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hunting up Authorities will not drive any usque ad nauseam,—I am, etc.,
TOM BROWNE. P.S.-What is Sir Christopher's monument ? Is it of gold or of silver? Was he the author of a dissertation on the use of sounding brass for empty vessels ?
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[Curiously enough, the above letter was de- livered about the same time as that from "Scot- land for Ever." Curious, inasmuch as it per se illustrates the nullifying effect of "flippancy overdone. Its literary method ought to com- mend it to the writer of the first, even though it is as much hostile to the Hon. R. Shewan's speech as the first is in favour. It is so far ineffective that (but for its illustrative value) we should have consigned it to the waste paper receptacle.]
A HONGKONG"SALVAGE SYNDICATE.
THE 'ÄGINCOURT ", RECOVEREL. The Douglas 8.8. Hailoong arrived here on the 3rd inst. with the 8.8. Agincourt, recently stranded on Hainan Island, in tow. A syndicate, comprised of Sir Paul Chater, Mr. H. N. Mdy, Mr. J. W. Jameson, and others, decided to make an attempt to salve that steamer, and also the 8.8. Baron Gordem, lying wrecked on Bombay Shoal. The Hailoong was chartered for the purpose.
Capt. Mutton, her skipper, was interviewed and gave the following details about the refloating of the vessel :-
We left Hongkong at 6 a.m. on the 15th of last month, and arrived at the locality where the Agincourt was wrecked next day at half past one in the afternoon. We had on board Mr. J. W. Jameson, and a European and Chinese salvage staff; also pumps, hawsers, etc. By the evening of the 18th ult. all the salvage plant and staff had been transferred to the Agincourt. On boarding her, on the 16th alt., it was found that a recent typhoon, which passed close to Hainan Island, had half filled the holds, heavy seas, apparently, having washed up and about the decks, breaking over the vessel. In the 'tween decks, midship section, some of the stanchions were bent, and one at least being broken off. With the exception of what I have mentioned, however, there did not seem to be any further damage since the time Mr. Newman Mumford visited her. We left Hainan Island on the morning of the 19th ult., and proceeded to the wreck of the Baron Gordon, at Bombay Shoal, Paracels. Mr. Jameson and the captain and chief engineer of the Baron Gordon were on board. Next morning (the 20th), at 10,15 a.m., we arrived within half-a-mile of the vessel. She was bolt upright on the extreme edge of the reef. From our close point of observation we could not see any damage-even the funnel and paint- work looked fresh-so the typhoon could not have had any damaging effect at all on the wreck. At the place where the wreck lay there must have been some three feet of water on the reef, while a few feet away there was a sheer depth, over the edge of the coral, of some 50 to 100 fathoms of water. As the weather was slightly squally, and spray was dashing right up to the bridge of the wreck, it was not considered advisable to try and reach her in a boat. We left the locality at li a.m.,,and steamed out to the track of vessels, with a view of signal- ling messages either to Hongkong or Singa- pore. Having met no vessels before dark, we altered our course for Hainan-the Agin- court. We arrived at our destination next day (the 1st), to find nearly all the salvage pumps ready for working, and two anchors out from the Agincourt's bow, with 120 fathoms of wire hawser on each. It only remained for the vessel to be lightened before making an attempt to tow her off. This, however, was no small job. On the 22nd at half-past-two our tow line was secured to the stern of the Agincourt. At 6.15 p.m. we started to tow, and continued to do so without success till eight o'clock, when we took the tow-rope on board. Next morn ing at six o'clock we got closer in to the ship, and again made a rope connection with the stern, and towed. The weather now assumed a threatening appearance, there being every indication of a typhoon. We continued towing till 10a.m., when as a result of the increased swell from the eastward, on the. Agincourt's
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[October 8, 1904,
were set to work. On the 17th an ^«noh pump was put on to clear the engine-room and a 12-inch pump on the No. 1 hold. These were kept going till the 19th, when the Haloong left for the purpose of surveying the wreck of the Baron Gordon, the salvaze of which had also been entrusted to Mr. Watt J-meson. The Baron Gordon was reached at 10 a.m., од the 20th, but there was too much кед on the Bombay Shoal, where she lies, to allow of a landing. However the ship was found to be intact, with her flag signals still flying, showing that she had not been overtaken by any typhoon since going a hore. There was about five feet of water all round her. Seeing that there was no chance of proceeding to salve the Baron Gordon for the time being, a shape was again made for the Agincourt," and it was found there that the engine-room had been pumped out; two bower anchors had been laid out and the salvage work was progressing well. On the 22nd upwing was commenced on the after port quarter, in an in- creasing swell. On the 23rd the towing bawser- broke in the midst of the typhoon aud the Ayin- court had to be sunk again to save her from the fury of the sus. From then until the 27th nothing could be done. On the latter date the engine room was pumped out and steam got up in the main boilers. On the 28th the ship's head came out 60 feet and on the 29th another 60 feet. Ou the following day the ship was floated, and at 12.25 p.m. the voyage to ong. kong was begun in fine weather, the Hui- loong towing with 120 fathoms of hawser betwe n the ships. On Sunday the weather freshened to a north-east breeze; th Hailoong and her tow arrived in the Harbour at 6.30 pm. and anchored off Green 1slaud. Yesterday morning she was towed over to the Kowloon Docks, where she will be put through a general overhaul. The Agincourt does not appear to bave sustained very much damage.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND hull, the hawser parted. The Agincourt, it may be remarked, was in a sort of cradle. The weather by this time was looking very dubious indeed, and the Hailoong's position was very far from comfortable, so we picked up both anchors at noon and steamed for Tin Hoss Anchorage, where we brought up at p.m. The weather remained threatening and squally till noon of the following day (the 24th.) At 4 p.m. on that day we hove up the anchor and wont around to have another look at the Agincourt. Finding her all right, we proceeded to Hoihao. At that time (4 p.m.) we signalled the s.s. Siam, bound for Singapore, and asked her to report by a wire to Hongkong that all was satisfactory with us. On the 25th ult., at 10a.m., we signalled the German 8.8. Apenrode, the captain of which very kindly undertook to receive and deliver at Hongkong our despatches, | which were sent off to him in one of our boats. We arrived at Hoihao at 11a.m. On going ashore with the intention of sending a telegram to Hongkong, the telegraph official in- formed us that he could not guarantee that our message would reach Hongkong under three days-no telegrams were sent. Hoi- hao 18 not 8 very up-to-date place. To signal for water we had to hoist a bucket half way up the mast. We left Hoihao on the 26th ult., at 2.20 p.m., having succeeded in securing (in our 27-hour stay) ten tons of fresh water and some fresh provisions. We arrived back at the Agincourt on the 27th ult., at 7 a.m. On the 28th ult., at half-past-nine, we got ready for towing the Agincourt's bow, and at 11 a.m. commenced doing so. At 2 p.m. we stopped for a while, having managed to pull the bow out about 60 feet. At 8.30 p.m. on the same day (28th ult.), having shifted the position of the Hailoon, we renewed towing till half an-hour before midnight. On this occasion we succeeded in bringing the ship to a position at right-angles to the beach. At 10.40 a.m. on the 29th we towed again, till 11.25 a.m., when the tow-rope, & new ten-inch Manila, parted. We secured the tow-line again and, at a quarter-to-one, recom- menced work. At 1.20 pm. the hawser parted for the third time, so we quit towing. 3.30 p.m. we ran in a four-inch wire, and made fast to the Agincourt, and, at 4.30 p.m, towed again. At 6.15 p.m., as dark was setting in, we stopped towing, and secured everything for the night, intending continue towing on the following morning. As the tide rose, at 8.30 p.m., the Agincourt fcated, LOCAL-The total value of the junk trade and those on board her immediately hove on passing the Lappa Stations during the year their two anchors, while the Hailoong shortened under review was Hk. Tls. 16,756,562, being in the tow-line connecting the two vessels. Hk. Tls. 141,816 less than the figures of the The result was that at 9.30 p.m. the previous year, which was a record. Junk-borne Agincourt was securely moored in four-and-goods have really declined in volume. Indeed, a-half fathoms. At six o'clock next morning it is hard to see how there can be any (30th ult.) we cast the tow-line off, and genuine progress in the junk traffic under proceeded to get in readiness for towing prevailing conditions. There is no lack of the Agincourt to Hongkong. By noon two evidence that the trade of the south-western hawsers-two 12-inch lines, 100 fathoms long--prefectures is being drawn away from Native were secured to our stern, and to either bow of junks by an increasing number of steamers the Agincourt. The anchors were hove up at 12.30 p.m., and
which now ply between Hongkong, Macao, and we proceeded at full Kwangchowwan. The cargoes of these steamers, speed for Hongkong. During the trip up we by which the west coast is served, are not sub- experienced fine weather, having no trouble mitted to the levy of the Duty and Likin which whatever with the vessel. We arrived off the Naive junks cannot easily evade. Then the west point of Lamma Island at 6. 0 p.m.. Sun- immediate opening of Kongmoon as a Treaty day, and anchored for the night. At six o'clock port must certainly have the effect of attracting this (Monday) morning we proceeded to secure cargo from junks to steamers. Also piracy alongside of the Agincourt, and in this position has been more rife than in past year. The towed her through Hongkong harbour. She prohibition against the export of Rice and anchored off No. I buoy, Kowloon Docks.
Paddy was nominally raised, and a Native syndicate was granted a monopoly towards the end of the year, on an annual payment of $500,000. Owing to yery strong opposition on the part of the peo le, the farm was abolished within three months of its establishment; during its existence not a single pioul of Paddy or Rice passed the Lappa Stations for export to Foreign countries.
At
to
Mr. J. Watt Jameson, interviewed by a representative, gave some interesting particulars concerning the salvage of the Agincourt. He said she went ashore on the south of Hainan Island between Hainan and Nawking Island. She was in ballast. She was driven a hore in a gale. When her plight was report ed the Douglas 1.8. Hailoong was ohartered for salvage purposes, and she left Hongkong on the 15th September with all the necessary salvage gear on board and a wrecking party un der the charge of Mr. J. Watt Jameson. The Hdiloong arrived at the scene of the disaster at one o'clock on the 16th ult and commenced operations by putting the salvage gear on board the Agincourt. The holds were found to be full of water up to within a few feet of the 'tween decks and the engine room fuil up to below the cylinders. The salvage gear and an engine having been put on board the pumps
The Baron Gordon is expected to be salvable if the wea her should hold fiue, and she lies in a position favourable for the operations of the salving party. Mr. Watt Jameson intends to leave Hongkong shortly with the Hailoong to undertake the salvage of the Baron Gordon.
LAPPA TRADE REPORT,
The report for the year 1903, from Com-
Macao, contains the following items: missioner Morehouse, of the Station just outside
REVENUE. The total collection for the year amounted to Tla. 385,473, or Tls. 38,542 less than in 1902. To account for this decline it is necessary to mention one item only, Opium, which yielded Hk. Tls. 53.595 less than in the previous year, while Duty and Likin Outwards declined Hk. Tls. 12,32. On the other hand, it is satisfactory to note that General Cargo Daty and Likin Inwards made a substantial advance, of Hk. Tls. 24,174, and Ching-fei shows a gain of Hk. Tls. 3,200, due to increased receipts from Kerosene Oil and Cotton Yarn.
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