3.
The funerals of the victims of the disaster took place in the Protestant Cemetery, Happy Valley, two days later.
The members forming a Marine Court of Enquiry, held two months later, found that the starboard boiler of the Yotsai had exploded causing the total destruction of the ship; that the boilers were efficiently repaired, having stood a water test of 60 lbs., and that the excessive pressure in the starboard boiler was caused by the safety valves being fixed immovably in their seats and the stop valve being partially closed.
The affair naturally caused a great stir, at the time, but is now forgotten, except by those whose connexions were directly concerned.
The departures or projected departures, from time to time of small craft such as racing yachts or converted Chinese Junks for regions more far, including trips almost round the world, recall that the Chinese Junk has for hundreds of years been one of the finest sailing craft of its tonnage for weathering rough seas and high winds. We merely have to recall that the Chinese reached Java and the central Pacific islands centuries ago in their small craft, to realise this. However, I am not going to enter into a nautical dissertation, but will take two references to historic voyages in which old Hongkong was interested.
We have all heard of the famous junk "Amoy", which crossed the Pacific to America, but that is hardly within our province. Of more local interest was a trip accomplished from Hong Kong to London in 1846-1848, a few years after this Colony was founded, by a Chinese junk named the "Keying". Actually, this was something of a "showmen" affair, the craft crossing the Atlantic first to America, where it was on exhibition for about six months, before going on to England, the voyage from Hongkong to London taking altogether sixteen months, owing to the roundabout journey and stopover.
We read that the craft excited the greatest interest in England, as it naturally would in a time of little travel when all things Chinese were a novelty. The "Keying" arrived in the Thames on March 28, 1848, and was there placed on show, later going to the Mersey for the same purpose. Among the thousands who visited the "strange" craft was Queen Victoria.
Apparently the vessel was a typical Chinese junk of the larger class, and judging from contemporary accounts was of nearly 700 gross tons, with matting sails battened with bamboo. She appears to have been specially constructed, both from the point of view of size and strength, to make her long ocean voyages. She was commanded by Captain Charles A. Kellett, who had purchased the craft out here, in conjunction with Mr. Douglas Lapraik, Capt. T.A. Lane, and the following seafaring men who also sailed with him as part of his crew, G. Burton (chief mate) and S. Revett (second mate). The crew was a large one, there being altogether a dozen Britons and close on thirty Chinese to man the junk. An official, or Mandarin, named Hesing, is recorded as having embarked as a passenger.
The following is taken from the old log of the vessel, which has been preserved. Sailed from Hongkong on December 6, 1846; reached Java Head on January 26, 1847; rounded the Cape of Good Hope, March 30 the same year; arrived St. Helena April 17, departed April 23; crossed Atlantic to New York, arriving there July 9. At New York she was exhibited for some months, and also at Boston. She left America on February 17, 1848, reaching St. Aubin, Jersey, March 15, thus taking several weeks to cross the Atlantic. She was towed from Jersey to Gravesend, leaving
957
3.
The funerals of the victims of the disaster took place in the Protestant Cemetery, Happy Valley, two days later.
The members forming a Marine Court of Enquiry, held two months lster, found that the sterboard boiler of the Yotsai had exploded causing the total destruction of the ship; that the boilers were efficiently repaired, having stood a water test of 60 lbs., and that the excessive pressure in the sterboard boiler was caused by the safety valves being fixed immovably in their seats and the stop valve being partially alosed.
The affair naturally caused a great stir, at the time, but is now forgotten, except by those whose connexions were directly concerned.
We
The departures or projected departures, from time to time of small craft such as racing yachts or converted Chinese Junks for regions *more far", including trips almost round the world, recall that the Chinese Junk has for hundreds of years been one of the finest selling craft of its tonnage for weathering rough sees and high winds. We merely have to recall that the Chinese reached Java and the central Facific islands centuries ago in their small oreft, to realise this. However, I em not going to enter into a neutical dissertation, but will take two references to historic voyages in which old Hongkong wes interested. have all heard of the famous junk "Amoy", which orossed the Pacific to America, but the t is hardly within our province. Of mally local interest was a trip accomplished from Hong Kong to London in 1846-1848, a few years after this Colony been founded, by a Chinese junk nemed the "Keying”. Actually, this was something of a *showmen" affair, the craft crossing an the Atlantic first to America, where it was on exhibition for about six months, before going on to Englend, the voyage from Hongkong to London taking altogether sixteen months, owing to the roundabout journey end stopover.
We read that the craft excited the greatest interest in England, as it naturally would in a time of little travel when all things Chinese were a novelty. The "Keying" arrived in the Thames on March 28, 1848, and was there placed on show, later going to the Mersey for the same purpose. Among the thousends who visited the "strange" oreft was Queen Victoria.
Apparently the vessel was a typical Chinese junk of the larger class, and judging from contemporary accounts was of nearly 700 gross tons, with matting sails battened with bamboo. She appears to have been specially constructed, both from the point of view of size and strength, to make her long ocean voy-
ges. She was commanded by Captain Charles. A. Kellett, who had purchased the craft out here, in conjunction with Mr. Louglas Lapraik, Capt. T.A. Lane, and the following seafaring men who also sailed with him as part of his orew, G.Burton
(chief mete) and S. Revett (second mete). The grew was a large one, there being altogether a dozen Britons and close on thirty Chinese to man the junk. An official, or Mandarin, named Hesing, is recorded as having embarked as a passenger.
The following is taken from the old log of the vessel, which has been preserved.- Sailed from Hongkong on December 6, 1846; reached Java Ilead on January 26, 1847; rounded the Cape of Good Hope, March 30 the same year; arrived St. Helene April 17, departed April 23; crossed Atlantic to New York, arriving there July 9. At New York she was exhibited for some months, end also et Boston. She left America on February 17, 1848, reach- ing St. Aubin, ersey, March 15, thus teking several weeks to cross the Atlantic. She was towed from Jersey to Gravesend, leaving
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