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southward with rough sea and fine weather, and fresh NE monsoon weather prevailed in the China Sea with high sea and N swell. Vessels approaching Hongkong from the Eastward had fresh NNW
to NW breezes and fine weather.
The Choysang was a little South of Chapel Island at 2 a. and had then a strong NNE gale backing and moderating (NW 6 at 8 a.) as she steamed SW and became farther to the West of the centre. The sky also cleared to some extent. The barometer was falling but slightly.
She
The Protos which entered the Channel from the N early in the evening on the 9th bound for Hongkong was about 70 miles ahead of the Bokhara and had then a NE by N whole gale and falling barometer. She however went ahead on the starboard tack, wind and sea increasing all the time. At 8 a. on the 10th she experienced full typhoon force from the NNE which continued until noon. was at the latter hour 150 miles NW by N of the centre. She sustained some damage losing one boat, two others being stove in, the two companion ladders were carried away and the engine room skylights smashed in. After noon the wind decreased in violence and towards evening it backed (at midnight N 6).
The Austrian corvette Fasana was also bound for Hongkong from the northward. She was at 8 p. on the 9th about 35 miles NNE of the Bokhara's estimated position at that time. The Fasana was then under sail, but as the wind and sea were increasing they kept their course but got up steam so that they might get along faster. At 8 a. on the 10th October the vessel was a little to the SE of Ockseu and had a N by E storm with rain and the wind direction backing a little. At 9 a. the clouds were flying very low near sea surface and this in conjunction with sea spray made it impossible to see more than a ship's length ahead. At noon flying spray like heavy rain prevented the lookout from being of any use at all. At 1 p. she was about 35 miles E of Chapel Island and 170 miles NWIN of the centre and had typhoon force from the N with high confused sea. The lowest barometer reading was made at 2 p. (29.36), and at 2.30 the rise of the mercury commenced with wind N by W force 11 decreasing, and appearance of improving weather. During the evening the wind backed to WNW force 7 with overcast weather and occasional rain.
The Nanchang was another vessel bound for Hongkong and about 30 miles in advance of the Bokhara. She experienced a whole NNE gale, but sustained little damage.
The Kaifong, which was about four hours behind the Nanchang at Turnabout, sustained a great deal of damage. Her log book was lost from the wheelhouse which was stove in and no meteorological data observed on board this ship are therefore available. She lost one boat, the engine room skylights were carried away and much water got into the stoke hole rendering it difficult to keep up steam.
The Formosa and Ly-ee-mun were between Dodd Island and Turnabout working their way up the coast under the land. They both went into shelter as soon as opportunity offered, the former in Pinghai Bay and the latter in Hungwha Sound. They experienced NE to NNE whole gale during the day with very heavy squalls of typhoon force and there was a very heavy sea. The experience of these two coasting vessels shows that by keeping under the land they gained some advantage. They had the wind somewhat less fierce and, perhaps, not so bad a sea as encountered by those vessels farther out and more in midchannel. The dangerous sea already prevailing at the north and narrow part of the Channel when a typhoon is even yet at some distance to the southward should be taken note of and steps taken early by shipmasters to avoid it.
The Phra Nang entered the Channel bound for Hongkong during the morning. At noon she was about 10 miles SSE of Turnabout and 220 miles N by W of the centre and had the barometer falling rapidly with a strong NNE gale. At 4 p. there was a NNE storm blowing and a mountainous sea. She had then a lifeboat smashed and others damaged. At 5 p. she was hove to on the port tack, the barometer reading 29.20 (lowest). The barometer then commenced rising slowly, but at 8 p. they had typhoon force from N with a terrible sea and such as her Commander had never experienced during nine years on the China Coast. Towards midnight the wind commenced backing and decreasing slowly in force.
The Empress of Japan was about 20 miles NE of Turnabout at noon on the 10th and 240 miles N by W of the centre. They had a whole N gale veering to NE at midnight with a very high sea and falling barometer. This vessel was steering northwards and went full speed using Sir W. THOMSON'S sounding machine the whole time, but only made about 40 miles during the 24 hours between noon of the 10th and 11th.
The Cyclops was another vessel coming down from the north a few hours behind the Bokhara. At 1.30 a. on the 10th the vessel was anchored under Tungsha (White Dogs) for shelter and remained there until the morning of the 11th. On the 10th she experienced in the morning a strong NNE gale which increased to between a whole gale and storm from the same direction during the evening. Continuous heavy rain fell with heavy squalls during the afternoon and evening.
The City of Peking approaching the northern entrance to the Channel was hove to on the port tack before 4 a. on the 10th. The barometer was falling quickly at the time and there was a strong