August 26, 1897.]
most, principally from the heavy shot being hurled against them. Numbers of shot and unloaded shell were lying about in the various rooms and in the roof and walls were large holes where the projectiles bad come through, and in many cases they had penetrated the floor and embedded themselves in the earth below. In the building on the right of the plan marked "Store," were several field guns. of Krupp pattern, buried beneath the debris of the fallen roof. Here, as in the officers' house, were numerous heavy projectiles, as well as a few small ones, principally for three-inch guns. The place where the magazine had stood was simply a large crater almost full of bricks, broken rifles, accontrements, cartridges and various articles belonging to the garrison. Strewed about in confusion were soldiers' coats, arms, accoutrements, tents, tiles, heavy beams of wood, cartridges, and projectiles of all kinds and sizes, from the one-inch shells for small quickfiring guns to the 50lb. shot for five-inch breechloaders.
The main magazine of the camp is situated about 50 feet from the one which exploded. Fortunately it is a low, strongly built edifice, and though slightly damaged by the concussion, it withstood the shock well. Had its contents exploded the result would have been appalling and there is no conjecturing what the extent of the damage would have been.
A fatigue party of soldiers was busy clearing away the débris and searching for bodies, but it is thought that all of the killed have been found, as no others of the garrison are reported missing. Many reports, more or less reliable, were heard as to the distance to which some of the wreck age was thrown. One of the officials connected with the arsenal said that he found as 24 inch shot in his garden, quite half a mile away.
On enquiry at the Shantung Road hospital last evening we were informed that there had been no more deaths, though some of the sufferers were in a very critical state.
A gentleman who happened to be passing the Arsenal at the time the explosion occurred stop ped to see what was going on, and states that it took a Chinese man-of-war which was lying there exactly three-quarters of an hour to get a boat out and send it ashore !~N. C. Daily News
MAÇAO.
[FROM OUR CORESPONDENT.]
Macao, 20th August. One of the victims of the gunpowder explo- sion which took place at Sakong last Friday was a Chinese Christian. After the accident the five injured men were taken to the Chinese hospital, but this man, when he found himself there, requested that he might be taken home, because he said he did not wish to die without receiving the last sacraments of the Church. It is said that his request was not granted, and that the man, although so severely in- jured, and his sight almost destroyed, made his escape from the hospital and walked from one side of the city to the other and reached his home. He then asked his mother to send for a priest, as he wished to die as a Catholic. Many people asked him how he found his way, and he could not explain. He died a few hours
later.
People are asking each other what the Leal Senado's Conductor of Municipal Works is go- ing to do about the pavement of the Travessa de P. Narciso. Some days ago workmen began to break the pavement up and large quantities of square stones were taken to the spot to form the new pavement. Now, with the old pavement half broken up, suddenly the work has been stopped and the stones intended for the new pavement have all been removed elsewhere. In the rainy weather lately prevailing to have one of the principal streets in the present condition of the Travessa de P. Narciso is very troublesome. It would seem that the work had been commenced before it had been approved, and much money has been wasted. I hear that II.E. Senor Galhardo objected to a stone pavement and if I were in His Excellency's place I also should have objected. Who could rest with a street under one's bedroom windows paved with stones and used day and night by jinrickshas? This is another testimonial to the experience of the youthful conductor.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
To show how well public interests are looked after by the Leal Senado I may mention that all the streets are now without names and have been so for about three months, but it was only the other day that this came to the knowledge of our representative body. One of the mem- bers at the last meeting asked when it was intended to replace the names? The reply was that the name boards were all right and did not require renewal. What was the surprise of the Corporation when this member informed
his follow-members that the tablets had all been painted anew,
but without the names! On inquiry being made in all quarters it was at last discovered that the order had been given by the Chief Inspector of the Leal Senado
HONGKONG.
175
The
A most important matter in connection with the trade and health of the port is now occupy that is the medical inspection of shipping. Dr. ing the close attention of the community, and
Clark, the Medical Officer of Health, has sug- gested improvements on the present system which are not only simple to execute but are in accord with Western laws of hygiene and will while being a great protection to the in- cause practically no inconvenience to shipping habitants. However, opposition has been shown and it now remains for the community to wait for the decision of the Government. The subject, was discussed at considerable length at the last meeting of the Sanitary Board. Police,
third gymkhana meeting of the season was held on Saturday and was attended with consider- able success.
A very bar case of milk adultera- the Magistrate on Saturday, the defendant, who tion by a Chinese milk dealer was dealt with by
added 39 per cent. of water, being fined $100. On Monday a meeting of the Legislative Coun- cil was held. The police scandal still rivets the attention of residents, an inquiry held by the Captain Superintendent of Police having so far resulted in the dismissal of Inspector Baker, Detective Inpector Quincey, and Detective Sergeant Holt. Inspector Baker has been in the Police Force twenty-four yɛa:8.
who had agreed with a Chinesepainter to paint the names at the rate of eighty cents for each tables. The member who had first drawn at- tention to the matter objected that the price was too high, and ultimately a contract was made at the rate of twenty cents for each tablet!
CANTON NOTES.
FROM THE “CHUNG NGOI SAN PO.”j A fire broke out on the 19th instant at 4 a m. in a jadestone shop named Lo-Pui-Kee, in promptly on the scene and the fire was got Ta-tong Street. Canton. The fire brigade was
ander control in an hour. Twelve houses were
burnt to the ground and the loss of property was great. The cause of the fire is unknown.
brought to Canton from Hanan province by It is not correct, as last reported, that the rice
the gunboat Fou-Po was delivered to the rice merchants for sale at low prices, for the rice merchants refused to undertake the work. The
rice was exposed for sale at the various soldiers' A person is only allowed to buy a catty a day, stations. A catty was sold for twenty-six cash.
to six thousand bags of one catty each, so that The rice brought by the gunboat only amounted
the rice was all sold in a very short time.
passed the examination of Sbau-tsoi, applied to Some scholars, natives of Formosa, who had
join the Ku-yen examination in Canton. The the Government some days ago to be allowed to
application has been granted.
The rebels who, as last reported, started a re- bellion in Chiuchow district, are now all hiding themselves in the mountains, for the Canton
soldiers have arrived there. The soldiers are now surrounding the mountains, but they dare not venture into them. It is said that the re- bels can stand a siege for a very long time, for they have abundant provisions and are now watching for an opportunity to rush out and attack the soldiers by surprise.
The likin office has issued a notice imposing tonnage dues on the Chinese steam launches employed for towing junks. Every steam- launch under fire tons is to pay one dollar as tonnage dues for every season and two dollars are to be charged for those exceeding five tons for every season.
Museum last week, of whom 180 were Europeans. There were 2,231 visitors to the City Hall
and Foreign community, civil population, 24, The death rate last month was, for the British
and the Chinese community 23.2.
with reference to the plagne at Amoy says that A telegram to the Japanese vernacular papers
Canton.
many persons are fleeing to Hongkong or
on 20th Ang, by the P. & O. steamer Japan. All the men were in the best of health and spoke in England. quite feelingly of the great times they had bad
the Union Church at Shanghai, has tendered Dr. Stevens, for some years the Pastor of
his resignation, to take effect at the end of the current year.
Letters of allotment and regret were posted to the applicants for shares in the Hongkong Cotton Spinning, Weaving, and Dyeing Co., Limited, on Saturday, 21st Aug.
By the N. P. steamer Victoria, which arrived from Tacoma a few days ago. the Hongkong Dairy Farm Co., Limited, received a herd of twenty-six cows, which were all landed in good condition.
presented the local force during the Jubilee cele- The Hongkong police contingent which re-
brations in London returned to the colony
Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co. hare received information of an accident which happened to the Wosang, for which they are the agents. While proceeding to Swatow she lost the four blades of her propeller. Fortunately she Amoy, where she was docked, her cargo being was picked up by another steamer and towed to
transhipped into the steamer Esong.
Messrs. John D. Humphreys & Son, General His Excellency Tan Chung-lin and some Managers of Olivers Freehold Mines, Limited, other officers went on the 12th instant to wor-have, received the following information by ship the God of War. After His Excellency telegram from Australia:-"A crushing of 150 tons of Eureka quartz gare a yield of half had performed the duty of kowtow, he was too weak to get up and suffered some officers to an ounce to the ton. In sinking the Eureka assist him. It is said the health of His Excel shaft have struck the reef at a depth of 240 lency has broken down and he is now half blind. feet; the width is not yet determined."
A thief was tried by the Magistrate of Nam. hoi a few days ago. He confessed that he was in the habit of committing thefts on the night boats running between Canton and Hongkong and had a good number of fokies whose occupa- tion was also to steal articles from the passen- gers on board the night boats.
Rinderpest has, we learn from the N. C. Daily News, again broken out in Shanghai, and one native dairy in Scott Road has been seriously affected. Fortunately for the public this dairy is situated within the Settlement, so that the Municipal Council are able to control it. The Sanitary officers lost no time in taking measures to stamp ont the disease and to prevent its spreading, and a special constable has been ap- pointed to watch the dairy and prevent the owner distributing his ailing cattle about the country, as is usual with natives under the cir- cumstances.
On the way from Hongkong to Singapore Capt. Christiansen, of the Kingsin-liner Della, picked up at sea, about 500 miles from shore, a Chinaman in a sumpan. So far as could be learnt
the unfortunate Celestial set out from Pulau Siantan with copra, and had been five days at sea when he was picked up. He was brought on to Singapore, and now seems half deranged as the result of his sufferings,
Telegraphic advices were received from India on Saturday, 21st Aug, of the nntimely death at the age of thirty-two of Mr. Noormahmed Jairazbhoy, the eldest son of the late Mr. Jairazbhoy Peerbhoy and son-in-law of Mr. Curimbhoy Ebrahim, of Bombay. The deceased gentleman was of a very generous and benevo- lent disposition and his numerous and un- ostentatious acts of public and private charity will be deeply felt and sadly missed by the poor and respectable portion of his countrymen, amongst whom he was deservedly hold in great
esteem.
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