1918-04-09 — Page 10

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THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, TUESDAY, APRIL 9, -1918.

BACECOURSE DISASTER,xid there is the cause of the co. That the Conditions of Letting make and that was that, in future Babe matshed sites should be revised if they were to have these matabeds lapse." ve "pikir, con

Now No. 16 by itself is like à brick by the Director of Public Works and erected for future meetings the standing, 'sa' ond-it,istopheavy: Captain Buperintendent of Police Government should direct that the (Continued from Page 9.) but the range of matabeds taken as with a view to the safety of the iron fence at the back of the sheds Then the idea that the lashings whole were like a brick lying on Public and submitted to the Legis by the Golf Club, and he thought wise being cut created a panic in its broad side which is not top Intive Council for approval, also the six foot fence, the natihed 2. That sites should Ls letto fence should be entirely renfoved. the breast of Mr. Li Po Lung, & beary. At every point of the row

broader than the responsible individuals only subject That was the only suggestion that worthy gentleman of great intellig- the base was

to a cash deposit as security for he had been asked to lay before the. ence, so that he forthwith withdrew height

the conditions, jury. himself and his family from the shed.

Then we were told that the strat compliance with

Mr. Loo D. D'Almads said he did For the purpose of my argumett ture was faulty for want of diagonal which should be signed by lessee,

3. That the gangway at the back not propose to address at any great with regard to panic it doesn't mat braces, and owing to the fact that ter whether the cutting actually the floors were on different levels; of the sheds should be widened and length or to recapitulate the evid tock place or not, so long as people but it was subsequently demon kept, clear of staircases, iron railence, because Mr. "Bowley had sl ered and what they would probably thought it was going on.

strated that the provision of diagon-ings, hawkers and other obstruc-ready read to them what he consid

how much stolen.

-

..

4. That shores should be allowed consider a very full resume of the

were

But he felt be at the back of the sheds, "precan evidence, making it very fresh in would have failed in his duty to tions being taken to protect the their minds. tur

3. That the height, floor space, his clients, some of whom internal arrangement and lighting lessees and others the families of of, and the exits from the sheds victims, if he did not cak them to should be approved by the Director do what he considered the law en of Public Works and Captain powered them to do. At the outset learned Attorney General that the Superintendent of Police before of the enquiry they beard from the erection.

6. That the number to be accom-Government desired criticisms and modated on cacl: "floor should be also criticisms against the Govern departments. That fixed by the Director of Pablic ment's owa

he proposed very Works and Captain Superintendant being the case

1 mai ed að sau la dina

THE SOCIETY OF ST. GEORGE,

HONGKONG.

WAR BOND DRAWING

3

QUESTIONS

AND

ANSWERS

of Police and conspicionsly dis briefly to touch upon what he con played on each floor, the lessee sidered the salient facts that had QUESTION A.-How many tickets have being subject to a penalty if over been brought out; but he thought that it would not be out of place crowding OCULTE.

7. That no fire or light (except if he recalled to the minds of the be Jury the oath, that they had taken! electric properly fixed) shall

row. before the enquiry. allowed in any shed in the A properly isolated shed might to provided for.refreshments.

S. That the sheds should

ADY

Mr. D'Almada reviewed the system

QUESTION

QUESTION

you purchased or how

many are you interest- ed in ?.

B.-Is the winning number

amongst them?

!

2. If so what are you going to do with the pro-

ceeds ?,

ANSWER A. -99.

3

ANSWER B.-Of Course!

ANSWER C.-Cive 1'3rd to Charity and pouch the balance.

The foregoing are reasonable answers to the questions but you may have some better ones; if so, please submit them to "War Bond Answers." Post Office Box No. 351, Hongkong, who will give judgment thereon, and sender of the best answers will receive TWO WAR BOND TICKETS AND 5 TOMBOLA SPILLS. Any number of alternative answers may be sent in but winner will be required to produce a War Bond Ticket already purchased for each answer submitted. All alternative answers to be sent in by the 23rd of April. They may be in comic, poetic or tragic vein.

The cutting theory should not a bracing is a question of degree, tions. ́submit, be discussed lightly: there is and that you must regard the struc nothing impossible in it; the eridture as a whole, and remember that ence of Li Po Lung and his son is a diagonal brace at any point helps that they heard the sound of cut to resist the thrust of the whole ting with a knife: a very charac-range towards that point. teristic sound quite distinct from the

Mr. Messer told us that he had sound of breaking, and the boy was studied mathematics and that if familiar with it from watching ban you placed a series of horizontals on boo men at work.

a series of perpendiculars and then Colonel Young's statement that it gave a lateral thrgst the structure involved the suicide of the cutter would collapse: a fairly elementary does not render the theory incredi principle which most of us learnt in ble: there is eren sa historical pre-our nurseries. cedent for such a death in the story He totally ignored the lashings. of Samson, who brought down upon but at last he had to admit that himself the house of the Philistines each lashing afforded a certain at Gaza, by pulling out the uprights, amount of resistance to a lateral and slew at his death more than be rast, which amount must be multi- alow in his life.

plied by the number of peints Isshed And we can very well imagine that Colonel Young has had no experi- a few desperadoes bent on robbery ence in matshed" construction, but might have seized the opportunity, he has built bridges for artillery,

Mr. D'Almada read the oath and when all the spectators were look and was strong on the theory of dia-

continued: If their duty was tà доб whatever ing at the ponies assembling for the gonal bracing. Nov

be condemn anyone they would 5th Race, or watching (as one wit-stresses these matsheds had to no told us) the drawing of the stand, they were not asked to stand passed by the Director of Public hesitate to do so. They as men of talent and understanding. Champion Sweeps, of cutting the that of a tank or heavy howitzer Works and Captain Superinten-position in this Colony, as men of lashings of the cross bracings in crossing them, or any of the specia! dent of Police before the Races, high one or more of the basements of the strains to which bridges are subject: and inspected by their officers daily would not hesitate to do their duty, sheds. Sach lashings are not in the and we have evidence that the during the Races, and regularly the duty which was unfortunatels placed upon them by selection 10. middle of the shed, but near the braces were sufficient for 1 ordin-patrolled by the Police.

9. That no .counters or other the Bench However stern or dis edge, and it would be quite easy to ary purposes. cat with one of those sharp knives Col Young also criticised the approvision for the sale, drawing or tasteful, be had no doubt that they which the bamboo men use, and to parent absence of a strat in eon-cashing of tickets should be allowed would do it, because they owed it as a duty to the unfortunate victims slip out before the shed fell. Itimation of the line of the back of on any erper floor. would be still easier to vanish in the Nos, but I have since pointed out 10. That a detachment of the of the disaster, to the relatives, to "anie stricken mob, with much of to you that there is a very substan- Fire Brigade with hose ready fixed the public, to the Government and the cash that must have been scartial strat there, which, though not should be in attendance at the to the Crown, and he did not Houbt that they would not shrink from tered about. We are told that much in line, is so near. the line as to Races. cast vanished, we have no informa- afford considerable support. Also 13. That until a proper firefring the responsibility on tion as to how much was burnt and that each of the diagonal braces service has been installed at the party whom they considered to be

aloping from N.E to S.W. in the Race Course Arrangements should responsible. Of course no good policeman will range from 14 to 9 takes up the be made for an immediate and Touching on some of the evidence admit the existence of a crime un-thrust as it comes along and relieves adequate supply of sea water. less he has a clue, and no clue too. 9 d the greater part of t 12. That the Water Authority the matshed cutters has been found Professor Middleton Smith and Fr. should confer with the Captain the police therefore are bound to Dyer both said that, having no data Superintendent of Police as to the

of the permit issued to the pooh-pooh this theory.

to go upon, they could only rely on position and size of Fire Hydrants, If any damage was done either the experience of the contractor.

which should be periodically tested lessees it was the duty of the Building Authority to see that the intentionally or accidentally to the Mr. Chatham, Mr. Perkins, Mr, by the Fire Brigade, structure which caused the partial Wright and Mr. Sara, who have all 13. That the Fire Brigade should mataheds were built in accordance collapse of a floor, that would be had practical experience in matshed be supplied with maps and in- with provisions provided by law and quite sufficient to start a panic with structures, all gave it as their constructed as to the position and he contended that in view of the the consequent rush to the exits sidered opinion, that the matsteds size of hyrants, the stations and permits the Building Authority and the concentration of the live were sufficiently strong for all orduties of turncocks, the use of the came within the definition of what was called the statutory duty in- load in a portion of the structure dinary purposes

water authority's telephone sys-

# posed by law. If there was negli ay statutory obligation on the it and who should have seen that do you think that that clears the not prepared to receive it, and the

tem &e.

Mr. D'Almada: Yes, there was guard. As to the Captain Super Mr. Bowles, I submit so. The 14. That the Firs Float xbmkd gence by that Department' the res- Department to inspect these sheds the Government gave him all safe contractor of all liability 1

Mrintendent of Police, he personally cause of death must be the im be in direct telephonie communis-ponsibility fell upon them. Asked for the section tion with the Fire Station, and the ther that responsibility amounted D'Almads said he did not know submitted that while the Captain mediate cause of death and if the to criminal responsibility, which that there was any direct section Superintendent of Police, was not immediate cause of death was firs Race Course in direct telephonic

informed of anything regarding that was not a risk contemplated by Government was question he was not gone The Coroner: If the Building these matsheds, it was true that the the contractor.

Mr. Wakeman not wishing to to lay toy stress upon, because he Authority has omitted any duty it latter knew all about it, although

the Coroner in- agreed with Mr. Bowley when the has omitted the duty to inspect he had no official intimation what address again,

Mr. D'Almeda: 1 submit that soever, and as regarded the Fire timated that the summing up would latter said that their duty was to consider the criminal negligence. the Building Authority has not Brigad he quite agreed with Mr. be given on Friday. not the civil negligence of any acted in accordance with the pro Bowley that they should have been thought it my duty to occupy,

Mr. D. V. Steatenson said he party. They would agree that the visions of the Ordinatics. Es him there with all the necessary zppli

The New French Minister, very considerable experience of did not propose to deal with all of Budding Ordinance was passed for self said that he has not applied ances. The fact that certain lessees matshed structures, and who gave the evidence, which had been very the safety of the public, and pesal- the law in this particular case. had fire places did not put any res-

ties were provided for neglecting it, The Coroner: He is at fault in ponsibility on them because there The Freno-Minister to

was no prohibition against it, and his evidence in a very clear and fully and ably dealt with by Mr.

Peking, M. A. Bappy will short The death in the case before you envisting way, after a careful ex Bowley. He also did not wish to her had in that Court had many not calling for ́s plan?

Mr. D'Almada: He has not call as regarded the boring of accomly arrive in Shangbai en route for was due to suffocation and that amination of all the data before him, offer any criticism on the action of people summoned by the Depart might have resulted either from col-aid especial stress on the principle the Government, the Public Works ment for omitting to do this Gred for a plan and he has allowed modation they received no notice to the ospital to take up file ya lapse or fire: and Dr. Macfarlane that you must treat the structure Department or the Fire Brigade. that thing, and if the public were the lessees to build any sort of limit the accommodation, and there the N. C.Daily News. In order to welcome. Bappa and to has told you that the position of the

on their part or for any contraven- and of any description so long as allow anyone and as they were for an opportnally of meeting legs does not necessarily point to a whole, and the only improve His own interest in the proceedings, liable to prosecution for emissions structure they liked, or any height was no reason why they should not|

ment be could suggest was the re- as he thought the jury knew, was tion of the Ordinance, be zobmitted they did not encroach on the ad-respectable people Finally he aim, the French community 10 thought it was his duty to ask the antertain the Minister to dinner atoration of those raking stratts at on behalf of the lessee of the I suggest that the pile of bodies the rear which the Public Works United Stand, and he thought the that the Building Authority was joining land: my brain

Resuming Mr D'Almada said Jury to consider the ovidence very at No. 8 was caused by a combina Department (in order to protect the evidence clearly showed, at least self responsible for any omission

April 9. sheds fell towards No. 6, but the tar had forbidden the contractor he submitted that the evidence on his part in not seeing that the that regarding the stability of the seriously and in coming to their at the French Municipal Hall on

tended to show, that as regarded Provisions of the Ordinance were sheds, irrespective of what he had verdict if they should consider that properly applied in all cases, ... already said regarding the respon- the responsibility rested on ang

Clergyman's5 Sons Killed, top-door of No. 8 fell in the opposite One final word about the 3 stori sheds 4, 5 and 6 to negligence or

The Coroner: I don't know whe-sibility of the Building Authority, body's, shoulders they would have

RPW. Bushey, of Fries direction-this gives us double

ed sheds" upon which a great deal want of care could be assigned to ther you can make that clearer. there was also a daty at common no hesitation in giving their verborne, has received news of the quantity at that point

leath from wounds, of his those people. As Mr. Blake bed gestion would increase the panic of criticiim has been passed.

Mr. Wright has pointed out that told them, the stands had been built Mr. Bowley was not prepared to law upon the matshed contractor to dict accordingly,

argite that there was a statutary see that all due care was taken and The Coroner: I don't quite Rian Legaard Bashey. In straction of the sheds. He agreed you advising the jury to find a fer- Bashey, died from wounds is the Mr. D'Almada: I disagree with with many witnesses that there diet of criminal negligence against East African Camusign; in Sep

were not many persons in the the contractor?

Mr. Denison, an absolutely inde

followed in the letting of the sheds and went on to say that in view of the Building Ordinance and in view

fi

Judging of answers will be made by the St. George's Day Publicity Committee!

TICKETS are on sale at Banks, Clubs, Hotels, Leading Stores, and the Hongkong and South China War Saving Association c/o the Union Insurance Society of Canton, Ltd,"

consequent collapse of the sheds. pendent witness whose experience in Mr. Bowley touched on the evi- the Colony is longer than that of any dence as to the fires, stating: It is other witness, totally disagreed with obvious that any one of these fires Colonel Ward's theory that the may have cased panic and it is prol

able that each of them cansed floors being on different levels af- communication with the Central was of course their duty to enquire on the point.

in, fact he went forded no support, i

far as to say that the contrary was the case, and that since the floors were lashed to the uprights. the difference in level afforded the latter more points of support.

A number of deaths: and for such

deaths my clients cannot be held responsible,

•

It is argued that the pile of bodies at No. 8 and The condition of the bodies proves that, the collapse commenced there, but there is no

medical evidence to support this

theory.

suffocation

M

tion of causes. We know that the

Bach con-

and the difficulty of getting out. The

Finally Mr. Bird, who hise had

to erect.

21

Police Station by Telephones in each esse.

I thank you gentlemen for the kind attention you have given and I apologise for the time I have

600,

sember, 1915, Bergt: Barnard

shed itself is so strongly constructed nearly all the sheds in 1914 were in the same manner for the past obligation on the Building Author proper materials used in the coa anderstand, Mr. D'Almada Are fotober, another son Charles

of 3 stories, as they had high bear thirteen years and had double upit with a forest of uprights, crossments. The increase in 1915 is there rights leading up to the upper braces, staircase etc. that its very fore trifling, and in 1916 there were floor. Mr. Blake bad also said that strength again added to the difi

eren sheds of 4 stories, which stood they had solid wooden counters hin

The Coroner: You find that Colony who knew as wuch as these culties of extrication. Finally we

in safety.

provided by themselves, and not by

terms

of the experienced matiked builders of Mr. D'Almada: I am not here Bushey was killed in Fence; in- know that the fiercest fire started

"In conclusion I submit, gentle the contractors. They also had obligation in the

the art or scienos of matched build-to ast the Jary to find a verdict one November, 1917 Lon-Carpl, H. near this spot, and rendered the

men, that the only verdict you can thres large water barrels ca the permit

Mr. D'Almada: Ten

ing. He submitted with everyway or another butto, place before the R. Basbry was killed in France; chances of escape from this mass and on the legal evidence put before ground floor and eight fire buckets.

The Coroner: The terms of the confidence that there was no single Jury what I consider to be the law ad in November, 1918; Second- you is that the case of death was There was also provision for con- of struggling humanity practically nil: It does not follow however suffocation, which was either caused trolling the spectators, two watch permit are that the person who architect in the Colony who really on the subject and what I consider Lirnt: Frank Bohsy waa aleo than any of these persons were kill-

men being stationed at the door, takes on the permit must comply knew the art and science of mat to be their duty and responsibility killed in F.anna.

Patriotism Curbed. shed construction. Such being the in this enquiry. What I should like

Sirs the 2.0.Daily News of ed by collapse, all or any of them by collapse or fire, and that what

eror neglect there may have been while there were two detectives in with the Ordinance. It does not go may have been killed by the fire.

the 4th instan' Among 18. on the part of others, whether in the stand during the whole of the so far as to say that the Building case, these things were left entirely to add about statutory duty is pro-to the matched contractor, who this (Mr. D'Almada quoted from

presentative bodies of men in the The pile of bodies at that point also the shape of quitting precautions, race meeting. As in the case of Authority minst enforce the

alone know anything about them at Halsburg) points to the fact that sheds 8 and 9 permitting overcrowding or reckless-other sheds no charge was made for visions of the Ordinance.

Mr. D'Almada No, but the Or-all Ar to the contractors rupan The Coroner: Do I understand Far Est who baye strongly felt were seriously overcrowded:

ly using fire for cooking, there is no admission Accordingly, the M

says that the Public, Works sibility then, it was part of his Mr. Bowley, to argue that the pan the call of the war are the British Fmally we come to the evidence evidence of any criminal negligence Stevenson, thought that the Cordinance

experte, professional and e

on the part of the contractors, who once and jury would come to the Department or the Building Author duty to make representations to tractor would be cleared of all employees of the China Herchin s honestly and to the best of their conclusion that as far as his alienta ity must see that any matshed to the Building, Authority or respon-fishility if it can be shown that 8, N Co. Everyone of them has City be owledge and skill with good were concerned they hat taken all be built must be built in, accord-sible officer, if he knew that the death was due to fire and not to creased bis claims to be allowed

Foto go and serve in any on criticised "the construction of the material and workmanship conreasonable precautions, much as ance with the provisions of Schedule prohibited struts on the Golf Club collapse 1

For the proper regulations under side were :. structed sheds which would stand

were ordinary or customary, or

djob D'Aknada's, enbuission was that

Mr. Bowley: I don't think the may only to be told that be ib With all respect to Colonel Ward strain which could reasonable.

usually taken in looking after the the Ordinanc

KATA staying where be it. Soms have The Coroners According to the the contractor, was equally repot contractor can be held responsible doing his duty bent in the war by interests of the public who attended in their stand There was only one Ordinance it can be well argued sible for not having made so zo-tar fre As suggestions have been invited

their ships. bmit-presentations because the contras The Coroner Supposite he can Rome; the rest were not allowed to You will remember that the gall the guidance of the Government

ted but is to arhetben

was for was the man who knew all about shot that the fire was the final fact that his oberts asked him Tant Colonel came into Court, in fature I reature to submit some suggestion that he wished to make fast plans should have been glanced at the model of No. 16, and ggestions, as follows:

mateur.

I will first deal with those who

mataheds unfavourably.

• vönture to submit that be gave hinb anticipated, opinion somewhat hastily

Leava

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