apparently had the same engines which were first installed (and probably has them still). I joined her in 1888, and found her a most comfortable ship.
In 1910 or thereabouts Mr. McBain sold his shipping interests, and the Sual was bought by some Japanese hence the change of name to Sullee Maru. Since then she has passed into Chinese ownership.
4
It might also interest your readers to know that Jno. Riach married a sister of Mr. Charles Buyers, of the Peak Tramway Co. The first master of the Sual when she passed into the possession of George McBain was Captain J.B. Scott, one of whose daughters married G.H. Billings, headmaster of the Shanghai Public School for Boys, who retired some years ago, and will be remembered as an Interport cricket stalwart.
As regards the Sual's brief change to the name Cebu, this is possibly explained by her use for a time in the Philippines shortly after her launching, and prior to her purchase by McBain.
I do not know if this is what happened, but it seems a likely explanation.
The above is a valuable contribution to Old Hongkong history. It is interesting to know that although the Suilee Maru's name does not appear in this year's Lloyd's Register, she is still running: - tribute to the Colony's shipbuilding.
Here is an extract from an old report concerning the trial of one of the bigger steamers built at Hongkong nearly seventy years ago. It is dated February 16, 1867, and states:
The community of Hongkong generally, or to speak more accurately the population of Hongkong at large, all ranks and races was shipped on board the Colorado yesterday afternoon taken round the island. So much interest was of course felt in the new vessel that all will have been glad to have had even this short voyage in her, and to have seen her magnificent machinery in motion. Although only two boilers were in use, the distance traversed, 48 miles, was performed in three hours and a half, giving an average speed of twelve miles an hour - a greater speed than was apparent, as so large a vessel with decks so high above the water never seems to be moving so fast as she is really going.
The ship went out by the Lyemoon Pass, steamed round Hongkong and on coming back to Green Island, passed on before returning to her anchorage, went through the Throat-Gates and came out by the Cap-sing-moon, reaching the buoy of the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Co., to which she made fast, at about six o'clock.
A terrible confusion ensued as the immense crowd of passengers numbering, it is computed by the authorities of the ship, about twelve hundred, tried to get away. Only one ladder was let down, and there was no tug to take the visitors on shore. Twenty precious minutes, the last of the day-light, were lost moreover after the ship was stopped, before even this one ladder was lowered.
Perhaps better arrangements, in these and other little matters, would have made the excursion more enjoyable as a pleasure party, but we hope the main purpose of the expedition, the introduction of the vessel with her splendid accommodation and resources, to the travelling and trading public of Hongkong, will have been accomplished satisfactorily.