HAVOC BY TYPHOON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22839, 21 September 1937, Page 12

HAVOC BY TYPHOON

HONGKONG SWEPT

HEAVY TOLL OF LIFE MANY SHIPS WRECKED SEVERAL HOUSES COLLAPSE SCENES OF DESTRUCTION Amazing scenes of destruction were witnessed after the 'j typhoon which swept over Hongkong in ,the early hours of September 2. About 20 substantial ships were wrecked, badly damaged or torn from their jnoorings, scores of smajler craft were sunk, several houses collapsed and more than 100 people were killed., The' visitation was stated to be the worst typhoon ever experienced in Hongkong. At its height a tenement bloek of houses caught fire and 15 occupants perished. Huge waves. dashed over the waterfront and among the ships ivhich careered drunkenly about the harbour was the liner Van Heutz, with 1260 passengers on board. The South China Morning Post of September 3, a copy of which reached Auckland by air mail yesterday. 6tates:—The waterfront along the Central and Western districts jesterda\ morning was a scene *of desolation. Debris was littered everywhere. Most, of the curious crowds sought Sai an Bay.-where tho Asama Marti and the Conte V.erde were ashore. After leaving the city the havoc caused by the typhoon became increasingly obvious. /, Stern High and Dry Opposite the Tsang Fook Piano factory the Sheng Lee, badly battered, was only a few yards from the road,, lying hard up against the bunding. She had been blown ashoro after dragging her anchor. A little further on just before reaching tho Taikoo Sugar Refinery the Tymeric, a large freighter, had been washed ashoro and her stern was high and dry within a few yards of the road. Almost beside her was the Hong Peng, another British ship, her bows almost under water and her stern well on shore.

Neither the Tymeric nor tlio Hong Peng appeared to bo seriously damaged from a cursory examination but both are hard aground on a fairlj sandy, bottom. From a point just near tho laikoo Docks —which appeared to have suffered ■ comparatively little —the liner Talamba ; . was fast aground on Devil's Peak. Her bows, pointing out to sea.were deep in the water and her stern high, She appeared from about two miles to be.resting heavily on her port side on the north side of Lveemoou Pass and apparently in a sinking condition.

t: . . Roatls Deep in Mud Continuing through Shaukiwan the roads were inches deep in soft mud and the houses on the lower levels had all been flooded, the occupants still being busy cleaning them. Just after turning on to the Island > Road a large rock more than 10ft. in diameter was firmly embedded in tha centre, of the road, leaying just room , enough on each side for cars to pass. On top of the hill a goo'd view was obtained; of the stranded liner Conto Verde. She lies in Sai Wan Bay and is '••reported to be on sandy bottom but' firmly aground.

From below the Lyeemoon Forts a good view was obtained of the liner Asama Maru. She is firmly aground in a tinv : inlet beside Sai Wan Bay and her grounding at this particular point was extremely providential. Had sho run aground 50 yards either further ahead or further astern she would have landed on a rocky promontory. Sorry Plight of Ship The pride of the N.Y.K. Line, her after deck structures are badly damaged and h;:r stern appears as if she had been in collision with another ship.. She presents a sorry plight as she lies at the base of a steep hill covered with graves. The -major, portion of her hull,' however, is lying on an even sandy beach in a few feet of water with rocks encroaching on each end. Her position: appears to be a difficult one from the point of view of salvage although she has requested tugs to pull her off. Continuing along the Island Road, the scenes became increasingly desolate and foliage had suffered severely as well as huts along the road which were being repaired by the Chinese owners in preparation for rain which was again beginning to fall. Aberdeen, from observations made from a car, appears to have suffered very little. One or two junks were under water but hundreds of others rode safely at anchor. Ashore there were severaj flimsy buildings unroofed but with little serious damage. Steamer Wedged Firmly As Pokfulum was approached the damage again appeared to be worse. Trees frequently lay across the road and several European homes were noticed partially unroofed. The lower road was blocked by fallen trees and a detour was 'necessary. Shortly before reaching the W'est Point tram terminus an excellent view •was obtained of the wreck of the Dutch steamer Van Heutsz, which was firmly held between the two mounds of GreenIsland. Beside her was the Gertrude Maersk, a little further up the harbour could be seen the stern and masts of the Mao Lee, which sank during the' previous' night. Looking toward Castlo Peak no fewer than four steamers, two of them fairly large, could bo seen ashore on the mainland. All were too far off for identification. The Van Heutsz is firmly held between the two parts of Green island. Her bows rest on the smaller island nearer Hongkong and her stern is resting on the main part of the island. She is at present moored fore and affc. The ship appears to be severely damaged and a large hole can be seen well above the water line on the starboard side where she has evidently been in collision with another ship. Her upper works are badly damaged and most pf the roofing is blown away.

Bow Stove In According to the local agents, the ship is badly holed and in a serious position but not expected to become a total loss. As far as is known at present all of the 1'260 passengers on board her were saved. The Gertrude Macrsk was lying alongside the Van Heutsz aground on the'mainland. Her starboard how was badly stove in and she was listed to starboard and down at the bows but apparently not heavily aground for at 5 p.m. the Kowloon Dock tug was successful in freeing her from the bottom and .started to tow her toward Kowloon Bay. The ship still had steam up and after being guided into the harbour began her passage to Kowloon Docks alone. West Point suffered considerably. The Pray a was washed away in some places and numerous small piers had been either totally destroyed or had lost their decking. There were many walls' fallen. The China Merchants' two crack steamers Hai Li and Haj Yuan were

just returning to their wharf at West Point at 5 p.m., the former with a round hole about two feet in diameter in her bows about six feet above the waterline. She appeared to have been rammed by something or to have • run into a pointed object. Otherwise both ships appeared undamaged. The roof of one section of the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company's West Point godowns was blown off. and about 100 yards further on are the remains of the disastrous fire. Firemen were still working on the building at 5 p.m. and- an ambulance was still in attendance. The many river steamer wharves were all more or less damaged, some of them with planking missing, some almost totally destroyed. The revenue officers sheds'near tlip harbour office had sutfered severely and half of them was .merely a heap of wreckage. Just beiore re-entering the eitv proper the An Lee, her stern still high on the prava wall. Was passed, while beside her the Taikoo tug'was resting oh the bottom.

Acts ol Heroism Against tho loss,of life'caused by the typhoon stand several acts of gallantry and courage on the part of police, civilians and ships' crews. The damage cannot vet he estimated in terms of money, hut it is very large. Passengers on the steamer Jvwangchow spent nearly' nine hours with scarcely any food or water and exposed to typhoon rains and winds among the rocks of 'South Lammri;, Island when the ship was piled high on the rocks. They were all safely brought to Hongkong last night by a police launch. The ship will'he a total loss. Splendid reseuO' work was done during the height of the storm by a party of revenue officers and police sergeants along the Praya. Seven ot them, linked together by ropes, ventured out in the treacherous weather to rescue crews from ships, and to save children who were stranded in huts along tlie Praya. Darkness added to the .terror of the night and the tremendous • difficulties confronting the rescue_ party. Nevertheless they succeeded in saving about 70' people, all of whom received treatment for injuries. Entire Crew Rescued

! One of the most dramatic episodes occurred about 5..'50 a.m. when one of the Taikoo tugs was sunk as she approached the An Lee, which had been driven ashore on the Praya. Lite rescue party rushed to tho assistance of the crew and after a terrific battle with the elements managed to bring the entire crew ashore. Onlv by tying themselves fast with stout ropes could tho rescuers successfully carry out their . hazardous work. Here again, they were gravely hindered bv the darkness and tho enormous' waves which every second poured over the men and flooded tho Praya waist high. ... , Making a further investigation of Coiinaught Poad Central, the rescue party discovered several children in nuts. Frightened and crying piteously, tho children were removed from their dangerous positions. DUTIES IN LONDON MR. JORDAN'S BUSY YEAR LABOUR GOVERNMENT'S POLICY [from our own correspondent] LONDON. Sept. 4 Commenting upon his experiences and duties in London as High Commissioner for New Zealand, at the conclusion of a year in office, Mr. W. J. Jordan referred to 1937 as haying been an exceptionally interesting period—too interesting to call busy. "In fact." he added, ''oyer all the rush and the many activities of London there is a calm to such an extent that, although each ' day brings its round of many duties, a person in an important position is not flattered by being referred to as busy. Long hours may be worked, many interviews given and important matters discussed, many journeys taken, but it is all so interesting that one feels absorbed in tho work and cannot be either busy or bored. "The persons in' high places, whether political, commercial, industrial, financial or social, 'are extremely friendly, even although they may be in disagreement with the matters discussed, and there' is usually a genuine desire to meet our requests or claims, and reasons are given if agreement is not arrived at."

Policy Accepted Mr. Jordan is officially associated with marketing in London, and said New Zealand was .fortunate in having such competent men in charge of tho disposal of her produce. The sales system, judging! by results and comments, left little to bo desired. The policy of the Government was accepted in Britain and was working smoothly. There was some criticism and nervousness about the proposals, but, as a result of the visit of the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, with his candour and obvious reliability, 'confidence had been established. "At the imperial Conference," said Mr. Jordan, "our Prime Minister made a great impression as he stated the views of our Government on the many subjects dealt with. Opportunities for, Service "New duties fell upon the New Zealand representative at Geneva by our election to the Council of the League of Nations, and there, as well as at Assembly meetings, there have been several interesting and important situations. Knowing the policy of our Government, it is not difficult to bo candid and definite. "There arc great opportunities for service in a wide sphere, and I ain grateful for the belief that 1 have a large measure of the confidence of those who are interested. It has all been a new experience. There are planes and activities here which wo know not of in our Dominion: planes not better or worse, hut different." Mr. Jordan spoke, too, of the many duties which fall upon Mrs. Jordan. There are no two views about the adequate and happy manner in which she is fulfilling them all. YACHT DASHED ASHORE FAMILY LEFT DESTITUTE CROCODILE-HUNTING VENTURE [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY. Sept. .17 A Tasmanian family is destitute in Sydney as a result of the wreck of the auxiliary yacht Teepookana, during a fierce gale at Seal Pocks, New South Wales. Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Pearson, their 13-months-old son Peter, Mr. H. I). Pearson, a brother, and a boy of ].| years, were 011 board the yacht when sho leit Sydney, after experiencing a tempestuous voyage from Hobart. The yacht was the floating home of the Pearson family, which was bound from Hobart to Darwin on a commercial crocodile-hunting venture, in which the family's capital had been invested. The Teepookana was in the bay at Seal Hocks at anchor and the occupants had rowed ashore for the evening when they saw the vessel's light moving inshore and realised that she had dragged her anchor. Before anything could he done there was a crash and the craft struck the rocks and was held fast. Efforts were made the next day to salvage the Teepookana, but she had taken in a lot of water through a gaping hole in the side. Seas swept over her and eventually she became a total wreck.