456
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2sd SEPTEMBER, 1865.
(Copy)
No. 619.
Colonial SECRETARY'S OFFICE, Hongkone, 5th August, 1865, SIR,--On the supposition that the finding or a Copy of the finding of the recent Naval Court held at Shanghai to
enque into the loss of the Steamer Folkien of this Pert may be on record in the British Consulate I have the honor to ask fo certified Copy of the same, but should it not be, I shall be much obliged to you for any information as to where such Cape can be obtained.---I have, &c.,
(Signed)
W. H. ALEXANDER, Acting Colonial Secretary.
C. A. WINCHESTER, Esq.,
Her Britanic Majesty's Consul, Shanghai.
No. 435.
BRITISH CONSULATE, SHANGHAI, 10/h August, 1865.
SIR,-In reply to your letter of the 5th instant I have the honor to enclose herein a certified Copy of the Minutes and Finding of the Naval Court held at this Consulate on the 25th day of July to enquire into the circumstances attending th loss of the British steamer Fohkien.-I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient Servant,
The Hon'ble THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,
CHARLES A. WINCHESTER,
Consul.
Sc.,
&c., Hongkong.
Fe.,
OFFICIAL MINUTES OF A NAVAL COURT, HELD AT H. B. M.'s CONSULATE,
At Shanghai on the 25th day of July, 1865,
To enquire into the circumstances attending the loss of the British steamer Folkien,
Present
LIEUT. C. A. WATTS, R.N. President.
C. TREASURE JONES, Esq., Acting for II. M.'s Vice Consul.
F. PIPER, Esq. K. N.
MR. EDMOND Commanding P. & O. Co.'s Str. Peking. MR. F. LEWES, Commanding British ship Waterwitch.
I have no
The order of the Senior Naval Officer for the formation of the Court having been read by the President. WILLIAM OLAF JOHNSON called states; I was the master of the Str. Folkien, at the time of her loss. English Certificate but held an American Certificate which was lost in the wreck. My Log book and ship's paper's were also lost. My port of departure was Shanghai and I was bound to Hongkong. I hand in here a Copy of the Fohhien's protest detailing the accident.
PROTEST OF CAPTAIN JOHNSON Str. Folkien-July 13th, Thursday, at 2.45 left the Hongque Wharf for Hongkong, the weather at the time being hazy and the wind strong from the S. E.; 3.50 passed Woosting; 6.20 passed Lightship: wind moderating and weather fine; at 7.45 Gutzlaff bore about East two miles; at 9 passed Davis Island, the Island of Chinshan in sight. At 10 P.M. the easternmost island of Chinshan bore west about two miles; had experienced a very strong easterly current since leaving Gutzlaff, the weather fine moonlight and stars out; steered S by E. E. and S. S. E. to pass between Video and Fisherman's group. Soon after saw Video on our port bow and also the Fisherinan's group on the star- board bow; the fog now set in; 11 P.M. quite thick, showing nothing but the top of Video ahead; steered so as to pass it on the port beam. At 11.27 it bore east; set the log and took the revolutions; at 11.30 P.M. the fog lifted, showing a small island ahead close on board. Stopped the engine at once, and no sooner had we unhooked than the ship struck the rock with tremendous force and immediately commenced to sink. Let the anchors go as soon as possible to prevent the vessel from sliding off into deep water. Lowered the boats and commenced landing passengers on the rock. At 12 (midnight) landed the last boat load of passengers just as the upper deck disappeared below the surface, no one having a chance to save anything but what they stood in. Stayed by the wreck until morning, when everything was under water except the masts and smoke stacks; pulled towards Chinshan and fell in with fishing boats, three of which we chartered to convey the passengers ani crew to Ningpo. On Sunday morning arrived at Ningpo where the junks were paid each $300 for their services.
The following observations of Capt. Johnson were appended to the protest:-
When day broke and we were able to see our position, we found that instead of the island being Video the land that w saw last night was the westernmost island of Fisherman's group. Owing to the peculiar state of the atmosphere this land appeared to be the same height as the island of Video, which accounts for the mistake that was made, and also instead of having an easterly current as was supposed, the ship must have run out of that into a current setting towards the North West
By Court. The lead was not going when we struck; there were 20 to 30 fathoms of water. I was in charge of th ship myself. My chief and third officers were on deck with me, also a quartermaster, and a quartermaster was at the wheel Just before we struck we were going full speed from 12 to 13 knots. The Hongkong authorities knew that I had no Certifice
George C. Johnson who was mate with me at first, acted as sailing master. He had a certificate. I asked the Har Master at Hongkong how to manage about taking command myself and he told me I had only to apply to Mr. Markham • Mr. Lay at Shanghae, say that the Mate was to be discharged and myself put as master on the Register. This I did. i+ was the Westernmost Island of Fisherman's group which I took for Vidco. I was steering South and by West when it b East and the ship struck.
ALBION H. MORSE called, states; I was Chief Mate of the Fohkien, when she was lost, I acknowledge the correctness of the Protest which I have signed and of which the document in Court is a copy. I have no English or American Certifica of Competency, none were required when I left the United States:-I was on deck when the Folkien struck. After leaving Chinsan it was about to 11 when we saw the first land; this was the Westernmost island of Fisherman's group. T weather was thick and foggy. We were going about 13 knots. Just before 11 I could see islands on the starboard bor The island I took for Video bore East about 27 minutes past 11.
We only saw the top of it. We saw the outside island of Chinson and got a bearing from it. We were from 2 miles from it. The last bearing we got was W. by S. We did not see the Bee Hive. "I don't recollect at what time 1 altered our course from S. and by E. & E. to S. S. E.