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January 16, 1896.]
About 2.10, with the change of tide, the ship began to list to the port side. It was with anxious hearts that the gallant officers and men watched her slowly sink while their chances of life seemed to ebb away as she neared the water's edge, whose waves were already dashing over the greater part of the vessel. Upon the assembling aft, where the ship was still dry, six officers, two petty officers, and seventy-one men were present, all that remained on board. Here they bid each other an affectionate farewell, for that all could be saved seemed an impossibility and at that time no outside help could be seen. The flag was lowered and as the waves began to dash about their feet, the Captain gave the word and the shout of "Benzai
that followed showed that their hearts were with their country to the last. Again: Benzai! But before it could be repeated, the ship careened with a lurch and disappeared in the surging waves.
The rafts stood the men in good service and the majority were able to reach them, while several were able to keep afloat by clinging to The crews of the two cutters the water tank. and pinnace made all haste possible to return after having safely landed their passengers, and as the ship disappeared at 2.17 p.m. they were 500 yards distant; they exerted the utmost energy and soon reached the men and filling the boats with all they could safely carry the boats departed. The two cutters succeeded in reach- ing one of the larger islands of Rover group in safety, although both were obliged to spend some time on a rock that stood above the reach of the waves, that the men might rest, for it was scarcely possible at times to make any headway against the strong gale then blowing. One of the boats was forced to remain at the rock all night, for these men who had been constantly labouring with all their strength ever siuce the ship was wrecked were exhausted be- sides being greatly weakened by lack of food.
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The twenty-nine who were crowded aboard the pinnace found in their weakened condition it was impossible to make the least head- way against the gale and fearing that they they would be drifted out
After anchored to give the men a rest. a short time they raised the anchor, but after baffling with the waves until they were utterly exhausted, and having scarcely made any head way, they anchored again.
The cold waves dashing over the weakened men, who had had no food since the morning, made the night one of hardship and misery, and only by constantly bailing out the boat could they keep it afloat and yet there was scarcely the strength left to perform this task. An attempt was made to raise the anchor, but the men could not do it, and they dare not cut the rope for fear of being swept past the range of help. At daylight they tound the boat had drifted quite a distance to the south and that they were then very near an island. They succeeded this time in getting up the anchor and as the storia had abated they were able to reach the shore without mneh trouble. Those of the party that were too weak to walk were carried by their stronger comrades, and by taking loose pieces of wood from the boat and collecting some drift wood from the shore, they had soon a roaring fire to dry their clothes.
The Chinese, who were gathered on a hill near by, refused to aid them, for upon some of the Japanese communicating with them by writing. in which they asked them for food and shelter, the Chinese answered that they had no food and their houses were crowded and they could give
them no shelter.
However upon the exhibition of a little money, the Chinese professed their willingness to part with a few eggs at the philanthropic price of ten cents per egg. After considerable controversy the Japanese secured twenty-four at five cents a piece. On the seashore was a straw hat about 10 by 10, used to store fishing nets by the com. manity. Here the Japanese quartered for the night and also had their morning meal of not quite one egg a piece.
The villagers then made a proposition to furnish them some dried sweet potatoes for one dollar per man, but as their combined resources soarcely reached ten dollars, more bickering was necessary, which resulted in the Chinese fürnish- ing them two weals for that price. The little party was completely in the hands of these fiends, for in their weakened state they would
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
be unable to defend themselves should an attack be made upon them, so it was decided on the morning of the 24th to try and reach a larger island to the north. In this they were success ful and found the Chinese much more hospit able, for here they were given shelter in a large temple and supplied with a sufficiency of food al though they were unable to pay for it.
On the next day a junk was sighted and upon being signalled approached the island and anchored. It had been sent out by the Captain to look for the missing men. All were taken on board and joined the main party, who had reached Pa-chan island. The junk was kept searching all day, but no others of the ship- wrecke Lcrew could be found. The next morn- ing the Kumomoto-maru in response to a re- port of the disaster previously sent to Anping, arrived and made a careful though futile search for the thirty-six of the crew who were missing. No trace of the rafts were found and with scarcely a shadow of a doubt the men were drowned the first day.
In couumenting upon the loss, the naval officers are most enthusiastic in their praise of the crew, who throughout conducted themselves with great bravery and submitted to discipline until the last without a murmur. And while the boats were picking up the men after the ship had sunk, although it was known that all could not be carried, the unselfishness of the crew was heroic. They aided their officers to first board the boats, and then without a word of solicitation watched the boat's crew pick up those who were most easy to reach, and then when all were aboard that could possibly be carried the boats disappeared from their sight, and with them their last chance of life. It is hoped that one or more of the rafts was after- wards drifted to some of the neighbouring islands, and that the Chinese might have picked the mea up, but after the careful search made by the Kumomoto-maru, that is very unlikely.
The Ko hei was built by the Chinese Govern ment at Foochow in 1891 as a torpedo catcher, and carried three 12cm. and four 57mm. quick firing guns, four 37mm. machine guns, and four torpedo tubes. She was 236 feet in length, and fouiage of 1230 tons. The ship was engaged in the battle of the Yalu and was surrendered to the Japanese at Weihaiwei. At the time of the accident she was manued by 14 officers and 169 ineù in the crew.
6th January.
January 4th, I telegraphed you regarding the serious attack made on the scattered camps of Japanese in the north as well as the rather ludicrous assault on Taipehfu, which consisted of the rebels taking a position in a clump of bamboos about a thousand metres distant and then firing occasional shots at the immense stous wall which surrounds the city. The details regarding these exciting occurrences I am uuuble to give you at present, as all the reports are not yet in, but I will review the most im- portant as we have them up to date.
A simultanecus attack was planned for early morning of the New Year and carried into effect in different parts in the north of Formosa. That the rebels who were to attack the garri- sons situated at a considerable distance from Taipeh would be able to complete their task and reach the main body for the assault of more in- portant places we find the trouble conimeucing first at Sho-so-ka, between Keleng and Gelau, which is to the S.E. The small Japanese garrison then retroated to Zue-haug, where they opposed the advancing rebels, but eventually were forced to retire to Kelung on the 30th. Reinforced the Japanese were able to rive the rebels back and to re-occupy Sho-sa-ku. The loss of life has not yet been reported.
December 28th about a thousand ebels at- 1a ked Gelan but the garrison were able to hold their own until reinforcements arrived.
December 31st about midnight several hun- dred rebels attacked the small corps of railway workmen at Sikkow The telegraph life was cut and railway obstructed, which closed communi. cation with Kelung.
January 2nd-Two companies of Japanese were sent to Siękow ami hnd an engagement with the rebels in which one Japanese was killed and four wounded, the rebels losing twenty, After driving the robels from the village the headless horribly mutilated bodies of nineteen Japanese were found. Some had been burned
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at the stake. The village was at once burned and one company returned to Taipehfu.
December 31st.-Rebels assembled at Pachina and attacked the Police headquarters. The policemen with the exception of one retreated to Taip shfu in safety, but the fate of six Japanese comprising the teachers and assistants of a free school that had been established there was not so fortunate, for they were all brutally murdered. Rebels made a night attack on Kimpaoli, the gendarmes stationed there numbered fifteen; only two reached Taipehfu in safety.
A night attack on Sintian resulted in the death of nine, the others retreating safely.
At Kantow, between Taipehfa and Hobe, ten men belonging to the telegraph corps were
killed.
Hobe was attacked, but the rebels were defeated.
The first attack of Taipehfu was outside the S.E. gate about 10.30 p.m. December 31st. A fire was kept up at intervals during the first, second, and third day, but did no damage.
The Japanese force numbering less than five hundred men were unable to go far from the capital to oppose the rebels.
On the night of the 2nd reinforcements arrived and the rebels have not been seen since, and trouble, at least in this district, is at an end.
JAMES W. DAVIDSON,
A HONGKONG HANDICAP ON .
BRITISH SHIPPING.
The following letters are published in the third annual report of the Shanghai Branch of the China Association
MESSRS, BUTTERFIELD AND ́SWIRE TO THE CHINA ASSOCIATION.
Shanghai, 3rd December. Sir. We desire to ask the assistance of the China Association in a matter seriously affecting British interests.
Some time last year the question of imposing passenger regulations upon all British ships trading in China and carrying passengers be- tween Chinese ports was raised by the Hong- kong Government, doubtless at the instance of the home authorities, and applications were made to the Consuls at all the ports for their opinion and advice on the subject. Wẹ believe almost without exception the opinion of the Consuls was strongly against the enactment of any such regulations and the necessity for them was denied. Notwithstand. ng this, we are informed that regulations have been drafted in Hongkong, framed on the lines of the existing Hongkong Ordinances, and that it is intended to enforce them so soon as they have received the approval of the Home
Government.
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What we wish the China Association to do is to enter an immediate and vigorous protest against the enactment of these regulations or the imposition upon British shipping of any re- strictions beyond those it is already, amicted with, which already impose a severe handicap. It is quite certain that if these regulations Be enforced, British shipping will be sent out from the passenger trade between Chinese
with Competition
other flugs ports. already very severe, and while we convinced that, competing upon equal terms, British shipping is quite able to maintain the position it at present occupies, yet if burdened with the expenses and delay and the necessary inspections, which Chinese passengers cordially detest, which will be involved in complying with the regulations, it is certain it cannot contend successfully against vessels not subject to such vexations drawbacks. The rates of passage are very low, but earnings from passengers form a valuable portion of the income of steamers trading in Chinese waters, and the loss of these will eventually result in the loss of the whole trade; it will be only a question of time.
The acceptance by other Governments of such regulations would still leave British vessels at a great disadvantage. We know that if imposed they would be honestly and strictly euforced by British officials, and we also know that they would not be so enforced by the officials of other nationalities. What chance would there be of getting penalties enforced against Chinese and Japanese vessels infring ing the rules? The steamers of both nation
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