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December 1, 1906.]
guard ready to throw themselves into water- he considered it advisable to get a line ashore. The Chief Officer volunteered to swim ashore with a heaving line and succeeded in reaching the shore, badly bruised and knocked about by the heavy seas. Ropes were got ashore, the second engineer, who had finished his duties in the engine room, assisting the Chief Offleer. The Chief Engineer and himself passed the passengers by means of the ropes to the shore. A number fell off, and the chief officer and second engineer were busy in the water rescuing them. 't wo, however, were drowned, but that happened before the ropes were got ashore.
By the President-What size of anchors have you on the Heungshan and what length of chain have you ?—Two paleulanchors, Twenty- eight and twenty hundred weights, and chaius to the extent of 120 fathoms for each sochor.
Are your anchors constantly worked and attended ?-Constantly.
Who looks after them?-The Chief Officer attended them.
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$81
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.,
barometer high and steady. At 9.30 a.m. engine used for the purpose of generating the wind increased by a series of heavy | electricity, and wires are carried from squalls and the sea rapidly rose. The ship
it to the tunnel mouth, presumably to was then turned round to N.W. to assist supply current for lighting purposes as the in getting the awnings furled and the typhoon barrowing into the bowels of the mountain doors shut. At 9.30 the south end of Sanchan | proceeds. Aware that work has been started on was seen bearing E.N.E., ooe and a half miles both sides of the range, the pedestrian will no distant, the wind by this time having increased doubt desire to ascend the mountain to obtain to typhoon force and accompanied by blinding from the summit a view of the operations in rain, the ship then heading about west by south progress ou the other side. and steaming at full speed until 10.20 a.m. when the master thought it advisable to anchor The engines were slowed down and both anchors were lat go in a seemanlike manner with 90 and 75 fathoms of chain respectively, well outside the hawse pipe, and carefully aft»uded to by the chief officer. The engines Wire worked for a considerable time to enable the ship's head to be brought to the wind, but without success, As the ship was lying easily to her chains the engines were stopped. We, the Court, are of opinion that the master wa thoroughly justified in anchoring when and where he did; that, after taking iuto considera- tion the conditions of the weather and the im- possibility of seeing through the blinding rain, and that after anchoring all due precautions were taken, the chains being carefully watched and no indication given by jerk or other- wise which it would be usual to expect, she n.ust tare dragged both anchors a distance ok abst. three ant # half miles when the ship took the reef; that everything was done by the taster and officers to save life and | properly, special commendation being due to Mr. Grainger, chiof officer, and Mr. Harvey, secoud engineer, in gotti g ropes ashore through | the breaking sea and generally helping to rescue passengers Whe were washed from the ropes through the heavy wares. We, the Court, are of the opinion that it was largely due to the gallant exertions of these officers that only two lives were lost; and, taking into con- sideration the abnormal conditions under which On which anchor did you have the 90the ship was navigated, the Court absoly s master fathoms - On the starboard anchor, which I
and officers from all blame. think is the heavier.
How far do you imagine you steamed after sighting Sauchau before you anchored?—I imagine I steamed two miles, making my esti. mato from Sauctau of about three and half miles.
Have you ever ridden ont a typhoon befure in the Heungshan or ships of that class?—Yes; but had no difficulty owing to anchor chains, although I had less chain/out.
Commander Winstrop-When you found yourself on the reef did you notice how your cables were? -Yes both cables were abot four points abaft the beam on the starboard beam, the port cable being under the bottom of the ship. When you anchored you say you veered to 75 and 90. Had both cables then an equal strain?
-Yes.
Captain Gaukroger - Did it appear to you when you left Macao that morning that you would be in for a typhoon -There was no indication either by sky or barometer.
You say the ship's head was to the south, the wind north west westerly, your anchors five points on the starboard bow south west. Did you have no indication that the ship was drifting? --No; I considered the tide was making against the wind, which would account for the ship lying quiet.
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Captain Mitchell Did you give the ship a sheer after dropping the first anchor? No: I did not think it advisable as she was well! astern of her anchor.
Mr. Grainger, chief officer, said they had six European passengers, 549 Chinese passengers and 57 of a crew on the Hcungshan on the day in question. The glass was high and ste-dy when they left Macao at 8 o'cloc‹. His state. ment as to what happened corroborated that made by the master. He left the windlass short- y after 12 o'clock because he heard a bump. Ha had scarcely reached deck when the ship struck, Then he got all the sailors together and endeavoured to quieten the passengers, who were beginning to show signs of panic. The captain consulted him as to what should be done and he volunteered to go ashore with a line. The second engineer followed and assisted him to get several ropes ashore.
In reply to Commander Winstrop, witness said he had his hands on the cables after the ship anchored, but felt no jerk which would indicate that the ship was dragging.
Mr. Johnstou, chief engineer, said the Heungshan's engines had pressure of 125 lbs on the morning of the 18th. That would give her a speed of thirteen knots. Witness gave evidence as to the working of the ship, and stated that when the water came in the water-tight doors were closed. The water came in through the stoke hole and drove the men out. As the water rose he deemed it advisable to blow off the steam to prevent au explosion.
The finding of the Court was :—
In concluding the proceedings the Harbour Master said that was the third inqu’ry within a mouth.
THE RAILWAY WORKS AT KOWLOON.
AN INSTRUCTIVE RAMBLE.
Written for the Daily Press), Those who delight in long rambles over the hills during the cool weather will probably not fail this season to nclude in the r walks an excur sion to the riciuity of the Lion's Head, on the Kowloon range of hill, where large gangs of co dies are s arting work on the railway tunnel.
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From Taikoktsui a service line has been laid, a distance of probably a couple of miles, right up the valley to the point at which the tunnelling operations have been commenced. The shrill whis le of & locomotive echoing in the valley strikes the ear of the European like a sweet sound. The facetious describe the locomotive as "The Kowloon-Shampsuipo Express." It bears, however, the Dame La Guaira," and is em ployed in drawing trucks loaded with earth from the cuttings to be deposited at points where embankments are in the making. To parody a western adage, it may be said that the band that rocks the cradle-makes the railways in China, for there appear at a glance 10 be as many womeu as men employed on the excavating and embankment work. The huge granite boulders which abound in the hillocks surrounding the valley are lid under con- tribution in the construction of culverts, the granite being dressed for the purpose- an expense, it may be remarked, which is not an item in the construction of culverts on the Hongkong side of the harbour; it gives the work however a good appearance. Boulders are requisitioned also to be broken up, apparently for concreting purpos s. and large h-ups of broken stone are ready at the rail bes for measurement and use. -
The railway people have made a good path up the mountain which greatly facilitates the 880 at. It is still, however, a stiff enough climb for the average man who follows a sedentary oconpation six days out of the seven, Bat the view from the summit, which is about the height of Victoria Park, is worth the effort. Fertile valleys stratch out towards the sea on either side of the mountain range, and the view down the valley in the direction of Shatin and extending to the archipelago of islet rocks which stud Tolo Harbour is magnificent. At this season of the year, however, when the crop have been gathered in, the valleys are denuded of the rich green tin!s which make them, so picturesque in the summer and autumu, and the eyo ranges over an expanse of paddy field to seek the railway track beyond. A path zigzags down the mountain slope to the point where the trin from Kowloon wil by and bye emerge from a tunnel a mile and a third in length to speed along the line to Iaipo and Samehua, Boring operations have com- menced simultaneously on both sides of the range. One can already discern fro a the top of the mountain, by noting little embankment works, the route of the line which will rua along the base of the hills opposite, skirting the valley as far as the bend in the road leating up to Taipo. And beyond this point right up to the boundary line of British territory, embank- ment work has been done, so that along the whole lius of route there are very substantial signs of progress,
We find that the ss. Heungshan of Hong kong, of which George Murrison, master mariner, was master, left Macao on 18th On approaching the rail-head one suddenly September, 1906, for Hongkong at 8 o'clock
comes upon the view of a little village in with a general cargo, six Europeans, 543
on process of formation
the rising slopes Chinese and 57 of a crew. The ship was full of the hill-comfortable little bungalows for powered and well found. The weather was Europeans employed on the works, and sheds cloudy, with moderate N.W. breezes, the. for various purposes. One shed houses an
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It remains to be added that it is posible to go by rickshaw from Taikoktsui close up to the tunnelling works the road running for the greater part of the way parallel with the before- mentioned servic› line of railway.
DEATH OF MR. THOMAS ARNOLD.
We deeply regret to learn that news reached the Colony by Tuesday's mail of the death of Mr. Thomas Arnold, who for over twenty-two years ably filled the position of Secretary of the Hongkong, Cinton and Mao 10 St ambit Company, Limited. Mr. Arnold was previously with the firm of Augustine Heard & Co., (aor defunct) and later establishel himself in the Colony as a public accountant and even during⚫ his long connection with the Steamboat Com- pany Mr. Arnold's name figured on the yearly balance sheets of several local companies as an auditor.
Не was widely respected in the Colony, and when a year ago failing health oblige him to resign the Secretaryship of the Steamboat C mpsuy and leave the East, the Company marked their appreciation of his long and faithful service by granting him a year's pay as retiring allowance. Mr. Arnold had resided in the Colony since 1872. He died st Exmouth on October 20th, his age being 63.
TWO TYPHOON HEROES.
We understand that efforts are being made to secure public recognition of the gallantry and heroism displayed by Mr. E. H. Grainger, chief officer of the Heungshan, and Mr. Alex. Harvey, second engineer, when that vessel stranded during the disastrous typhoon. The former volunteered to go ashore with a line which he succeeded in doing, although much braised by being buffetted and knocked by the heavy seas against the rocks. His noble example was followed by Mr. Harvey, and between them they secured the ropes by which the passengers were taken off the steamer. Ås many were washel from the ropes both men were basy in the water rescuing those in danger of drowning.
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