The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1906-10-18
MANY PEOPLE PERISH
ON A BLAZING SHIP
Terrible Fire Panic Upon the Steamer
Hank0w.
LARGE NUMBER LEAP OVERHEARD
Two Thousand Chinese Passengers
and Seven Europeans Aboard When
Fire Breaks Out, Just After Dock
ing of the Ship at HOngkOng-Fire
Probably Incendiary.

Hongkong (By Cable) Hundreds
of Chinese, men, women and children,
passengers on the steamer Hankow.
were burned to death in a fire aboard
that ship early Sunday morning
Numbers of others leaped overheard
TO escape the flames and were
drowned
The Hankow, with 1000 Chinese
passengers, men, women and chill
dren, and seven Europeans and a
cargo including 800 bales of mat
ting, $50 bales of raw silk and 400
Dales waste silk, arrived from Can
ton at O'Clock A. NJ, and was short
ly afterward moored at the wharf.
Her chief officer reported to Cap
tain Branch that the ship was afire.
The captain then directed the chief
engineer to turn on the water through
the fire hose. This was impossible
for the reason that within five min
utes after the alarm was given, the
Hankow was ablaze fore and aft.
Captain Branch then awakened the
European passengers, who rushed
down the gangway, the ladies in their
| night clothes.
The crew was compelled to leave
the ship, which by this time was
Veritable furnace. The Chinese steer
age passengers were thrown into
frightful panic. Horrifying shrieks
and cries to save their lives were
heard, but escape was impossible ow-
ing to the inflammable nature of the
cargo. Hundreds were burned to
! death and others jumped into the
harbor and were drowned.
Responding to signals from the
British cruiser Flora the naval dock
yard dispatched contingents cf en-
gines and assistance. The land and
floating brigades Of firemen made
herculean efforts to extinguish the
flames, which leaped to a height of
over 60 feet
The British steamer Powan, which
was berthed at the same wharf, was
! towed out to save her from destruc-
tion. A neighboring pier, hundred
yards distant, was burned to the
waters edge. Governor Nathan, ac-
companied by his aide-de-camp, ar
rived at the scene at Ais A. NJ The
Governor suggested scuttling the
ship, but the suggestion was found
to be impracticable.
The fire was brought under control
at o'clock, at which time only the
shell and hull of the Hankow re-
NAMED. The gruesome work of re-
covering the dead was then begun.
The fire-fighters have already re-
covered 10 corpses.
Many of them were huddled to-
gether and only singed, while others
were incinerated beyond recognition.
OF the cargo, 200 bales of raw silk
were saved. but badly damaged by
water. The remainder was totally
| destroyed
There are many theories as to the
cause of the fire. The first is that
the fire was caused by the overturn-
ing of the lantern of a Chinese board
ing-hOuse runner, who came aboard
seeking customers. The second was
that an opium smoker accidentally
set fire to mating; the third is that
it was caused by the crossing of cleo
trio wires. A fourth theory, and one
that is considered the most probable.
is that the fire was incendiary and
was an outgrowth of a boycott
against British river boats.
a majority of the victims were
women. The company owning the
Hankow lost three other steamers
during the recent typhOOn.