976
EXPLOSION OF A POWDER MAGAZINE AT CANTON
MANY PERSONS KILLED AND INJURID.
Can on, 11th April.
On Good Friday at 2.40 p.m. he inhabitants of Canton were startled by a tremendous explosion. A large volume of smoke was seen to be rising
in the shape of a balloon from a point sʊme
distance to t the NE of the city, and it was ovident that a powder-magazine had exploded
began to appear.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
CANTON
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT...
Canton, 10th April.
THE ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE. The Chinese have during the last week been enjoying their annual excursión to the tombs of their ancestors on the surrounding hills, and every day crowded steamers and passage boat, have been disgorging their pilgrims bound for the North and East gates of the City. At this time the tombs of earth or stone are garnished and cleaned, the departed relations are provided with food and drink in co they require it, and paper is burned in their honour.
IMPROVING THE POLICE FORCE. The recent efforts of the Prefect and other officials to promote the efficiency of the police
FROM OU
April-20, 1909.
Amoy 9th April:
SHA MARRIAGE OF NB. À. CUMMING.
· A very pretty wedding was celebrated in our little Union Church on the 6th instant. Miss Mabel, the youngest daughter of Jack Saunders, was united in holy mat to Mr. Alexander Camming, of Messrs. Butter- field and Swire. The service was conducted W- Macgregor. The church by the~Rey... ↑ decorations were simple but effective. The bride was elegantly dressed in white satin and looked charming. H-r train was held by two little pages in sailor costümət
The two brides- maids, Miss S unders and Miss Linklater, woTE pretty cream chiffon dresses with hats to match, and a wee d
dot of two years in white
-8 not uncommon occurrence in China,
The writer immediately set out for the scene of the disaster, and on reaching the small N. gate, found a continuous string of Chinese hurrying towards the scene of the disas e force have resulted in the appearance of many | gilk brought up the rear. D. O'Neill officiated After walking about a mile towards the low neat and well-equippèd policemen in some of the hills, from behind which smoke was still rising, main streets, but sometimes their not unjustifi-as groomsman. A reception was afterwards Indications of the magnitude of the explosion able pride leads to excess of zeal. Yesterday held at Capt. Sanners's residence, where were in the North Gate Street a policeman w8 displayed the many handsome presents that informed that a thief was running away; had been sent the happy couple. At four o'clock he accordingly produs & his revolver and fired they left, amidst showers of rice, for Hongkong in what seemed to him a likely direction, hitting by the Haitan. The steamer was gay with asion, and so were two bystanders, a man and a boy of 13, the bunting in honour of the former in the stomach and the latter in the leg. most of the boats in harbour, day Unfortunately there was no adequate medical assistancə available, and both died in the course of the day.
Peasants carrying blackened beams and other wreckage, the roof of a honse broken in, a blickened and groaning survivor staggering along, and finally several coffins being carried towards a point over the brow of a hill about two miles outside the small North gate of the city, all fold a sad tale.
The powder magazine was called Yung Tsi, and was in the district called Ho Yo Ch'u. It covered an area of over an acre, and this spacə was a confused mass of bricks and beatus, from which smoke was still issuing in dense clouds an hour after the explosion. Under the rains is buried an unknown number of soldiers; several who hid been guarding the magazine had slready been dug out, but workmen were still busy digging.
Abont three hundred yards from the rains an. unfortunate coolie was lying, who had been blown some distance, and was suffering from a fractured thigh and minor injuries. A dense crowd of Chinese surrounded him, and though he had lain there for an hour, they had not given him so much as a drink of water. This was son pat to rights, however, and by dint of vigorous bambooing the crowd were forced to stand back. A German missionary was doing very good work, and probably saved two or three lives as he was provided with bandages. The Chines seemed unable to help. It does not copur to them that there are little ways of alleviating suffe. ing without possessing any knowledge of surgery, and they wait for a doctor or a foreigner to appear.
Some of the wounded were mangled beyond description. Twenty-three were attended by Dr. * wan, who arrived at about 5 p.m. Most of the injured were suffering from shock, for the force of the e
o explosion must have been terrific. A wall, formerly ten feet high, which girdled the magazine, had be n cut down as it were with a knife two feet from the ground. Not a leaf remained on any tree within a hundred yards of the place.
The number of the dead is as yet unknown, but is probably not above twenty. The sufferers are receiving the best of attention at Dr. Swan's hospital at Kuk Fou, where they were conveyed during the night.
correspondent writes from Canton-With reference to the explosion of the Wing Chai powder magazine on the 10th inst. various explanations are suggested as to the cause One suggestion is that it was due to the carelessness of the soldiers at the magazine another that some of the rebels set fire to it; but the story that bears a nearer approximation to the truth is that as the Acting Viceroy Tak Sow had some information that certain weiyuins who were taking charge of the
tion
THE EXPLOSION AT. THE ARSKNÅL.
As I write these words, the house is shaken as if by an earthquake, and a cloud_of smoke is visible near the North gats: a powder magazine has just blown up in that direction, and no doubt many of the newly imported arms and stores have been distroyed. Truly a typical instance of Chinese carelessness in such matters.
THE CANTON-HANKOW RAILWAY.
The branch line of the Canton-Hankow rail way, that from Canton to Fatsban, is making gradual progress, and several miles' have been laid; but the commencement of the line from this end does not seem to be in view.
Canton, 11th April.
A CURIOUS STORY.
There is a good deal of talk about Hung Chin Fak, the chief of the Triad Society, who, according to reports prevalent at the time was trying to raise rebellion on the Chinese New Year's Eve in Canton. It is said that spies were sent by Admiral Li Chon to Hongkong to inveigle the rebel chief. Having persuaded him to attend a feast they drugged him, pnt bim into a wooden box and brought him in a steam-launch to Canton. Ou the voyage he awoke, and forced open the box. His captors, who discovered it, immediately proceeded to When his derpse was strangle him to death. brought to Canton an inquest was held upon it by the Magistrates of Nam Hoi and Pun Yü, but there was no evidence to prove his identity The spie hd in fact sought to palm off another man for Hang Chün Fuk; and people know now that these machinations were devised by certain military officials seeking promotion.
EXTRADITION WANTED, Another story much disonssed here concerns a notorious robber or rebel, Lum Pak- Macao awaiting kai, now in prison in extradition, for whose apprehension, a reward of 20,000 taels had been offered by the officials. This reward, it was stated, would be proportionately divided among those who were instrumental in getting him handed over to the Chinese authorities for execution. Weiyning have been sent to Macao to procure the extra dition; but as usual in such cases the evidence is so conflicting that there is some hesitation in handing him over.
STEAMER ASHORE AT CHEFOO.
4
had misappropriated - a large powder, and could not give an of the same, His Excellency bad ordered un, Lao Ching to go and make an A telegram to the Shanghai Mercury, dated The latt Appointed 4 o'clock in Chefoo, April 11th, states that the British rnoon of Friday to make that examina- | steamer Victoria is ashore on Little Bamboo 1 it was shortly after two pm: (before Island, with her holds full of water. The rent there) that the disaster occurred. It chief officer has arrived here in the lifeboat.
of weiyuins had set bre Lloyd's agents here, Messrs. Curtis Bros
in. Over a hundred are endeavouring to procure assistance for ere discovered buried under unburned and they have been of the Viceroy to another
beyond the East gate.
This is probably the British “stenmor Victoria, 1,5 6 tons, Captain Casey, – been running between Hongkong and northern ports,
|
AMEN-OF-WAR ARRIVALS. **** U.S.88. Kentucky, New Orleans, and Helena came in on the morning of the 6th, instant and left hurriedly for the North the next day,
CHINA-BORNEO, CO. LD.
GENERAL MEETING.Ą A general meeting of shareholders in the above Company was held on the 9th inst. at the offices, 4, Queen's Buildings, for the pur- pose of hearing a statement as to the manner in which the winding-up had been conducted. Mr. A. G..Wood cccupied the chai, and the others present were Sir C. P. Chator, C.MG, J. Wheeley (manager, G. C. C. Master (directors), Hart Buck, J. W. C. Bonnar, W.-H. Wickham, O: Baptista, and 1 Shui Lun...
eung. The notice calling the meeting having been read.
The CHAIRMAN said Gentlemen, agreeably with the notice which has just been read I have the pleasure to inform you that the liquidators appointed at the meetings of 29th December and 14th January last have completed the winding-up of this Company by the transfer of its properties,business, and goodwill according to the terms of the resolution passed the 11th
at our extraordinary meetings of accordingly and 27th October last, and 25,600 shares of $12 fully paid in the new Chinese Borneo Co., Ld., are now being distri buted among the holders of shares in this Company in exchange for their shares at the rate of three new shares for every one old part- paid share and at the rate of four new shares for every one old fully-paid share. This ab- shares to be dealt with. You are aware that sorbs 24,041 shares, leaving a balance of 959 the new Company acquired the properties, lands, buildings, business, goodwill and all assets and liabilities, contracts and engagements of this Company as from the 1st January, 1902, but this did not include the uncalled capital nor the dividend which was paid in March, 1992, in exchange for the 25,000 shares of $12 each fully paid, representing $300,00 in the new Company. The new Company having acquired the present one as from the 14th January, 1902, the accounts presented and passed at our meeting of the 1st March of that year represent the final accounts of the Company-the bu iness of 1903 belonging to the new Company. As regards the 959 shares of $12 each valne $11,508, these represent fractional shares which have just mentioned. It will be to deal with them by a special res may, I trust, be to the following To the liquidators for their: $3,000; to Mr.J. Wheeley for ser in London, 81,000; services rendered balance of $6!
register on Januar
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