CO129-290 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [1-4] — Page 489

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party and that H.M.S. Fame could not be ready till 4.30 A.M.

I ordered the troops to embark on H.M.S. "Whiting", and H.M.S. "Fame" to follow later as a despatch boat. I with my Staff, accompanied the troops on the "Whiting". The Colonial Secretary, Honble Mr Lockhart met me on the Pier and informed me that it was Your Excellency's desire that he should first proceed to Kowloon City to confer with the head man there; get an interpreter, and then proceed with me in the "Whiting" which was to wait for him at Kowloon City. Mr Lockhart accomplished his mission in a remarkably short time and came on board at 4:30 A.M. and we at once started. The night was exceedingly foggy; so thick that it was a matter of the utmost difficulty to proceed at all. But as speed was of the utmost consequence our information being that Mr Way was in extreme difficulty Commander Kelly with my entire concurrence made all the speed possible. At about 6 A.M. he had the misfortune to strike a rock, twisting the bow plates, but not otherwise doing any serious damage. I can only say that in this accident no blame whatever in my opinion was attributable to Commander Kelly who had either the alternative of anchoring owing to the darkness (in which case Mr Way and his party might have been murdered) or else proceeding to their rescue at a certain amount of risk. Of the two evils the latter was the least, and I venture to emphasize to Your Excellency that in my opinion