The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-09-19
WRECK IN HONGKONG
Hundreds Of Lives Lost and Mil
lions In Property Destroyed
by Typhoon.
MANY VESSELS SHATTERED.

Foreign and Native Shipping Suffers
In Heavy Blow Streets and Sea
Walls Piled High With Remains Of
Ships-American Steamer and Trader
Are Damaged.
Hongkong, Sept. 10. = The damage
done by the typhoon which struck the
harbor and city of Hongkong has not
been fully estimated. The harbor is
strewn with the wreckage of vessels,
native and foreign; hundreds of lives
have been lost, and property worth
many millions of dollars has been de-
stroyed.
Without any warning, save low
barometer, the furious typhoon struck
the harbor and city
For two hours the terrible wind blew,
and when the storm was over the har-
Dor was literally strewn with the
wrecked craft and the streets and sea
walls of the city were piled high with
ocean liners, junks, sampans and fer
ryboats.
Hundreds of Boats Sunk.
Pearl river was crowded with boats,
and the storm sent hundreds of these
to the bottom. What number of ma
tives perished with the utter destruc-
tion of their boats cannot be estimated.
The fury of the wind was irresistible.
Vessels were pitched ashore as though
thrown there out Of a sling, the piers
of the water front were demolished
and unAumbered steam launches and
lighters foundered.
So far as can be counted In the pre-,
vailing confusion four British war yes
sells, two French war boats, seventeen
steamers Of different nationalities and
two sailing vessels were wrecked or
damaged, to say nothing of the unre-
corded smaller craft.
Ship Blown Ashore.
The American trading ship S. P.
Hitchcock was taken up bodily by the
hurricane and thrown high and dry on
shore.
The British gunboats Moorhen, Rob-
in and Phoenix and the torpedo boat
destroyer Taker dragged their anchors
the entire length of the harbor, were
driven ashore and are leaking badly
The French torpedo boat destroyer
Fronde was dashed against the. de-
stroyer Francisque wrecking the lat
ter and causing the loss of twenty
lives, including four officers.
An unknown steamer collided with
the British steamer Strathmore, seri-
ously damaging the latter. The British
steamer Loong Sang collided with the
British steamer Chip Shing, with slight
damage
The river boat Fatshang fouled the
French mail boat Polynesian. The Brit
ish steamer Monteagle, belonging to
the Canadian Pacific Railroad compa-
ny; the German steamer Signal, the
German steamer Emma Luyken, the
British steamer Changsha, the German
steamer Sexta, the Kowloon ferryboat
and water boat were driven ashore.
The American steamer Sorsogon and
the German steamer Johanne We're
beached to prevent their sinking
The British steamer Empress of ia
pan was saved by the Dock company's
tugs keeping her steady.
Help For the Homeless.
The British government officials have
started to succor the homeless.
A complete estimate of the damage
will not be obtainable for weeks.
No Americans are reported to have
been killed or injured.
All business in the city is at stand
still.
Hongkong is an island situated in
the China sea off the coast of China,
from which it is separated by narrow
strait 1t was yielded to Great Britain
by treaty in 1912. The roadstead has
well protected anchorage.
Victoria,s the capital Gtself commonly
called Hongkong), is situated on a
magnificent bay of the same name set
ting UP into the north side of the Is
land. Hongkong is a great center Of
the foreign trade of China. The total
exports are roughly estimated at $125,-
100000 and imports at S100O00,000.
AS British colony on Chinese soil it
| is the most important in it's political
ard defensive position and is the head
quarters of the military, naval and
mercantile establ aments. The popu-
lation of Hongkong the city, is about
| 275,OOO.
n - - ~ nm