Conditions on the Huangpu, which rose rapidly, made navigation almost impossible. Even powerful tugs made little headway against the strong flood tide. One launch, going with the stream and towing a yacht, crashed into the bows of H.M.S. Bee. The launch appeared to escape unharmed, and soon resumed her cot The frequent whistle blasts from other tugs offering assistance nevertheless made those on shore apprehensive.
The next event in the vicinity was the sinking of the Canton Road jetty, on which were a number of coolies taking shelter in a but. The pontoon sank in a few minutes, but its occupants were able to get to shore. A small junk tied up loosely between another pontoon and the Bund coping looked as if it were destined to go to pieces on the ebb tide, the bows crashing on to the stonework with every wave.
At about 4 p.m., the yacht Undine broke from her moorings and was driven rapidly down on to H. M. 8. Bee. A tug went after her and fortunately managed to get her in tow and out of danger, but a collision was only narrowly avert-
Another great source of danger to river craft—and one which will probably remain for some days unless the river sobers down sufficiently to allow of salvage operations—was a large number of great balks of timber floating about and reinforcing the wreckage of small craft which had been hammered to pieces. These are said to be part of a Japanese cargo turned overboard to await removal. by the owners and, breaking hoose, they spread all over the river before they could be secured.
No reports were received at the Customs House during the afternoon of loss or injury to shipping in the river, although by 5 p.m. the storm was raging with great fury. Any who risked a drenching on the Bund were also liable to be blown off their feet. A particular. ly bad locality for pedestrians was the corner of Avenue Edward VIT and the French Bund. Here it was most stormy throughout the day and, were it not for the substantial nature of the new buildings there, the damage must have been great. Between 3 and 4 p.m., whilst a number of motor cars were parked there, a tremendous gust of wind came and.tore the hoods bodily off most of them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.