An amusing incident served to enliven the proceedings. A prominent Chinese gentleman, who had headed the subscription list with the munificient gift of 8500 was asked to declare the bridge open and was told that a speech was expected. When the dreaded moment arrived, however, his courage proved unequal to the occasion and bursting through the company assembled, he took refuge beneath the bridge.
The task thus devolved on Mr. A. H. Faers, the indefatigable Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the mittee, who, after a few felicitous expressions, declared the bridge open and the barriers were removed amid the firing of crackers. Mr. K. C. Sen took the opportunity to express the gratitude of the Chinese community and congratulated the International Committee on this further demonstration of its usefulness.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.