Extracted from The Hongkong Daily Press
Wednesday 27th February 1918
“At a few
minutes to three o’clock, just after the third bell had rung for the
first race after Tiffin, the whole row of Chinese booth and matsheds,
except one on the extreme north, collapsed, and awful confusion ensured.
The stands fell gradually, beginning from the stand labeled D.A.J.A. and
falling southward and outwards towards the road and made a sound like a
rasping of a saw. It looked as if the tops of all the stands had
been connected by a wire hawser and that this had been pulled over
gradually. The stands and booths took about 10 seconds to
collapse. Only the stand next to the Civil Service Club and the
side of the stand next to the Club Lusitano were left in position.
Immediately people in the enclosure realized the disaster there was
a rush of read helpers – military, navel and civilian – to help to
extricate the unfortunate people who were pinned down or shut in by the
overturned structures. For about five minutes there was a steady
stream of men, women and children clambering for their lives through the
broken or twisted bamboos, and breaking through the mass of leaves which
formed the roofs of the sheds.
It looked at this time as if it
would be possible to save almost everyone if a panic could be avoided,
and in extricating victims and breaking holes in the roofing to enable
people to get free the military and many civilian gave valuable help.
Just, however, when things appeared to be hopeful a fire broke out in
one of the fallen booths caused, it is supposed, by the
overturning of a cooking stove, and in less time than it takes to write
it the whole structure was a blazing mass with the fire spreading
rapidly in both directions. The outbreak caused a terrible panic
in the outside stands and hundreds were thrown to the ground who would
otherwise have had no difficulty in escaping. Once down it was a
case of finished. The clouds of smoke which were rolling along the
ground must have suffocated many.
Immediately things assumed this
serious aspect Col. John Ward M.P., C.M.G., by direction of H.E., the
Governor, was placed in charge of operations, and a number of men of the
Middlesex regiment formed a cordon around the blazing sheds and kept the
crowd back, whilst others of the same regiment, with practically all the
military and police who were employed on the ground , advanced to the
danger zone and lent what aid they could. In this they were
assisted by most of the officers who were in the enclosure and by many
civilians. It was gratifying to see how spontaneously people came
forward and did what they could to help. The injured were
carried out and laid on the golf course and several cases were taken
into the enclosure for treatment.
As the last fire grew more
intense it was impossible to approach within 40 yards of it, but even
then courageous rescues were effected, though a number of the rescuers
were overcome by the heat and smoke.
At this stage a grave
difficulty arose. All the chauffeurs of the numerous motorcars
outside the ground had either made off or taken freight and decamped.
The cars were urgently required for carrying the wounded. In a
short time however, volunteer amateur chauffeurs were found, and the
procession started hospital wards.
The wounded were treated on
the spot by the R.A.M.C., Police reservists, V.A.D., ladies and members
of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and splendid work was accomplished.
Dr. McKenny, Lt.Col. Crisp, and Major Black were noticed amongst
many others actively ministering to the more serious cases.
While
the flames were raging the wind freshened and the heat became terrific.
It was soon apparent that it would be a miracle if the Golf Club
pavilion escaped, and later it caught fire in the centre of the roof.
By this time the fire brigade were on the scene. At first they
were quite unable to cope with the situation, and the interior of the
Golf Club house was soon a raging furnace. It is the most strongly
built structure in Happy Valley, and it was completely gutted, only the
four stone walls up to the first storey being left standing.
The Club boys had plenty of warning and managed to safe a considerable
amount of the property in the building.
While the fire was at its
height a Japanese flag was noticed planted on the course near the ¾ mile
post, and a meeting of some kind was evidently in progress. It was
eventually dispersed by the authorities.
It is impossible to give
anything like the correct estimate for the loss of life but up to a late
hour last night 570 bodies were collected on the race course.
Probably it will never be authentically discovered how many perished.
Derelict children and Chinese women were led or carried into the
enclosure and attended to by willing hands. It was pathetic to see
the youngsters, who had probably lost their parents, looking around
dazed in their novel surroundings.
H.E. the Governor visited the
different clearing points for the wounded, and the Colonial Secretary
was busily engaged catering for the wounded and the workers.
In
some instances where parents were doubtful as to the fate of their
children, their anxiety was removed by the return of the children when
dinner time arrived. Their excuse for remaining out so late was
that they were interested spectators of the fire.
In some cases
Chinese babies were rescued and carried away from the scene of the
disaster, and it will probably be difficult for the Police to trace
their parents some of whom may have perished in the flames. One
little mite who was crying loudly was picked up by a European lady, who
was passing at the time, and taken to her house.
No need of
praise can be too great for the members of the fire brigade, the regular
Police, the Police reserves, St. John’s Ambulance Brigade and
Voluntary Aid Detachment, men of the Middlesex regiment, the Naval
detachment, and such members of the general public that rendered
assistance. To their heroic efforts not a few owe their lives.
The crowd of spectators in the various streets overlooking Happy
Valley were about six feet deep but order was splendidly maintained.
Til nearly 9p.m. there was a steady stream of visitors to the scene.
On enquiry at the Government Civil Hospital late last night our
representative was informed that 53 injured had been taken to that
institution for treatment. Nineteen cases, in which the persons
sustained only slight burns, were discharged after being attended to,
while 34 cases were received into the hospital. One Chinese, who
had been severely burned about the hands, neck, face and body died an
hour or two after admission.
It was persistently rumoured amongst
the Chinese last night that the collapse of the matshed was due to
thieves having cut through some of the supports during the night with
the object of causing an accident which should enable them in the panic
to seize money being wagered there. On the other hand, it is
said that the collapse of the first shed was due to those in it rushing
over to one side in order to see what had happened to a man who fell
out.
One eye witness said “when the interval for Tiffin came
round, I paid a visit to several mat sheds facing the Hongkong Golf
Club. There were crowds of Chinese and Portuguese – men, women and
children – in the sheds at the time. At about 2.30p.m. Tiffin was
served to those in the booths, and everything pointed to a fine
afternoon’s sport being witnessed. The bell for the China Stakes was
sounded at 2.50p;.m. and crowds began to swarm into the mat sheds to
purchase tickets for the sweepstakes. Suddenly someone screamed out
“save life” and several people rushed out to see what was the matter,
but as nothing extraordinary seemed to be happening the crowd surged
back again. Then a crumbling sound was heard, and before one knew
what had occurred the sheds came tumbling down. I think the
D.A.J.A. booth was the first to collapse, followed a few minutes later
by the rest. Those who were walking along the specially
constructed footpath escaped, by forcing their way through the mat
screens, which extended as far as the mat sheds themselves.
Several, however, were injured by the falling bamboos.
There was
a terrible crush, everyone struggled to save himself, Children
were swept hither and thither, and I fear that several of them
must have been trampled to death. The sheds had three storey’s.
People who were on the top storey managed to force their way through the
roof, and were seen crawling on top of it in hundreds endeavouring to
escape. Pandemonium prevailed, and cries of “save life!” were
heard in all directions. Those in the lower sheds were
entombed in the debris, but a few managed to crawl out to safety.
The flames were seen to rise from one of the sheds, and they quickly
spread to the whole of the sheds. Police whistles were blown, and
the Fire Brigade was telephoned for. In the meantime, several
civilians hastened to the scene of the disaster in order to render help.
I myself carried several babies to safety, and assisted in the rescue of
over 25 Chinese ladies. The Police under command of the
Captain Superintendent promptly set to work to extricate those buried in
the debris, and hundreds were conveyed to safety. In one instance,
a gentleman was jammed between two beams and was in a sorry plight.
Not withstanding this, he lifted two Japanese ladies from among the
fallen timber and threw them aside. He, himself, was helped out of
his plight by two soldiers, and carried away half unconscious.
If
it had not been for the outbreak of fire hundreds of others would have
been saved. The fire broke out in the D.A.J.A booth, and those who
were buried beneath the wreckage were burnt to death. This booth,
a Chinese booth and the booth run by Mr. J. Blake contained hundreds of
Portuguese and Chinese ladies and children, and, I fear, hardly any
escaped. The Fire Brigade aided by the fire float, stationed
off the Praya, played their hoses unceasingly, but it was of no use.
Suddenly one of the eaves of the Hongkong Golf Club caught fire,
and, despite the efforts of the fire brigade, the building was
completely gutted. Fortunately, everyone had left it.
Lt.
Col.Ward and the men of the 25th Middlesex were on the scene
and helped to maintain order, thereby stopping a panic, which might have
accounted for more deaths. The members of St. John’s Ambulance
Brigade carried away nearly thirty persons who were suffering from burns
or injured by falling timber. Several ladies also rendered
valuable service in tending the sufferers, who later conveyed to the
Government Civil Hospital in Motorcars. A party of Naval men under
Commander Gibson, were also on duty and helped in the work of rescue.
H.E. the Governor accompanied by the Hon. Mr. W. Chatham (Director of
Public Works) personally visited the wounded.
I saw several men
and women with all their hair singed to the scalp; over a hundred with
blood streaming down their faces, some hardly able to walk. A
number of ladies fainted at the sight. I heard that Mr. J. Blake
was seriously injured and removed to the hospital. Mr. J. Remedios,
who ran one of the sweeps in the D.A.J.A. booth and Mrs. Remedios were
hedged inbetween two tables and were nearly burnt themselves.
Fortunately, some soldiers came to their rescue and extricated them out
of their dangerous position. A Jewish young lady was heard by some
soldiers to scream out “save me, save me”. The flames were rapidly
approaching the place where she was but, nothing daunted, the soldiers
rushed to her aid and were able to rescue her. Several people were
burnt alive in sight of the onlookers who were powerless to save them.
A Mr. A. Brittor, who was in the pari-mutuel compartment, was pinned
under the counter, together with a Chinese lady, and was dragged out by
a Police sergeant.
Strolling among the ruins after the disaster,
I heard that Sargeant Kennedy who was helping in the rescue of victims
was rendered unconscious and had to be removed to hospital while a
soldier, who had sustained burns about his arms and face, was also taken
to hospital in a motor car.
It was a common thing to be asked by
someone whether you had seen some missing person or the other. Men and
women were wringing their hands in distress and crying out that their
children were lost. Mothers, distracted, were rushing hither and
thither calling out the names of their little ones. Little
children who had been saved, were crying for their parents. Nearly
everyone seemed to have lost a child, relative or a friend.
The scene was agonizing.
When the fire was practically quelled, a
ghastly sight presented itself. Hundreds of charred trucks, skulls
and bones were visible, all huddled together. In one instance I
saw the charred remains of two babies clasped by a hand. It was
pathetic and several people who were looking at the poor remains, were
reduced to tears.
Members of the regular Police and the
Police reserve, assisted by some of the general public, surrounded the
debris and were engaged in picking up jewellery and valuables that might
lead to the identification of the unfortunate victims.
The fire
was got under at about 6p.m. The charred human remains were carted
away by coolies of the Sanitary Board for burial. It is impossible
to say how many were burned to death – probably this will never be known
– but I think I am right when I state that the deaths number fully five
hundred.
Before the catastrophe I noticed several people engaged
in preparing meals on cooking ranges in the sheds, and it was the
upsetting of these that caused the fire, which levied such a terrible
toll of human life.”
It was thought that some Europeans were also
burnt to death but so far no definite information has been received.
It is stated that one member of the Middlesex regiment was badly burnt,
while two others were injured seriously enough to necessitate their
removal to hospital. About six men sustained slight burns, amongst
them Mr. G.S. Archbutt, who was serving with the Fire Brigade when his
right hand was burnt rather severely. Among those of the
Portuguese community who are definitely known to have lost their
lives is Miss Doria M. Xavier, sister of Mr. L. Xavier of the Hongkong
Printing Press. Her brother, Mr. Paulo Xavier had one of his arms
badly injured and was rescued by a European Police sergeant, just when
the flames had almost reached him. He had the agony of seeing his
sister perish in the flames. Other who were injured were Mr. J.M.
Brittor, who has sustained a damaged arm; P.C. (R) Lopes who rescued
several members of the Xavier family, and Police Sargeant Kennedy.
Fears were expressed that several members of the Olsen family, who were
in the same stand as the Xaviers, had perished, but happily there were
found later to be without foundation. A rumour was current
also that Inspector Wilding of the Police Reserve, was missing, but
subsequently it was ascertained that he had sustained a slight injury
and was being attended to. A sailor was also injured.