August 1, 1895,1
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
in command of the vessel previons to this. We|diately began to go down by the
stern. were anchored off Gough Island waiting for the 1 never saw the hole. I was standing about tide. We were drawing 7ft. 6in. forward and midships when we were struck. 15ft. 6in. aft and we pumped out the after tank, lightening her to 14ft 6ia. We crossed the Bar at about 1.15 and anchored 28 close to the Prince's Jetty-a little below it, as near as we could get in four
Alexander Smith, second engineer of the Birkhall, sworn, stated-I was on duty in the engine room at the time of the collision The order given to me at the time of the collision was to close all the suices and ease the safety valves. The people on deck had finished with the steam at 5.25. At the time of the collision we had about 110 lbs. and we would require about 130 lbs. to move the engines. It would take about twenty minutes to get sufficient steam. The last orders were to bank fires.
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This concluded the evidence, and the Court adjourned till 2.15 p.m.
On resuming, the President read the following
FINDING.
fathoms on 30 fathoms of chain. After the tide began to ebb we gave a cast over the stern and found 16 feet. I gave orders for steam to put the ship ahead, still holding on to the port anohor. The cable on the port anchor ran out to 60-fathoms till the ship got into five fathoms, then I dropped my starboard anchor, and then Captain Cameron, recalled-Capf. Yung told hove in on the port to 30 fathoms on the me after the collision that he had received orders The ship swung that afternoon to proceed to the Langshan Cross windlass on each anchor. strong to the ebb. When we had finished mooring and embark troops. He was getting his ing, the Customs officer came alongide and vessel underway at the anchomage to go to the asked what I was going to do with the outer anchorage so as to be handy to leave for ship. I told him we were going to take in the Crossing. While underway on the ebb, the troops and asked him if we were in the tide caught his ship and she would not auswer
He said yes. proper berth.
He was not her helm, bat made straight for the Birkhall. the berthing officer. At 20 minutes past five we He rang her telegraph fall speed astern when fiuished mooring, and we were then 350 yards he saw the danger, but could not say whether off Prince's Wharf. We were in a line with the engines went astern. He told me a Chinese the other vessels at anchor, but a little to the pilot was in charge of the ship at the time of the westward (in shore) of them. There were a few collision, Captain Yung being a stranger in steamers, All the other vessels were ahead of these waters. us up river. I do not know the distance which separated us from the next ship. There was plenty of room between us. A lighter with soldiers came alongside at about 5.45. Steam was handy and would be ready in about half an hour's notice. Ten of the bodyguard and four servants of the mandarin had come an board when the collision occurred, and some 60 soldiers were coming in though the side port on the port side. was standing: on deck abreast of No. 3 hatch watching the em- barkation and I saw the Wantai manoeuvring in the middle of the stream. I saw her about five minutes to six. I thought she was drifting down with the ebb when I first took notice of her. She was athwart the tide. She was then about four points on the bow, but I did not then pay special attention to her. From first seeing her to the time of collision was about five minutes. I did not anticipate any danger till I saw her about two points abaft the beam coming ahead, slightly canted on her port helm. I then hailed her, but I do not think she heard me. Directly after that she struck 118. The lighter was between us and her ram lifted the lighter, and she then came into us carrying away the backstays, knocking the main topmast down. The collision took place in broad daylight at about five minutes past six. Our vessel took a tremendous beel to starboard and then to port, and I thought she was going down by the stern. I ordered the sluices to be closed and to clear away the boats, but finding that I had an empty lighter on the starboard side I commenced to put the soldiers into her and got everybody out of the ship. By the time I got the last man off-the man who The was injured her stern was under water. Trantai struck us nearly at right angles. We were out of the fairway.
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Finding and order of Naval Court held at Shanghai on the 17th day of July, 1895, to investigate the circumstances attending a colli- sion between the British steamship Birkhall of Aberdeen, official number 77,452, and a Chinese man-of-war named Wantai on or about the 10th day of July, 1895. The Birkhall was a steam vessel, registered, tonnage 1,434.63 gross and 912 56 net, chartered to carry troops from Woosung, and at the time of collision was anchored a little below Prince's Wharf and out of the fairway Whilst there the Chinese man-of-war Wantui in attempting to go out on the ebb-tide was carried down on the Birkhall, striking her end on on the port side in a line with the mainmast, causing her to sink at her moorings.
The Court having regard to these circum- stances and the evidence before it finds that the loss of the Birkhall is entirely to be attri buted to the reckless navigation displayed on the part of those in charge of the Wantai and that no blame so far as the collision is concerned attaches to those on board the Birkhall, they being quite unable to take any steps to avert the collision.
The expenses of the Court fixed at 14 28. are approved.
J. W. JAMIESON, Acting British
Vice-Consul, President.
E. F. TALBOT. Lieut. R.N., H.M.S.
Daphne, Assessor.
G. K. WRIGHT, Lient. R.NR.,
Master s.8. Rosetta, Assessor. E. W. L. STREET, Paymaster R.N. H.M.S, Daphne, Clerk of Court. By the Court-It would not have been possible Having delivered this finding, the President to beach the ship before she sank. I saw she said-At the same time, although this is the was sinking rapidly; all her ports were open to official finding of the Court, the Court wishes receive the troops and the water poured into express its opinion in regard to Captain through them. We went down at our moorings. Cameron's conduct in not being in charge of his It would at least have taken twenty minutes to vessel while she was going over the Bar. They get sufficient steam to more the ship from the do not think he ought to have allowed his ship time when I saw there was danger of a collision, to be in charge of the chief officer at the time. The Wantai backed out, lowered her boats and Had anything happened to his ship while going steamed up ahead of us. I stayed by the ship over the Bar, it might have been a very serious till the captain came. The fore part of the thing and attended with serious consequences vessel did not sink till about half an hour; the to you, Captain Cameron. bow was canted over to port with a heavy list, gradually settling down." I thing the Wanta's engines were going astern when she struck us.
William Wright, second officer of the Birkhall, sworn, stated-I was on deck at the time of the collition. The collision happened shortly after 6 o'clock in broad daylight. I was standing by the after hatch. I saw a man-of-war in mid-stream | a little above us, and seemingly coming right on 128. I supposed she was trying to turn round. She was beading right for us and coming on. Shortly after that she struck us just by the mainmast. I do not know if her engines were going astern; she was end on. Our obief officer hailed her and told her to go astern. She The June output of gold from Selensing struck us end on. The blow was at the fore amounted to 803 ounces, being the result of 787 end of the after-hold on the port side just tous of stone crushed daring the month-a satis n a line with the mainmast and we imme-factory record.
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With regard to these remarks Captain Cameron explained to the reporters that he had important business up town, that his chief officer held a master's certificate, and that he could not put off his town business and thus delay the ship. The remarks made by the Court were commented upon outside the Court by disin- terested parties, who expressed the opinion that as the Captain's absence from the vessel had nothing to do with the collision, which happened several hours after the Birkhall had crossed the Bar, it hardly came within the province of the Court to refer to it.-N. C. Daily News.
89
THE WRECK OF THE “ ST. PANGRAS,"
THE FINDING.
The Marine Court of Inquiry held at Singa stranding and subsequent loss of the steamer pore into the circumstances attending the St. Pancras on the Samarang bank, off Labuan, on the 13th Juge, delivered its finding on the 20th inst,
opinion that the casualty was caused by a mis
The finding was as follows:-"We are of Cloulation of the current, the captain ex- peating the south-westerly set experienced on the 11th and 12th June to continue, whereas by the position of the ship at the last day it was running to the N.E.-ward. time of striking it appears that on the
The ship
{
was carefully navigated and the crow bebaved well. We do not consider that either the captain or officers are to blame for the disaster, which might have been avoided if the captain had been supplied with a large scale chart of the N. W. coast of Borneo. The state of the ship after striking justified the captain in taking to the boats and making for Labuan."
A telegram received at Singapore from Labuan states that the St. Pancras has been examined by divers, who report that the vessel is not strained, and that in their opinion there is a fair prospect of getting her off after all.
HONGKONG GOLF ULUB.
SERVICES VERSUS CIVILIANS. This the return match between teams repre- senting the above was played in the Happy Valley on Wednesday, 24th July, when the Services again asserted their superiority after a close and exciting contest by the narrow margin of one hole. On paper the event appeared a gift for the Civilians, whose team had been greatly strengthened by the inclusion of Dr. Lowson, while the Services team had been weakened by the absence of Captain Winsloe, R.N., who per- formed auch deeds of valour in the first match. Captain Eccles, R.B., played a grand match against his formidable opponent Dr. Lowson and was only beaten by 1 up after being 3 down and only 4 to play. The Services' second string received a severe shock from Mr. Gershom Stewart and was badly beaten by 5 holes, after being all even at the 11th hole. This left the Services 6 holes to the bad, three of which were pulled back by Lieut, Saunderson, R B., only to be neutralised by Mr. J. Thurburn. It now re- mained to see how the last three pairs fared, and here the representatives of the red, blue, and green coats were well to the fore. Commodore Boyes, R.N., going out in 44 and playing real good golf throughout, came home 2 up and was followed by Captain Ferguson, R.B., who reversed his previous match with Mr. Ram, and reduced the Civilians' lead by two more. This left the black coats two up and the excitement was now in- tense as the last pair approached the 18th green. Mr. R. W. Toman, R.N., had fully justified his selection and, holing the last hole in 5, stood 3 up and won the match for the Services by 1 up. A closer finish has seldom been seen and the soldiers and sailors went home jubilant, well content to have beaten a team who were 16 strokes better than themselves on paper.
The actual results of the several matches were:-
SERVICES.
CIVILIANS.
Capt. W. V. Eccles, R.B... 0 Dr. J. A. Lowson ...
5 Lt. W. M. Thompson, R.E. 0 Mr. G. Stewart Lieut. D. Saunderson, R.B. 3 Mr H. L. Dalrymple 0 Capt. J. M. Stewart, R.B... 0 Mr. J. Thurburn 3 Commodore Boyes, R.N...... 3 Mr. Clement Palmer Capt. A. G. Ferguson, R. B. 2 Mr. E. A. Ram Mr. R. W. Toman, E.N. 3 Mr. C. Hawkins
Total...10
Majority for the Services, 1 hole.
0
Total...9
Yet another Cotton Manufacturing Company, the International, is being launched at Shanghai, the American Trading Company being the pro moters.
It is proposed, we learn from the N. C. Daily News, to start with 40,000 spindles, and the capital of the company is to be Tis. 1,000,000, in 10,000 shares of Tls. 100 each, of which only 8,000 shares are to be issued at present. The company is to be a limited one, registe Hongkong.
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