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372
REPORTED ASSAULT ON H.E. LI HUNG-CHANG NEAR THE
PALACE.
A private despatch from Peking to a high Chinese ex-official at Shanghai states that about a fortnight ago as H.E. Li Hung-chang was on the point of entering the precincts of the Grand Audience Hall, three hours after midnight, to have an interview with the Emperor, and just as he was passing through the double line of Imperial Guards at the Falace, a man dressed entirely in black, who it appeared had been con- cealing himself behind the Guards, suddenly broke through the line and getting within strik ing distance of the old statesman launched & blow at his head. Fortunately H.E had noticed the commotion made by the man breaking through the Guards possibly he had been informed of the pro- bability of such attacks and therefore was on the qui vive-and inclining his head a little aside managed to partially evade the blow, but was not quick enough to prevent his assailant's fist from landing on his shoulder. The attack was so sudden that none of the Guards interfered until the assailant seeing that his blow had failed at Li's head made an attempt to trip up H.E. Then it was that, just as the mau's right lèg was being stretched out for the props, & guardsman brought his naked sword with a sweep outwards and coming into contract with the man's fort effectually straightened him out on the ground. The next minute the man was overpowered, bound, and taken to the nearest magistrate's yamen, the attack, by a stretch of imagination-in order to lessen the guilt of lack of vigilance on those guarding the Palace gates-being considered as having ocenrred in the public thoroughfare. Fortunately also for the assailant of Li, the man was entirely un- armed and without a weapon of any sort, and this circumstance will save him his head. Owing to the time, place, and circumstances both Li himself and the metropolitan government are only too anxious to hush this matter up. Li because if widely known it would bring about him a number of other would-be assassins, and on the part of the metropolitan police officials because if the Emperor knew of the affair many would have to lose both rank and posi. tion for their lack of vigilance. It appears that H.E. was not at all hurt by the blow he received, and went throngh his audience with the Emperor as usual a little later.-N. C. Daily News.
THE COLLISION BETWEEN THE "WOYO" AND BORNEO,"
C
We learn that the Tokyo Marine Court has decided that Captain Kawano Sotaro of the Woyo-maru was not to blame for the recent col- lision of that vessel with the P. & O. Borneo. The Court held that the collision was due to the P. & O. steamer having violated Article 25 of the Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. As our readers will remember, the Cap tain and officers of the Borneo have already been exonerated by the British Court at Yokohama. It is stated that the Seikokaisha (Hyogo), the owners of the Woyo-maru, have now resolved to bring an action against the P. & O. Company to recover compensation for the damage suffered by the Woyo. Kobe Chronicle.
MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Macao, 29th April,
I am sorry to have to report that cases of plague have recently been occurring in rather considerable numbers, but as the last day or two's returns have shown an improvement it is hoped the disease is dying out. It is said that sixteen or eighteen cases took place on the 25th and ten or twelve on the 26th, but to-day the report is better. It seems that the chief centres, of the disease are at S. Lazaros, Horta de Mitra, and the Bazaar. Matsheds for the sufferers have been erected behind the Mongha Fort. fow cases have occurred among the Macaoese and three of them have proved fata
A
The Chinese Committee to arrange for the native section of the festivities in celebration of the Vasco da Gama fourth centenary are busily engaged on their preparations. A great many
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
workmen have come from other places and are making paper fishes, lanterns, and other para- phernalia for the procession. It is to be hoped the affair will prove a success.
Although a proclamation wa issued by H.E. the Governor nearly a month ago p ohibiting the export of rice, yet the price of thris article in the market grows dearer day by day.
HONGKONG.
The defeat of the Spanish fleet at Manila and the sorious aspect which the bubonic plague has assumed have been the principal topics of conversation in the city during the past week. It became known on Monday that the Ameri- cans had commenced the bombardment of the Island of Corregidor on Sunday. On Monday evening the cable was cut, and this prepared everyone for the intelligence which was re- ceived later that a disaster had befallen the Spaniards. For the last few days we have been anxiously awaiting the details, bat up to the time of writing the despatch boat which it is expected Admiral Dewey will send to Hongkong has not arrived. With regard to the plague the returns last week end were most encouraging, but the number of cases has since gone up and three Europeans are among the victims. On Saturday last we announced the death of Sister Frances (of the Government Civil Hospital) on Wednesday Mr. L. S. Crawford, eldest son of Mr. D, R. F Crawford, succumbed to the scourge; and yesterday an account of the death of Sister Gertrude (Miss Ireland) from the same disease appeared in our columns. On Saturday last, Lady Carrington distributed the prizes in con- nection with the Volunteer Corps. His Excel- lency Major-General Black and Mrs. Black were present, and Sir John Carrington alluded with regret to the fact that that was probably
the last occasion of the kind in connection with the
corps which they would grace by their At the Harbour Office on Wednes- presence. day the enquiry into the circumstances attend- ing the stranding of the Sishan last month was concluded, and the certificate of the master, Mr. John Jenkins, was suspended for a mouth. In the Supreme Court on Thursday the Chief Justice pronounced judgment in the case of the action arising out of the collision between the Kwanglee and the Powan. The former vessel belongs to the China Merchants Steam Navi- gation Company and the latter to the Hong- kong Canton and Macao Steamboat Company. The Chief Justice said judgment would be entered for plaintiffs (China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company), for the recovery of a mority of their damages, defendants to obtain a moiety of the damages sustained by the Porcan on the counterclaim. Each side was to
pay its own costs and bear half the expense of the assessors.
H.M.S. Bonaventure arrived on 4th May. H.M.S. Immortalité left for Manila on 4th May,
There were 2,433 visitors to the City Hall Museum last week, of whom 265 were Europeaus.
for making fast to the Catherine Apcar while Two boatmen were yesterday each fined $50
under way on Monday.
The Earl and Countess of Orford, who are
proceeding on a tour to Japan, are passengers by the P. and O. steamer Malacca.
A fisherman was yesterday fined $25 for holding communication with a junk while in the quarantine anchorage in the harbour.
For being in unlawful possession of nine bags of sugar belonging to the Taikoo Sugar Refining Company, a lighterman was on Safur- day sentenced to three months' imprisonment by Commander Hastings.
H.M.S. Edgar left about four o'clock on Sun- day afternoon homeward-bound. As she left her moorings the crew manned the rigging and hearty cheers were exchanged with the Tamar, Immortalité, and Rainbow."
Fred Browning and George Young, privates in the King's Own Regiment, appeared before Commander Hastings at the Magistracy on Saturday charged with disorderly conduct and damaging a sampan which they had engaged to take them from Pedder's Wharf to Tsimtsa- tsui the previous day. Browning was fined $10 and Young $7, each being in addition ordered to pay $4 compensation.
[May 7, 1898.
Mr. A. McConachie, having returned to the colony, has rejoined the Court of Directors of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, and Mr. F. Sachse has also joined the Court. Mr. G. D. Boning has resigned on leaving the colony.
Messrs. Lutgens, Einstmann & Co., General Agents of the Great Eastern and Caledonian Gold Mining Co., Limited, have received the following telegram from the manager at the mines-Zulu: struck a very rich body of ore.'
"1
On 4th May a Chinaman was fined $10 for not reporting the existence of a case of plague at No. 6, Sheung On Lane, P.C. Garrad went to the house in question on Sunday and found there the body of a man whom it was afterwards found had died of plague.
For selling lottery tickets in the streets Wong Man Hui, a shop coolie, was on 2nd May at the Magistracy fined $25. Defendant, who said he came from Macao on Sunday to collect the money, had $106 in his possession, which the Magistrate ordered to be returned to him.
On 2nd May at noon Messrs. Hughes and Hough offered for sale by auction at their sale-room Mr. N. J. Ede's cutter yacht Zephyr, which has long been a familiar figure in the harbour. The bidding commenced at $1,000 and rose to $2,500, at which sum the yacht was knocked down to a Chinese buyer.
The mortality statistics for the week ended April 16th showed the death rate per 1.000 per annum to be 39.2, against 31.7 for the previous week and 14.5 for the corresponding week last year. The returns for the week ended April 24th gave the death rate as 36.7 against 18.3 for the corresponding week last year.
On Saturday Captain Hastings held an en- quiry into the circumstances attending the death of a gunner in the Asiatic Artillery named Assa Singh, who died at the Station Hospital on the 8th April. After hearing the medical evidence a finding was returned to the effect that death was caused by acute gastritis brought on by an overdose of arsenic accidentally self administered.
A 'ricksha coolie who thought to squeeze more than his just due from a fare on Tuesday even- ing tried it on the wrong party, with the result that at the Magistracy next morning Commander Hastings fined him $5. P.C. Garrad, who was in plain clothes, engaged defendant's ricksha outside the Central Market, Queen's Road. He had him for about a quarter of an hour and paid him ten cents. Though five cents was his legal fare defendant wanted more and became so disorderly that the constable arrested him.
A cook named Ng Tso was charged at the Magistracy on 3rd May with neglecting to report a case of infectious disease. P. C. Wilkinson saw defendant on Monday morning on the. Canton Wharf with a sick man, he having been refused admission to a vessel. He ordered the removal of the sick man to the hospital at Kennedytown, and Dr. Lowson has since certified that it was a case of bubonic plague. Defendant informed Commander Hastings that he was not aware it was a case of plague. Fined $10.
Under instructions from the Official Receiver
of the estate of Tso Cheong, in bankruptcy, Messrs. Hughes and Hough offered for sale by auction on 3rd May the reclamation in front of marine lot No. 199. The lot is bounded on the the west of the Sailors' Home. The reclamation east by French Street and is a short distance to
is bounded on all sides by roads and has an area of 26,507 square feet, a frontage of 165 ft. 8 in., and a depth of 160 ft. It was offered first in one lot and afterwards in two, but the bidding did not reach the reserve and the property was
withdrawn.
At the Magistracy on 4th May a coolie was charged with unlawfully entering Belcher's Fort engine-room on Monday evening with intent to commit a felony. John Murray, & gunner of the R.A., deposed to finding de fendant in the engine room, the man having entered through the window. On behalf of the defendant several witnesses were called who gave an entirely different version. of the affair, They said defendant was closing the door of bis house when complainant took him to the Police Station. Inspector McDonald said complainant was not sober when he came to the station with defendant. Defendant was. discharged and Murray was fined $15 for giving false testimony.
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