June 10, 1899.]
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88 some-
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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479
and a large number assembled there shortly
The Marines and Police were drawn up in line, the former firing the feu-de joie, immedia. tely after the 12 o'clock salute from the battle- ships, and this was directly followed by three cheers, shouted in unison with the blue jackets on the ships, their keynote being readily heard on shore.
The visitors then retired to one of the guard- houses (which had the effort of a prettily d de corded Kiosk) and partook of light refresh
The consternation which this dements. claration caused was very great, and they with An able speech was given by the Commis one accord rose up against the local mandarin sioner and Administrator, Captain Gaunt, R.N... accusing him of being privy to this breach of who, whilst proposing the health of Her Maj. faith; but apparently, no one was more aston-esty, on her eightieth birthday, wished success to Weinaiwei, whose first birthday, as a British possession, it also was.
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After farwells to Captain Gaunt and his charming wife, (who proved themselves the most excellent host and hostess) most of the people made their way across to the mainland, where several luncheon parties had been ar- ranged, after which they assembled to see the Chinese Regiment inspected on their own parade-ground, near the village of Martow. They number only 170 men at present, and it was their first appearance in the Queen's uni- form. They acquitted themselves remarkably well and gave the royal salute in grand form, and Major Bower has every reason to be proud of his work.
appointment. H.E.'s view has been that, be- | On the morning of that day the German gun cause our position on or near the line is not | boat Iltis came over from Tsingtao and anchored vefore midday favourable to plague, we have hitherto escaped, off the harbour of Jéhchao, and immediately all and it is to be hoped, &c., &c. But Penang the baggage and impedimenta of the troops were also, is pretty near the line! It may also be embarked on the gunboat, the men themselves re- observed that given three or four plague cases maining on shore to await further developments. in Singapore, the cost to the community of the When Captain von Falkenhayn met the literati | restriction of trade that would follow would | he asked them what they intended to do about the exceed the cost of maintaining dozens of health
Stenz case. As no satisfactory answer could officers.
be obtained from the literati Captain Falken- The outbreak of plague at Penang fortunate-hayn informed them that he would then take ly does not appear likely to result in an epidemic. five of their number with him to Tsingtao as From the Singapore papers of the 30th May we
hostages. learn that information had been received from the Acting Resident Conńcillor, Penang, ståt- ing that only one case of plague remained in that Settlement and that the patient was re- covering. The following telegram was receivelished at this result of the conference than the on the afternoon of that day:No reports of mandarin himself. He, at once, begged of bubonic plague for twenty-four hours."
Captain Falkenhayn to take him to Tsingtao A suspicion appears to have been ente: tained instead of the five hostages, but was promptly that the dicease was introduced hy the steamer refused. When at last the literati saw that Amara, which left Hongkong on the 28th April the German officer was in earnest, they sub and arrived at Penang on the 8th May, report. mitted with the best grace they could, and ing the occurrence of one death from fever dur- went on board the Iltis under the escort of the ing the voyage. In reference to this vessel the troops. In the meantime the news had got to Penang Gazette of the 27th May published a
the families of the five hostages and the former | sensational article headed A mysterious brought money, etc, for the latter to take with royage," in which it is stated
them to Tsingtao. The Iltis then weighed an- thing strange that "the Amara, although chor and steamed back to Tsingtao. The fire she professed to have 418 passengers hostages are placed in one of the camps on the for Singapore, did not stop there, but came ou
island, where they are allowed perfect freedom. to Penang with the excess of living cargo." but are obliged to report themselves before There is nothing strange abou: that, because dark to the officer on duty. the vessel cleared from Hongkong for Penang. not for Singapore, the reason no doubt being to fill up the time required by the Straits quarantine regulations by taking the more distant. port first in the round voyage. The article goes on to allege a discrepancy in the
The finding of the Court of Inquiry at Naga- number of passengers and to propound enquiries saki into the circumstances attending the strand- as to what had become of the missing. ring of the Benlowers was delivered on the 27th sumably the Straits officials, both at Penang and May. The captain, officers, and crew have been Singapore would check the numbers and all the passengers that left Hongkong would have to be satisfactorily accounted for. The total num- ber the vessel carried, according to our con- temporary was 847, of whom 429 were for Penang and 418 for Singapore. The deficiency alleged to have been discovered at Penang was 57, which occurred amongst the Singapore passengers, but no such deficiency appears to have existed when the vessel arrived at Singa pore; or some refere: ce would doubtless have been made to it in the Singapore papers, as she appears
have undergone to special inspection at that port. The President of the Singapore Municipality, referring to the matter at the last meeting, said :—
a
The ship Amara passed through Singapore and reached Penang. One death occurred, which raised suspicion, and on her return to Singapore she was inspected and eight cases were removed to St. John's, six suffering from fever and two from pneumonia. The informa- tion at present available was not conclusive that the cases of plague had been deposited in Pe- nang from the Amara. The implication was that the cases had been landed from the steamer in Penang, but when she returned to Singapore and was overhauled, of the eight men sent to St. John's not one was suffering from plague.
THE STRANDING OF THE 'BENLAWERS.”
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THE FINDING OF THE COURT OF INQUIRY,
exonerated from all blaue, and the Court finds
that "the strauding was owing to the pilot mis- calculating his distance frou Otatishima when abeam of the light on the island and c
consequent- ly not altering his course sufficiently to the westward, aud that the miscalculation was partly due to the pilot having made au insufficient allow ance for the strength of the tide, both when ap consequent increase of the ordinary speed of the proaching and passing O atishima, and for the
vessel over the ground from 1 to 114 knot which increase affected the position when abeam of Otate light as calculated by four-point bear- ding.-Nagasaki I'ress.
AN IMPERIAL CHN. SỬ. MINT
Owing to the varying degrees of fineness and weights of the dollars coined in the various Government mints in the provinces of Kuang- tung, Fukieu. Chêkiang. Kiangsu, Anhui, Hupeh, and Chibli, ther by causing great inconvenience to traders who are unwilling to accept these silver dollars as legal tender, it is stated that the Empress Dowager intends soon to issue a deeree commanding a combination of all these mints into one, to be situated in Peking where all the money coined will be of one standard weight and fineness.-N. C. Daily
HOW THE GERMANS GOT HOSTAGES | News.
А1 ЈЕНСНАО.
A SUCCESSFUL RUSE,
The . C. Daily News translates from the Ostasiatische Lloyd the following account of a ruse perpetrated by the Germans at Jehchao to obtain hostages so as to ensure the settlement of the Stenz outrage in that city :-
The Chinese Government having guaranteed the Germans in Shantung from further attacks, the Governor of Tsingtao decided to recall his troops at Jehchao, whither they had been specilly sent to obtain satisfaction for the attack on Stenz and the punishment of the culprits concerned. This not having been done it was determined to take hostages prior to the departure of the troops. With this in view Captain von Falkenhayn, commanding the detachment, asked the local mandarin to ar- range a meeting for him with the principal literali of the city. This was accordingly done and the time fixed for this meeting was to be on the forenoon of the 25th of May at 11 o'clock.
THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY AT
WETHAIWEI.
Weihaiwei, 26th May. Weihaiwei was distinctly to the front in the way of festivities on the 24th and both on the Island of Lui-kung-tai and the mainland, they were such as will leave a favourable and lasting impression on all who witnessed them.
Prince Henry having announced his desire to be present on the Queen's birthday and also to inspect the newly-formed Chinese Regiment, arrived from Chiefoo at 10 o'clock, when a royal salute was fired from the flagship Centurion, which, with all the rest of Her Majesty's ships in port, was manned, and gaily decorated with flags, and after the customary courtesies the Gefion anchored near the west entrance to the harbour
The Commissioner and his wife had issued numerous invitations to view the Parade from Queen's House, which was gay with bunting,
The next day the Centurion Sports took place on the United Service Recreation Ground at the extreme west. end of the Island. They went off very brightly, considering the severe thunderstorm in the forenoon, which barely cleared jú time for them to be held.
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The arrival of several ladies from England, during the previous week, had much to do with the success of the gatherings, and the number of smart frocks added greatly to the brightness of the scene.
Some few cameras were to be seen, so it is to be hoped some pictures of Weihaiwei may find their way into the illustrated papers.--Mercury correspondant.
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H.M.S." WO-DCOUK" ON THE
UPPER YANGTSZE,
41
Ichang, 25th May, The Wookcock returned to Ichàng last Satur- day afternoon, having made a successful trip up river. She reached Laokueichou, near the Yehtan (rapid), according to Blakiston forty-- three miles from Ichang. Several rapids large and small were successfully passed up without difficulty, under steam, and without the aid of a tracking rope. The steering qualities of the gunboat are excellent, and no doubt aided her considerably in passing up and down the rapids. The Captain is very sanguine of accomplishing the trip to Chungking at a future date.
The gunboat had to be turned back towards Iohang earlier than intended owing to the serious illness of the First Petty Officer, Henry Bertlett. He had evidently been unduly ex- posed to the sun, as no other reason could be assigned for his sudden illness. He was de lirious on the way down. He was taken into the house of Dr. Rankine for more room, quietness, and convenience, but in spite of all efforts he succumbed on Monday night. His death was felt very much by all board and by the community a5
well.
At the request of Captain Watson the service was conducted by the Rev. W. Deans, Church of Scotland Mission. The first part of the service was held at Dr. Rankine's where the body was lying. Thence the procession was formed and marched
cemetery. A the come the bier firing party preceded, then carried by the shipmates of the deceased, then followed the Captain and Doctor of the Woodcock, and the Consul in uniform, the rear being brought up by members of the community. At grave there was a short ser- vice, and after the coffin had been lowered into its last place three volleys were fired by the firing party. There was a large attendance of members of the community The deceased had only three more years to serve to retire on a pension, and leaves a widow and childr mourn his loss. It is hoped something may be done here and elsewhere on the River to raise a little gratuity for the widow N.C.Daily Neira
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