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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT SEA.
The line was informally opened on May | 28th, 1888, by H.E. Sir William Des Voeux who congratulated the directors on the success. ful completion of their important undertaking and expressed himself as highly pleased with the trip. On the following day free trips were offered to the public and large crowds were taken up to the heights, including many Euro- pean ladies. On May 30th the Peak Tramway was opened for traffic.
The patronage the line enjoyed from the start quickly dispelled illusions as to the likelihood of it proving unremunerative. Within a month the shares of the Company were standing at 250 per cent premium, and they subsequently went up to over 40 per cent premium.
Two years later Messrs. McEwen. Frickel and Co. ceased to be the General Managers, Messrs. John D. Humphreys were appointed to succeed them and have ever since held that office, while Mr. C. B. Buyers has been superin- tendent of the line from the day of its inaugura-
tion.
Our local Stephenson," as the Daily Press of twenty years ago called Mr. Findlay Smith, seeing that the capacity of the present line is now fully taxed, brought forward three
for ago a scheme years
an addi- tional tramway to the Peak, and obtained the necessary powers from the Government to All proceed with the construction of the line. the rights of the promoter were, however, subse- quently acquired by the existing Tramway Company, and plans are now, as our readers are aware, under the consideration of the Govern- ment. It is very safe to say that the new line will not be constructed with the modest amount of capital which sufficed to make the existing line.
THE TYPHOON OF 1908.
REWARDS FOR BRAVERY.
It may
be remembered that during February last, rewards were conferred by H. E. The Viceroy of Canton ou certain members of the Chinese staff at the Taishan Station of the Kowloon Customs, for life saving and bravery displayed during the Typhoon of 27th. July last. The exertions of the foreign staff have now been similarly rewarded, and on the 22nd May Mr. Holworthy, Deputy Commissioner. Kowloon Customs, on behalf of the Commissioner, had the pleasing duty of presenting Certificates of¦ Merit conferring Official Buttons, bestowed by the Viceroy ou the following foreign members of the Kowloon Customs staff:-
instru-
Messrs. W. J. Hewett, H. A. A damsen, C. Hack (since deceased),*J. E. Greenhalgh. H. Leissner, J. R. Tomlinson, H. Larsen. M. Garibaldi (since resigned) Fifth Class Button and Merit Certi ficate; Messrs. L. W. Luckins and P. Pickford, Sixth Class Button and Merit Certificate.
Messrs. W. J. Hewett and H. Larsen, in the Revenue Launch Kowloontsai, were mental in rescuing 13 survivors from the s.s. Ying King, which vessel foundered off astie Peak during the typhoon. At Taishan, under the direction of Mr. Adamsen, the work of rescue was gallantly performed by Foreigners and Chinese, Messrs. Hack. Greenhalgh, Tomlinson, Leissner and Garibaldi actually manning the gigs at considerable risk to them. selves. The united efforts of Foreigners and Chinese resulted in the saving of over one hundred lives.
FLOATING MINE RECOVERED.
The search for the mine reported to be floating in the vicinity of Hongkong has at length been rewarded with success. Last Sunday week the government launch Stanley was dispatched to find the mine but returned without it. On Monday, however the Harbour Master (Captain Basil Taylor, R.N.,) sent a party out again to renew the search. On this occasion they were successful, coming across the mine between Green Island and Cheung Chau, better known as Dumb Bell Island. It was found to be a British 72 lbs mine, and its appearance indicated that it had been in the water for several years.
It is satisfactory to learn however, that the
mine was harmless.
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FIVE MEN ASPHYXIATED ON U.S. NAVAL COLLIER.
CONSPICUOUS BRAVERY OF A FILIPINO
QUARTERMASTER,
When the United States Naval collier Nanshan arrived in port on May 29th the officers brought news of a terrible catastrophe which had occurred on board. When the vessel was about thirty-six hours out from Cavite she struck the tail end of a typhoon. As she left port the wind was blowing gently from the south-west, but suddenly shifted round to the north-east and blew very hard. The vessel shipped some heavy seas and things carried on board began to get adrift. The water broke into the forward bulkhead, and thence found a way into the paint locker where various kinds of paints and a quantity of naphtha were stored, In the labouring of the ship, many of the tins in the locker were broken, and the contents mingling with the water generated a gas which caused all the trouble that followed
After the typhoon had passed the crew proceeded to bail the paint locker. Third Officer Saunderson went on the bridge and relieved Chief Officer Larkin, who went to the bulkhead with the object of re-arranging stores that had got adrift.
It is not known who first entered tho paint locker, which proved such a veritable death trap, but at 8.45 on Saturday morning the boatswain emerged from it covered with tar,, and bleeding from the ears, and told Mr. Saunderson that the Captain, the Chief Officer, Mr. H. C. Rapp, another third officer carried, and some Filipinos were floating about in the locker, and suffocated.
Third Officer Saunderson called Mr. Dale, one of the engineers, and together they went forward to ascertain what could be done. The boatswain had told the story of how he had just managed to escape from the fumes of the noxious gas, so the officers first lowered a lamp into the paint locker, a very small locker, and on looking down, they could see the bodies of the officers and crew awash in the water. As the ship was rolling heavily at this time Mr. Saunderson stopped her and love to ", the object being to keep her as steady as possible. Then a wind shute was rigged up, and when the locker was somewhat cleared one of the quartermasters, Thomas de la Cruz, volunteered to go down and investigate.
A bowline was made fast round his armpits and he was lowered into the locker, taking with him another rope for the purpose of having the The first man he bodies beneath hauled up. attached to this rope was a Filipino, who was still alive. The man was pulled to the deck, artificial respiration was resorted to, and the result in his case was successful.
On being hauled to the deck after his first trip to the death trap, la Cruz was partially overcome by the foul gases, but he again volunteered his services, and again they were accepted. On his second descent he returned with the captain, who was black in the face, being practically covered with coal tar. The same method of resuscitation was applied to him, and once more with success.
The brave quartermaster continued the descent into the fateful locker for seven times, and each time he brought up one of the victims. The third man he landed on the derk was Chief Officer Lar' in, but unfortunately that gentleman was beyond the pale of human help when he reached the outer air. Three Filipinos were brought up after the Chief Officer, and then Mr. Rapp-all dead. The faces of all the victims were so black that it was impossible to distinguish between American and Filipino. In the case; of each man, however, the crew continued with artificial respiration methods for some two hours with the hope of reviving the spark of life, but in all instances their methods were. unfortunately, without success,
At midnight, when all was done that could help to revive and assist the sufferers, the ship was again started on her course for Hong kong. Mr. Saunderson, who left Manila as one of the third officers, was the only navigator on board. The captain, who was blinded by coal tar, was in too weak a condition to do his duty, consequently the task of bringing the vessel to Hongkong fell to Mr. Saunderson. He
[June 7. 1909,
succeeded with the assistance of the clerk of the ship, who kept the look-out while Mr. Saunderson was making observations. The Nanshan bears traces of the severity of of the typhoon through which she passed. Her funnels are covered with salt, from the spray which swept them during the gale, while her bulkhead is stove in. The late Chief Larkin was married and hailed | Officer
from Boston. Mr. H. G. Rapp belongs to a well-known Philadelphia family, and the circumstances of his death are made sadder by reason of the fact that the marriage of his sister is about to be celebrated, and he was to buy her wedding present while in China. Thomas de la Cruz, the Filipino Quartermaster who so gallantly went to the rescue of his distressed shipmates, is a native of Manila.
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Captain Carver stated yesterday that he re- membered descending the ladder and calling out, Where are you, Rapp." After that he be. come unconscious and remembered no The boatswain also stated that he was overcome by the fumes, but managed after a time to catch hold of the ladder and drag himself to the deck.
THE FUNERALS.
more.
The funerals took place on Sunday morning at 5 o'clock. The, three Filipinos were buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, the service being conducted by the Rev. Father Spada.
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The bodies of Mr. Larkin the chief officer, and Mr. Rapp, the second officer, were interred in the Protestant cemetery, the Rev. C. H. Hickling conducting an impressive service. detachment from the U. S. S. Helena under Capt. W. W. Buchannan, and Lt. W. Friedall was present and also Mr. C. F. Engman, chief engineer; Mr. A. E. Deys first asst. engineer, Mr. W. Hutchins second assistant engineer, and the crew of the s.s. Naushan. Capt. Carver's injuries did not admit of his attendance.
Mr. Larkin being a member of the Masonic Fraternity under the Grand Lodge of Mass- achusetts it was intended by special request to hold a Masonic Funeral, but owing to the short notice it could not be carried out. A large number of masons however, attended the funeral, including Wor. Brs. H. Horley, District Grand Secretary, of the District Grand Lodge Scottish Freemasonry, Bro. J.J. Blake Naval and Military 848 g.C.; Bro. Lindblom, Bro. Anderson, Bro.
Wreaths were sent from the Olsen and others. District Grand Lodge Scottish Freemasonry Lodge; Naval and Military 488 S.C., Eastern Scotia 923 S.C. and Naval and Military R. A. Chapter 302 S.C.
A SEA MYSTERY.
A strange story of the sea has just come to light. Ab ut two months ago two junks belong. ing tone of the outlying islands were fishing between Gap Rock and Lintin when something dark was seen floating on the water, the greater part of it however being submerged. The crews made for the object and succeeded in getting a rope round it and ultimately raising it by means. of their tackle on board one of the junks. Un- fortunately, however, they dumped it on deck, and a terrific explosion resulted. The whole were killed with the exception of a crew little boy who happened to be protected by a fold in the sail. He was picked up an hour later by the other junk, but as the occurrence took place in hinese waters, it has not been officially reported. The object, according to the story of the survivor, was about six or ten feet long and it was not very thick. The im- pression is that the unlucky find was a floating mine which had drifted down here from the north Though it is more than four years since the war was concluded this explanation seems feasible. It may be however that authorities on the subject can find another explanation of what at present is a mystery.
Manila is free from oholera. So says the of the dejecta of suspected cases. Bureau of Science after a thorough examination While three
cholera occurred last week, none were Asiatio deaths from disease that closely resembled cholera as suspected. but rather ptomaine poisoning, known in Manila cholera nostras, as resulting from bacteria found in meat and fish, in which decomposition has commenced owing
to the excessive heat.
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