[
    {
        "id": 216406,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-2003",
        "page_number": 165,
        "title": "RAS-2003",
        "content_text": "115 \n\n\"This position was chosen to ensure a beam wind for boats sailing to and from the wreck. I did not consider it safe to go any closer, as I felt the chart could not be implicitly trusted, it being an 1886 survey. This was borne out by the lead getting an 8 fathom sounding between two of over 20 fathoms.*19\n\nNot mentioned but in the case of HERMES always a point to be considered carefully, the more so when manoeuvring at slow speed in high winds, was the tremendous sail effect of her considerable island superstructure.\n\nCaptain Mackinnon continued:\n\n'It was too rough even here to use either the motor boat or motor cutters, and so the port sea boat was sent away under stormsails in command of Commander Baxter, the crew consisting of Lieut. Commanders Harrison and Sherwood and six picked ratings. Great difficulty was experienced in getting the boat alongside the wreck owing to the heavy surf and the close proximity of rocks on three sides of the wreck. A large quantity of water found its way into the boat and the pintle of the rudder sheered, but nine of the crew of the wreck were taken off and the boat got away without loss of life, returning to the ship under sail and being hoisted without accident.'\n\nThis rescue operation lasted for two hours, from 0730 to 0930 hours. At 1050 hours a second attempt was made to save more of the shipwrecked men but in the meantime the sea had increased, especially in steepness in the vicinity of the rocks, and so half an hour later the attempt had to be abandoned.\n\nDuring the day nothing more could be done. However, since four large sampans had been observed in the vicinity of the wreck, and as RYUJIN MARU had made a signal saying that she feared pirate assaults, during the night a searchlight illuminated the wreck at intervals in order to deter any such visits.\n\nAt 0800 hours on Thursday, the 5th the Japanese destroyer NASHP\" arrived and anchored close by. It was too rough to send a boat over but by semaphore it was learnt from her that a salvage vessel was on her way from Moji. Further Captain Mackinnon was informed that the\n\nPage 165\n\nPage 166",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-2003.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2v242g390",
        "rank": 0
    },
    {
        "id": 216407,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-2003",
        "page_number": 166,
        "title": "RAS-2003",
        "content_text": "116\n\nJapanese cruiser YAHAGI11 was due to arrive at 2200 hours that evening.\n\nIn the interim the freighter MADRAS MARU2 arrived. She attempted a rescue operation but this was not successful. Indeed the seas were so high that it was not even possible to contemplate sending the nine survivors across to her for repatriation to Japan.\n\nSince all these Japanese flag ships had appeared or were due to appear at the scene of the grounding Captain Mackinnon informed NASHI that he would sail for Hong Kong that afternoon, and take with him the nine men. Later he was to write:\n\n'Many friendly and complimentary flag signals were exchanged with all ships present, including the wreck. At 1700 I proceeded to Hong Kong leaving the Japanese destroyer NASHI in charge of the situation.'\n\nOn Saturday 7 November HERMES returned to her buoy at Hong Kong and a short while later the nine rescued seamen were landed ashore.\n\nIt is pleasant to be able to record that in due course official thanks were rendered by the Japanese minister of foreign affairs, Baron Kijuro Shidehara. His letter was addressed to the British ambassador to Tokyo, H.E. Sir Francis Oswald Lindley who forwarded these thanks to the Foreign Office in London from where, in turn, they were passed to the Secretary to the Admiralty.\n\nA year later, on 6th December 1932 at Hong Kong, the C. in C. came onboard our ship to present Lloyds Silver Medals to the three officers, and Bronze Medals to the six ratings who had taken part in the rescue. Also a bronze shield, mounted on a wooden base, was presented to the ship by the Committee of Lloyds.\n\nIn December 1931 an epidemic of diphtheria struck Hong Kong. Amongst those taken ill was Captain Mackinnon. Commander Baxter temporarily assumed command until the arrival of the ship's new commanding officer, Captain W.B. Mackenzie, on 25th February 1932.\n\nCaptain Mackinnon duly returned home and on 21 January 1933",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-2003.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2v242g390",
        "rank": 0
    }
]