Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1906 — MANY DIE IN TYPHOON [ARTICLE]

MANY DIE IN TYPHOON

DISASTROUS STORM IN HONGKONG HARBOR. Vessels Are Sank and Los* of Life 1* EsHmsiod at 1,000 —Chanced Ocean Current* Held Responsible for Recent Shipwrecks. Loss of life estimated at 1,000 has resulted from a typhoon which swept the island on which Hongkong is located. Enormous damage has been done to skipping and other property. Thisis the news contained in cable dispatches received from the Chinese city. It is reported that the coast for miles is lined with the wrecks of small sailing craft caught in the storm and driven ashore. In Hongkong harbor many vessels foundered and officers were driven ashore. The loss of life was heaviest among-the crews on vessels in port It is reported that in numerous cases not a man escaped from the ships. Island in tbe China Sea. Hongkong is ah island situated in the China Bea, Off the coast of China, from which it is separated by a narrow strait 14 was yielded to Great Britain by treaty in 1842. The roadstead has a well-protected anchorage. Victoria, the capital, commonly called Hongkong, is situated on a bay of tbe same name, setting up into tbe north side of the island. The port is a great center of the foreign trade of China. Total exports are roughly estimated at 8125.000.00(k-and. imports at $100,000,000. As a British colony on Chinese soil it is the most important in its political and defensive position, and i& the headquarters of the military, naval aud mercantile establishments. The population of JElongkong. ls about 275,000.

Paelflc Currents Changed. New York shipping men ’were much interested in a cable dispatch which slated that the steamer • Empress of China on arriving at Tokyo Sunday reported that considerable changes have taken place in Pacific Ocean currents. They regarded this as accounting for tbe stranding of so many steamers in the Pacific recently in the vicinity of tbe Hawaiian Islands. The steamers Manchuria and Mongolia and the Uni-

ted States transports Thomas and Sheridan have met this fate. The Tokyo dispatch adds that the report of tidal changes harmonizes with the Kobe observatory’s report of a great earthquake In mid-Paclfic, which preceded the convulsion at Valparaiso by several hours and is believed to have made important changes in the bed of the ocean. As a result of the stranding of tho Pacific Mail liner Manchuria and the transport Sheridan, both on their way to the Orient, and now followed by the Mongolia striking a reef near Midway Island, all within less than a month, there is much congestion of passengers at Honolulu, and the long interruptions of mails is causing great Inconvenience.