651055-1892-Wreck-S-S-Bokhara — Page 1

DIE

SOIT

MON

OROIT

THE HONGKONG

Government Gazette

EXTRAORDINARY.

報特門 轅 港 香

Published by Authority.

VICTORIA, TUESDAY, 18TH OCTOBER, 1892.

VOL. XXXVIII.

No. 47.

號七十四第 日八十二月八年辰壬 日八十月十年二十九百八千一 簿八十三第

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.—No. 421.

The accompanying letter and report from Captain BURR, of H.M.S. Porpoise, addressed to the Senior Naval Officer, in reference to the wreck of the Mail Steamer Bokhara, are published for general information.

By His Excellency's Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 18th October, 1892.

G. T. M. O'BRIEN,

Colonial Secretary.

L.

&

H.M.S. Porpoise at

HONGKONG, 18th October, 1892.

SIR,--I have the honour to report that, in accordance with instructions received, I left Hongkong in Her Majesty's Ship under my command, on Friday, 14th instant, at noon, and proceeded to Amping in Formosa Island, arriving at 7.30 A.M. on Sunday, 16th instant, experiencing fresh N.E. monsoon on, passage, and fog approaching the Formosa Coast, rendering it difficult to pick up the proper anchorage.

2. After the ship had anchored the S.S. Thales was observed laying close to. for information with reference to the missing vessel Bokhara, and append the information I have been I went on board able to obtain from the survivors who had been brought from the harbour of Makung the night before by the former vessel.

3. I considered it advisable to embark the survivors-23 in number, 7 being Europeans—and bring them on to Hongkong, and therefore left the anchorage, with them on board, at 11 A.M. and decided to visit Makung harbour on the way, to interview the Mandarin in charge and thank him, in the name of the English Government, for the special kindness the survivors had received at his hands, and also to impress the importance upon him of sending parties to search for bodies washed on shore, and having them buried: also any cargo to be placed under proper protection to await further instructions.

4. On the Porpoise arriving at Makung at 4.30 P.M., found the S. S. Tai-wan in the harbour with the British Consul on board (Mr. WARREN). I communicated with him and he informed me that, up to the present, 34 bodies had been washed on shore and buried, 4 being women, which is the correct number of female passengers, viz. :-Mrs. CHANE (Missionary's wife), Miss HOLLEY, Miss CARNES and Mrs. CUNIFFRY, (a Stewardess was also in the ship). There are two other survivors on the Island of Pa-chau, (Europeans), taken there by junks from the vicinity of Sand Island; by the descriptions given of them it would appear that one is either a Naval Engine Room Artificer who was taking passage to Hongkong from H. M. S. Swift, or a Steward belonging to the Bokhara; the other one is not known, but is described as slightly built and young. Mr. WARREN intended taking them off the island on Monday 17th, the place not being far distant.