86
DAMAGE TO GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, Harbour OFFICES :-
A few panes of glass broken, Bamboo wharf
destroyed.
STEAM LAUNCHES :—
"3
Stanley badly strained by s.s. "Honan" colliding with her. "Victoria." damage to stern through collision
by another launch.
44
K
Daisy," dam ge to rail and awning, spars and stanchions, due to other craft colliding with her.
No. 2 C," hired in lieu of "Lily," under repair. Damage to rail and awnings, stanchions etc., collision by other craft. Siby," cansiderable damage to deck fittings and rails.
LIGHTHOUSES :-
Cape Colinson, considerable damage to quar-
ters.
Gap Book and Waglan report by passing steamers all correct so far as lights are concerned. Apparently some damage to quarters etc.
Damage
Capsuimun, roof badly damaged. Government Gunpowder Depot.
to roof, etc. Signal Station, Blackhead's Hill. Damage
to roof etc.
South Fairway buoy fouled by something. Buoy dragged 300 feet to west. Camp guard bent and light extinguished. 'Hygeia." Starboard side roof demolished.
"
EXPERIENCES OF THE RIVER STEAMERS.
THE "SAN CHEUNG."
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The river steamer "San Cheung," which is commanded by Captain McGinty, left Hongkong for Canton at nine o'clock on Monday night, She had an easy passage until about 11.30 when nearly abreast of Tai Shek. Then the weather began to freshen and the gale gradually grew in force, oulminating in a hurricane between 4.0 and 5 o'clock on the following morning when the vessel was between Tiger Island and the Chain Rock Light. At 4.30 the reading of the barometer was 29.34, while at five o'clock it stood at 39 36. It was at the latter hour that the typhoon reached its height, the wind then blowing with burricane force while great green seas lashed over the "San Cheung and tossed her about in the water like a cork. But ber intrepid skipper was not taken unawares on this occasion. He had had ample warning, and when the storm burst on the compact little steamer she was all ship shape. Her bow faced the wind and she was driven into the gale at full speed ahead. "The ship behaved splendidly" was the remark of Captain McGinty yesterday, and this opinion was endorsed by his chief officer, but neither appeared to be over pleased with the behaviour of the Chinese crew during the storm; at least, they had no good word to say on their behalf. During the force of the typhoon part of the ship's rail was carried away, and a few doors were stove in, but the fact that they were pre- pared for the onslaught of the elements save, further damage to the ship. For her safety, however, and for the safety of the passengers and crew, it was found necessary to jettison a quantity of cargo. About 1,500 bags of flour and 60 bags of sugar went by the board. After an anxious and exciting voyage the "San Cheung" at length arrived safely at Canton, and returned to this port without further mis- hap. A survey of her, however, proved that she had been strained, and it is now considered advisable to place her in dock.
Speaking about the trip up the river to Canton Captain McGinty stated that at many points those on board could not see land on ac- count of the volume of water which overflowed the paddy fields. The river was ten feet above its ordinary height, and the floods were even greater than those which have earned so much sympathy and assistance for the Cantonese of late. Far inland on the paddy fields the masts of junks were showing, while as Shameen was approached, wrecked janks and flower boats were to be seen on all parts of the river. As for the oity of Canton, be stated that the city has not presented such a wrecked appearance for up- wards of thirty years.
THE KINSHAN
The Hongkong, Canton and Macao steamer "Kinshan" arrived at Canton at eight o'clock on Tuesday morning, having ridden the typhoon through in Castle Peak Bay. On arrival there the crew found that the Company's wharf and matshed had been carried away by the storm. There was an exceedingly high tide, the streets of the city were flooded and wrecks on the river were namerous Passengers by the "Kinshan" had to wait until oce in the afternoon before they could get chair coolies to oarry them ashore.
THE "TAI ON
"
The West River steamer "Tai On" left Kongmoon at eight o'clock on Monday evening, and was overtaken by the typhoon on Tuesday afternoon in the Sailan Channel! The vessel steamed successfully against the gale, escaping with the loss of a little covering. The captain reports baving seen the s.8. Tak Hing" near Swashway Light. She was hard and fast on the beach. There was much wreckage on the West River and the "Tai On": passed three sunken launches and upwards of a hundred junks,
|
B.K 3. WHITING
has
The torpedo boat destroyer" Whiting' been more seriously damaged that was at first supposed, one of her sides being completely opened. Her anchors were out, and although sbe was steaming at eleven knots an hour against the hurricane, she was unable to with.
stand it.
GALLANT RESCURS BY THE LAUNCH
" VACUUM.
ов
Whilst riding out the storm off Stonecutters on Monday night, under steam and anchor, the coxswain and crew of the steam launch Vacuum" rescued from a watery grave no less than 28 Chinese from the sunken lighters of the Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, as they floated past olinging to wreckage, planks, etc. The crews of two other launches anchored close by, were called upon in vain by the " Vacuum men to come to their decks and stand by to help, and also to avoid damage by collision. They preferred the safety of the cabins, and refused to face the gale above.
The Vacuum " launch sustained some slight damage to stem, stern and rails; the crew were all very exbausted after their night's experience. MORE SURVIVORS.
As the 8.3. "Wing Sang was passing Capsaiman, inward bound, yesterday, she rescued three men from a junk. They stated that ten others of their crew were missing. Another native crawled ashore at Green Island in an exhausted condition, and informed the lighthouse staff that he was the sole survivor of a jauk's crew of eighteen.
SÅF
POLICE LAUNCH SAFE.
The police launch No. 3, about which anxiety was falt, is safe. She returned to Wide Cove before the storm came on, and rode it out safely.
CLEARING THE DEBRIS.
The Colony is recovering from the effect of the terrible visitation on Tuesday morning. Damaged buildings are being shored up, weak. ened roofs are being propped up, débris is being cleared away and the thoroughfares are return. ing to their usual appearance.
The police, as well as the sanitary and public works staffs, have had a busy time. In rescue work on the Praya they played a noble part, and the reports coming to hand redound greatly to their oredit. No fewer than 50 persona were saved from wrecked junks between Ship street and East Point, and other resches were effected along the water front. Their work at Kingsolere is also worthy of mention. Unable to employ implements, lest one stone forcibly dislodged might bring down the unsupported walls, they used their hands in removing the debris which covered the unfortunate Mr. Hunt, and few of those who took part in the work are able to use their fingers to-day.
The scavenging is proceeding apace, but so much has to be done that it will take several days yet to restore the city to a semblanes of its former self. Roads which were blocked are now rendered passable, and it is interesting to note in this connection that it is an ill wind that
blows nobody good. The poorer Chinese are making the most of their opportunities and have
(August 8, 1968. collected an abundance of cheap frswood. Efforts are being made to remedy the damage done to telephone wires, and the Electric Lighting Company is doing its best to restore an installation for their consumers.
That the death roll has not been exaggerated is confirmed by the reports which have come in Kowloon City from the outlying districts, suffered from the fury of the elements. Mataheds were demolished, a matshed theatre just erected was razed to the ground and the Police Station buildings showed damaged roofs and verandahs, The wooden jetty was smashed and three junks were dashed to pieces, while a number of others were driven ashore. Several casualties were re- ported. The most serious event at Yaumati was the collapse of a number of houses. Twenty-three dead bodies have been recovered, and ten are still missing. Similar collapses took place at Shankiwan, but there the inmates have escaped with their lives. Bix injured people were taken to hospital. On the island of Cheung Chaa four houses erected by the Baptist misson of Canton were demolished, and other missionaries from Canton had their houses levelled. Five fishing junks belonging to the island were wrecked, and similar losses are reported from the Aberdeen neighbouring island of Lintin, reports a number of junks driven ashore or lost, and the brick works at Deep Water Bay were damaged, one coolie being killed and five injured. At Causeway Bay the galvanised golow us,were destroyed.
SYMPATHY FROM SIR MATTHEW NATHAN.
A
telegram bas been received by Bis Excellency the Governor from Sir Matthew Nathan stating that he has heard with regret of the typhoon and asking that an expression of bis sympathy be conveyed to sufferers This message, we are sure, will be much appreciated.
ANOTHER TYPHOON
A wire sent from the Manila Observatory at 3.55 yesterday afternoon to the American Consulate, reported that a Cyclone or typhoon was east of southern Luzon, but that the direction it was taking was unknown.
THE TYPHOON IN CANTON.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
July 28th. Canton was visited this morning by one of the severest typhoons experienced here within the last 30
years.
After a lull in the evening which lasted till about 2 o'clock this morning, the wind sprang up from the north and by six o'clock it was evident that the typhoon signalled from Hongkong yesterday was well on its way to pay us a visit.
Most of the sampans had made for shelter, and barring the men-of-war in the harbour and two or three steamers the smaller craft had entirely disappeared.
By 7 the full force of the gale was blowing from E.S.E. Wreckage was floating about in all directions brought up by wind and tide, indicating that much damage had already been done lower down the river.
Sampane, janks, and launches that had got adrift came to grief along the walls of the Shameen and for the most part sank in a few moments.
The
three
14
gunboats in harbour the "Vigilante," Argus" (Frenob) and H.M.8. "Robia" broke away from their moorings and were driven towards the Band. For a time it looked as if the three were doomed to break up, and but for the timely sbatement in the storm and the strenuous efforts of their orews with the co-operation of a few residents who had turned out we would no doubt have had to chronicle their loss.
The damages are slight, all things considered. The two French gunboats have had their port plates above the water-line badly battered in, The A.M.8. also losing a davit or two. "Robin" has likewise suffered and had one or two of her compartments flooded.
The loss of life on the river is considerable. At Tai-sha-tao, where the flower boats are moored over 1000 persons are reported to have
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