TYPHOON IN CHINA SEAS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9938, 8 December 1900, Page 7

TYPHOON IN CHINA SEAS.

4. Terrible Destruction at Hong Kong.

News from Hong Kong by the last China mail, dated November 12th, gives the following particulars of the disastrous typhoon, brief intimation of which we received by cable : — The typhoon which occurred here on the 9th was the sharpest and most severe storm within the recollection of old residents. A roaring, shrieking storm, accompanied by blinding rain throughout the night, howled on. The gusts of wind were frequently very severe, registering over 80 miles an hour. The barometer continued falling, and at 6 o'clock 28.85, the lowest reading during the storm, was recorded. In the midst of the howling, shrieking gusts, the ominous sound of minute guns was heard. The storm soon exhausted its strength, but in that short period fearful destruction and carnage were wrought. The British river gunboat Sandpiper, riding at anchor off the naval depot at Kowloon, was comparatively safe until the veering of the winds, when the sea swept over her, carrying away everymovable on deck. The desperate situation of the crew was indicated by the distress minute guns. Other reserve ships were at anchor in the vicinity, but no rowing boat could live in such a sea, and the crew were powerless to insist their brother sailors. The little gunboat was not long able to withstand the elements. A torpedo boat distroyer, in response to the distress signals, gallantly steamed over, but was unable to prevent the foundering of the Sandpiper. By masterly seamanship, however, the destroyer succeeded in taking off the crew from the damaged bows of the sinking vessel and from floating wreckage, so that all hands were saved except one man, who°e body was washed ashore about 10 o'clock. The Sandpiper was a twin-screw, shallow draught-steamer of 85 tons, used on the West River suppressing piracy. A powerful dredger named the Canton River, which had recently arrived, almost, without warning listed to port and capsized. About fifty people were on board, but as far as is known only one was drowned ; as she capsized the men scrambled on to the vessel's bottom, where they remained until half-past six, whan they were rescued by boats. The typhoon caused the collapse of several buildings, the most serious being in Queen's Road Central, where a building came down with a, loud crash killing eight Chinese. At Traya, about 7 o'clock, another crash was caused through portions of a " go down," or store, falling, and causing three deaths. Some other buildings were so destroyed that they will require to be entirely re-built. There is hardly a house in course of erection that has not been partially destroyed. Everywhere trees were damaged or uprooted and gardens sadly disfigured, while some roads were simply choked with fallen trees, launches, junto, and sampans smashed into matchwood. Wharves and piers were also damaged. The steamer Changsha, which was in harbor, had a narrow esoape. About 5 o'clock in the morning the steamer Coptic parted her moorings, drifted down the harbor, and fouled the Changaha and Uie steuner Horn; Kong. The damage, fortunately, wac slight, but it might easily have been serious. It is impossible to obtain accurate information as to the loss of life and property, but both were very extensive. Many thousands are numbered amongst the distressed. Some estimate the casualties at 300, and the damage at a million dollars.