651142-1892-Distillery-Return — Page 1

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 29TH OCTOBER, 1892.

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The Court has carefully considered the evidence brought before it concerning this deplorable disaster, the evidence consisting only of the accounts given by the survivors so far as their memory serves them. Upon this evidence, the Court has formed the following opinion:

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That the loss of the ship is to be attributed to her being drawn over to the Eastern side of the Formosa Channel either through "head reaching" while "laying to" or through a current setting more southerly than was expected and calculated fór, or possibly to both of these causes.

That the Captain was zealous and unremitting in his attention to his duties, the ship was not run too long and the precaution of "laying to" was taken in good time. But we cannot help thinking that he committed an error of judgment in too readily concluding afterwards that the ship was drifting on a safe course, and that in consequence more strenuous efforts were not made to get the ship round on the starboard tack; though the soundings obtained and the observations made for the purpose of determining the direction of the drift seem to have assisted in confirming him in the belief that his estimation of the drift course and set was correct, and in this estimation he was supported by the opinion of his Officers. Assuming, however, that the position at 8 P.M. on the 9th was correct, and there is no reason for supposing otherwise, then allowing a speed of 12 knots with a set of 2 knots and another knot for "send" of the sea, the ship was probably making 15 knots an hour good. This ou a course just clearing Turnabout (which was steered for but not seen) would place the ship at the time she was 66

hove to" about 21.5 miles S.S.W. of Turnabout. From this position to Sand Island is S. by W. 86 miles, and this then was the actual set and drift of the Bokhara during the 22 hours between the time of "laying to" and striking, being at the, rate of about 3.5 knots an hour, which under the circumstances does not appear unlikely.

The Court, therefore, feels assured that if the ship had been put on the other tack, or if means had been adopted for checking her drift and keeping her more up to the sea, this lamentable catastrophe would probably not have occurred. They come to this conclusion regretfully because they feel sure that if the possibility of the drift taking the ship as it did had presented itself to the Captain, no efforts would have been spared by him to extricate the ship from her perilous position. It is, moreover, to be borne in mind that the Court's calculations are based on present knowledge, which was not in the possession of the Captain and Officers at the time of their calculations.

The Court is further of opinion that it would have been well if, at or about the time of "laying to," the additional precaution had been taken of bending some storm canvas.

The ship appears to have been well found and not overladen, and though not so heavily powered as some more modern vessels, still she had sufficient power in proportion to her tonnage to make her a thoroughly seaworthy vessel.

Proper discipline appears to have been maintained on board. The conduct of the crew was, according to the testimony of the Officers, entirely satisfactory. The Court has also before it the voluntary testimony of Dr. LowsoON, one of the two surviving passengers, to the gallant conduct of the Captain and Officers, in which testimony he is supported by Lieut. MARKHAM, of the Shropshire Light Infantry, the other surviving passenger.

Finally, we do not find that the loss of the Bokhara was caused by the wrongful act or default of any certificated officer, and as no blame attaches to them, the certificates of the survivors are not dealt with.

The Court desires particularly to bring to notice the humane conduct of the people amongst whom the survivors were cast. The fishermen who took them off Sand Island, the native priest at Pehoe who relieved their immediate wants, and the Mandarin at Ponghou who, it appears, treated them with the greatest kindness and hospitality.

Given under- our hands at Hongkong, this 22nd day of October, 1892.

R. MURRAY RUMSEY, Retd. Comdr. R.N., President. JNO. HORATIO WOOLWARD, Staff Commander, R.N.

A. E. HODGINS, Master, S.S. Thales.

JOHN R. HILL, Master, S.S. Batavia.

HUGH CRAIG, Master, S.S. Menmuir.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 436.

The following return from Mr. WM. TAYLOR of the quantity of Spirits distilled by the China

Sugar Refining Company, Limited, is published.

Proof Gallons.

Spirits manufactured during the quarter ending 24th October, 1892, 3,057.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 29th October, 1892.

G. T. M. O'BRIEN,

Colonial Secretary.