THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
BURNING OF THE BRITISH BALK MARK CUKRY
MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE.
There arrived at Hongkong on the 11th Feb. by the steamer Kusiyang from Iloilo Captain Mosher and the crew of the British barque Mark Curry, which was burnt in Iloilo harbour on the morning of the 5th inst. The barque was a vessel of 1,200 tons and belonged to Windsor, Nova Scotia. She was taking in a cargo of sugar and was about half full. How the fire originated is unknown, but We believe Captain Mosher intends to apply for a court of inquiry to be held. By a.m. the fire had obtained such headway that information was sent to the Kweiyang, Captain Outerbridge, which was also lying in the harbour, and assistance applied for. The chief officer at once went off with a boat's crew to render what assistance he could, but found on
there
appre
the San of Ter
from
rush
which liquid was molte verandah, but fortunatel
real nature just in time, and other woodwork in the before the fire was finally ex stated that it will cost $200 to mage. Immediately under the Colonial Secretary's owing to the large quantity and verandahs and the heavy been utterly destroyed if the fire had so promptly checked. A business gentlemen, who were proceeding to their offices, witnessed of the firemen..
and Maxims placed set off the picture to advant
of the stairs a sand-bag by Maxim guns, was constructed he superintendence of Battery Quarter- Sergeant Coyle and Gunner Thomson, was as picturesque as such things can And it was rumoured during the evening that least one foreign military officer was placed striot espionage for wandering too close previnots. The St. George's Hall St. Andrew's Hall were used for danc- and they were very tastefully decorated banners, while at the top end of St. George's Hall was placed the crest of the corps, was exceedingly well painted on canvas and presented a most striking appearance1 front of a powerful electric light. A brightly polished Maxim gun was placed in each corner of the room and bayonets er very neatly arranged round the walls, the whole scene being very pleasing and picturesque. The retiring. rooms and the ver- andahs also received the best treatment at the arrival that the fire had too great a hold for the office this place, at any
anything to be done towards saving the ship, the whole of the interior being ablaze. It was therefore a case of saving life, and with the Mark Curry's own boats, a boat from another sailing ship lying in the harbour, and the boat from the weiyang, the crew were taken off to the last named vessel. Meantime the fire had been rapidly spreading and the sight is described by those who saw it as one of the most striking they have ever witnessed. It was starlight night with no moon, and as flames shot upward and enveloped the masts and rigging,, causing the vessel to stand out from the surrounding darkness, the effect from a spectacular point of view magnificent. As the flames did their work the yards fell one after another, each crash stirring up the burning timber, and when the windlass was consumed the mooring chain dropped-off and the vessel, still a mass of flame, drifted out of the harbour with the tide and was gradually lost to view. This was at 4.30, or only three and a half hours after the alarm was given.
hands of the Decorating Committee. Shortly before nine o'clock a guard of honour, com- posed of members of the Field Battery and of Maxims, was drawn up at the entrance and both lines presented an exceedingly amart appearance, all the men of course being in full dress uniform. The first distinguished guest to arrive was His Excellency Major-General Black and as he entered the guard presented arme. Punctually at nine o'clock His Excellency the Governor came, his arrival being announced by a trumpeter. The guard presented arms in a most soldier-like manner and as His Excellency passed between the two files he was met by Sir John Carrington (Commandant), Captain Gor don (Adjutant), Captain Chapman, and the other officers of the Corps. His Excellency seemed particularly pleased with his reception and after he had passed upstairs the guard was dismissed and dancing at once commenced When the programme was gone through there were still a very large number of dancers in the room, although it after midnight, and two extra dances were played. The music was supplied by the band of the West Yorkshire Regiment under Bandmaster W. G. Bentley, A.R.C.M., and gave every satisfaction. Supper was excellently served in the Chamber of Commerce room and the library was used as the bar and card room. The hon. secretary of the Dance Committes was Captain Chapman, and he performed his arduous duties in a most creditable manner, leaving nothing for the most fastidious to complain about.
was
The following is a list of the stewards :- HE. Hon. Col. Sir W. Robinson, K.C.M.G.; Maja Sir J. W. Carrington, Kt.; C.M.G.; Captain L. A. C. Gordon, R.A.; Captain A. Chapman, Lieut. W. Machell, Lieut. D. Macdonald, Lient. W. K. Wylie, Lieut. A. M Marshall, Lient. F. Maitland, Surg. Lieut. F. O. Stedman, Batty. Sgt. Maj. G. L. Duncan, Batty. QMS J. Coyle, Sergt. H. McPhail, Sergt. JH. W. Armstrong, Sergt. G. C. Fullerton, Corpl. A. Ewing, Corp. G. P. Lammert, Ganner H. Bridger Gunner J. A. Jupp, Gunner, H. Humphreys, Gunner A. H. Skelton, Gunner E. C. Shepherd.
The dance programme was as follows:-
Lancers.
Valse
Barn Dance..
Valse
Pancers.
Valse
Polka
Highland Scottisoka...
.Duke of Fife. Santiago. Happy Darkies. Boldaten lieder. Knight of St. George, Marguerite. Tont a la Joie. Sobre las Olas. Scotia. alse
...ødt.......................... Estudiantina Barn Danceybkima...5...
Iola.
Valsa
**ds............ Linger longer Loo. anders......................... a...........The Old Guard, Myosotis. Fanst up to Date. .. Bid me good-bye, Jolly Brethren.
Dance
Galop
ered
in a godown and
ees, on the 20th
a clear
FIRE AT THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
the
Was
Soon after nine o'clock on Monday morning a telephone message was received at the Central Police Station from Government House stating that the Government Buildings were on fire. On receipt of this rather alarming news the Fire Brigade, under Hon. F. H. May and Mr. Corcoran, turned out in full force and in an almost incredibly short time they were at the scene of the outbreak, while a large staff of police, under Inspector Baker, also promptly turned out. Happily the fire was not in itself serious, but it was quite serious enough, for if it had gained a few moments more headway it is most probable that a considerable part of the Offices would have been destroyed. The fire was caused by the upsetting of a pot of tar which was being boiled on the roof of the verandah near the South-east corner of the building. For some time past considerable repairs have been in progress to the entire roof of the structure and the work had so far been completed that the tiles were being coated with tar, the said tar being boiled in a pot on the top of the roof in close We do not know proximity to the workmen. whether the head officials were ignorant of this highly dangerous procedure or whether they acquiesced in it in order to facilitate the progress of the work by saving the Chinese coolies the trouble of taking the boiling liquid. from the ground to the roof, but be that ag it may, it is to be hoped the practice will be at once stopped. As soon as the pot overturned the tar caught fire and ran under the tiled roof and instantly set the rafters ablaze. With as much haste as possible two messengers and two coolies got out the fire hose from the despatch box which is always kept in the building and with the assistance of two or three overseers Public Works Department they played tiful supply of water upon the burning Volumes of smoke issued from the
Tls. 3,000 tracted the attention of Sergeant. Collet
was on duty at Government House, diately telephoned to the Central Police
"the Royal A
Companies, cus! vols.
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