was stated that the coolies were had to live in hovels when they were not badly fed, if not half-starved; that they

compelled to sleep in the open; that two- thirds of those who went to the railway never returned; that the Red River was gluted with the bodies of dead coolies; that the Company withheld the pay of the coolies who managed to survive, and that a host of other atrocities were being commuted. A writer in the Echo di Chini wote controverting those statements, although he admitted that mistakes had been made at the outset on account of the company's lack of local knowledge, but it was claimed that these had been rectified and the coalies were coming of their own free ill to seek work on the railway. The North-Ching chug, which went in pursuit of poachers in missionary's statement, declared, on the 28th It is reported that the Russian cruiser Zenit-Daily News, basing its remarka on the North Siberian waters early last month, June, that the Chinese Government must heark- captured 53 Japanese fishermen, who have en to the anguished cry of spffering humanity, bien taken to Vladivostok,

and said that, notwithstanding the letter in the rench paper, it feared that "a grave scandal" was taking place on the Yuhnan railway, and urged that this was clearly a case where Gvernments must intervene and protect or restrain their nationals," In view of the serious character of these allegations, a representative nf the Hongkong. Telegraph luterviewed, to- day, Mr. Gaston Lidbert, the Consul for France at Hongkong. Many here are interested in the construction of the Yunuan railway, and it is of vital importance that both sides of the question should be placed before the public,

THE Mitsu Bishi Dockyard at Nagasaki has decided to "construct another Boating-dock, to accommodate steamers of 11,000 tens, for Kube. The new floating-dock is expected to be completed by May or June next year.

1024

INSPECTOR Withers proceeded against the masters of a grocer's shop at 56, Jardine's Bazaar and a wood shop at No. 19, Stanley Police Court the inording, with being in pos Street, before Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz, at the session of false scales, on the 28th ultimo. The inspector proved his case, and the defendants were each fined $25.

These results have only been obtained through constant experiment; the adverse climatic conditions of Tropical Climates for the successful manufacture of high Class Aerated Waters, necessitating special study. Our Stone Ginger Beer is the only successful production of its kind in Tropical Countries. 1t at once became popular and increasing sales testify to increasing popular ity, Brewed from the finest Jamaica Ginger it is perfectly wholesome and is an ideal bring tears to the eyes of the proverbial croir does not appear to be very familiar with judiced attitude, seeing that the statements

codile. It cries aloud that "the anguished his account book," said his 'Honour the Puisne made were not in consonance with the facts.

ummer beverage.

THE FRENCH CONSUL INTERVIEWED, Mr. Liébert remarked that he was astonish- ed a newspaper of the standing of the N..C. Daily News should have taken up such a pre-

Several corps have been despatclied · to the scene by the Imperial authori« tics.

[N. C. D. News.}

to Canton or to Tientsin and told the most They are preparing to withstand frightful stories. There was some foundation, siege by the Imperial troops... but it was grossly exaggerated. The Viceroy at Canton, misled by those rumours, gave at cert in times orders to stop the recesiting of coolies for Yunnan. Since then the new; con·· dition of things has been expinined to him and to this principal officials in Canton and also in Shanghai. Inquiries were made by the Chiness mandarins under the orders of the Viceroy. They wrote that everything` was altered and everything was all right now. "The manager of the Company came to Canton. about a year ago, saw the authorities there, explained bow things were organised now for the coolies and the Viceroy was perfectly clamation, I think about seven or eight months satisfied, So much so, that be issued a pro.

agn, explaining to the population of Canton and the Two Kwang that every precaution

was taken to see that the coolies were well treated and well paid and had all they wanted, and saying that there was no objection to fur- ther drakts of coolics being sent on. There is no doubt that ever since that time, nearly a year ago now, there has not been the slightest difficulty with the coolies--not the slightest.

A TWICE-TOLD TALE.

The Rice Crisis In Hunan.

Chengchou, Hu, 29th June, In Western Hunan nce is extremely scarce. The price has increased by 300 per cent. and is," advancing. The people are restess but the officials are on their guard,

the Lifeboat Office funds with the Protestant The prefect offers to share a small reserve of

chapel building lunds (in relief),

Death of the Archbishop of Tokio.

Tokio, 29th June. II. G. Mgr. Pierre Maria Osouf, Ronidh Catholic Archbishop of Tokić, is dead. The funeral takes place to-morrow morning.

The British Fleet in Japan.

Tokio, 29th June.

"What I have spoken about refers to the troubles that occurred two years ago. I really

1. M. flagship Diadem has joined the British. cannot make out how those old stories feet at Kobe, where there will be a lete in their are coming up again in the Shanghai presa.honour by the Municipality on the 3rd proxima. There is no reason whatever why they should be revived now."

What is your impression of the · Dally New editoria!?" "

"It is extraordinary, I can't make it out al all. There is not the ghost of a reason for such aories being circulated. They are with." aut kundation. If they had come out two years ago oon might have said there was a modicum of truth in them-things happened

AN AMERICAN. VISITOR..

OPTIMISTIC VIEWS ON THE PHILIPPINES.

A. S. WATSON & CO.Lthem, helpless, hopeless, and, we may de- down, or mark the page where the debt is tions completed and the agreement signed through ignorance on, the part of those in That the climate of Manila agrees with some

LIMITED,

ESTABLISHED AD. 1841. Hougkong, 21st June, 1906.

cry of humanity must be heard;" it speaks of inen "seeing their comrades dying around

pend upon it, hardly used, even if the arm ed men who drove them into tunnels are an exaggeration." No doubt the author of the [3 jeremiad is a good and godly man, but it is doubtful whether, when it comes to worldly affairs, he is an altogether reliable witness: kindly disposition and a greedy ear for pas sing events are apt to lead the judgment awry, and a missionary living isolated from the world at large must frequently find that his judgment has become warped for lack of that polish which comes from.continual con- tact with men of his own mental calibre. It

GREGOR & CO.,

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CROWN LABEL.

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OREDIT LESS 6%

Hongkong, 29th June, 1905,

-

Judge, in the Summary 'Court this morning, referring to a witness in a case for rent; "he is sure to come here again, so tell him to torn

entered, lot quicker reference in future cases." "Sure, my Lord," replied plaintiff's solicitor. "He'll be here again without a doubt,”

A MEMORIAL. service" at Yokohama, for the horses killed in the Russo-Japanese war is described in the Echo de Chine. For seven hours there was before an altar attended by Japanese priest, a procession of toldiers who in turn extolled the courage, endurance, and sagacity of the horses the had ridden and which bad perished on the field of baulie. It was a s.range spectacle to see men, and women above all, in tears over the memory of these animals.

a

is possible that the writer of the narrative LUKONGS Nos. 158 and 933 were this morning, which appeared in the News was regaled by at the Magistracy, charged with assault, some Chinese mendicants with a story whiching a blacksmith at Hunghom on 11th June they had picked up and elaborated in the last. There was also a charge against lukong course of their wanderings through the coun

No. 391 for assaulting a coolie at Hunghom on try. M. Gaston Liebert, the French Consul Wilkinson and Grist, appeared to defond, the the same day. Mr. E. J. Grist, of Mesura, at Hongkong, who should know as much first two defendants. He said that the case about the doings on the Yunnan railway as any was a very complicated one and in order to body, seeing that he was one of those who had facilitate the business of the Court he asked a share in completing the negotiations at Pek for a remand and suggested that both rases ing, in 1901, declared to a representative of should be heard together. The remand was the Hongkong 'Telegraph that the whole granted until Thursday. Bail'$20 each. story, if represented as having occurred re- cently, is a pure fabrication. He admitted RS, Wong Kong Fat, wife of the compradore of the Hamburg Amerika Linie, summoned that when work was inaugurated on the rail-istrict watchman No. So, at the Polico way in 1994 mistakes were made by the Count contractors, mainly through ignorance. They knew nothing of the conditions in China; they were unprepared to deal with gangs of Chinese labourers who depended upon them for their rice; and they thought they could

"I have been following this question since negotiations first began in Peking in 1901. I was in Peking the time and saw the negotia-

There was no feeling then on the part of the Chinese to retain the work of constructing rail- ways jo their own hands ; but that feeling has do anything to recover possession of the since grown and now, seeing that they cannot

railway scheme, they, or, at least a number of them, are endeavouring in thwart the French company by spreading taler which wilt. induce coulies to believe that they will be maltreated and thereby prevent the work of recruiting labour being carried out.

»

"As I sald, I know everything there is to be koown on this subject. One of the directors of the Yunnan Company was here about a month ago. He is now in Uaroi, but I think he will be back in Hongkong in a short time. They kept me pretty well posted un everything la' connec tion with the recruiting of coolies and the diffi- culties which were farmerly experienced with the Viceroy at Canton.

CHINESE AND FOREIGN COMPANIES,

"My impression is that a good many Chi, nese in the provinces are opposed to the emi- gration of coolies on account of what was reported to have happened to the Transnal And there is also, as I have said, the feeling against the building of the railway by a foreign

company. Some of the officials, I would not say all of them, and a certain number of the

THE COOLIES' STORIES. "What about the enolies' stories to the Rev. D. W. Crofts of the China Inland Mission? According to him the coolies only recently complained that they got insufficient food and the strange climate, and poisonous gases (especially in tunnels where men were driven to work by armed guards) ended many lives in agony

The missionary has been imposed upon, Some vagabond coolies have concocted' a wonderful tate in order to gain his sympathy and incidentally to obtain money. An ordinary in with such stuff, but a missionary—!" man of the world, would not have been taken

RECRUITING,

"And the work is proceeding without any difficulty being experienced in recruiting cpolies ? "

Mr. Robert B. Westcott, the Associate Edi tor of the well-known Far Batlırn Review, his arrived id Hoogkong from Manila, bent on a tour through Japan, Korea, and Manchuria

charge. But that was soon got over; experience patriotic Americans was apparent from lat came quickly."

burly appearance of Mr. Westcott, and that it can inspire a whole-hearted appreciation of | American methods of colonisation was evident from his optimate view of the future of the Philippines. According to the genial journalist, the Philippine Islands will you be recognized as the El Dorado of the Far East, while one might almost came to fancy that Manila will blossom into a now Blysium. It is true that Maullx cannot yet boast of buildings similar to those which adorn Hongkong, nor has it the magni- ficent 'vista offered by the Peak, but it has gardens which are the haunt of youth and beauty, and if all the world loves a lover then these gardens should be the centre of the earth.. La Manila it appears that the chief topic of cop- versation at present is the coming of the Dewey dock. People are quite convinced down south that Hongkong is to be eclipsed, and already they are confidently looking forward to the "Difficulty? Not only is there no difficulty time when Hongkong shipowners will be send.. but the coolies are coming of their own according their vessels to Manila to be, repaired and and offering their services. They are so satin overhauled. Probably that will occur fied with the present conditions that notwith about the period when the New Zea standing the very bad weather in the sum-lander is gazing on the ruins of St. mer months, the rainy season, they themselves Paul's, but meanwhile it does not appeat. came forward and asked the Company to go that the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock on with the work during the summer. The Company need be undaly alarmed. It Company was prepared to stop the work in the is interesting to learn that the Filipino i Nami! Val'ey, which is the most unhealthy proving amenable to Americas methods; he is section of the fine, for two or three months till even anxious to become a city workman, and the mainy season was over, but the coolies sald Mr. Wencou pointed out that native labour they would rather go on with the 'work, and constructed the electric tramway system, erect. ed the new public buildings, and performed is going on,"

other tasks which all go to prove that the Fill- pino is willing to work if the inducements are sufficiently great The Iesular Government, according to our visitor, is remarkable for the progress it has made in fathoming the cative mind and supplying the native needs. Being a pro-Government man, in the sense no topbi, that he is a good Republican, Mr. Waste In conclusion, Mr. Liebert said-This Colt sees good in all that has been done by Magisation about the treatment of the coolies op his country since McKinley's time, and even if somebody who has a desire to see the railway only led to new fields of endeavour. Mr. the Yunnan railway is being engineered by mistakes have been made there mistakes haya in the hands of the Chinese. But the railway Westcott carries a breezy personality with him will be completed by the French Company. It and should enjoy his trip to the Far North. will be running in two and a half years. It Ho proposes to study the conditions of the will be opened well within the, time allowed country now that Japan has introduced modern under the contract; you may be quite sure of ideas into Korea, and his experiences should furnish valuable information to those interested in affairs in the North.

THE re-bearing of the case in which a charged with A letter from Changsha, capital of Hunan, Itamway conductor states that news has been received from the stealing too tickets, valued at 55, the pro- districts of Siangian, Ninghsiang, and Linyang, perly of the Company, was concluded at the reporting the existence of Boxerism there, the land refused to alter his former decision and propagators of which cult are trying with some the fad-who is alleged to be the son of a success to get recruits to enter their

Canton gentry have been very strongly opposed to enterprises in China, We got the contract. for the railway long before that new feeling this morning, for using abusive became manifest against European cater and insulting language towards her some prises, and we began building the line nights ago. Mr. Otto Kong Sing appeared before the idea of excluding foreigners from for the prosecution. The complainant said Chinese development schemes prevailed. Since that a couple of nights ago 'she went to the then some of the Canton officials and those in club to fetch her husband. Under the verandah the southern provinces and in Shanghai have of the club she met defendant who flashed his done all they possibly could to hinder the work

pay the men with cheques and banknotes.ball's eye lantern on her face. She told him of the railway with the idea that if for some,

reason or other, especially if through failure to recruit coolies the work had to be stopped, then they would be in a position to buy back the railway from us.

་

"I must acknowledge that the Viceroy of 'Canton has acted in a perfectly fair manner in dealing with this question.

ABSURDI

"They said, according to the missionary, that they have to build their own huis?"

"Absurd. The Company has built houses the same as those at Yaumati for the coolies. They are well-looked after when they arrive at Haiphong, medically examined and provided with splendid accommodation,"

Of course these were serious errors, but they that she was out on legitimate business and She told were not irretrievable: And all this hap defendant used foul language, pened two years ago. The best proof that him not to flash his lantern on her face again, but defendant said that he did not care if she the missionary's tale lacks solid foundation had been the Emperor of China's wife," for he is found in the fact that the recruiting of would do what he liked. And he did. Then coolies for the Yunhan railway has the witness summoned him. Defendant said he sanction of the Chinese authorities, and is thought complainant was a thief nad be watch

MISTAKES WERE HADE. "There is no doubt that mistakes were made supported by Viceroy Shum of Canton. Ited ber. His Worship fiued him $5. is absolutely certain that if there was the

at the beginning. The company building the ONE of the most daring and barefaced to. railway had no experience of railway work in slightest suspicion that things were not as

baries that have occurred for some time was China. They had built railways in 7 wikey and represented such support would be rigidly committed at midnight yesterday on the Can also in some parts of Africa, but they had no withheld. The theory advanced by Mr.

too steamer's wharf, and the perpetrator, a idea how the work should be conducted in Liébert for the circulation of these stories Nomtag man, who can count the number of China. When the first batch of coolies arrived is at least plausible. He believes that the days he has been in the Colony on both hands, the accommodation for them as regards mai- "agitation" is due to those Chinese who and still leave a wide margin, has been put, sheds and supplies—such as rice, etc.were not wish to retain all national enterprises in away where he can do no harm for several exactly what they ought to have been. Thero Chinese bands. That feeling was evidenced weeks.to.come; At twelve o'clock last night,) was a lack of forethought; of course, they very all of which belong to Changsha prefecture, Police Court this afternoon. Hr. F. A. Hoio.

that."

BOXERISM IN HUNAN.

when the Conton steamers arrived in port the soon understood what was wanted. when the question of the Canton-Hankow

excise officers were searching passengers and A CAUSES OF GRUMBLING. railway was under consideration. Then, theiings were pretty lively at the wharf Au “You must bear in mind the fact that the Chinese declared that they would have no excise officer, who was at the time searching a: Yunnan railway is a private enterprise. The more concessions to foreigners; they would passenger, felt, a tug at his breast pocket and Government of Indo-China has nothing to do undertake the construction of the railway turning round saw a coolle running away. He with it Our authorities keep an eye on the 'felt' hid pocket and discovered that his four-line and supervise it in a way, and exert a certain themselves, keep the controlling powers in doifar sime piece had gone. He forgot all about control over the company and in the early days their own possession, and subscribe all the the man he was searching and gave chase. A made the Company understand that they must necessary capital, from their own resources. feriasarue followed and the coolla a captured after their methods of providing proper matsheds No doubt that is a highly commendable spirit, lower down the road, but be bad dropped the and Having everything ready on their arrival and it was taken as a sign that the Chinese watch in the street. The prisoner was brought The Company was always ready to pay the bad started on a new era of progress. They back, the watch and chain found, and a journey.wages of the coolles, but they had not the pros had recognised the importance of unity and the station undertaken. He was placed per currency. They were ready to give the before Mr. B. H. J. Gompertz; this mothing Chinees Cheques or bibkentes, but, as you the value of national pride. But in the case and sentenced to twenty ona daya' hard labour know, the coolies, would not look at these [36-1a | of the Yungan railway we are faced with and six hyuru' mocke,

they wanted copper cash. All these luts | MCD w

W23

SHIPPING AND MAILS.

It is the old story that if a recruit sariduously wealthy Canton merchant--was removed to the practices certain rites he will within a certain Victoriil-Gaol to undergo six months' hard number of days become invulnerable to shot labour. or steel. It would seem that the local author). ties of the cities concerned are trying to shut their eyes to the danger that is threatening the peace of their districts, where owing to the lamine resulting from the recent inundations the Boxer "professors do not find it difficult to obtain proselytce, especially as there is some discontent and they are promised much plua der and food if they once join the brotherhood. it is to be hoped that due representations may be made to the proper quarters promptly to it becomes too large and powerful body:- suppress this dangerous society in Honan ere

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MAILS DUE American (Hongkong Maru) 7th last. Indian (Namjang) with inst Canadian (Tarlar) 17th inst, American (Korea) 18th inst,

Foochow this morning at 6 am, and may be The Imperial German Mail La Zistön felt

expected berg on 4th inat, at $ p.m.)