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August 5, 1896.]
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not seen again until it was washed ashore Friday: The police also rendered signal service at Prays West About nine o'clock Inspector Quincey and three turnkeys from Victoria Goal_heard cries of "Save life" proceeding from three sampans which were being tossed about near the Praya Wall. The four willing helpers at once entered the water, caught hold of the rope attached to the sampans, and dragged them on to the land, thus saving sixteen persons from probable death. In another instance P. 8. Macanlay and P. C. Fenton assisted in landing the crews from four ballast boats which were lying between Bank Wharf and Pedder's Wharf. Soon after the rescue the boats broke up and sank.
The Victoria Recreation Club has sustained very serious blow. Of the bath, the dressing sheds, the bamboo bridge, only a few piles and two tabs of water in the shower bath shed were to be seen in their usual place yesterday morn- ing, while the whole of the bamboo structure pro- tecting the boats for which there is not room in the boat shed proper had been blown away. The club presented a very woe-begone appearance, even the stout pontoons having been carried away and lost, while the only property saved are a few strips of bamboo and some supports which were washed ashore. The damage done to the Club property will probably reach $5,000. It is to be hoped that the Committee will soon be able to rig up a temporary bathing estab- lishment for the accommodation of the scores of bathers who are in the habit of having a re- freshing dip in the morning and evening.
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The other casualties in the harbour are very humerous, but not, fortunately, very serious. When the approach of the storm was signalled there was a rapid exodus of small craft to sheltered bays, and even steamers shifted to un- exposed positions, H.M.8. Grafton and Redpole being amongst the number. In fact at six o'clock in the evening, just before the typhoon gun was fired, the harbour was almost totally deserted, only a few sailing ships, the P. and O. steamers, and half a dozen other boats being at their customary buoys. Consequently there was not much opportunity for the tumultuous sea to play havoo with the shipping. Whenever they could, however, the powerful wares asserted themselves. Cables were snapped and the Glen Caladh and five other sailing ships drifted down the harbour, the Glen Caladh being dis- masted, the Hygeia dragged about 500 feet, the Meanee was run into by the Amarapoora, an anchor belonging to the Victor Emanuel dropped, and other minor accidents are corded. The Amarapoòra, after being in collision with the Meanee, get foul of the Norwegian steamer Tyr and damaged a couple of the lat ter's plates. The Macduf and Brand were also churning up against each other for some time. A Naval Yard lighter drifted on to the beach near the Recreation Club, and an- other lighter performed a very extraordinary feat. She broke loose from her moorings and glided swiftly down the harbour until she came opposite to the P. & O. office, when she was hurled high and dry bang up against the old Prays wall. Even at high tide she is on dry land and people, as was the case with the apple in the dumpling, are wondering how the dickens it got there. Near Stone- Island a lot of damage was dore, many cargo boats, having been capsized and smashed, but, as far as we know, no lives were lost, Some fear is entertained for the safety of argo boat No. 408, which left Musso's hart with ten people on board and has not been seen since. A remarkable effect of the typhoon was experienced at the Kowloon Docks. The steamer Strathallan was in dock for repairs and had had a plate taken out of her bottom. Shortly after midnight, at high tide, and after the change in the wind, the waves dashed over the caisson and in little over fifteen minutes the
as filled, and the steamer also. There was not a little excitement on the new Spanish gunboat which has lately been com- leted for service. She started on a second trial trip round the island on Wednesday morning first of all proceeded eastwards. The sea too rough, however, and so the vessel urned - and it was resolved to make trip by taking - the western entrance. Green Island was safely passed, but after going
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
a short distance further it was decided to return. By that time the sea had become much rongher and the captain was compelled to anchor be- kind Stonecutter's Island until this morning. The guests on board included the Spanish Consul, and they had a most uncomfortable and trying experience, as there no food on board. They had tiffin at one o'clock and this was the last meal they had until landing at Hongkong yesterday morning. The vessel, however, be haved splendidly, and the trial trip, made under such extraordinary conditions, was completely satisfactory.
Amongst other damage in the harbour was the smashing up of part of the Naval Yard Pier and also a portion of the Submarine Mining Pier. The American schooner Retriever collided with Blackhead's hulk, thereby damag- ing her port bows and stripping her of a gangway.
The Praya has suffered very considerably, Throughout the storm seas were swept over the wall and consequently the roadway was badly cut up and was in parts almost im- passable in the morning. Bricks and tiles, holes and pools, broken trees and wreckage, heaps. of loose stones and sand were scattered over the entire length of the sea frontage, and as soon as possible roadmen were engaged to clear away the obstructions and repair the thoroughfare. Of course it was this part of the lower level that felt the keenest edge of the typhoon and much damage was done to property. The mat shed on New Pedder's Wharf which served as a shade for launch passengers was blown to the ground. At West Point the top floor of an extensive godown was blown right away at eight o'clock. The keeper was in the house at the time, but fortunately he was not
Eastern injured. In the
district sheds, verandahe, chimneys, roofs, and tiles were removed; indeed from most parts of the colony accidents of this description are reported, but in no case has bodily injury been sustained.
I
In Queen's Road trees were uprooted by the dozes, one, a particularly large one, causing an obstruction for some time in front of Murray Barracks. Falling trees have snapped two or three electric wire posts, and telephone wires twisted in fantastic shapes were strewn about the road. The roofs of several old Chinese houses near the Wanchai nullah were blown off, and a large sunshade at the police guard house at the gate of the Royal Naval Hospital was blown away. Near the Monument many trees were uprooted and several blocked the gate of the Mahomedan Cemetery, At the Racecourse some zinc sheeting on the roof of the Grand Stand was torn away and several matsheds used by coolies engaged in building the new stables were destroyed. In the town itself practically no damage was done to the various commercial offices. The Hongkong Hotel, which of course was exposed to the fall force of the blow, sustained only slight damage to a verandah. The wind also blew down a verandah at 4, Chancery Lane, and part of the front wall of 42, Stanton Street. In Upper Wyndham Street all the roofs suffered more or less serious damage on the north side, and at the Central Police Station, the Inspectors' quarters, the Magistracy, and the Gaol the roofs were stripped of a number of tiles
On the Richmond Estate much damage was done, windows and verandahs being blown away, rain water gutters forced off, and trees, lawns, and gardens destroyed.
The whole of the Government telephone ser- vice was disorganised, and many private sub scribers had to forego the use of the telephone yesterday.
At Kennedytown the verandahs of a row of fourteen houses recently erected were blown down, and later three of the houses collapsed.
Going higher up we find that the Botanical Gardens have suffered very serious damage. Nearly every tree was robbed of branches, many trees were uprooted, flowering plants ruthlessly mowed down, and the whole place is in a sad chaotic state. It will be many months before the Gardens wear their customary aspect. At the Albany, just above the gardens, most of the houses sustained damage to the roofs,
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The damage at the Peak was very extensive, almost every house bearing some evidence of unusually hard treatment. The Tramway stations
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sustained only slight Hotel several rooms were and windows were blown in View one of the glass openings in was blown in, and the cookho burn, the Peak Residence of His the Governor, was partially unroofe Dunottar the servants' quarters were c ably damaged; many tiles were lifted from Stokes's bungalows; the Government Villan stripped to be re-roofed, were denuded of the matshed erected over them; and the servants quarters of half a dozen houses in Stewart: Ter race were damaged. The building material in usa on the houses on the hill above Stewart Ter race was scattered by the storm. One gre pile of timber looked much as though a couple of Titans had been indulging in a game of spillicans in a somewhat boisterous manneray ka
By far the most serious accident happened at the Peak Hospital, which was almost wrecked. Six windows in the upper floor were blown out: and a great portion of the roof lifted. The patients were removed with all speed to the rooms on the ground floor.
The roofs and
The roof of 2, Des Vœux Villas was damaged, and the Government Pavilions were partially unroofed. The Neuk sustained some damage: and some tiles were lifted. Fernside suffered a good deal, a portion of the roof being stripped off. Hillside was struck with some violence by the wind, and some of the windows were blown in, besides damage being done to the roof. The Retreat was reported to its occupier by a zealous coolie as being so much damaged as to- be practically destroyed; and it was a good deal damaged in various ways. verandahs of all the Cameron Villas have suffered, and in the early part of the storm a large end window of the verandah of No. 1, Cameron Villas was blown in. Mount Kellett. Bungalow has also suffered, the verandah hav- ing been blown away and the servants' quarters unroofed. All the matsheds erected for the workmen at the Mount were destroyed. High- clere, Magazine Gap, was partly unroofed, and at Tusculum a good deal of damage was done. to the roof.
The Mount Austin Hotel withstood the force of the typhoon exceptionally well. Some glass was smashed in the verandah on the south side, portions of the verandahs were blown down, and some brick work on the new extension was: also blown_down.
The typhoon played havoo with Tor Crest, which has only just been glassed in. The wind blew in the new glazing, first breaking the glass and then ripping out the frames, portions of which were carried on the hill side. During the storm the uproar made by the wind, the break- ing glass, and the tearing of the wood was almost appalling, while the rain forced its way- through windows and shutters in streams.
Many trees at the Peak were uprooted, others. were entirely stripped of their leaves, and most had branches lopped off. It was with the utmost difficulty that pedestrians could get through Plunket's Gap, one gentleman taking a quarter of an hour, although he was assisted by coolies.
A tremendous amount of damage was sustained at Kowloon, perhaps the most serious and the most inconvenient being the total destruction of the soldiers' matsheds. About 130 men of the Rifle Brigade and about. 450 men of the Hongkong Regiment were deprived of their shelter and had to huddle together in a stone built bungalow after getting drenched through with rain and almost blown off their legs by the terrific gale. The men of the Rifle Brigade on Thursday came over to Hong- kong, where they will be accommodated with the, other Riflemen until new matsheds are erected. We believe that in consequence of the losg of the matsheds most of the men had to go. short of their regular meals, while not a few of them have lost personal property, which they will have to make good out of their own pockets. ✨
The Observatory also came in for attention. The was taken off th dozen windows were observatory
the instruments were and some of
gauge
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of the breese · good order throughou
blowing
wand blew
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