"no
officers that the Oldhamia longer existed." From that answer, I concluded that she had been sunk. When pressed for information, one of the Russian officers told me that the 'tention of the Russian Admiral was to transfer our crew to the fit ship sighted.
On the 23rd, the Squadron spent most of the day coaling from transports.
On the 24th, at 7.20 a.m., a British tramp steamer passed bound to the westward. No means were taken to stop the ship, and when I asked why the vessel was not stopped and our crew transferred as promised, I was told that the Admiral had altered his intentions as regarded our disposal.
On the 25th, the Squadron left the cruiser Daieper in charge of six colliers which the cruiser convoyed to the Saddles, off Shanghai, and at 2.30 p.m. the colliers anchored, and, after receiving pilots on board, pro- ceeded up river. The Dnieper then put out to sea. On the 28th, we cruised all day in the vicinity of the Saddles, going at various speeds, and in the afternoon had a speed trial for one hour, the ship doing 16 knots, although she is built to do 19. But the foul state of her bottom
accounts for this.
I may mention here that some of the officers who were aboard spoke good English and one in particular was told off to look after us. I was told by one of the officers, after enquiring again as to their intention with regard to our- selves, that we were to be kept on board until at least the 2nd of June, after which time we were to be landed or transferred to any con- venient ship, and set at liberty.
On the 27th, we were cruising about at various speeds to the north- west up towards the Korean Straits, but we did not go long on any particular course.
On Sunday, May 28, the com- mander of the Dnieper shook hands with the officers of the Olditania, and expressed his regret at having to detain us.
At 4.30 p.m. on the same day, the drums beat to quarters and the ship
was cleared for action. This took place on sighting a small steamer, which turned out to be the Samson, of Shanghai. After the Samson had stopped, a boat was lowered and an officer and armed crew went along- side. At 5.30 the Samson was allowed to proceed and the Dnieper went on her way.
On May 29, several steamers were stopped and boarded, but were not detained. One of these Was an Austrian steamer and two were Germans; but I do not remember their names.
On May 30, the ship steamed to southward at full speed. On Wednesday the 31st, at 6 a.m., we passed the northern end of the island of Formosa and steamed down the eastern side.
On June 1, at daylight, the island of Luzon came in sight, and at 8.30 a.in. a large German steamer named the Prinz Sigismund was stopped after three shots had been fired. She was boarded but allowed to proceed.
In the afternoon of that day and during the next day (June 2) the Dnieper stopped and the crew were employed in boats scraping and scrubbing the barnacles and grass from hor sides. After sunset on the 2nd, the Dnieper again got under weigh and proceeded westward.
On June 4th at daylight, nothing particular having happened in the interval, land was sighted ahead and turned out to be the Chinese coast about 100 miles south of Swatow. The ship then steered to northward. At about 1.30 p.m. she stopped and boarded two steamers -one being a Butterfield and Swire boat and the other the steamer Waishing.
The crew of the Oldhamia were thon allowed to leave the Dneiper, and were very kindly received on board the Waishing by Captain Courtney. The Waishing was bound to Swatow, and, when we had got on hoard, proceeded on her voyage, arriving at Swatow on June 5th at
I a.m.
I reported the circumstances of our capture on arrival to Lloyd's agent and the British Consul, and on the following day (6th inst.) we were for-
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mengg!