454
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[December 8, 1900.
DARING ESCAPE FROM AMERI- | tious way, done a good deal of charitable work | LADY BLAKE AT THE WOMAN'S
CAN TRANSPORT
GRANT."
HANDCUFFED PRISONERS JUMP OVERBOARD.
On Tuesday, the 4th inst., the American trans- port Grant arrived in Victoria Harbour from the Philippines to take the body of the late Paymaster Barber, U.S. Navy, who died not long ago in Hongkong from typhoid fever, and whose body has been embalmed, to the United States for burial. The transport had on board a large number of military prisoners, who were being conveyed to the States. During the evening eight of these prisoners, with sentences ranging from one to ten years, escaped in the most daring manner. Hand- cuffed though they were, the men yet managed to crawl through the ventilator lead- ing to their place of confinement, reaching the open air and comparative freedom. Having got so far, they broke the chains connecting their handcuffs, then secured lifebelts, and crawl- ing down the anchor chains, dropped into the water, without waiting to lighten them- selves. by casting off their clothing. The strange part of the whole affair is that the men appear to have been entirely unnoticed by the sentries, if sentries there were. They swam iu the direction of Commissariat Pier, just off which they
were espied by the Chinese coxswain of the Commissariat launch Jubilee, who was the only man on board the vessel. He at once put out and picked the men up, and steamed for the jetty. On reaching the pier, and before the coxswain could take the necessary steps to prevent it, the eight men, probably now rendered desperate, sprang ashore from the launch, leaving their life-belts behind, and bolted up Queen's Road East, getting clear away
The police were at once communicated with, and active steps taken to effect the recapture of the men.
One, we believe, has been secured, the handcuffs still on his wrists, but the others are still at liberty, although it is improbable that they will remain so for long.
Later we hear that another of the escaped men was arrested at Wanchai on Wednesday evening, and has been detained at No. 2 Police Station pending instructions.
among the European and Chinese poor of this Colony. It thoroughly deserves the help of the public. The proceeds of last year's féte were $2,082.68. To this has to be added $214.45 not | proceeds of an entertainment at the Club Lusi tano, got up by Mrs. Guedes. The following is a summary of the doings of the Society during 1899:- Allowance in Cash
Provisions...
...8649.50 573.25 Contribution to the Catholic Orphanage 300.0) Contribution to the Home for the Aged
200.00 76.00 9.16 69.00
and Infirm
Shoes for Orphanage boys Medicine
Burials for the poor...
In addition to the above the Society under- took the alteration and extension of the hospital for the sick poor under the charge of the Italian Sisters of Charity at Wanchai, the cost of which amounted to $2,194.
|
CONFERENCE, SHANGHAI,
The closing address delivered by Lady Blake at the final mixed meeting on the Woman's Conference, Shanghai, on Friday fortnight, is published in the N.-C. Daily News. Lady Blake said:-
I thank you all most heartily for passing a voto of thanks to me for an act that needed no thanks, namely for having come up here to have the privilege and pleasure of learning so much that is new and interesting to me, and, I hope I may add, of having made some new friends amongst you all. We have now concluded the consideration of the subjects that were selected for discussion at this conference on the Home
ARRIVAL OF EARL BEAUCHAMP [that must have been
IN HONGKONG.
总监
Life of Chinese Women. We have all, I am sure, been keenly interested in the excellent papers and addresses with which we have been favoured, containing so much informa- tion from all parts of this vast Empire, new to many of us. I regret to find that the lot of Chinese women-especially of the lower classes-4-appears on closer observation even a less agreeable one The Rt. Hon. Earl Beauchamp, late Governor
than I had thought. The hard fate of so many of New South Wales, arrived on Thursday in Hongkong by the Australian, and put up at the of the slave-girls, for example, must excite the Hongkong Hotel, leaving again by the Sobraon pity and sympathy of all men and women not Lord Beauchamp's altogether selfishly insensible to sufferings from to-day for Singapore.
But while we have term of office in New South Wales was a short which they are exempt. one, as he only arrived in July, 1899. It was been gazing on a good deal of the darker side of officially stated before he left Australia that in the lives of the women and girls of China, we must not forget that shadows cannot exist departing so soon he considered that such n course was best in view of the desire of each without light, so there must be a bright colony to rearrange its local Governorship. side in life for many Chinese women, and some of the papers read have 'shown us that The Sydney Morning Herald, commenting on his departure, says that if his period of office no small number of Chinese ladies, indepen has been a short one, it cannot be said that it dently of European influences, extend noble- Indeed, his Excellency minded and practical charity to those amongst has been an idle time. has participated in some history-moulding events their humbler neighbours who may stand in need of such assistance. Possibly some of us in this the mother colony of the group," our con-
He was not long here may be too apt to judge the better classes of the temporary continues. before the political horizon was ovecast, and when Chinese by the standards of the lower orders, How would the denizens of the storm burst it was to the accompaniment of with whom as a general rule Europeans are the wreck of the Reid Ministry. Lord Beauchamp chiefly thrown. had to decide whether a dissolution of Parlia-our ancient cathedral closes, or the occupants ment should follow, and his decision was in the of our manor houses at home, like foreigners to The Grant was to have sailed on the 5th negative. He sent for Sir William (then Mr.) judge them by the standard of the inhabitants inst. at 9.30. a.m., but her departure was delayed Lyne, and that gentlemen formed a Govern of the lower stratum of our society and the ment which is still in power. The Governor waifs and strays who too often in other lands by the occurrence related above until next day.
Three more of the eight escaped prisoners also saw, from an Australian coign, the practical bring the reverse of credit on their country? have since been arrested. They were found hid-completion of the Federal Constitution-the I cannot help hoping likewise that as habit becomes second naturo-and that to which ing among rocks at Kennedytown, and offered making of a no resistance. These, with the two captured on
we are accustomed seemed less dreadful, even Tuesday, make five in all again under restraint.
when intrinsically as bad-80 some things The remaining three are unlikely to remain long
that to us would make existence a purgatory, may not be quite so terrible to the women of I would fain at liberty.
China, as they appear to us. hope that even in such a matter as foot-binding, there raay be some alleviation to tho sufferings of those who practise it, in the pride that is said to feel no pain. Of the deleterious effects can be no doubt, and it is most satisfactory to of the practice-physically and mentally-there find that the spark of resistance to the fashion of foot-binding has been kindled in many parts of China. As new ideas permeate the empire, I have no doubt the women of China will not be greater slaves to undesirable fashions or customs than are the women of other lands. The greater number of the ills and discom. Chinese women, I forts in the lives of cannot help thinking, must be eradicated by the woman of China themselves, all that out- siders can do is to place the means of doing so within their reach. As year by year the number increases of cultivated and enlightened Chinese ladies, trained in Western science and modes of thought, while retaining their own distinctive characteristics-so will each of them prove a stronger contre from which rays of good influence will reach out to their country. I was once given a flower that had women. rather a remarkable history. I was told that somewhere in Greece, A mine had been Was supposed to have been found that
Its site worked by the ancient Greeks. was marked by great heaps of rocks and The Greeks of old, great as was refuse. their genius, which in some ways exceeded that of modern days-were not acquainted with a great deal that science has revealed to us, and in examining these heaps of stones and rubbish flung out of the mine in days of old-it was found that most of it contained oro, the pro- sence of which had never before been suspected,
new nation-an epoch-marking event which is sufficiently gigantic and unique to be in itself a cherished memory; but in addi- tion his was the Governorship when Australia poured her soldiers out to help the Empire's cause in South Africa, and his was the Governor THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT | ship, too, during that very bold act of adminis-
DE PAUL
The annual al fresco fête of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul passed off on Sunday night last most successfully. A very large number of visitors were present in the grounds of the Roman Catholic Cathedral from 9 o'clock onwards, and one and all appeared to be enjoying themselves. Ten-cent and dollar lotteries attracted much attention, and prominent citizens might have been seen during the course of the evening carrying large cushions, charmingly dressed dolls, plaster birds, and other useful and orna- mental articles. Those in charge of the stalls worked hard and well, and their efforts appeared to be rewarded with plentiful returns of cash. The shooting-galleries drew a large number of sportsmen. The evening was very fine, and the band of the 3rd Madras Light Infantry played the following selection of music in their own excellent style
tration-the uprooting of houses and resumption of property for the purposes of stamping out the bubonic plague. Lord Beauchamp has, it is safe to say, seen more of New South Wales and Australasia in 15 months than any of his pre- decessors did. He thoroughly explored the North Coast districts, journeyed across the west
to Broken Hill, visited New Zealand and some of the islands, and made many incursions to the interior of the colony."
Lord Beauchamp was born in 1872, and educated at Eton and Christchurch, Oxford. Before coming out to Australia he served as Mayor of Worcester, being one of the youngest Mayors on record. He is unmarried, and during his stay at Sydney his sister, Lady Mary Lygon shared with him the social responsibilities of his position. Our Australian contemporary records that in addition to being a considerable traveller, he evinced great interest in matters appertain ing to the Church, art, music, education (par-, ticularly technical education), and some aspects of sport. He was Commodore of the Royal Pougher Yacht Squadron at Sydney and was owner of
a yacht. Aigrette Captains H. J. Cotter, 21st Company R.G.A.; Wagner J. R. Wilson, 90th Battery R.F.A.; F. B. D. Broadrick, 97th Battery R.F.A.; and E. 8. E. W. Russell, "Y" Battery R.H.A., have been selected for service with the 1-pounder Vickers- Those officers were Maxim guns in China. last month ordered to proceed to the works of Messrs. Vickers, Sons, and Maxim, at Erith, for a course of instruction, and then to join the The Society has been in existence for many Maxim gun detachments concentrating for years and has always, in a quiet and unostenta. ' duty at Woolwich pending embarkation.
Jones
March......" Under the Double Eagle" Wagner Waltz "Ever and Ever Mine Selection..." The Geisha Gavotte Alexina Polka ..." Fun of the Fair" Selection..." Lohengrin
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16
"
1
EXTRA.
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Asch
Corbin
Waltz "Santiago
God save the Queen. The net proceeds of the fete are estimated at about $2,100. We are requested by the secretary to convey the thanks of the Society to the public for their generous support.
i
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