1929-03-11 — Page 15

ART TILING Including

MOSAIC WORK

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Suggestions and Estimates

for all classes of work

•

C.E. WARREN & CO., LTD.

Chias Buliday.

Tel. 0. 289

KING

PRINTED PUBLISHED BY

Jangar "Hogglang Telegraph"

for The South China Morning Post, Lid,

1 & 3, Wyndham Street, Hongkong.

The

S

EXTRA

Hongkong Telegraph.

FOUNDED IBID.

MO. SA,TER

-# *-TEXT MONDAY, MARCH 11, 1829 日一初二

EDWARD

HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE.

EUROPEANS TRAPPED IN t BLAZING BUILDING.

Road aldo, were well alight and it

HOTEL

was obvious that nothing could BT THE CASUALTIES.

the upper part of the building.

At this time, three lines of boss were belag worked, but the flames had got such a fierce hold that they had little elect: Flames shot out from the verandahs and those standing in the doorway of the Bank of East Asia could easily feel the heat.

Tho are escapes were In Iso House Street, that being the side of the building most affected and the side from which the majority The escape only reached up to the third floor, however.

BRITISH LADY LEAPS TO DEATH of hotel residents jumped.

FROM

UPPER FLOOR.

FIRE'S RAPID SPREAD.

One of the worst fire disasters in the history of the Colony occurred in the early hours of this morning, the King Edward Hotel being complitely gutted, the blaze spreading into the upper storeys of the Savoy Hotel.

·

The most tragic feature was the loss of several lives, in cluding a number of Europeans, while among the injured were General Chan Ming-shu, the Civil Governor of Kwangtung. and his wife, who like many others, jumped from the blazing 'building and had exceedingly narrow escapes.

The fact that the fire escapes could not reach the upper floors of the burning hotel was largely responsible for the casualties. Numbers of residents were trapped and there were exciting scenes as they leaped into the jumping-sheets held out by firemen and volunteers.

One European lady, belleved to be Mra, D. J. Robson, wife of a Naval Yard official, jumped from the fourth floor into the street and was killed instantaneously,

Down Ice House Street, the fire, spread only on the upper floors and at this time it was obvious that A terrible disaster would occur,

Spreads to Savoy.

By 4.80 the top floor of the Savoy Hotel was well light, fierce flames shooting out over the verandahs, Ice House Street and Des Voeux Lines of hose littered Chater Road,

Road. The full equipment of the Fire Brigade was soon brought to bear on the outbreak, a big fire Ferry pler and her searchlight fast being moored at the Star playing full into lee House Street.

into Prince's Building and from Lines of hose were also taken up

the upper storeys streams of water were poured into the Kine Edward. Despite the huge volume of water poured into the buildings, on the Des Voeux Road side the the fire continued to spread.

falling debris sending up huge upper floors were quickly gutted, showera of sparks which at one time threatened Alexandra Build- "As a precaution, the sun inds the verandahs of Alexandra Buildings were taken down by 'office employees in order to remove Inflammable material from the range of the

showers of flying aparks.

Several charred bodies have, this morning, been dis-Ing. covered in the ruined abell of the building, but only one or two have so far been identified. It is feared that Mr. Enos Seth, who was on a holiday visit to the Colony, is among the missing.

EYE WITNESS' STORIES.

WAB

Retreat Cut Of

on

Top Floors Fall In The fire rayed most fiercely on the Des Voeux Road side, but by 3.30 the streams of water were beginning to take effect, but it was nearly burned out. These doors apparent that the top floors, were seon fell in, sending more showers of sparks high into the air. fire was watched by a compara- Spectacular in the extreme, the tively small crowd, due to the early hour at which it broke out. Chinese fokis left their quarters in full forde to watch the fire, and the crowd was soon reinforced

give a full list of the casualties, Whilst it in met yst possible to the following have been definitely established.

DEAD.

Mr. P. Baille (French), Seaman Kish (American), UBS Memphis.

A European lady, Mr. William Woods (British). Mr. Chung (Secretary, to Gen. Chan Ming-shu).

Two other Chinese (uniden- lified).

An unidentified Japanese WOMEN.

The European lady Is belleved to be Mrs. Robson, the wife of Mr. D. J. Robson, Naval Store Officer at the Royal Naval Dock- shimself missing. The couple yard, who, at the time of writing, had lived in the King Edward Hotel for about four months. It appears that Mrs. Robson jumped from the fourth floor of the Hotel, at the rear of the premises, and was instantly killed, her back being broken.

WAS the of

Mr. William Woods, Far Eastern representative the W.. E. Woods Company,. of Wellington, New Zealand, owners of the Great Woods Peppermint bed by firemen at 9 o'clock this Cure. He was found dead in his

upper floors. He had been suffer- morning, in a room on one of the ing from a severe chill and had en confined to his bed for the Woods, who was an Australian, greater part of the week. Mr. had been in Hongkong for past two months on business.

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DISASTER.

As far as can be gathered, the King Edward Hotel have bean majority of the employees of the accounted

Chinese for. The "boys" tell stories of dret run- ning down from the upper floors, only to and that the normal way of escape was blocked by smoke and flames. The majority of them appear to have made their escape by the bridge leading from the King Edward Hotel to Alexandra Building. None of them saved their belongings, however; and three boys are believed to have been injured. They are stated to be Ng Gor-yin, To Chat and Leung Kwan.

Canton Governor's Escape,

General Chan Ming-shu, the Civil Governor of Kwangtung, and Commander of the 11th, Nation- aliat Army, who came down from to Shanghai to attend the Third Canton on Thursday last en route Kuomintang National Congress, had a lucky escape. General Chan was staying at the King Edward Hotel with his wife and secretary, Mr. Chung. Mr. Chung his at the moment is stated to be missing and is believed to have been killed.

General Chan Ming-shu was to have left on the an. Khyber yester day but his departure was delayed. He was in the same room with his couple awoke to find the building wife, in the second floor. Tho in flames.

General Chan lost no time to

AMAZING ESCAPES.

A ROPE OF SHEETS AND BLANKETS.

PERILOUS EXPERIENCES OF TRAPPED RESIDENTS.

CHAN MING-SHU HURT.

acape

Perhaps the most sensational Officer in the American Navy, who was made by a Petty is stated to be Mr. Phillips, of the U.S.S. Asheville.

A

The story of his dacape in re- lated by various eye-witnesses, from which it appears that the man had been occupying a room

in the King Edward Hotel for the night and was first seen by those standing in Ice House street when floor it was, but from the evid- he appeared on one of the varna- daha. Stories differ as to which

ence of the blanket rope which assisting his wife, and dashed still hangs out of one of the hotel out on to the verandah. From windows it seems clear that the in the street, who called to them there they were seen by firemen escape was made from the fourth to jump into a sheet.

Both Madame and General Chan jumped one after the other from Gen. Chan Ming-shu, Civil Goy. They were admitted to the Govern the second floor and were saved, ment Civil Hospital at 4 a.m.

INJURED.

ernor of Canton.

the

Madame Chan Ming-shu. Andrew Piceloll (28), U.S.S.

Memphis,

To Chat (52), Hotel "Boy." Ng Jor-yin, (19), Hotel “Boy."

Leung Kwan, Hotel "Boy." Ming-shu, who were due to leave -Bath General and Madame Chan

Khyber, jumped from the burning for the North to-day by the a.. building and, luckily, escaped serious injury. General Chan is injured in the legs, whilst his wife is suffering from burns. the left thigh and to one of his Andrew Piccioli has injuries to ankles.

To Chat has leg injuries, whilst Edward and the Savoy Hotel asrainor character..

Such residents of the King the Injuries to the others are of a could get out found accommoda- tion at the St. Francis, the Metro-

One of the earliest Europeana | Injurica. on the scene was Mr. N. V. A. One of the most exciting rescues,

goucher, of Messrs. Benjamin and said Mr. Croucher, otta, who was amongst those which a Chinese was seen to crawl that in the rendered assistance by bold-along from the verandah on to a 3g the Brigade sheets into which plece of ornamental masonry over trapped residents of the Hotel the main entrance, at the height mpod. In conversation with n of the third floor. This man Hograph representative, Mr-crouched on his precarious perch oucher said he believed that the until the fire escape was run up. To broke out at about 2.50 a.m., He was successfully brought down. ut the time could not be definite.

stated. There also

ap- ared some doubt as to whether be outbraak originated on the round floor or higher up.

Mr. Croucher states that the rigade arrived on the scene very uickly, but, none the less, the Bre had obtained a good hold on the building by this time. Their Work was somewhat hampered owing to the fact that very little water could be got from the hydrant in front of Lane, Craw- Another European, thought to be House Street, directed ferd's establishment. At this a Frenchman, also jumped, but point a fire escape was got into landed wide.) Rosition, but some difficulty was Meanwhile, the fire had spread xperienced in getitng it into with tremendous rapidity, said Mr. peration. Mr. T. H. King, the Croucher. The entire building of iting. C.S.P., was early on the the King Edward Hotel seemed, to ne directing operations as head be involved and the two top floors the Fire Brigade.

of the Savoy Hotel were well alight. soon became apparent, sald By this time a tremendous volume Croucher, that many resi- of water was being poured into the

of the

Edward buildings, the fire floats gotting.to King Hotel had been trapped In work from the Prays and a naval the burning building, and some lug also coming up and getting axciting rescue acėnes were much water into the fire zone. Mr. witnessed. In this connexion, very "Croucher paid a high tribute to the valuable werk was rendered by men work of British sailors off H.M.8. from H.M.S. Suffolk, sent out for Suffolk, anying that the men work emergency duty.

ed at great hazard In doing every- thing they could.

Among the earliest on the scene were Europeans from the Hong- kong and Shanghai Meas.

Several Amerlenu sailors were seen on the verandaha facing lee House Street and their retreal was cut off by the blazing, bedrooms.dressing gowns, The Bro sheet was again bot into position and the men jumped, sey- eral being safely caught and only bruised and shaken, while it is fear- ed was at least two were so badlynole and elsewhere. injured that they are among the fatalities.

by a number of Europeans, several of whom were in night attire and

1/

تی

Early on the Scene.

lieved from duty at other points to The efforts of the Brigade in lee concentrate on the Des Voeux Upper floors of Prince's Building escapes was placed. Firemen took from the Road side, where one of the fire soon began to have an effect and lines of hose to the top, and, pour gradually the flames died down, to ing streams of water into the top Rive way to dense volumes amoke, which filtered through the of, the outbreak gradually die of three storys, saw the worst part streets of the city. Even Wynd- down. ham Street was choked with smoke shortly after 4.30, a.m.

Naval Men Arrive.

Naval Officers by Superintendent Edward block and

were Issued through narrow alleyway between the King

Brooks.

The naval men wore detailed to Prince's Building, where they let lengths of hose. down lines and hauled up further

Building.

Goods Removed. Fears that Alexandra Building might also be involved were now A detachment of men from the dispelled, but Indies were noticed Royal Navy arrived about o'clock, in charge of officers. The removing the stock as a precaution five in the premises of Au Petit Louvre

suddenly summoned, and they ly, the efforts of the fire-fighters men showed signs of being against possible aprend. Fortunate-

and brought along with them gas spread of the flames which were of were equipped with top boots were successful in stemming the heimete, axes and life-lines. Di- suficient, intensity to jump the Thrilling Scenes.

rections Mr. Croucher went on to describe

Alexandra one of the thrilling escapes, in

nding that of Petty Officer Phil-

The worst of one of Hongkong's most terrible fires had been seen ps, of the 11.8.3. Pittsburgh, who, th the aid of two sheets tied to-

A Telegraph reporter coming

by the break of dawn. As the dark ether scaled down from the fifth over from Kowloon at 3,80 found

neas was lifted, the exterior of the oor of the building to the fourth several people waiting for motor gradually got under effective con- upper floors, with roof and win From this stage, the fire was hotel, merely blackened on the for where he was able to descend boats on the Kowloon side. Hay trol. With the additional lines dows missing, gaya litle real 48 fire escape which had then been log ofBees in Alexandra building. from the top of Prince's Building. indication of the utter destruction

aced in position for him.

they had been warned of the fire at the Fire Brigade and naval men inside. Hanging from one of the The majority of the casualties up the King Edward and were going were able to concentrate on to the verandahs was seen the sheet that time were caused by jump-over. to discover the extent of the

from high floor verandahe. blaze. The course of the fire is top floor of the Savoy Hotel and by which Chief Petty Officer ne man who signalled his intention described below, the initial, out Tumping fell about two feet break being dealt with elsewhere by from the fire shoot which was re-witnesses who saw unfortunate t for him, Mr. Croucher residents killed and others make other volunteers helping the sensational escapés, ten to man the sheet. This un. mate victim was idlled almost intaneously, suffering terrible

At four o'clock the second, third fourth and fifth floors of the King Edward Hotel, on the Des Voeux

fire

floor.

二

"

Chode Own Method Having secured the rope to the

that he should jump down into verandah, he climbed over, des pite many cries from the street one of the sheats held by firemen, Choosing his own method of co-

Hemmed in by flames and un- able to get down the ordinary staircase of the hotel, Mr.. Philip sheets and blankets off the bed went back into his room, took the

and made them into a rope which No Savoy Casualties,

he fastened to the veranian. He could see the waiting are escape All residents of the Savoy Hotel, down below, but it fell short of the top floor of which was burned the floor he was on, and, with re- out, managed to escape without markable presence of mind, he de injury, as far as can be gathered termined to reach the fire escape at the moment. The majority by means of his improvised rope. made their way down the running between the Savoy Hotel escape leading down to the alley and Alexandra Building. last night were Mr. Pearman, Mr. Residents in the Savoy Hotel Banner, Mr. and Mrs. M. Taquel and two-year-old baby, Mr. Cairn Mr. Herbert, Mrs. Edmonson and Mr. Whelan, Mr. R. Limburg, Mr. which could be reached by the two children, Mr. L. R. Labedel cape, he lowered himself down the blanket rope to the third. floor

Geall, Mr. C. Bloden Klon, Mr. G and Mrs. S. C. Larson, Mr. W. T. fire escape. He then succeeded in Raymond, Mr. Wetton, Mr. M. getting on the ladder and thus Manuk, Mrs. Houre, Mr. and Mrs made his way down to the street

in safety. Mancini, Miss M. Manuk, Miss A. H. Scarbrook, Mr. T. H. Raydt, Mr. Keller, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Clothier, Mr. Mullen (U.S.A. Navy), Mr. William, Messrs. Rader and Win- Willard, Mrs. O. Peterson, Mr.

tolle, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Best,

ment, who was to accompany Gen- missioner of the Canton Govern- eral Chan Ming-shu to Shanghai, escaped unhurt. He was able to make his way to a fire escape.

Mr. Fan Ke-mo, the Finance Com-

Organised Search.

So soon as the fire had been got soon after seven o'clock, Mr. King, under complete control, which was

cided to make a systematic search C.S.P., and other authorities do

sing residents. of the ruins for traces of the mis-

name. He was dressed only in s question, said that all his personal suit and overcoat and, in reply to # property had presumably been burned In the fire. Joking after a nerve-racking experience, he said that climbing along the outer ledge of a building was difficult enough without having a suitcase to carry!

Hotel Boy's Experience.

One of the hotel "boys," nam

Shouts for help from the King Edward Hotel were heard early on ed To Crat, finding himself trapped by the fames went on to the verandah, and, looking over, found a jumping bheet being held out.in lee House street. He stood on the balustrade of the third floor verandah and jumped into the sheet. He is understood to be suffering from burns and leg in- juries.

Another Chinese "boy" was seen climbing down from the third door. finding a precarious foothold and He also clung to the masonry, by a

commendable display of second floor verandah, where he nerve managed to get down to the

was taken off by firemen on one of the escapes.

Another thrilling escape wa

rived in Hongkong two days ago made by Mr. Ng Ting-ying, a Can- ton Government engineer, who ar to inspect the work on the new Canton gunboat recently built at Mongkok. He occupied room No. 405 on the fourth floor of the King Edward Hotel and told a Tele- graph representative that he was awakened by shouts for help.

Brigade Rescue.

was heard in the

Eye-witnesses who

Baw the

He dashed out of his room only opinion that, it required much the exit to the lower floors was escape are unanimous in their to be met by flames. Finding that

counts the escape was made with dah of his room, shouting for as- pluck to essay the feat of getting stopped by dense clouds of down to the ladder. From all ac- smoke, he ran out on to the veran-

alatánce. He sheets were being used at the back street below, but the jumping. part of the hotel where people were jumping, from the top floors. Realising that only means of escape offered itself, Mr. Ng climb ed from the verandah of the

ornamental '.

a remarkable presence of mind, "pectators below, who watched which called forth choors from the every movement of the man high up above.

Another Escape. -An equally perilous escape was made by another resident on the third floor of the King Edward fourth floor to the told a Telegraph reporter that he Hotel, who, refusing his name, stone work above the main en-

general confusion. was awakened by

trance to the hotel. This consista screams and of a ledge about a foot wide and however, no apparent panic in the Standing there fa imminent peril, There was, offering only a precarious footing. hotel according to this informant, l'he was seen from the street and the staircase impossible. This resident also found exit by firemen were able to get the es

cape up to the place where Mr. Ng stood and so bring him down to safety.

WLA Bur

ever, and it seemed likely that pumping would go on for the best At this time, he saw Mr. Wit part of the day. As the hour chell and his children. Practically grew later the crowd of specta- all the rooms tors Increased, but by this time smoke, and the flames wore spread considered his escape er rescue

were dense with.

Mr. Ng told a reporter that he there was little to see and gradual-ing rapidly. ly the streets cleared again......

was a miraculous one. He said is not available at the moment of the King Edward Hotel, walking that time there was no jumping The official Fire Brigade report was by climbing over the verandah ornamental stone work, and

The only possible way of escape there was no way down from the The first call was put through to along the outside narrow ledge sheet below. As he

*t

engines being sent. Central headquarters at 3.06, four and thus getting into the Savoy rounded by dense clouds of smoke more were despatched from the Hotel, almost like a fly, the have stayed on the ledge much

Later two

Hotel.. Clinging to the side of the he considered that he could not out stations. Five motor pumps resident risked death at every longer, but must soon have been Philips, of the US.S. Asheville, 6.40 am, the fire had been mastered step by a fall into the street. With overcome and fallen headlong in

were used and both fire floate. By made a sensational escape. door of the King Edward about Yick-chuck and mortgaged to the ind over on to the verandah Firemen broke down the side Edward Hotel is owned by Mr. Lau made his way along and succeeded

It is understood that the King remarkable coolness, however he to the street.

six o'clock in order to get at the Land Investment Co. for $600,000 and so to safety.

in reaching the Savoy Hotel, where smouldering masses, of debris inside. The lines of hose were under a Chinese syndicate who took The management of the Hotel was were ra-kept working at full pressure, how-up the concern in July, 1828.

on the fierce glare died down. Further up Ice House Street, other lines of hode directed from Prince's Building also effectively quelled the fire in the top floors of the King Edward.

With the orrival of the naval detachment, dremen

Printed and Published for the Proprietara When seen by a Telegraph |ÁZ ZATOK PRANT FRANKLIN, DA SMART reporter he refused to give him