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HIGHWAY ROBBERY AT SHAUKIWAN.
ÖVER SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS STOLEN.
A highway robbery, similar in the manner of to perpetration to that on the Shatin Road iately, but differing in the fact of its having been committed almost in our midst, in broad day- light, is reported by the police. On Saturday last, at about noon, Leung Chung, a foreman at the Taikoo Sugar Refinery, Quarry Bay and partner in the Po Tai shop, 5, Des Voeux Road, set out for Quarry Bay in a private ricksha, in which was a bag containing $400 in twenty and ten cent pieces, equally divided. He was accom- panied by Lo Tai Po, his partner in the Poi Tai shop, who also was in a private ricksha, and who carried a second bag containing $346 odd this sum, like the first, being equally divided in twenty and ten cent pieces. The money was for the purpose of paying the coolies at Quarry Bay. All went well for the greater part of the jour ney, and there was no thought of danger in the mind of either, when just past the North Point Battery, on the Shaukiwan Road, seven men, armed with sticks, jumped out from the bushes fringing the road and attacked the two partners before the latter had time to recover from their surprise and take steps to save them- selves and their property. The robbers by sheer might of numbers succeeded in very soon overcoming the weak opposition offered them, and snatching the two bags, containing between them nearly $750, from the rickshss, bolted up the hillside and got clear away, their escape being facilitated by the fact that the victims probably dared not attempt to stay or pursue them. Instead they at once made their way to the nearest police station and reported the rob- bery. They say they can identify the men, of whom descriptions have been issued by the police. The outrage bears on its face the stamp of premeditation, and in this aspect further resembles the robbery and murder on Shatin Road, when, as will be remembered, three armed men waylaid and beat to death a foreman who was carrying in a ricksha a sum of money wherewith to pay his master's coolies. The men in the present case had by some means probably made themselves aware of the fact that the money was to be transmitted to Quarry Bay for the purpose stated, and laid their plans accordingly-how successfully has already been seon. The police have actively taken the case up, and there is every prospect of speedy arrests.
FATAL SHOOTING ACCIDENT
NEAR SAMCHUN.
EUROPEAN SHOOTS HIS BOY DEAD.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND MURDER AT YAUMATI.
ARIEL ATTACKED WITH A CHOPPER.
At eleven o'clock on Wednesday night, a man named Leung Hing, a partner in a marine store at No. 17, Station Street, South Yaumati, was sent to the Government Civil Hospital suffering from wounds in the neck, head, face, and arms. He died at 1.45 on Thursday morn ing. Two arrests have been made.
It would appear that the wounds were caused by a chopper, but the circumstances under which they were infiicted do not appear as yet to have transpired. So far as can be ascertained, however, the murdered man, ap- pareatly from motives of revenge, was enticed outside his house and set upon in the manner deseribed. He was left for dead in the road, but reviving somewhat, summoned sufficient strength to crawl to the door of his dwelling where he was discovered some time later by a foki. This man apprised the police of the affair, who, on their arrival, did all they could for the unfortunate man, and then had him conveyed to the Government Civil Hospital, where, as already stated, he died soon after being ad mitted. One of the two men arrested in con- nection with the crime is the murdered 'man's foki.
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OUTBREAK OF FIRE.
were
TWO NARROW ESCAPES. About one o'clock on the 9th- inst. fire broke out in the Fuk Lui Sing piece goods shop, 39, Wing Lok Street. The outbreak originated in the ground floor of the build- ing, a two-storey one, and spread with such rapidity that the Fire Brigade, al- though promptly in attendance, were quite unable to save the premises, which gutted. The place was fully insured in two com- panies-the Transatlantic Fire Insurance Company, for $11,000, and the Sonth British When the Insurance Company, for $3,000. fire had been extinguished, Inspector McNab and Lance-Sergeant Garrod (assistant foreman of the Fire Brigade), entered the premises with torches for the purpose of gaining an idea of the damage done. They made a tour of the place, and were returning when suddenly the roof gave way with a crash, almost bury ing the two men. Indeed, had they gone an other step farther, the probability is that they would have been killed, as the falling debris just missed their heads. Inspector McNab fortunately heard the roof give a cracking noise as it loosened, and pulled Lance-Sergeant Garrod, who was in front, back out of danger, As it was, Inspector AfcNab was rather severely bruised on the right leg, while Lance-Sergeant Garrod was completely pinned down by a beam that lay across his thigh. On his being extri- cated-to effect which the beam had to be sawn in two-it was found that his ankle had been fractured, and he was removed to the hospital, where he now-lies.
ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO RAISE THE CANTON RIVER."
CAPTAIN PERCY SCOTT TO MAKE A TRIAL.
One of those accidents terminating fatally that often attend shooting parties, even when the utmost care is taken to prevent such con- tingencies, is reported from the New Territory. On Sunday morning last Mr. C. E. Klinck, assistant superintendent in the Rope Works at Kennedytown, and a party of three friends, were out pigeon-shooting in the New Territory, Mr. Klinck being accompanied by his "boy," a Chinese lad of about sixteen years of age.
The party made its way to Samchun in Chinese territory, where Mr. Klinck, who carried a double-barrelled gun, fired one charge
All attempts having proved futile to raise from the right barrel at a pigeon, wounding it. The bird dropped amongst some bushes, and the the sunken dredger Canton River, which was boy was sent to look for it. He was gone some brought out by Messrs Punchard, Lowther & Co. time, and, becoming impatient, Mr. Klinck went for use at the new Admiralty Extension Works to help in the search. He saw the boy, whose and which capsized in the Harbour opposite back was turned, and was making his way to- Murray Pier during the recent typhoon, Cap. wards him, when, by some means not yet ex-tain Percy Scott, of H.M.S. Terrible, has been plained, the left barrel exploded, although, Mr. Klinck states, the hammer was not cocked. The unfortunate boy was only a few feet away, and received the full charge of buckshot in his back, some of it going through
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appealed to and asked if he could suggest any means of floaling her, as the Admiralty work has been delayed by her not being available. A model of the craft in her present sunken position, made by Mr, Gillies, has been Scott, who has had a complete plan
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[January 12, 1901.
many feet downwards by the heavy weights at- tached to them, thus supporting her at an angle of 30 degrees with the surface bottom. The first step towards getting her up again is to turn her over topside up, and Captain Scott's method of doing this is clearly set out in the model, every block, rope, and strain, and the position of the ohain slings which go round the vessel being. shown. At the after end of the dredger an anchor is thrown out in a northerly direction, that is exactly opposite to the direction it is Intended to turn the vessel. The object of this is to prevent her from slipping, and assist her to maintain her equilibrium. Thres enormous tackles of 100 tons each are taken from the Praya to the chains round the dredger, and anchora for these heavy strains are now being placed in positions about ten feet apart, so as to distributë the strain over about 90 feet of her length. On the north side will be three lifting lumps, and the combined lift and pull over is expected to turn her. The novel feature of Capt. Scott's plan is to pump air into her from a torpedo- boat destroyed so displace the water, and then if sucesss attends the turn-over she will be turned round, stern to the Praya, drigged into shallow water, and then pumped out.
THE THEATRE.-
At the Theatre Royal, City Hall, on Wed- nesday night, Pollard's Lilliputian Opera Company gave the opening performance of their season at Hongkong, choosing the ever popular Geisha for the purpose; and a most excellent selection it proved. Seldom has a warmer welcome been extended on the first night than Mr. Pollard's young deserved its welcome better. One and all, from people received, and certainly no company has beginning to end, the “ Lilliputians worked in the spirit of true artists, and there was not a single hitch. Acting, singing, and dancing alike showed the performers off to the utmost advantage, and at times it seemed wonderful to reflect that the figures before one's eyes word but children, in some cases many years unde 10 in age. It goes without saying that grea credit is due to those who have selected, trained and looked after the company; while to the young performers themselves we must yield unstinted admiration.
When all worked so hard and well, it is a difficult task to single any in partionlar, but in the best of performances there must be grades of merit, and so last night some of the youth- ful actresses and actors stood out among their fellows. Without a doubt the popular favourite was little Miss Madge Williams, who played Molly Seymour with wonderful cleverness and intelligence, besides showing himself a pretty dancer and an excellently trained vocalist the term seems almost too big to apply to a child of 6 years old. Her performance by itself was worth going a long way to see and hear, As O Mimosa San, Miss Alice Bennetto proved to have a very sweet voice which chal- adult many lenged comparison with those of Mimosas whom, we have heard. Moreover she of well filled the role in other respects. the officers of HM.S. Turtle three in par- ticular must be singled out, Reginald Fairiax (Miss Ivy Trott), Dick Cunningham, (Miss Lily Thomson), and Tommy Stanley (Miss Daphne Trott). The first two looked their parts most charmingly and in addition acted well and sang excellently, Fairfax's ren- dering of Star of my Soul" being particular. Trott was perfectly inimitable. Considering ly meritorions. As the middy, the younger. Miss that she is only 5 years of age, we can only look on her as a little wonder. Her allusion to the "cheek of French girls" brought the house down Turning to the boys Willie Pollard's Wun-Hi was one of the best thing of the even-
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the spine. He expired in ten minutes. The handed to drawn out on a scale ofing from the point of view of acting. He is a
body was removed to the Samchun customs station, and brought over to Hongkong on Mon-in.
which,
foot, and a scheme prepared,
very clever youngster indeed Harold Hill in excellent performance and proved himself to have considerable dramatic talent.
̈day morning, whence it was sent to the public effect deprehends, will have the desired the part of the Marquis Imari gave an
mortuary.
The cruiser Highflyer, the flagship of Ad- miral Bosanquet on the East Indian station, arrived in Rangoon just before Christmas to enable the Admiral and suite to spend their holidays in Upper Burma.
her
float the unfortunate vessel. In present position, the dredger lies with her head east, 380 feet from Murray Pier. She is 18) feet long, 36 feet of beam, and 15 feet depth, of a gross weight of 1,000 tons. Sho is embedded in the mud about four foot forward, and her mast and derricks have been forced
The audience on Wednesday included H E. the Governor, with Lady and Miss Blake, and suite, HE. Major-General and Mrs. Gascoigne, and nearly all the prominent representatives of the military, naval, and civil elements of the Colony.
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