364
details, but on the other hand anxiously asked for full particulars of the fighting. For instance Consul-General Wildman received a telegram from a New York paper saying that the Spaniards had been completely defeated and asking him to arrange for the telegraphing of the story of the fight to be obtained from eye-witnesses. Other papes cabled local pressmen in a similar strain, they being apparently utterly oblivious of the fact that though Hongkong is the nearest telegraph station to Manila the residents know no more than those residing thousands of miles away of what has been going on in the archipelago during the last few days. Spaniards must have cut the cable immediately after wiring the news of their reverse to Spain. In consequence we in Hongkong were not able to obtain the information direct, and we shall probably not learn much more until the Hugh McCulloch arrives with despatches from the American squadron either to day or to-morrow.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
5th May,
WAITING FOR NEWS.
The arrival of the revenue cruiser Hugh McCulloch in Hongkong with news of the American fleet and recent events in the Philip pines is awaited with intense interest not only in the colony but throughout Europe and the United States, inasmuch as the despatches which she will no doubt carry will furnish the details as to the engagement at Mauila which the Spaniards themselves admit has resulted 80 disastrously SO far as their fleet is concerned. It was not to be wondered at, therefore, that when it was reported The that the vessel had been sighted everyone was ou the top-toe of expectation. With the view of testing the truth of the report, Consul-General Wildman, the Vice- Consul, and a few other gentlemen engaged a launch and went out beyoud Lyemud Pass, bat there was no dispatch boat to be seen.
We have reason to believe, however, that before the cable was cut more than one gentle- man in the colony had got an inkling that things were not going well with the Spaniards at Manila. One gentleman received private information that, the Spanish flagship Reina Cristina was sunk and the other vessels disabled. captured, or put to flight.
an
The Reina Cristing was unarmoured cruiser of 3,520 tons displacement and carrying six 6-c.m. guns, two 7-c.m. guns, three 57-m.ni. quick-firers, two 42-m.m. quick-firers, six 3-pdr. do., and two machine guns, and she had also five torpedo dischargers. Her speed was no minally 17 knots.
SEARCHING FOR AQUINALDO AT SINGAPORE.
AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY,
The following extraordinary story appeared in the Singapore Free Press of April 28th':-
A correspondent, who is well-known to us, handed in at this office in person to-day the subjoined document whose substance was taken down by him verbatim from the witnesses con- cerned Yesterday morning a Malay Ser geant of Police walked into the house of Dr. Marcelino Santos. Princep-street. No. making as an excuse an enquiry if the tenant of the house had applied to the Police for a summons against a certain person. He then asked what the tenant was doing in Einga- pore, what was his name, and then said he had made a mistake. This morning the same ser. geant came again but, as nobody could speak Malay, he left, and presently returned with an interpreter. He then asked if a rich man from Mavila named Camilo Auguado (a fictitious name) had arrived; to which they replied they knew no such man. He then asked if Aguinaldo was there as " he knew they were the agents and
pimps for him." He said furthur that Aguinal do had taken a quantity of medicine from a chemist's shop and had not paid (au audacions lie.) He then asked if they knew an English man from Manila living in the Hôtel de l'Eu- rope and frequently to be seen with a cigar merchant from Manila, also living in the same Hotel. Answer "No." He asked again if they knew whether Aguinaldo had any relations with the said Englishman. One of this people living in the house having left, his trunks were sent this morning to the steamer at Tanjong Pagar; a detective followed the person in charge both going and returning."
Commenting on the affair the same paper observes: There was a similar case in Hong- kong not long ago in which European police were set to systematically shadow a British subject from Manila. The gentlemen in ques- tion went straight up to Governor Sir William Robinson, who at once telephoned, in the gen- tleman's presence, down to Captain Muy, head of the police, demanding "by whose authority such a thing was being done." Captain May replied that he was quite unaware of the fact, but that stringent enquiry would be made. The result was that the instigation was found to bave come from a local Spanish official source. That abuse was promptly, knocked on the head, and those concerned will not soon forget the reprimands that were served out all round by the Governor of Hongkong."
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6th May.
No details are yet to hand of the naval vic- tory gained by the Americans at Manila. It was fully anticipated that the vessel containing Admiral Dewey's despatches would arrive in the harbour yesterday, and from early in the morning nutil late in the evening a sharp look. ont was kept for her. In the meantime the public at home and in the United States are getting almost frantic at the delay. By the way, the two Amrican sailing ships which were lying in Manila harbour when Mr. O. F. Williams, the American Consul. left the Philip pines have arrived in Hongkong. The Great Admiral arrived on Wedneslay and the R. R. Thomas yesterday morning.
THE PLAGUE
During the week ended on 3rd April there were 119 cases of plague reported and 114 deaths in the previous week. The daily returns deaths, as compared with 127 cases and 109
for the present week are as follows:-
May
Cases. Deaths.
13 10 18 20
21 14
20 16 3.7 28
DEATHS OF EUROPEANS FROM PLAGUE.
MISS FLIGGIN.
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[May 7, 1898. sympathising friends. Of these many were placed on the coffin and the remainder were carried by the Chinese staff of the hospital, who brought them to the grave as the European mourners dispersed. The scene was a very sad and impressive one, and none of those present could fail to be moved by the thought of such a gracious and useful life so suddenly cut short.
MR. L. 8. L. CRAWFORD,
On Tuesday it was stated that Mr. L. S. L. Crawford, eldest son of Mr. D. R. F. Crawford, had been attacked by plague, and it is with deep regret we have to record his death, which took place early on Wednesday morning. The case is attended by circumstances of peculiar sadness inasmuch as his parents only recently left for Japan, Mrs. Crawford intend ing after a short stay there to proceed to Eng- land with her younger son and one of her daughters, and Mr. Crawford to return to Hongkong. The pleasure of their stay in the holiday land of Japan will now be rudely shattered by the heartbreaking intelligence of the death of their eldest son, a young man fall of promise and esteemed by all who knew him. The deep sympathy enter- tained with the family in their sad bereavement was manifested by the large attendance at the funeral, which took place yesterday afternoon. As a member of the Volunteer Corps the deceased was buried with military honours. The procession was headed by the firing party with reversed arms and the Band of the King's Own Regiment playing a funeral march. Then came the coffin on a gun carriage with the flag as a pak and the deceased's helmet and sword bayonet, followed by the chief mourners, Mr. G. A. Caldwell and Mr. Duncan Clark, brothers-in-law of the de- ceased, the members of the firm, and in- timate friends of the family. The Volunteers came next, almost every man carrying a wreath or cross; and Sir John Carrington, the Com- mandant, and all the officers were present. At the Monument the procession was joined by a large assemblage of friends. The funeral ser- vice was conducted by the Rev. G. J. Williams, of Union Church. At the close of the servico three volleys were fired over the grave by the firing party, the last post was sounded, and the sad assembly slowly dispersed. The deceased was only twenty years of age. He was a wer of the Cricket Club and frequently played in Club matches, and was also an active member of the Philharmonic Society.
MISS IRELAND.
It was with the deepest grief that the com- munity learnt on Thursday morning of the death of Miss Ireland (Sister Gertrude), but not with great surprise, for it was known that she was suffering from plague and that her case was a very severe one. Miss Ireland assisted in nursing Sister Frances in her fatal illness, was no doubt while engaged in
It is with much regret we have to announce the Government Civil Hospital, which occurred the death of Sister Frances (Miss Higgin), of on Friday morning, 29th April at twenty
minutes past two, the canse of being plague.
death Miss Higgin was taken ill following day suspicious symptoms set in on Tuesday last with slight ferer. As on the she was transferred from the Sisters' quarters that duty that she contracted the infection. to an isolation ward in the Hospital. Plague With the devoted Sisters, who have thus moruing there pneumonia rapidly set in and on Thursday lost two of their small number within a
was no doubt that she was
suffering from the most fatal form of the
disease. All was done for her that medical
skill or nursing could suggest, but the end tracted the disease from a Chineso boy in one came yesterday morning. She evidently con- of her wards, who was attacked by the same disease on the 20th and in his delirium spat
upou
her clothes and face. Sister Frances was one of the first six Sisters who arrived in 1890.
and it
week, the deepest sympathy is felt on all hands. Miss Ireland, like Miss Higgin, was one of the first six nurses who came out in 1890, and last year, during the absence on leave of Miss Eastmond, she acted as Matron of the Hospital. She was a lady of a sweet and attractive disposition and a favourite with all who knew her.
The funeral took place on Thursday afternoon and was very largely attended. The body was The funeral took place in the afternoon. conveyed to Bowrington by launch and from there Doctors Atkinson, Lowson, and Bell, with the was carried by members of the Police Force. European staff of the Hospital, were the chief Doctors Atkinson, Bell, and Lowson, and Mr. mourners. At the Monument a guard of honour Browne and other members of the Hospital composed of European members of the Police staff walked by the side of the coffin and the Force was drawn up. and the cortège Sisters immediately, behind, followed by mem at this point was joined by His Honour bers of the Police Force, many of them carry. the Chief Justice, Sir John Carrington; ing wreaths and crosses. At the Monument Hon. T. Sercombe-Smith. Acting Colonial Se-the procession was joined by a large number of cretary; Hon. R. Murray Rumsey, Hon. F. H. officials, personal friends, and members of the May, Colonel The O Corman, and a large general community anxious to show respect to number of other Government officiais, personal one who met her death in the cause of duty. friends, former patients, and members of the Amongst those present were His Honour general community anxious to show their re- Sir John Carrington, Chief Justice; Hop. T.- spect for the memory of the deceased lady, who Sercombe Smith, Acting Colonial Secretary; met her death in the discharge of her duty. Hon. R. Murray Rumsey, Hon. F. H. May, The Sisters of the Hospital and other ladies and Hon. R. D. Ormsby. In the cemetery a were present at the graveside. The officiating number of ladies had assembled to attend the clergyman was the Rev. R. F. Cobbold. A great service, which was read by the Rev. R. F. number of wreaths and crosses had been sent by Cobbold. At the close of the service a great
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