Early on Saturday morning the black drum Was hoisted at Kowloon indicating that a typhoon was passing to the east. of Hongkong, the centre being less than 300 miles away. Throughout the day rain fell at intervals in heavy showers and the Darometer fell gradually, showing unmistakeable that " strong gale if not worse might be expected in the vicinity. Towards evening most of the june and sampans moved over to the other side for shelter end the ships in harbour made preparation for bad weather, The steamer Namoa, which was lying alongside the Douglas wharf, moved over to the opposite side. At 5.50 p.m, the following telegram was received from the Obervatory—"* The centre of the typlioun appears to be within 200 miles and 8.E. of Hongkong, moving westward, but to be riv longer accompanied by winds of a dangerous force in the northern semi-circle." Despite the somewhat reassuring news conveyed the barometer continued tv fall, and at midnight with the barometer standing at 29.32 the wind blew freshly from the N.W. Loan. on Sunday morning the signal gun at the Observatory was fred one round, indicating that " strong gale of wind was expected, and preparations were made both ashore and afloat. The wind rose rapidly and at half-past two two rounds were tired, indicating that a typhoon was expected. About 5 a.m. the wind shifted to West, and the barometer continued to fall; at 5 a.m. the wind shifted to W.S.W and the barometer reached its lowest point, 29.037. From this time the barometer began to rise und the storm to abate, although alnuost imperceptibly, till about 10 a.m.
In consequence of all communications with the out-districts being destroyed, it is difficult to ascertain at present the amount vf damage done. The full force of the gale appears to have struck the opposite side, Yaumati having suffered especially. In the early hours of the morning H.MLS. Tweed (in reserve) broke from her nioorings and was driven ashore against the sea wall of the Naval Yard at Kowloon. The chain parted below the buoy, and it wae some time befure those on board realised that the vessel was adrift, as she carried the buoy with her, Meantime the gun had broken louse in the excessive rolling and smashed up a good deal ut her deck hamper.
When the vessel struck against the wall the tubular plating was soon smashed and a hole was knocked through the hull, the vessel Glhug and settling down. The crew on buard consisted Of a buwtwain and niue men, who all got safely ashore with the exception of one, seaman named J, Cpjoln, who in attempting we jump ashore with a cable fell between the vessel and the wall, body was picked up later in the morning and it was found that in the fall he had broken his neck. A working party from the Victor Emanuel were hard at it all yesterday saving the wreckage that had been washed ashore and making preparations foe Hoating the vessel. Should no further bad weather occur it is expected that she may be got off, but in the event another blow or " high'sea fears are entertained that she may break u The beach at Yaumati and Tsi is strown with wreckage.
It is calculated that at the lowest estimate over fifty junks and sampans have been destroyed, one of the Godown Company's lighters k. The Police were lard at work throughout the whole time the storm was at its height, and thanks to their endeavours the luss of life has been far below what night have been expected, At Yaumati " mau and " child were drowned, and at the basin at the Tsim-tea-tui Police Station another Chinaman was drowned. These, with the fatality in connection with the Ziceed, make up so far is known at present the eum of fatal cast ties. The whole village of Yaumati flooded and the Police Station has sustained some damage. The sea wall for about five hundred feet has been carried away and the roadway obliterated, and the pier, an old structure which it was intended short-to renew, has sustained considerable mage.
In the city itself the wind was not felt with such force and the damage done has not been very great. Two steam launches have sunk and some half dozen beata at West Point have been broken against the Praya Wall and several of the conservancy boats have come to grief. In various parts of the town trees were blown down or damaged. The bathhouse of the Victoria Recreation Club has sustained sume damage the bridge connecting it with the shore was carried away. A portion of the lead covering of the dome ut the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank was ripped up. At the Peak the wind blew with great violence
considerable, but sume matsheds -were the dany ts the houses, however, was wrecked.
The following readings of the barometer have been kindly supplied us by Dr. Doberek Hours. Bar. Hours, 18th July 1 p.m.
10am. 2 Mich. liam, Noon being about twenty-five or thirty miles to She north of Hongkong,—Daily Press, 20h uly.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.