Traffic Disrupted as Thunderstorm Hits Shanghai NCE again Shanghai was Shanghai, Oct, 15. temporarily transformed into a "Venice of the Orient when one of the heaviest downpours in many years transferred various dist s of this city into waterways for a number of hours, causing havoc to week-end sporting schedules and headaches to motorists and pedestrians who were obliged to make their way through the flooded districts of the city.
While the thunderstorm—and it was a thunderstorm according to Sikawei Observatory where thunder was actually heard early yesterday morning—had passed on by 7.45 am., effects of the in certain districts beyond St. Georges and in the Concession will probably be noticeable for days.
Pumping tions in the Central and Louza districts are bound to show have been cleared of millions of gallons of undesired water 'Along Nanking Road and partie cularly. at the commer of Chekiang. Road, the water was well over Jenee= level' and "passengers of "rickshaws hod aiifieuy im assuring the dryness feet, "Show-windows of the deere Department. Store—were flooded and were partly emptied of their Wares, coolles being engaged In bailing, the water out of the ground-Moot' sales-rooms. Cyclists. found that the water reached well. above the contre. of the wheels while foreign and Chinese policemen on. duty at that point, found it preferable to {ake oft their boots in view of the fact that the water was so high that they found their boots" completely fille.
Wooden boards which had been temporarily placed on both sides of tram Ticks so as to cause "little oF inconvenience 10 motorists while ree swathed away or at least dislocated pairs are being male, were partially
Und coolies were busy since an early hour yesterday morting, in pulling them back Most shops were still closed a30°'am, while only. very few of those who had to attend offices, ar-Fived at their: places of business on lime, the delay in smooth "tref, caused by the floods, being consider: Sble,. Many. buildings not only in the Central and Western districts but iso in other parts of the eily and particularly in the French Conces-were flooded and pumping ment, as far as available, was put into action.
"As is usual on occasions of this sort, rickshaw pullers and garages did 'a "roaring" business, Scores. of cars had to give up the struggle Sgainst the water and were awaiting the rescue vans which was active Uiroughout yesterday. ort Fixtures Cancelled Race Course entirely which at 115 pan. was cancelled due to the fact' that the track was unusable.
While Bubbling Well Road from Vu Ya Ching Road towards the Western district, was under streets running' parallel, Burkill Road also suffered avily.
In. the French Concession, certain districts were practically unpassable Such as for instance the stretch on Avenue Joifre between Rue Amiral Bayle and Avenue Dubail, while the famous corner of Rue Bourgeat and Route Cardinal Mercier was as usual, quite unpassable, with the result thai all trae, including buses had to be deviated thus causing much inconvenience to passengers.
In the west, sampans would been more appropriate than and. traffic was considerably slowed down as a result of the high waters which threaten to distrust the normal flow of trafic for at least one or two days.
Team Service Suspended The situation in the French Concession was 0 serious that tramway {raffle was stopped entirely while the bus service was maintained and consequently the trae problem was rendered considerably more acute. Officials of the French Tramway Company questioned on the subject yesterday afternoon, believed "it" unlikely. that tramway services would be. resumed until today, Owing to yesterday's floods, a major default developed in a Central district telephone cable causing interruption to the service of appro" mately 200 subscribers in the area bounded on the north by Soochow Road, on the south by Ningpo Road, fon the east by. Yuen Ming Yuen Road and onthe west by Kiangse Road. "Repair crews were immedi ately rushed to the scene. with the result that the services in the affected areas will probably be restored before' tonight.
Damage Estimated In Thousands Damage caused by the floods, particularly in shops, was estimated Yesterday to run into many thou Sands of dollars and shopkeepers along Bubbling Well Rood and Yates Road not only bemoaned the damages thus caused by the water but A Problem bogest problem confronting ofthe Keep dru. "a Picture Shows "one customer would venture into their establishments, some of which were hardly above the pavement level and consequently suffered considerably Comic sights were also the order of the day yesterday as well-dressed Chinese in foreign clothes, rolled up their trousers and. took' off their shoes and. stockings preparatory 10 jumping onto a bus which was to convey them to their places of busi" ness. Even Chinese "women, who had to brave the elements by" virtue of their occupations, faced the pros: pects of negotiating a flooded city with a smile as they took off their shoes and stockings to wade. in the waler as did the majority of pedes-
Yesterdays floods caused at least one death, that of a small Chinese been standing near a wyang Rose, which collapsed and two Chinese women were injured under similar circumstances a few hours later on Ferry Road.
Worst In Years te the worst rain flood in many was the verdict of Mr.
Gimeon,. Commissioner ct Public Works, SMC, yesterday tsorning.
Mr. Gimson pointed out that the PWD, rain gauge in Kiaochow Park Fegistered about five inches of pro-Cipitation during the night and morning up to 9 a.m, yesterday. This means that more than 00,000,000 gallons of water fell on the- Intet~ Rational Settlement and western, orca South of the Soochow Creek and enst of, Keswick Road. In. other words, Within a few hours yesterday a pr Cipitation which represented eighth of the total annual rainfall The Mood was general, and it was shanghai was recorded, bhard to say in which-localities it was especially pronounced. The Louza Gistrict in the Settlement hed bad foundations, as did long stretches of Bubbling Well Toad and crossing streets and Janes, and many import-ut thoroughfares in the French Coni-'The so-called western "out~ Side roads" district suffered heavily, automobile traMe being seriously hampered on many of the streets "Throughout residential -Changiai hire-ear. companies and rickshaw colies did record business uri the early hours, and even downtown district "enterprisizi Shangepau-tsho™ pullers made wht tras for them easy money ferrying the public across the more desyly oozed intersections, "Scenes of ginning Torelgness tome complete with spats
Shaws: to apartments house entrances, sok) "pakesbaek. from Het rove' witnessed along buobinig. Well and, avenue Jollee and oer chiot
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.