88
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
SAMPSON.
[August 1, 1903.
into consideration the hot weather and -bad health of the deceased, it was probable that ha took his own life.
the sssurances and promptings of England | THE INQUEST ON MR. HECTOR complained of a pain in his head. Taking would never begin a war that she cannot last out – But the people and the Press in Japan, blinded and made frenzied by the promises held out by England, are clamouring for war, and if the Government would save the dynasty from danger it must declare war. Neither Japan nor Russia will gain anything by the war. England, and only England, will reap the harvest.
The actual reason for the war, however, will be the firm refusal of Russia to evacuate Manchuria at the request of Japan, as conveyed in her ultimatum, and to yield to Japan the concessions received by the Government of the Tsar from the Corean Empeorr. After, that refusal the people of Japan will become so frantic and so incensed against Russia that the Government must bow to the will of the masses and declare war The adoption of any other course
The inquest `concerning the death of Mr. ector Sampson at Shanghai was concluded at the British Consulate on the 23rd ult.
Dr. Neil Macleod stated that on Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. he was summoned to 3, Peitaiho Lane. When he arrived Mr. Sampson bad been dead two or three hours. Death was evidently due to an extensive gunshot wound in the head and must have been instantaneous. From the position and condition of the wounds of entrance and exit; the bullet mark on the wall; the position and attitude of the body in the bed; the position of the limbs and that of the weapon; and a mark on the right big toe, witness was of opinion that the wound was self-inflicted.
Lu Ah-tsung, house-boy of the deceased,
cautioned, said that he remembered his master
The jury returned a verdit of “suicide during temporary insanity accelerated by the excessive heat of the past week."
HANKOW-CANTON RAILWAY.
EXPERIENCES OF THE ENGINEERS IN. HUNAN. Mr. D. Minor Mickle, an American engineer engaged on the construction of the Hankow- Canton railway, writes to the Shanghai Times a letter in which he gives a glowing account of the fertility of the province of Hunan and the contentment aud prosperity of the people. Mr. Mickle writes from Yo Chow and he says:-
Our line now runs through almost unbroken stretch which is under cultivation and made to of magnificent, fertile valley, every
would bring revolution in its train, and so coming home at about 5.30 on Tuesday evening.' yield its utmost towards the sustenance of the
the will of the people must be obeyed.
REQUIEM MASS FOR THE LATE that he was going to have a bath. They went
POPE LEQ XIII,
find Mrs. Sampson and deceased's brother. The cook cou'd not find Mrs. Sampson, but she came back about 7 pm. in a carriage. He did not hear any report, but the cook's wife who was out in the yard heard it and thought that someone! next door was opening a soda-water bottle. Mr. Sampson never sent for or called witness after he had gone to his room.
By a juryman-Mr. Sampson did not appear excited when he came home; on the contrary, he could hear Mr. and Mrs. Sampson talking. and laughing as they went upstairs. Mrs. Sampson went upstairs with Mr. Hutchison,
who lived at 9. Peitaiho Lane.
Frederich Gordius Nielsen deposed that he
in the back of the head. He had not seen a
Mrs. Sampson was just going out and she assed her husband if he was going.
Deceased said
upstairs together. Witness went to have some food and did not hear his mistress go out. About 6.30 he went to prepare the bed and found AN IMPRESSIVE SERVICE.
that the door was closed. He knocked and as no In the Roman Catholic Cathedral, on the one answered went in. He thought his master was 99th ult., at 8.30
solemn requiem asleep, but on going nearer saw that he had a gan high mass for the late Pope Leo XIII in his hand, that there was blood on the bed, and was celebrated in presence of a congregation that his master was dead. Witnessgot frighten- that completely filled the building and repre-ed and left the room. He asked the cook to go and sented all classes of the colonial community. The service was conducted by the Right Rev. Bishop Piazzoli, assisted by the Fathers of the Italian Mission, the Missions Etrangères de Paris, and the Spanish Dominican Mission. Among those present Were the sisters and pupils of the French and Italian Convents, and the pupils of . Joseph's College under the direction of the Brothers of the Christian schools. In special seats in the transepts were Senhor Conselheiro A. G. Romano, Consul-General for Portugal aud Consul for Brazil; Chev. Z Volpicelli, Consul for Italy and Austria-Hungary; Mr. A. P. Marty, Consul for Spain Mr. Th. Hamman. Consal for Belgium; Mr. Ed. Mnelle, Consul for Peru; Mr. J. J. eiria, Vice-Consul for: Brazil; Commodore. G. Robinson, Naval Yard; Captain PJ. J. Radcliffe, Royal Engineers; and there were also present officers and men from H.B.M.'s Navy, the Sher- wood Foresters, the Royal Garrison Artillery, the Royal Engineers, and the Indian regimente. The Cathedral was draped in mourning. The pillars were encircled with black, and festoons of sombre drapery hung upon the walls. Between the transepts was placed the catafalque, a lofty stracare : on the base the emblems of death, while upon the black-and- silver relret pall were laid the Pope's tiara and the pontifical robes As the reverend Bishop with accompanying procession of priests and acolytes, all dressed info attire, filed from the yestry to the nave and took their plac.s in front of the altar, the congregation rose and made devout obeisance, and soon through the building rang the sonorous tones of the priests as they sang the requiem mass, and ia response the choristers' voices rose to the accompaniment of the organ in the beautiful music of Pope Gregory. At the conclusion of the celebration of the solemn mass, the exqquies were entered apon. There were five absolutions for the deceased Pontiff, each absolution being per- formed by a representative of a different Mission. The first to perform this ceremony, sprinkling the catafalque with holy water and bearing Found it the incense-burner, was Rev. Father Ple Maris, Pro-Vicar Apostolic, Italian Mission; then followed in succession Rev. Father D. A. Lecomte, Superior of the. House of Nazareth, Pokfulam, French Mission; Rev. Father F. R. Noval, Vice-Procurator, Spanish Mission Rev. Futher Andrew Leong, ChinesĖ Minion; and lastly the Right Reverend Bishop Piazzoli, who administered the final absolution. Thus was brought to a close a most impressive ceremony. The congregation afterwards dis-
During the service the Cathedral bell tolled a al-knellz Mr..0. Bantista presided at the gan, The French Consul, M. Beau, was to be present and sent an apology and ences to the Bishop,
had married Mrs. Sampson's sister. He last saw deceased alive at about 2 p.m. on Tuesday, at tiffin. Witness was intimately acquainted with deceased and knew that he had been in bad health for some time. During the last four or five days, he had complained of having a dull pain doctor recently, but some time between February and April deceased had one or two very bad attacks of romiting blood. He saw Dr. Milles then. Lately he had been suffering a good deal from sleeplessness. Witness could not say whether deceased was worried about anything,.. because he always appeared to be very optimistic. Witness had not found any papers. Mr. Sampson appeared to suffer a great deal from the heat. He had told witness that 25 years ago a doctor told him that he would not live more than six months.
Frederick Albert Sampson said that he was e brother of the deceased. He last saw deceased about a month ago. On Tuesday evening his brother's cook came round to 31, North Soo- chow Road, where he was staying, and said that his master had shot himself. Witness had looked through his papers and pockets, but had failed to find anything which afforded any reason for deceased's act. His brother was very cheerful. In the spring he had told witness laughingly that the doctor had given him three months to live. Deceased bad es long as witness could remember, about 16 years, suffered from neuralgic headaches and always carried menthol about with him. On Tuesday he played billiards at the Masonic Club before going home, and two men there declared that lie was playing with them at 630, about the time he died.
The Coroner, addressing the jury, said that he thought they had heard all the available evidence in this matter and that he did not think they would have much difficulty in coming to a conclusion. From the evidence put before them he thought they could come to no other conclusion than that the deceased died by his own hand. In the evidence no reasonable cause was shown for his doing so, but, his brother-in-law had said that he had had very bad health for some time, and also that he had
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great population. And this population, while numerous, is not in the least congested. There seems to be room for all and a little for future addition. We have not seen a single sign of dis- tress, although the people do not live in affluence. trated in the hands of the few at the expense There is no indication that wealth is concen-
of the many. The people have all they
need to eat and comfortable honses to live in, True these houses do not come up to th standard of habitations of the working classes of the United States, but there are many their rations, it is not uncommon for our party reasons why that is not to be expected. As for
to turn from the cold tiffin which we have
brought out to us while at work, to the more appetising meals of fresh meats and vegetables which we can buy in the open market and have cooked at the nearest farmhouse when midday comes. We have not seen a single beggar outside of the larger cities. The people are beyond doubt honest. During all the time wo have been among them, passing from village to village, our baggage handled by innumerable coolies, open to the inspection of not only our own servants but those of the places in which we stopped, and not unfrequently to crowds of native residents who come into our apartmen's (according to the universal custom of this country) to see what the strangers look like and live like, with abundant opportunity to steal if so inclined, not an article has been found baggage, which has been at all times left in missing. Yet we have all carried money in our the hands of our personal servants to pack and
care for.
are
All along this line wo have found the people in most friendly mood. Everywhere we greeted with smiles. In no instance have we been made to feel like intruders. No aversion
to the railroad has been shown at any point. This was something of a surprise to ns after the exciting times we had passed through in a few of the completely isolated villages of our first line. We are told that this is in large measure due to the fact that we have followed the telegraph line, over the introduction of which a fight had been made some five or six years ago, the benefit of which we are now reaping, since it has broken in the people to the idea of having foreigners among them.
About noon on the 28th ult, the red cone, point downwards, denoting a typhoon to the south of the Colony with its centre more than three hundred miles away, was hoisted, and at five o'clock was replaced by the black cone, also pointing down, denoting that the typhoon was still to the south but within three hundred miles of the Colony.
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The Novy Krai of Port Arthur learns from Vladivostock that the authorities have decided as to the future of that place. It is reported that the rest of the Government will be transferred to Nikolsk, as will also several administrative departments, such as the Customs: Department and the District Board. In proportion as Vladivostock cesses to be of importance as a centre of administration it will be developed on other lines. Thus, the Admiralty buildings are to be enlarged, and several barracks are to be built in various, quarters of the town. It thus seems certain, that Vladivostock, is destined to lose its character as, & commercial centre, and to be converted into a litary supporting base.
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