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November 4, 1899 |
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object which appeared to be a wreck on the beach, and also a white boat which appeared to be a European boat. To make certain there was no one there requiring assistance he set the rss back to run parallel to the land, the chart giving plenty of water. At 2.30 p.m. the ship struck on a rock or reef. They were going at full speed at the time. He was afraid she had struck a pinnacle, so he did not stop on the instant, but at 2.32 p.m. he stopped the engines and the vessel came over and he went astern to get her away. During this period he took a bearing of the 864 feet hill, which bore north 70 east true, ordering the second officer to take the bearing of the south point of the Island, which he did and re- ported south 45 east true, the ship's head be- ing north at the time. The wells were sounded without delay by the chief officer and third officer. They found the ship was making water very rapidly in the forshold and No. hold and the chief engineer reported that the water was rising in the engine room. He ac- cordingly deemed it prudent to beach the ship to save life and property, and he did so. After beaching he had to keep the engines going slow ahead to keep the bilge injection at work. All boats were swang and every precaution taken to save life. It was about 3.40 p.m. when the ship was beached. At 6.30 p.m be despatched the second officer in the life-boat cutter with one Malay quarter-master and three Chinese sailors to Sarawak. The vessel lay moderately quiet for 8 time but bumped heavily in the night. The wells were sounded during the night and it was found that the water was not rising. The bilge injection was kept going. At daylight the next morning he sent a boat ashore to find a landing place on the beach. The ship gradually drove closer on the shore. At 4 p.m. the company's steamer Hupeh have in sight and in respouse to signals stopped. He went on board and requested the captain to go to Singapore for assistance. At 5,30 p.m.. the Hupeh left for Singapore. The bilge injection was kept going all the night and the engineers were kept at work to try and stop the leak. At 5.30 a.m. on the 10th he ran a six inch rope ashore from the starboard quarter and made it fast to a tree to keep the stern of the vessel from going into deep water. Not thinking that sufficient he laid out a stream anchor in the same quarter with a wire rope attached. He also laid out a kedge anchor on the starboard bow with a wire rope attached. The engineers found the hole in the engine-room and caulked it. During the night the weather was moder- ately fine, but the ship bumped occasionally. On the following morning, July 11th, he laid out No. 2 stream anchor to keep the ship fron driving further on to the beach, and opened a sluice todrain the water from No. 2 hold. At 5 p.m. the water gained from No. 2 hold into the engine-room and he shut the sluice again. At eight o'clock the next morning he again opened the sluice in No. 2 hold and then took the third officer with him to
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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981
CAPTURE OF BRITISH TROOPS
IN THE TRANSVAAL,
LIEUT. HOLMES AMONG THE PRISONERS.
Among the officers of the Irish Fusiliers captured by the Boers is Lieutenant Holmes, colony, who has been connected with the regi son of Mr. H. J. Holmes, solicitor, of this
ment about four years. He was first stationed at Allahabad. From there he went to Burmah
on the 18th the steamer Centaur for Singapore TEE came in sight, and he sont the chief officer to Singapore in her. On July the 19th the divers reported the ship seaworthy. and at 6-15 a.m. on July 22nd they started for Singapore, ao- compained by the Mercury and the Hupeli, ar- riving on Monday, the 24th, two minutes past noou, being fast alongside at 1.15. The pumps were kept going as the ship lay alongside the wharf, and the rest of the cargo was taken on board the Hupeh.
Captain Frampton was recalled, and in reply The court having consulted for a few minutes,
to questions he said soundings were taken about two minutes after the ship struck. He found seven and a half fathoms. They were at the least three-quarters of a mile from the shore.
James Gibbs, chief officer of the Shantung at the time of the casualty, said he was not on deck when the ship struck. He did not know that the Captain intended going in close to have a look at the shore of the island. He was on deck immediately after the ship struck. He sounded the well right away and found the ship making water. The captain consulted him as to beaching the ship and he agreed that it was necessary. After beaching everything was done in his opinion which was possible to stop the leak.
Frederick Harmes, who was second officer of the Shantung at the time of the casualty, said he was on the bridge when the Captain told him he intended going in close to the Island, as he thought there was a boat on the beach. He went and got the chart for the Captain. When passing the south point of the island he took a four point bearing, and it gave a distance of three-quarters of a mile. No soundings were taken till after the ship had struck, After striking the Captain remarked to him that there were 33 fathoms of water on the chart. No soundings were taken, They sounded the well and found the ship was sinking.
know why the enquiry was not held at Singa- The President said the, court would like to
pore.
Captain Frampton said he reported the matter to the Harbour Master at Singapore and asked him if an enquiry was necessary, and he said no. He also asked their agents if they would like to have an enquiry and they said no-not unless the owners asked in Hongkong. They also told him that if the owners had wanted to have an enquiry they would have telegraphed down instructions. When he came to Hongkong his owners asked him about an enquiry, and he replied that he simply took the advice of their agents and did not ask for one,
The Chairman-Why did you leave the ship? Captain Frampton-Because they wrote down and said that owing to my baving got the ship ashoro they considered I was in fault and re- quested me to hand over the command to an- other captain.
The Chairman-Did they suggest you should have an enquiry ?
Captain Frampton-No, they did not suggest anything, but they said that if I had an enquiry and I could clear myself it would be a point in wy favour, meaning, I suppose, that they would reinstate me if I came out all right or do some- thing in my favour. They made no definito promise at all.
In their finding the court say:→
quent proceedings commendable energy was displayed, the court do not consider it necessary to deal with the master's certificate."
sound round the ship to see if it was possible to get her off. He did not take note of the soundings. After beaching the ship he sent the second officer to get the position of the rock, but he was not successful. He took a bearing from the ship-south 45 west true. At 6 am. on the 13th he went away with the third mate and buoyed out the channel. At 1 p.m. the The Court is of opinion that with the ex- thip was bumping heavily and he took some ception of omitting to use the lead in close cargo from No. 1 and 2 holds. During the proximity to land, the ship was navigated by night the ship ranged about considerably and the master in a seamanlike and proper manner, bumped heavily. At 6 o'clock on the morning but as this omission does not appear to have of the 14th he sighted a steamer to the west-contributed to the casualty, and as in the subse- ward, she proving to be the Mercury. He subsequently sighted the Hupeh. They man- aged to get three "tonkangs" alongside which the Hupeh had brought down, and at 2-30 p.m. they began dischargingsugar into the tonkangs. They filled the tonkangs with sugar, but they were unable to get away to the Hupeh owing to the weather. On July 15th the diver went down and reported he could find no damage on the port side forward on the bilge keel. Ate leven o'clock in the forenoon on the 17th July, at high water they went astern and got the vessel off the reef into four fathoms and a half of water. The draught was 23 feet 7 in. aft. and 22 feet six inches forwards. Finding that the ship did not make more water he went out and anchored in 19 fathoms of water. The wrecking pumps were kept going the whole time. At 5-50. a.m.
tioned when ordered to proceed to Natal. It and then about 12 months ago the regiment was ordered to Alexandria, where it was sta- only reached Natal a fortnight ago. War Department at home informing him of Mr. Holmes bas received a telegram from the
his son's fate.
COLLISION NHAR CAPSUIMOON;
THE TUNGKONG BEACHED.
The river steamer Tungkong, owned by Messrs. Tung Kee and Co., while ou the voyage down from Canton, collided on Wednesday morn ing, about four o'clock, with the German steamer Sourabaya, from Nowchwang for Canton, which was proceeding up the river. The Tungkong received damage about her bows, and was beached near Capanimoon to save her from sinking. When news of the disaster was re- ceived in Hongkong launches were sent out to bring in theungkong's passengers.
The Sourabaya proceeded on her voyage.
PIRACY IN CANTON WATERS.
The following list of recent piracies has been supplied to us by a Canton correspon- dent:-
On the 18th Oct. four junks named respec- tively Ko Chang, Yan Wo, Cheong Kee, and
Lee Kai were attacked and rebbed at Shekma-
from Canton to Chuklew, in the Punyn district, tow, in the Kongobain district.
On the 20th Oct. a passage boat on the way
was attacked and robbed.
On the 22nd Oct, a junk laden with silk piece goods between Pingchow and Shoutak was at- tacked by some forty or fifty pirates who came alongside in snake boats, and the valuable cargo
was stolen.
On the same day the steam-launch City of Whampoa, while on a voyage from Sunchow, near Whampoa, to Canton was also attacked. A European Customs officer was on board who offered some resistance, and he was severely wounded.
The proprietor of a jeweller's shop in Taisun Street, Canton, was accompanying the remains of his recently deceased wife to his native place for burial, the journey being made by boat. The pirates boarded the boat and threatened to throw the coffin overboard if the busband did
not give up all the money he had. After some bargaining he gave them Tls. 80, which the pirates accepted, and they then lighted candles and joss-sticks, knelt before the coffin, and chin- chinned it, thanking it for their good luck. They then left in their snake boats.
On the 23rd a junk proceeding from Canton to Tayain was attacked near Loahkong. In this case the crew were able to beat off the
pirates, but in the fight one of the crew was killed and several were wounded.
Another boat proceding from Kunyew, in the Namhoi district, to Canton was attacked and looted at Pakkong on the same day as, the last case.
KANG YU-WEI IN HONGKONG.
Kang Yu-wei arrived in Hongkong on Wed- nesday by the Kawachi Maru. He and his suits were in European dress. He is staying with prominent member of the Chinese community.
Mr. Ho Tung informs us that Mr. Kang Yu- he intends to remain during his sojourn in wei has moved to 16, Hollywood Road, where
Hongkong.
A New York contemporary dated August 29th makes the following reference to the late Spanish Consul in Hongkong:- New York, 29th August.-Senor José de Navarro y Ayala, the new appointed Consul-General of Spain to this country, has arrived in this city. While Consul at Hongkong reports were circulated that Navarro was supplying Aguinaldo with
PRECAUTIONS. AT SHANGHAIJAMAN arms and ammunition. When asked about | [SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE “DAILY PRESS."} the reports, Navarro said: "The stories were untrue. In fact United States Consul-General Wildman was one of my best friends and the first to congratulate me on my appointment to this country."
Shanghai, 29th October, 9.46 p,m, Kang Yu-wei being expected by the Empress of India, H.M.S. Fame and Whiting were sent to Woosung to prevent any violation of the flag being attempted.