March 19, 1898.}
moment and the state of confusion and excite- ment that prevailed on the steamer, It is explained that the object of reversing the engines was not only to deaden the way of the steamer, but also to cant her head to starboard. The order was instantly obeyed; in about eight seconds the engines went full speed astern from full speed ahead; and according to the evidence of the third officer, the speed of the steamer was reduced by more than one-half and she was only going three or four knots at the time of the collision. But it was too late: a col- lision could not then be avoided; and the steamer struck the junk on the port quarter, at an angle a little greater than 45 degrees. She then lay by, lowered a boat, and took off the crew of the junk. The officers of the steamer do not seem to have troubled themselves to ascertain the ultimate fate of the junk, but there can hardly be any doubt that she soon sank. Next day her crew were landed at Swatow.
may
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Court, the master of the steamer cannot be held in any way to blame for the collision; in. deed, he appears to have done all that was in his power to avert it. He is also to be commended for the prompt and effectual measures which he took for saving the lives of the crew of the junk.
In the opinions which I have now expressed, so far as they relate to matters of nautical skill, the Nautical Assessor concurs.
The result of those, opinions is that the S. S. Haitan must be held solely to blame for the collision, and judgment must be entered for the plaintiffs, with their costs of the action. There will be a reference to the Registrar and merchants to assess the amount of damages sus- tained by the plaintiffs.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
209
ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST STEAMER AT CHUNGKING.
SHANGHAI, 11th March. safe arrival on the 8th instant at Chungking News was received yesterday by wire of the of Mr. Archibald Little's pioneer steamer, the Leechuen, after a series of dangers and excite. ments. It is now demonstrated that a small steamer of only moderate power can be got safely over the rapids of the Upper Yangtsze.- N. C. Daily News.
THE PHILIPPINE REBELLION.
A NEW REREL CHIEF. Although it is very likely that the Philippine rebels have obtained a strong position in the country between Manila and Bolinao, Manila
BEFORE MR. A. G. WISE, PUISNE JUDGE. itself has not been affected in the least. Trade
REUTER BROCKELMANN AND CO. V. WING
SHUN AND CO, AND ANOTHER.
At the time of the collision the Kutsing was in tow of the defendant's steam launch Wing Kwai, and was being towed from Hongkong to Canton; and the Saikong was at anchor in the Cantou River off Deep Bay.
Mr. Hastings appeared for the plaintiffs and Mr. H. E. Pollock (instructed by Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist) for the defendants.
No witnesses were called for the defence.
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is still in a flourishing condition, and the residents in Manila apparently feel themselves quite safe from attack. As the town is sur- rounded by thousands of Spanish soldiers, there is some foundation for this comfortable feeling. Reports of conflicts between the rebels and the Spanish troops are daily received in the town, and losses on the Spanish side are said to be somewhat numerous, but the people are on the whole apathetic about affairs and doubtless will continue so unless their commercial interests are threatened with interference.
A native, name unknown, has proclaimed himself chief of the rebels and the rebels have duly recognised him. If he is not killed he hopes in due time to receive his reward from the Spanish Government or from anybody else Mr. Hastings submitted that the Wing Kwai who likes to offer a good price for temporary was solely to blame for the collision, as she was peace. Aquinaldo fetched & big sum for such a navigated in a reckless and negligent manner,short-lived cessation of hostilities, but the new and nothing that those on board the Kutsing chief has only to bide his time and he will be could have done would have averted the a millionaire. collision.
Mr. Pollock admitted that the Wing Kwai was somewhat to blame, but contended that the Kutsing was guilty of contributory negligence in that she might have starboarded her helm or let go the tow rope and so have avoided the collision.
It will be seen that while these two accounts agres in some particulars, they differ materially in others. But it does not appear to be neces- sary to discuss these variances in detail, because This was an action for $875 being damage the opinion which I have formed on the ques-suffered by the plaintiffs on account of a collision tion of the carrying of lights by the junk is between their schooner the Kutsing with the really decisive of the case. For on the hys. 8. Saikong. pothesis-which I think is well founded-that the junk was carrying lights, I am of opinion that on the night in quetion the steamer should have inade-out her fore-mast light at a distance of about three miles. In this erent there would have been ample time for the steamer to quit herself of the obligation laid upon her by the regulations for preventing collisions at sea to keep out of the way of the junk, and it is hardly possible to believe that she would not have succeeded in doing so. In this view of the case, then, I think the steamer is to blame for the collision, But I go further and say that, even if the find ing on the question of lights had been ad- verse to the junk, the result would not have bean different. For it appears to me, on a cou- sideration of the evidence given on both sides, that, if an efficient look-out had been kept on the steamer, the junk would have been made cut at a greater distance than a quarter of a mile. Bat farther I am of opinion, having regard to all the circumstances detailed in evidence, that the distance at which the junk was actually sighted by the steamer has been over-stated and that it was less than a quarter of a mile. The third officer says that as soon as he made out the junk with his glasses he ordered the helm of the steamer to be put hard-a-starboard. It is clear that, immediately after this order had been given and obeyed, the master came on the bridge and signalled to the engine room to put the engines full speed astern. But the master says "My impression is that when I came on the bridge, the collision was inevitable." I have no doubt that this was so; that the steamer was then almost on to the junk; and that nothing could have been done to avoid the collision. This view is borne out by the evidence of the helmsman, who says that the master signalled to the engine room and gave him the order to steady the helm at one and the same moment. Then he adds, Directly the word steady' was given the collision took place." I believe the statement of the third officer that the junk changed her course after the steamer had sighted her, and not at a considerably earlier period, as is alleged by the witnesses for the plaintiffs, but, even supposing that this manoeuvre contributed to the collision-which I doubt-I am of opinion that the master of the junk must be excused for taking it in the emergency of the moment when he found a steamer bearing down on him and within a few hundred yards.
I am also of opinion that when the steamer first sighted the junk within so short a dis- tance she should have slackened her speed or stopped or reversed. If this had been done at once, the risk of a collision would have been much diminished. Further, I think that, as the junk was on the port bow of the steamer and never on her starboard bow; it was an error of judgment on the part of the third officer to starboard the helm of the steamer. If the helm had been put hard-a-port at the moment of sighting, it is clear that the vessels would have passed one another in safety. I think it right to say that, on the evidence before the
His Lordship, in giving judgment, said that it was admitted that the Wing Kwai was to blame, and the only question therefore was whether there was contributory negligence on the part of the Kutsing; if so, of course she could not recover anything. He then reviewed the eri. dence and came to the conclusion that there was no negligence on the part of those in charge of the Kutsing.
Judgment was therefore entered in favour of the plaintiffs with costs.
AN AMERICAN MISSION STATION ATTACKED.
[SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE "DAILY PRESS.]
SHANGHAI, 17th March.
A mob sacked the American Mission in the suburbs of Chungking.
The Chinese Medical Assistants were mal-
treated and one of them murdered.
- QUARANTINE AT SINGAPORE.
THE SINGAPORE CHAMBER DOES NOT FAVOUR ITS REMOVAL,
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It is said that the Government did not pay a cent to Aquinaldo and his esteemed confrères. The whole of the money paid over to the ex- rebels came out of the pockets of the wealthy Spanish priests. The priests, it is reported, were threatened with banishment from the islands, but the threat never became operative because the priests, acting no doubt under pressure of the officials, bought over the rebel leaders and so were graciously permitted to resume their ordinary avocations. This species of blackmail will doubtless come in very handy again should the rebels require wooing with money. Capital before country is a golden rule with some people, and there are many in Manila and the districts who go with the side that pays the best. They work for the rebels if the pay is good and for the Spaniards if the pay is better, and vice versa.
LANGAN
EXCITING TIMES AT BOLINAO TELEGRAPH STATION.
SPANISH TROOPS SURPRISED AND
MASSACRED,
The Bolino staff of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company had rather an exciting time during five days last week owing to a rising of the native against the Spanish Government, the station having been be- sieged by the natives on account of some Spanish soldiers taking refuge there, the telegraph office and staff's quarters being the strongest building_offering any chance of defence in the place. The position of the Com-
[SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DAILY PRESS.]pany's staff was most trying, owing to the fact
Singapore, 14th March.
of Commerce was held to-day to consider the A special meeting of the Singapore Chamber Hongkong Chamber's appeal for the abolition of quarantine.
of the Government within the building, who, to- of their being on friendly terms both with the rebellious villagers and the officials and soldiers gether with the staff, numbered 34 souls, in- cluding some native women and children. The news of the events as they occurred are best
tendent of the Company, and his staff, who reported the same by wire to the Manager of the Company in Hongkong, to whom we are indebted for these details :-
not comply with the Hongkong Chamber's re-given in the words of Mr. Pattie, the Superin-
The Singapore Chamber decided that it could
quest.
[When it was notified that quarantine had been imposed at Singapore against Hongkong the Chamber here telegraphed the Sin gapore Chamber requesting that body to "7th March.---About two o'clock this morn- use its influence with the Straits Governing the Government landlines to Manila were ment to have the quarantine removed.]
The shield competition football match be- tween Kowloon and 25th Co. 8.D., B.A., played on Saturday, last resulted in a win for the Artillerymen by three goals to two.
cut. We were advised that hundreds of rebels entered the village. They killed two European and one native soldier. The rest of the soldiers, consisting of eight men, escaped to our station, which we have barricaded as well as we can. At six o'clock, the rebels sent word that they
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