TERRIBLE DISASTERS IN CHINA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1720, 20 December 1887, Page 2

TERRIBLE DISASTERS IN CHINA

QREAT LOSS OF LIFE, [rEUIBR'S TELEGRAMS — OOP.YRiqHIJ,|| i S^onby, P.oofirabor 19. Telegraphic advices from Port Kennedy (Thursday Island) report the arrival of th 2 Fairlie at that place from Hongkong, She brings news of a number of extremely fatal disasters which have occurred within Chinese territory arid waters. The steamer Wah Kahungj which sailed under the British flag, caught fire when lying within aaqyds of the shore. Upwards of ioo persons from the burning vessel managed to effect a landing, but about 400 persons perished by, drownjqg, among whom were 20.Q small-footed Chinese women, who were accommodated below the deck. The military magazine at Amoy exploded with terrific violence, the Chinese (general and fifty soldiers being blown to atoms. Four hundred houses m the vicinity came down wjth, a crash, burying the inmates m the ?uins. A concomitant fire broke out, which spread from the debris m all directions, and destroyed upwards of 300 other buildings. An alarming epidemic of typhoid fever prevails at the town of Port Arthur. Over 2000 deaths have already occurred. The Hoang Ho, " Yellow River," broke its banks m the vicinity of Ching Chow, inundating an enormous area of country. Thirteen cjtieq are submerged, and th,e loss of life and property is fearful, the distress of the surviving being indescribable.