The San Francisco call., 1906-09-20
HONGKONG WATER
JEWELLERS DIE.
Sampans by Hundreds Miss
ing From Bay After Fury
of the Tempest Is Abated
LOSS MANY MILLIONS

HONCKONG, Sept ls.-The typhoon
which swept this port, destroying a
great number OF vessels and causing
much loss of life. was OF a local nature
II came suddenly and without warning.
The observatory had predicted mod
crate winds. Half an hour after the
gun signal had been fired the storm
was at it's height. 1t lasted two hours.
Most OF the damage done was wrought
on the Kowloon peninsula. The losses
are estimated at several million dollars.
over 1000 sampans and junks are miss
ing from Hongkong alone. WharVes
were swept away and houses collapsed
The military barracks are in ruins
VESSELS THAT WERE DAMAGED.
The steamers Monteagle. Fatshan,
Keung shan, Wing Chat, Hermania,
Castellano, Taking, Emma Luyken,
San Rosario, slava. PAX Hong, Petrarch.
Chum Lee, Sexta, Sunon. Chang Sha
Signal and Chinkai Maru are ashore
The American ship S. p. Hitchcock was
also driven ashore, as were many Of
the, launches that run about the haroor.
The steamers Kwong Chow, san
Chewing, Sossogon and Honeymoon were
sunk The steamers Apenrade and Jo-
nAOnG
reserve slocp Phoenix and a small gun
boat, the Dongola, are ashore. The
British torpedo boat destroyers Moor
hen. Robins and Taku were damaged
The Sir William Jervois was sunk. The
French torpedo boat destroyer Froude
was wrecked and the Francisque is
ashore. The guns of the Froude were
saved, but three petty officers and one
seaman lost their lives.
A Chinese revenue cutter is ashore
and several Indo-China and Manila lin
WREcKAGE sTREws HARBoR.
The harbor is strewn with wreckage
thrown upon the shore. Hundreds of
Chinese boatmen and their families
were saved by the bravery Of the po-
lice and civilians. but several thousand
OF the Chinese water dweilers must
have perisned, many within short dis
tances OF the shore.
The Chinese take the disaster calm
ly and show no manifestations Of grief.
The river steamer Fatshan drifted
into collision with the French mail
steamer. The entire Chinese crew
climbed aboard the French steamer
and left Captain Thomas. who was in
5ured, one oficer and the engineers TO
navigate the Fatshan to Shelter Bay,
where she was blown ashore
The Bishop OF Victoria, DIR. J. c.
Hoare, was on his way to visit some
neighboring islands when the storm
broke and is reported missing His
launch has been found floating bottom
upward.
Many valuable steel lighters have
been lost. Some Of them were hurled
ashore Channels will have to be dug
70 permit some OF the vessels ashore
TO be relocated. The force of the wind
and waves was such that some yes
sells were stranded almost high and
dry.
SEARCH FOR C0RPSES.
The British cruiser Terrible entered
port yesterday afternoon and reported
nne weather up to the harbor
Reports Of fresh disasters are ar
irving every hour.
Only few Europeans are missing.
No reports are on hand 70 show how
the fishing fleets and the ships out
side the harbor Jared.
Public opinion is incensed at the OBJ
servatory for not reporting the ap-
preaching typhoon- An inquiry has
been demanded. For years past the
observatory has been subjected to
adverse criticism, but on this occasion
II is not believed TO be blamable.
At the request Of Sir Matthew Nath-
an, Governor Of Hongkong, the Brit
ish naval commander has dispatched
a feet OF torpedo boats to cruise
around the island for the purpose of
recovering corpses- Numerous dead
are floating along the water front.