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The following sketches are illustrative of some of the effects of the Typhoon, which occurred between midnight and four a.m. of Wednesday, the 23rd inst. | Though this Typhoon lasted a comparatively short time, about four hours, it was the most violent and destructive within living memory. It is estimated that the loss of life in the City of Victoria, in the island and villages of the immediate neighbourhood, and in the adjacent waters amounted to several thousands; six steamers and twenty Seven European large vessels in the Harbour were either sunk, driven on shore, dismasted, or more or less damaged; whilst the destruction of property on shore was wholesale. - A Typhoon had been for sometime expected; and on Tuesday evening, the falling barometer indicat- ing considerable atmospheric disturbance, careful preparations were made. Large vessels and junks went over to the northern side of the roads, so as to gain the protection of the Kowloon peninsula; sampans (a kind of small family boat) went into creeks, behind breakwaters, or to other protected places, and, house-boats were brought on to the shore. The lowest reading of the barometer, as taken by the Harbour Master (Capt. Thomsett, R.N.), was 28.88, at two o'clock on Wednesday morning, the storm being then at its highest. The European houses in the Colony, though most substantially built, suffered great damage. The roofs of many were blown off, and there being a heavy rain, the rooms were saturated, and furniture was destroyed. The Catholic Church of S. Joseph was demolished, only portions of the end walls being left standing. The destruction in the Chinese part of the City was, however, greatest. The native dwellings are but slight erections. Many of these were blown completely to the ground, the inmates in some cases being buried beneath the ruins; the roofs of others were carried quite away, or so damaged as to render them untenantable. Thousands of the baautiful trees which adorned the streets and promenades, —obtained at much expense and tended with great care—were uprooted. But the greatest devastation and destruction were to be seen on the front of the City. The sight was sad and terrible in the extreme. Strongly-built wharves were washed entirely away; several vessels were lying aground, some having dashed into each other, whilst others showed only the tops of their masts; and the wreckage of junks and boats was floating about in all directions. The Praya wall, consisting of huge blocks of granite, bound together with iron links, was broken and dashed away; the road was in some parts washed up, or here and there rendered impassable from the piled-up débris. The Chinese villages in other parts of the island, or across the Harbour on the mainland,- notwithstanding their sheltered positions—suffered terribly, both in loss, of life and damage to property. The full extent of the damage caused by the Typhoon, which extended far beyond Hong Kong, will probably never be known. Many Chinese villages were wholly destroyed. Macao, -a small peninsula belonging to Portugal,—suffered worse even than Hong Kong; being left literally a colossal ruin. The loss of life there was enormous. The labour of grave-digging becoming too great, the dead bodies, as washed up by the sea. or disentombed from fallen houses, were heaped together and burnt; more than a thousand being thus destroyed in one day. - y The following sketches were photographed a few days after the Typhoon. . They convey a good idea of its violence and destructiveness; and of the wide-spread devastation which it caused. Written descriptions may have been thought highly-coloured or sensational; but the camera at least is true—the Photographer is a faithful Artist; and these sketches will, though silent, be a lasting and reliable record of the loss, disaster, and desolation caused by the most terrible Typhoon of modern times. –T. PRESTON, Hong Kong Times, ----------- ºś º º ***** 1.-DESTRUCTION OF H. M. S. “ FLAMER.” . The destruction shown in the above sketch will indicate the violence of the T hoon - - º Club possessed, near the centre of the City, commodious rooms and ºplace. º º } º a govered jetty, extending some distance into the Harbour. Some broken piles were aii hi Were e º the jetty; the other parts being completely swept away. The shore property of the Club, containia. , º ...” º and bººts, was also destroyed. During the storm H. M. S. & Flamerº ºf .*.* h i. 1 t º Flamer” had been stationed at Hongkong for some years, being used as a hospital ship. She * Peen lately dismantled. After the Typhoon she was found a perfect ºf jiā. broken up. º 2.—DESTRUCTION AMONGST THE SHIPPING. This view is taken from the Praya Central, and illustrates some of the most destructive effects of the Typhoon amongst the wharves and shipping. The few piles in a line from the shore are the remains of Douglas Lapraik's Wharf, one of the finest in Hong Kong. This wharf was broken by drifting steamers; the “Lizzie H.” being found on the morning of the Typhoon with her stern partly over it. A little beyond the wharf is seen the “Albay,” her stern being right under the water; and close to her is the sunken “Leonor,” the tops of whose masts only are visible. The storm appeared to have raged with peculiar violence near here, and a large quantity of wreckage was floated ashore. The water, at one time, extended as far as the Clock Tower on the Queen's Road. - - - - 3.-A WRECKED JUNK. A large por tion of the trade between Chinese ports is done by junks. These vessels are large and well-built, and are good sea-boats. They have a numerous crew, and garry, several guns, possibly the ºnly examples of heavily-armed trading vessels. Hundreds of junks were lost during the Typhoon ; some of them, bottom upper most were to be seen floating about days afterwards, while others were lying ashore, occasionally a considerable distance in land, whither they had been carried by the º waters and tho violent gale. The one of which the above is a sketch was driven ashore near the Sailors' Home, to the west of Hong Kong. A portion of it is sunken. The i. i. º. f.º. sides, which have been completely shattered by ºversweeping waves. The deck contains a mass of debris. The loss of life among those employed on junks was fearful. -- - 4. WRECK OF THE STEAMERS “ALBAY.” AND "LEONOR. - bulwarks badly damaged, from -- --- * with her stem ashore, and her.bu - he Tuesda, havin º, . º "º. “Albay,” a Spanish steamer. *... º * #. º º She º from her moorings, and dashed on to the ground wif . fely to land. The “Leonor,” º . Were ja by some persons on shore; and by means of a "º. #". . to the “Albay.” The ... Spanish steamer, iies submerged º ºº "... having jumped overboardº ... . O e -- eo - 2 - - - a, e - º º *"º ºº was washed ashore next day, and interred in * Both vessels contained valuable cargoes. . 5. DESTRUCTION OF THE CANTON WHARF. - trong wooden The Hong Kong, Canton, and Macao Steamboat Company's Whº Wº - structure, towards the º part of the City. But little besides the head was left standing, º here part of the flagstaff was blown down and other damage done. The shore end of the wharf, with the ..". ºwº. it, was completely wrecked. During the Typhoon, the Company also lost one of their vesse º . - Cioud,” and others sustained much injury. Great damage was done to the roadway and property in the neighbourhood of this wharf. - 6–DESTRUCTION OF THE PRAYA. This view shows very clearly the immense damage done to the Praya. The Typhoon of 1871 having partly destroyed this thoroughfare, it was relaid in a most substantial manner, and a very strong Harbour wall, composed of massive blocks of granite, was erected. The chief building here shown is the Office of the Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes Paquebots Poste Français. The heavy coping stones of the Harbour were scattered about, mere playthings of the waves; and the well-formed road was transformed into heaps of rubbish. The chair in the foreground is the ordinary method of conveyance in China. 7.—STON ECUTTERS’ ISLAND–LOOKING SOUTH WEST. Stonecutters' Island, situate a little to the north of Hong Kong, is a British possession. The building shown in the sketch is a large and massive structure, and was intended for a prison. It was, however, used for that purpose for only a short period, and at the time of the Typhoon was unoccupied. The wall, the south end of which, it will be seen, is destroyed, was very substantial, being built of granite and brick; This damage was caused chiefly by the water. The main building and towers had their roofs partly blown off, but did not suffer other material injury. A large junk lies on the beach, where several Sampans also are thrown. 8.—STONECUTTERS' ISLAND-LOOKING NORTH. This sketch shows Stonecutters' Island, looking north. Though the situation is, comparatively, sheltered, great destruction was caused to the boats. The large vessel in the centre was used as a powder hulk. A great part of the wooden awning, though very strong, was carried away by the violence of the wind. But little damage was done to the other parts of the vessel. The two masts above the water are those of a sunken junk, whilst on the beach are several junks and small boats, some of which suffered severely. A large number of dead bodies, which were washed up or found in the Harbour, were taken to Stonecutters' Island and there buried. 9.—THE “ALASKA ’’ AGROUND. This view shows the “Alaska,” a vessels of over 4,000 tons, belonging to the Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company, aground at Aberdeen, a village on the south-side of the island. The “Alaska º had been taken round to Aberdeen to be docked, but on the night of the Typhoon she broke from her buoy and was driven ashore. The junk in the foreground was also dashed ashore; her bow gradually worked into the ground, and the following morning was govered by a large mass of earth. She sustained considerable damage. This sketch represents very clearly the build of a Chinese junk. The value of such a vessel is about $5,000. There is a mass of débris on the beach. 10.-ANOTHER VIEW OF THE “ALASKA.” This is another view of the “Alaska” as she is aground. There is a lighter by her side, and efforts are being made to float her. She suffered comparatively little damage. It will be seen that the vessel has side paddles and is built of wood. The Pacific, Mail Steamship Company has several vessels of the same class; but they are being gradually superseded by iron-built screw steamers. A portion of wreckage is shown in the foreground. The quantity of wood and other things drifting about for days after the storm was a little fortune to many of the poor Chinese, and to collect wreckage was more profitable than to fish. 11.-RUINS OF STANLEY -LOOKING NORTH-EAST. The village of Stanley is situate in a rather dee exception of the Police Station and the Barracks, the buildin by fishermen. They stretched in a line along the shore, not far from the water, edge. The position was gonsidered well sheltered from typhoons; but it will be seen that the destruction gommitted was wholesale, the fronts of nearly all the houses being dashed away. It will be noticed also thiſ, i. iii. damage was done tº the rºofs the rising waters here being the greater foe. The wrecks of several boº, jie about the beach. The Police Station (the large building in the centre) did not suffer much beyond being partly unroofed; but p bay on the south side of the island. With the gs were all Chinese dwellings, occupied mostly the Barracks, which had for sometime been untenantable, were badly damaged. 12._STANLEY_CONTINUATION OF THE PRECEDING VIEW. - - - ft. – -- inuing view of the village of Stanley. The partly destroyed houses on the left, the front .*.*.*.*.. knocked away, and the roofs much damaged, give further testimony to the violence of the gale; and show the wholesale ..". which . º §. ".". º º - - ſeat suffering was caused amongs 9 poor Water-Ilying Chinese: - - 2. º .. . frequently live in one of these small boats, which are not º º than the four-oared pleasure boats seen at European watering places. In many cases the whole family was drowned; whilst those fortunate in getting to the shore were left utterly destitute. - - - - - - ſº º - - 13.-EFFECTS OF THE TYPHOON AT SOWKE WAN. Sowkewan is a small place on the north-east of the island of Hong Kong. Many of the houses were, for a native village, large and well built. It will be seen that some are utterly demolished, others are but ruins ; whilst there is not one but what is severely damaged. In the building to the left is a group of Chinese, who have sought shelter in the dwelling which offers the best protection from the elements. Of the many heart-rending stories which might be told of the sufferings caused by the Typhoon, nothing is more painful than an incident which occurred here. A poor sampan woman, with a child in each arm and a third strapped to her back, - succeeded, after a severe struggle with the waves, in reaching the shore; only, - however, to find that the little ones she had so bravely rescued had perished. 14.—FURTHER DESTRUCTION AT SOW KEWAN. - Here are shown further effects of the Typhoon at Sowkewan, the view being a continuation of the preceding one. All the houses fared badly; those to the right being reduced to a heap of rubbish. On the shore are lying junks and over-turned boats, some of which were seriously damaged. Near the centre of the view way be sent a native signboard, with an inscription in Chinese characters, “Shun Sze Shing, white rice.” A great quantity of rice, the chief article of food of the Chinese, was damaged by water; but what remained of it was carefully collected and put out to dry in the sun. Much was really unfit for human food; but so great were the suffering and distress that the poor natives were glad to get anything to eat. - - - - The above is a view of Chinese Kowloon,_a village situate in a deep bay to the north-east of the Harbour of Hong Kong. It is on the mainland of China, just beyond the neutral ground separating the British from Chinese territory. The Kowloon peninsula, opposite to Hong Kong, was ceded to Great Britain by the Treaty of 1861. The sketch shows what a complete wreck the Typhoon made of the place. Every house facing the sea was more or less damaged ; some of the buildings being left but a heap of ruins. The population are mostly fishing people; and many of their boats were lost. Some were lying broken on the beach, whilst others, including even 15.-KOWLOON CITY –LOOKING NORTH-EAST. | large junks, were carried far inland, in some cases being found on the ruins of dwellings. 16.-YOWMATEE –LOOKING NORTH-EAST. Yowmatee is Chinese village under British jurisdiction, on the south west of the Kowloon Peninsula. The large building in the centre of the line at the back, is the Police Station. Many junks and small boats went over to this part for shelter. On the morning of the Typhoon most of them were lying ashore, occasionally piled above each other. The junk in front fared badly, the stern being completely knocked away. Some tents are shown to the right, erected for the protection of those who had lost their family-boats. The havoc on land was not so great here - as at some other places. |7-YOWMATEE –LOOK NG NORTH. The damaged state of the junks shown in this sketch witnesses the extreme violence of the wind and waves. Several are partly or wholly sunken; and efforts are being made to raise them. In the distance is a junk with one side completely carried away. Apart from illustrating the effects of the Typhoon, this sketch conveys to a good idea of the character of the scenery in the neighbourhood of Hong Kong. The coup d'oïl is often most beautiful and attractive; the hills, though barren and wild, are picturesque. - |8.-A GENERAL VIEW OF YOWMATEE. The sketch gives a general view of the village of Yowmatee and of the boats lying near. Great destruction, it may be seen, was caused to them, especially to the junk in front. In the distance—over the narrow stretch of land to the right—is the “Princess Charlotte,” one of the old “wooden walls of England.” Though standing far out of the water, and presenting an immense surface to the wind, she weathered the Typhoon most successfully, suffering little damage beyond the loss of part of her wooden awning. 19.-YOWMATEE-SHOWING GENERAL WRECK, This view, taken from a point overlooking the village of Yowmatee, is further evidence of the extent of the destruction of boats and land property caused by the Typhoon. tº 20.-YOWMATEE-ANOTHER VIEW. | This sketch shows the part of the village where the greatest destruction occurred. The shore is crowded with the débris of boats and fallen houses. |Nº. | º lsº 21. THE Docky ARD. This view shows the front of Her Majesty's Dockyard. It will be seen that the buildings, though very substantial, did not escape serious damage. As showing the force of the Typhoon, it may be mentioned that two guns—weighing over twelve tons each—were, together with their carriages, moved some distance. Possibly the removal was aided by some wreckage or large floating body being driven against them. The building above, on the left, is the residence of the Military Commanding Officer; whilst in the centre and to the right are seen the mansions of merchants and European residents, many of them really handsome and imposing structures. 22.-DAMAGE TO THE SUGAR REF NERY. This view exhibits one of the largest manufactories in Hong Kong, the Sugar Refinery at East Point. This spot is considered most sheltered from Typhoons. The Refinery chimney, 120 feet high-the tallest in the Colony, was blown down ; falling across the wall in front; and the roof was also damaged. The Distillery, which is near, was more fortunate, the chimney being left standing; but a portion of the roof was destroyed. - … ºf UNIVERSITY .*... - - - III.iii. 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