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May 28, 1898.]
the Hongkong Regiment (commanded by Colonel Retallick), the Asiatic Artillery (com manded by Captain Barney), the Chinese sappers, the Royal Marines, and the Hongkong Volun- teers. The latter were represented by 82 men and ten guns, Major Sir John Carrington being in command, and the following officers were also present-Capts. Chapman and Saunders; Lieutenants Machell, Macdonald, Slade, and Fullerton. The Volunteers assem- bled at headquarters at about four o'clock, and as it was about seven o'clock when the troops were dismissed they were somewhat severely tried. Sir John, in addressing the Volunteers on their return to headquarters, said he was sure Her Majesty had certainly not more thirsty subjects, and he asked the men to display their loyalty by drinking the health of the Queen at his expense.
The troops were formed up in line, and as His Excellency Major-General Black arrived on the ground and made his way to the saluting base he was received with a general salute. The firing of a feu deu joie followed, and this was succeeded by the playing of the National Anthem and three hearty cheers for the Queen. For the first time here smokeless powder was used. Subsequently the troops marched past in review order and were then dismissed.
In the evening au "At Home was given at Government House by H.E. the Officer Ad- ministering the Government and Mrs. Wilsone Black.
ACCIDENT IN THE HARBOUR,
A CANTON STEAMER DAMAGED. Just before going alongside her wharf at about seven o'clock on Thursday morning the British steamer Pasig (Captain G. Ritchie) met with an accident as the result of which the pumps had to be at once got to work in order to keep her afloat. Farallel with the wharf is a new stone pier, and when passing the end of the latter the Captain, though giving it a wid berth, went rather closer to the wall than he otherwise would have done to make room for an outward vessel Suddenly she struck some rub- ble or foundation and a large portion of her casing being torn off the water rushed in with great force. Several of the crew dived under. neath with blankets, which were plugged into the opening, and the pumps, including the cir- culating pump from the main engine, were got to work. Word was also sent to the Fire Station and assistance asked for, but an answer was returned to the effect that it would not be advisable to send the steam engine down in case it might be required at a fire. For some time the water showed no signs of diminution but after an hour or two's hard work the crew got the upper hand and all danger of the vessel sink. ing was done away with.
ESCAPE FROM VICTORIA GAOL.
A SECOND BID FOR PREEDOM FAILS.
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SMART RE-CAPTURE BY THE POLICE. Among the prisoners incarcerated in Vic- toria Gaol is a man who in February, 1896, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for utter- ing forged bank notes. He had not been in prison long before he made a daring attempt to escape, but he was so severely injured by the glass at the top of the gaol wall that his re- capture was not difficult. Undeterred by his previous failure, the man made another attempt, and this time he only just missed escaping from the colony. At about one o'clock on Saturday afternoon it was discovered that the prisoner had flown, having apparently made his escape by clambering up a bamboo to the top of the wall and then letting himself down into Old Bailey Street by means of a rope. As he was employed in the wash-house his clothing was not such as would attract attention, there being as a distinctive mark only a badge which he was easily able to tear off. Hence his passage through the streets attracted no attention. As soon as the escape was reported to him, the Captain Superintendent of Police (the Hon. F. H. May) organised search parties, who scoured every corner of the city, and at about two o'clock Detective-Sergeant. Scott and Warder Crawford found the truant lying on a bale of goods on board the steamer Heungshan
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. just about to proceed to Macao. and taken back to Victoria Goal, where no He was secured doubt precautions will be taken to prevent his getting out a third time.
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water. The pumps were still kept working, decided to beach the ship, and this was done but the water gained on us and the master about half-past six in the morning off Chiung. the convict who escaped from Victoria Gaol on
At the Magistracy on 23rd May Ng Kwai Sam, Hong on a sandbank on the opposite side of Saturday, was charged with breaking out native lighters.
the river. We discharged some cargo into of gaol and stealing
About noon the steamer perty, to wit, a pair of trousers and a
Government pro- Dosing came in sight, and she towed the Maud to Wuchow. In the afternoon Captain Marsh Warder Fenwick said he saw prisouer leave the assistance. jacket, value $1.50. He pleaded not guilty. left in a mandarin launch to go to Wuchow for hall of "A" block at about 1-40 p.m. on Satur- and in the afternoon of that day I left the ship He returned on the following day, day carrying a bucket. He did not see him for Wuchow with Captain Marsh and Engineer return. About five minutes afterwards he went Pattison, leaving the crew in charge. On the to look for defendant, and as he did not see him 28th I left Wuchow in the Dosing for Hong- where he should have emptied the bucket he re- turned to the hall and searched for him. Sub-party. I left Captain Marsh on board the kong for the purpose of getting a salvage sequently he gave the alarm. The man was Ching Po, instructing him not to leave wearing prison clothing valued at $1.50. Wardor the ship until I arrived from Hongkong Crawford deposed to finding prisoner on the Heungshang, the Macao boat, at about 2-15 p.m.on
with the salvage party. In the meantime Saturday wearing the prison clothing he had on
if he and the crew could do anything then. He brought him to the charge room
to get the ship off they were to do it. There of the Central Police Station. Chief Warder Captain and crew while I was away.
were sufficient provisions on board to last the Craig said prisoner was admitted to the gaol on
It was the 18th of December, 1895, having been sen-
the business of the Chinese cook to supply the lenced to two terms of five years consecutively. | him with which to buy provisions if they ran provisions. The cook had some money with The sentences had not expired. Prisoner was short, and if he had wanted more he could have remanded.
sent to Wuchow for it, as launches were daily passing the wreck for Wuchow. Provisions could also have been got from to Ching and Ching Hong, as there are markets there. I arrived in Hongkong on the first of April and made arrangements with a salvage party to proceed to the wreck via Canton. On the 6th April I left Hongkong for Wuchow in a steam launch and arrived off the wreck at six a.m, on the eighth April. I stopped thirty or forty yards from the wreck, I hailed her two or three times and also blew the whistle. Ultimately a European came On deck and called out in Chinese, No one here; all gone to Wuchow." I proceeded to Wuchow and found Captain Marsh there. The Captain said he had come there for provisions and money. He added that he had not left anyone on board the ship. At in a launch with Captain Marsh and a Chinese 4:30p.m. on the same day I proceeded to the wreck
man
At the Magistracy on Thursday Ng Kwai Sam, again brought up, who escaped from gaol on Saturday last. was Since his recapture the has pretended to be insane. He has, however, been certified as sane. The police with- drew the charge of larceny, Commander Hastings being asked to deal summarily with defendant in accordance with the powers granted under the Magistrates Ordinance. The defend- ant was accordingly sentenced to six months' imprisonment to be undergoue on the expira- tion of his ten years' sentence.
THE STRANDING OF THE "CHING PO."
MARINE COURT OF ENQUIRY,
A Marine Court was held at the Harbour
Office on the 20th May to make enquiry respecting the stranding of the British steamer Ching Po in March last. Her official number
is 107,013, of Hongkong. Mr. Peter Rives Marsh, the number of whose certificate of com. petency is 012,501, was the master and com- mauder.
The Court was constituted as follows:- Commander R. Murray Rumsey, R.N., Stipen- diary Magistrate; Staff-Conimander M. J. Rogers, R.N., H.M.S, Tamar; Mr. John Pan- ton, master Arizona; Mr. B. R. Branch, mas- ter Deucalion: Mr. Alex. Cruickshank, master White Cloud.
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The letter of Messrs. Deacon and Hastings, solicitors for the owners of the Ching Po, apply ing for an enquiry was read. Mr. Hastings was present.
Mr. Claude Li Kam said-1 am A British subject and the owner of the British steamer Ching Po. We left Hongkong on 23rd March for Wuchow at four p.m., Captain Marsh being in command. In addition we had
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customs officer. We arrived at the wreck at 6 p.m. and attempted to go alongside. Mr. Woods and some Chinese men were on board. Mr. Woods is a merchant at Wuchow. None of our own crew were on board. As we were going to try to get on the deck of the Ching Po Mr. Woods would shoot the first person who came on board. came and brandished a revolver and said he
I then backed away, and sent Captain Marsh to Mr. Woods. On his return Captain Marsh unless they gave him $5,000 salvage. Mr. said Mr. Woods would not give up the ship
to him. Woods said the same thing to me when I spoke Wuchow and I and Captain Marsh reported On the ninth April I returned to the matter to the British Consul, who
gave Captain Marsh a letter to give to Mr. Woods, statement as to why he left the ship, and one The Consul asked Captain Marsh for a written
Marsh again went alongside the wreck. was given. On the 10th I and Captain
Captain Marsh presented the Consul's letter to опе European engineer and a Chi-
Mr. Woods, who replied: "I will not take any nese crew. We had two pilots on board. At about 11.30 that evening the Ching Po steamer or to let us go on board. We tele- notice of this letter." He refused to leave the went aground near the entrance to Wangmoon.graphed to the British Consul from Ching We had the schooner Muud in tow, and when we went aground she went aground also, grazing beside the Ching Po. At the time the ship bridge, was navigating her. A heavy sea was went ashore Captain Marsh, who was on the running at the time and there was a fresh wind blowing. The tide was against us. got aground the ship bumped three or four times. To get her off the engines were worked astern, and in about half an hour both vessels were got off. We then proceeded through the three or four times before with Captain Marsh entrance to Wangmoon. I have been that way in the Ching Po. but always during the day time before. When we got off at the customs station at Wargmoon the Maud Fot foul of the propeller оп the starboard side, and the hawser was cut. On the fol- owing day we grounded in the Shui Hing Gorge. the pilot being in charge that two hand-pumps and also the steam-pump were time. On the 25th the ship was leaking, and
set at work. On the 26th, at 5.30 a.m., it was reported to me that the ship was taking in'
When she
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Hong asking what we were to do, and he wired back," Remain where you are." ing morning I saw that there were two lighters On the follow-
ou one side of the ship and I wired to the Con- operatious, what was I to do. sul again, saying r. Woods had commenced The Consul wired back, "I will come myself." On the that Mr. Woo's had left the ship. I at once took 12th, some time in the afternoon, I discovered possession, and I informed the Consul by wire.
floated about the 23rd April and brought ́to A salvage party subsequently arrived from Hongkong and with their assistance she was Hongkong, where she arrived about the 3rd of May. She is now undergoing repairs.
By Captain Marsh-I know from my compra. dore's book that the vessel was well supplied with provisions when she left Hongkong. On previons voyages we had to get provisions at Wuchow for the return voyage. The vessel carried about three days' provisions on board. When I left in the Dosing for Hong- OD Monday, April 28th, you told
kong