August 17, 1901.]
most improbable that an extremely wealthy corporation like the Dock Company would leave the families of the men to suffer-men who had been killed in the execution of their duty, and so he wrote to them to ascertain if the statement by the police was correct. He was happy to say that the answer received from the secretary of the Dock Company showed that the whole question would be brought before the dirac- tors at the next meeting of the Company the 19.h inst. It might fairly by
on
assumed that the directors would do what was right in the matter. His Excellency then re- ferred to the disastrous collapse of houses in Cochrane Street, and informed the meeting that he had just returned from visiting the scane of the accident and the Government Civil Hospital.
When he left, ten dead bodies had been re-
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
DISASTROUS COLLAPSE OF
HOUSES IN COCHRANE STREET.
in
the
143
As late as 10 a.m. yesterday morning people buried beneath the ruins could be plainly heard calling for help, but the great mass of fallen material made it impossible either to locats the On Wednesday night, the 14th inst., atories immediately or to release the sufferera
residents about 10.45 pm, the
when located. vicinity of Cochrane Street were startled by a deafening crash. The cause of this proved to be the collapse of hous No. 31 and 31. Cochrane Streat, and the falling in of the front of No. 3). The two hoases which collapsed fall for ward, and in their fall damaged the buildings opposits, smashing the verandahs, etc.
Immediately a crowd gathered and the scene following until the arrival of the police was indescribable. Basides the usual mh of the meraly curious, there were numerous relatives
of the residents or bɔarðɔrs-ɔu) of the hɔnsit
having been an eating house who were sup posed to be baried beneath the rains. The shrieks and groans of the unfortunate people beneath the bris minglel with the wails relatives standing outside and the shouts of the onlookers. Imm›liately after the collapse, flames barst from the ru'nel heap, adding to the terror and confusion.
of the
covered and twenty-three injured people taken out of the fallen hou 8. The police and fire brigade were working as hard as they could, under circumstances of considerable danger, for the adjoining houses were in a most unsife state. Unfortunately the exact number of camalties ould not at present be ascertained, but it was feared that many more persons were buried in the debris. It was, however, possible that there might be recovered some who were yet alive. The injured people in hospital were in such a state that nothing could be learned from them, but it was certain that after such a calamity there would be found people who had lost all means of livelihood. Under these circumstances His Excellency suggested that the Sub-Com-house, forming an mittee, who had done so admirably already, might kindly undertake to retain the balanca of the Typhoon Fund and render assistance to the sufferers in the three disasters he had mзn-
The police and Fire Brigade were soon on the spot, and the first efforts were devoted to putting out the conflagration. The fire was soon got under control. 8m of the bama and woodwork in falling were apheld on one side by a large ston: support that had slightly separated itself from the adjoining least twenty-thre lives besides two who unaidel fored their way through this arch while every one was engagal in subluing the fire.
arch. This saved at
01 30
tioned or in any other case that might be broughtrains were heart-randing, and among them one The groans and shrieks emanating from the to their notice. He would be grateful person. ally if this were dona. He did not know if it was necessary to make a formal resolution on the point. They had come there to close the Fund, and it was only necessary to close it; and he asked those gentlemen of the Sub-Committee
to undertake the further distribution in the interest of charity.
Mr. FUNG WA CHUEN-Your Excellency. we are perfectly willing to undertake this further duty and to look into the whole mitter. I have been requested by the Chinese to tender to your Excellency and to the European com. munity their warmest thanks for the handsome donations given to the Fund. We are also indebted to Sir Thomas Jackson, the hon. treasurer, who has taken a great deal of trouble in connection with this work, and to all who have assisted in carrying it out.
Sir THOMAS JACKSON Your Excellency, I think it is very desirable that the Typhoon Fund should be closed, and I beg to move accordingly. The remaining balance just mentioned should be handed over to the three gentlemen on the Sab-Committes, with a re- quest that they distribute it amongst the necessitous cases which have just been discussed.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR —I am of opinion, gentlemen, that the course proposed is the best one, and we will adopt it. As the Fund is now definitely closed, I think our thanks are due to Mr. Stewart Lockhart, the hon. secretary.
for the trouble he has taken in connection with the distribution of this Fund, and also to the Registrar-General, who rendered great assistance to the Chinese gentlemen in their various enquiries.
This was all the business.
The N.Y.K. liner Tamba Mara, Captain Wale, which arrived in Kobs harbour on the 7th inst. from London and Antwerp, via ports, encountered a typhoon off Turnabout on the awy up from Hongkong. The storm commenced off Turnabout and grew worse as the ship approached Tung Ying Island. That was ou the 2nd inst. The storm lasted twenty-four hours. It grew in strength at 4 p.m. on the day mentioned, and raged with unabated force until 10 p.m. on the 3rd, when the wind went round to the 8. E. blowing a heavy gale with high seas. This weather continued until the Gotos were sighted. Captain Wale said his ship behaved splendidly. He experienced a very strong set to the north-west, amounting to 30 miles in twenty-four hours.
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could distinguish the pitiful wail of a child,
It was which later on was taken out, dead. said that there were seventy-five people occupy. ing the two ill-starred hones at the time of the collapse. Many passers-by were also buried under the debris as the building fell outward.
Ona twelve-year-old lad had a miraculous escape. He was buried under the bɔfor-mon- tioned arch formed by the woodwork, and when rescued on Wednesday night at about 12 o'clock he was found to be without a scratch, but, as might be expected, nearly paralysed with fright.
The sight of some of thi wounded was most pitiable. Onɔ old man had his forehead stova in. his face a mass of blood; others seemed to be simply crushed, without apparent wounds, bat unable to move a limb. One corpse remɔvəd hɩd both laga burnt off, the right arm barnt to a cinder, the face all barat, and a big hole in the back of his head. All of the bodies removed yesterday forenoon
were more or le's burnt.
This is the second sooid ent of this kind in the same street. The first happened some seventeen years ago, when a partially-orǝoted building at the corner, almost adjacent to the scene of the present disaster, collapsed. On that occasion, however, the building was unosompied and the casualties werə but trifling.
The numerous boxes containing clothing and personal belongings of the tenants of the col- lapsed houses, taken from the debris, seem to bear out the statement as to the great number of people who were in the buildings at the time of the disaster.
At 3.45 p.m. the searchers found a little girl
anderneath the debris quite unharmed. Th's mde a total of forty-oa) desi, injurei and unharmed rəcɔverɔd nɔ far, bɔɔid) thì two mia who forced their way from bɔaoith the rain: uusided.
The following is a detailed list of victims: - Killed: 14 miles, 2 tam iles, 2 ohildrən and oa+ charred corps) (sex unrecognisable), a total of
17.
Injured: 9 miles and 1 femala seriously, 11 males and 2 females slightly, total 23.
Escape without hurt: 3 males and on 1 femalo, total 4.
The fire once nudler control, the men of the
victims, and succeeded in rescuing during the Fire Brigade worked their hardest to succour the night twenty-three persons, among whom wars saveral women and children, alive. Ten of the number were serionsly hurt and convoyed to the hospital, whilst thirteen receiving only slight injuries, and being in fact more frighten-way coɔlies werз engaged all yesterday after- noon in putting up braces between the two buildings.
ed than hurt, were taken to the Central Police Station and kept there till yesterday forenoon.
Special mention must be made of the vol untary assistance rendered by Privates Walker and Gaunt, of the 38th Co. S.D., R.A., who indeed did more than yeomen service in rescuing the suffering and were responsible for the saving of a number of lives. On reach ing the scene of the disaster, they asked no questions. but pulled off their coats and worked heroically until daylight dawned.
Up till 9.3) a.m yesterday thirteen dead hai bsen recovered - woman, one lad, and elevan
men.
Shortly after ten o'clock the Fire Brigade man.composed of police constables and sergeants, renewed their labour in clearing away the debris, and recovered more of the victims. The labour was necessarily slow.
were
However, thair oforts
attended by thy dis. covery of one body sɔ barael to bз 83 to 83x, and one young unrecognisable girl, ber sex only discernible by her bsa daged fest, and her aga by her stature. Besides these two the corpses of two children were unearthed, burned and crushed beyond recognition.
About 10 am. the Hon. F. H. May, Captain Superintendent of Police, arrived to direct the operations of clearing away the debris and recovering the bariəd victim ›
About 10.45 a.m. H.E the Govenor, a000m- panied by the Hon. W. Chatham, Acting Director of Public Works, came to view the scene, and remained the best part of an hour, in spite of the heary rain that came down at intervals. Mr. H. P. Tooker, Acting Assist- ant Director of Pablic Works, was also on the spot directing the removal of the ruins. Inspectors Kemp, Bsker and McNab were to be seen energetically helping in the work of rescue, which was carried on by relays of European, Indiau and Chinese firemen and police.
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It being too dangerous tɔ continue clearing away
the remains of the houses for fear of the walls of thy two adjoining houzas giving
Last night we learnt that Mr. H. P. Tooker, who remained at the scone of the disaster throughout the entire day assisting in the directing of the rescue operations, mit with a rather nasty mishap between five and six o'clock in the afternoon, a falling brick striking hin on the head and inflicting a severe scalp wound. But for the fact that Mr. Tooker was wearing his aan-hat at the moment, the accident might have had more serious consequences. The wound was dressɔd and Mr. Tooker taken to the Government Civil Hospital.
10 P.M.
The arch for bɔlies buried underneath the debris was started again at 8 o'clock under the directions of Inspectɔr Komp ani Sergeants Kerr and Smith. Two bodies were excavated, making a total of nineteɔn dead so far. At the time of gɔing to pross thres mors bodies were loosted and were being dug out.
Great difficulty is experienoxd by the polics in obtaining cooliss to help in excavating the victims of the collapse, one and all refusing, för some reason or other, to engage in the ghastly work. Only a few Chiness firemen were at work last night.—Daily Press, 16th August.
The Bulletin Economique de l'Indo-Chine gives some figures of the trade of Indo-Chins in 19)), which show that the commercial mɔve- ment has attained 341,650,7721. during 1930, being an increase over the previous year of 89,410,107! It is the most important increase that has taken placɔ, largely surpassing all previous increases since 1891. During the last decaio (1891-1900) the commercial movement of Indo-China has passed from 138,497,358f. to the amount mentioned above, which means an ang· mentation of 145-8 per cent. bearing mostly in the last four years. Imports have attained excess over 1809 of 115,465,877f., being an
70,500,0007.
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