November 23, 1901.]
Mrs. Dann, one of our latest brides, in a muslin and lace dress, Mrs. Marcus Slade, another bride, who looked. extremely nice in a hat trimmed with scarlet geraniums, and Mrs. H. Slade, in blue with a black hat; in fact practically every- one was there and hardly a spare seat could be
found in the matshed.
On Tuesday, the weather being so uncertain, very few people, comparatively speaking, were on the field; others who were there left about half-past three when the rain became heavy. At five o'clock the first reel practice for St. Andrew's Ball took place in the City Hall and was very well attended. Some of the dancers were really exceedingly good, but a good many people, presumably those who were not Scots, did not seem to know much about it Among the dancers were Mrs. Playfair and Mrs. Richardson, both of whom seem thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of the Scotch reel, Mrs. Andrew who was dancing with much spirit, Mrs. and Miss Hartigan, Mrs. Pemberton in a charming dress of cornflower-blue frieze with a hat trimmed with scarlet, the Misses Clieve, the Misses Hutchings, Miss Barr, Miss Gorham, Mrs. and Miss Powell, and inany
others.
Wednesday was the day on which the members of the Cricket Club gave their very successful entertainments, consisting of a fête on the cricket-field, followed by a supper which took place at the Hongkong Club, for that evening thrown open to ladies. The fête commenced at nine, and the sight of the cricket-field adorned with multitudinous strings of lanterns, and the trees hung with fairy lamps, which looked like enormous brilliant fireflies of every colour,
gave one the idea of a transformation scene on a large scale. The pyramid which was erected in the middle of the field, supporting the initials of the three cricket clubs in electric light, was most effective. The Bands of the R. W. Fusi- liers; the 2nd Rajputs and the Navy played delightfully and added greatly to the enjoyment of the proceedings. Two most excellent dis- plays of club exercise were given by the men of the R.W.F. and were much appreciated. The ground was full of people, but the light made it difficult to distinguish them. Towards ten or half-past the invited guests began to go into the Club to supper, and I am sure that the ladies thoroughly appreciated the courtesy of the members in allowing them to make use of what is generally considered forbidden ground. The dining room and many others of the Club rooms pressed into the service, to say nothing of the verandahs, were crowded, every table being occupied. The supper was a most excellent one. to which everyone did ample justice and the tables were prettily decorated with wreaths of flowers. At the large table in the dining room Mr. Hough was entertaining His Excellency the Governor, Sir William and Lady Gascoigne, the Commodore and Mrs. Powell, Miss Powell, Miss Jackson, and most of the official naval and military departments. I saw Mrs. Peter at one table with a party, and in the
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
421
The Tai Cheong. besides her sprung plates amidships-the result of the impact with the Perlu-had her port bows stove in close below the rail and a large bole knocked in high above the water line. The Perla had her snout Both twisted to port and some plates sprung. these vessels steamed clear and anchored in the bay.
short space of time in which he and his co-, to have been then steaming towards him at operator Mr. H. Bird had to work them up. | about 6 knots, and, striking the Tai Cheong The curtain raiser, a short farce by William amidships on the port side, cannoned on to the Brough, was good in proportion to its brevity Skramstad. The Norwegian vessel was now -which being translated means that one was cleared by the Tai Cheong and rapidly sank, bow distinctly sorry when the curtain went down on, in deep water between Quarry Bay and upon the skilful little dramatic company North Point. who composed the cast. Of the ladies Mrs. Cuming made an awe-inspiring and most impressive aunt, relieved by kindly touches; of sympathy with the follies of her niece, She wore a very pretty dress of blue silk trim- med with broad white silk fringe and a white silk and lace yoke. Miss Hutchings got through her small part with marked success, her spirited acting in the last scene being especially good. Her dress was very pretty; it was of white gauze over silk with lace appliqué and a pink chiffon sash. Mrs. Howkins acted the part of Lucy with much spirit and evoked a great deal of applause. Of the men Mr. Ardron deserves great praise not only for his acting, which was excellent, but also for the way in which he abso- lutely disguised his own personality, always the mark of a good actor. Mr. Hay was intensely avausing in his rendering of Walsingham Potts, his acting being natural all the time and on no occasion overdone, a fault to which amateurs in character parts are very proue. Mr. Hud- son's Mr. Jobstock was also very good, but thy part was an uninteresting one and gave very little scope
for acting.
"
on
The Plantation Revels following the farce were most successful; the scene the stage was very pretty indeed and the effect of the ladies in their quaint costumes and broad-brimmed hats trimmed with flowers or big bows of silk and the coons with their black faces and parti-coloured trousers and shirts was quite charming. The songs were well chosen and well sung and the patter, chiefly the work of Mr. Hays' brain, was very amusing and very much to the point. Mrs. Brewitt, Mrs. Yeats and Mrs. Howkins were soloists much applauded. Mr. Worcester, Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Hudson, also contributed, Mr. Worcester's account of an awful experience on the Rigi being extremely funny. The M. Seth skirt dance by Misses P. and
and
was
were
encored; their beautiful dresses of gold and a great success and was vociferously silver tissue made them appear a blaze of The entertainment light as they danced.
"Good concluded with the Plantation song Night" sung by Mrs. Yeats and universally The perform voted to be a complete success. ance was repeated last night as the wind-up of the festival.
TRIPLE COLLISION IN THÉ HARBOUR.
STEAMER SUNK ON WEDNESDAY EVENING,
Great anxiety was caused in Hongkong by the news that a serious collision had occurred at the North extremity of the Harbour and a steamer had been sunk. Owing to the conflict-
ing rumours, there was considerable doubt as to what vessel the disaster had befallen, and it was not until on Thursday morning that the facts became properly clear. There were no less than three steamers involved in the disaster, The Norwegian 8.s. Skramstad of Sandefjord (Capt. O. Hanssen) was sunk; the German s.s. Tai Cheong of Hamburg (Captain Ahrens) and the British s.s. Perla (Capt. Blaxland) were more or less damaged.
verandah were Mrs. and Miss Hartigan; Capt. and Mr. Simpson and Mrs. Retallick and Miss Hutchings were all together at a table. Mr. and Mrs. Master had a table in the library. The band of H.M.S. Ocean played during supper and afterwards, one of the performers sing ing some Italian songs very well indeed. The people did not leave till after twelve, so there was time for the ladies to walk round and admire the library and the other Club rooms which were thrown open to them. Altogether it
The Skramstad was backing out from But- was a most successful evening and was excel-
terfield and Swire's wharf at Taikoo where she lently managed, no hitch occurring anywhere.
had been dicharging sugar, and was nearly op- Thursday evening was celebrated by an- posite North Point when she collided with the other fête, given by Sir William and Lady Tai Cheong, which was leaving for Langkat, in Gascoigne. The beautiful grounds of Head Sumatra. The Skramstad was struck on the quarter House were decorated with many Chi-port bow and had a great hole made in her side. nese lanterns and great globes of electric light scattered about added an almost weird brilliancy to the scene. It was nearly midnight when the guests left, the united bands playing the National Anthem.
The next day, Friday, was the occasion of the A.D.C. performance at the City Hall. The house was very full, a state of affairs always encouraging to the performers, who evidently profited by it, as both parts of the programme were gone through in a manner which must have been most gratifying to the stage manager, Mr. E. Gumpert, especially considering the
After the collision, the vessels remained fast and continued so for about 15 minutes during which time the Tai Cheong continued to drive the other vessel before her stern on towards the shore. Meanwhile the Perlu had been following in the wake of the Tai Cheong on her outward passage to Manila with cargo and passengers. Those on board the Perla saw the state of affairs, and the order was given to reverse the engines. This was done with all speed, but the captain was not able to prevent a collision, and he ran into, or was run into by, the two boats, which are said
The Skramstad settled down rapidly, sink. ing in about 2 minutes. Her fore part was submerged completely, leaving only a small portion of her after-deck clear of water. The crew had to make a hurried departure, and lost all their kits. They lowered one of the ship's boats and by means of it went on board a steam. launch which was lying near. Fortunately no lone was injured.
A visit to the place of the accident on Thurs- day showed that the sunken vessel lies about 200 yards from the shore, and that she sits on an almost even keel. Under her stern there was a depth of about 30 feer but it was thought that the keel aft rested on a rock and not on the solid bottom, so that the continge cy of the vessel sliding into yet deeper water was expected. In the course of the afternoon she settled down entirely, leaving only the tops of the funnel and the masts visible.
not un.
When the Tai Cheong succeeded in running clear of the foundering vessel, it was discovered, as has been said, that the damages she had sustained were not dangerously serious. The rent in her bow is, however, of a very ugly de- scription and no doubt would have caused the vessel to sink had it been below the water-line. The Tai Cheong carried away with her part of. the Skramstad's rail. She will be docked as soon as possible. As to the Perla, her damages were not so serious. News of the accident was sent to the docks and immediately a squad of work- men were sent off to patch up her bows. As a result of their labours she was able to sail yesterday morning for Manila.
was
An eye-witness gives a vivid account of the affair. The Skramstad, he says, was backing out of Butterfield and Swire's wharf at Taikoo, where she had been discharging a cargo of sugar. In order to effect the turning, she had to back right athwart the fairway. While she was being manoeuvred round, and while at an angle across the channel, the Tai Cheong came steaming down rapidly upon her. According to the evidence of this witness, the latter vessel was going at a speed of about 12 knots, with the evident intention of getting olear of the Lyee. moon Pass before dusk, for the time at which the accident happened was just before six o'clock. The captain of the Norwegian steamer seemed to attempt to get out of the way and accordingly backed his craft. There a misunderstanding somewhere, however. The Ti Cheong with almost un- diminished speed crashed into the port side of the unfortunate Norwegian, appearing to pierce her as a knife would cut a cheese, and her bows mounted upon the Skramstad's broadside as though she would go through the stricken vessel. From our informant's observation it would appear that the raptain of the Skramstad then made full speed astern for the shore. his craft rapidly sinking by the bows and the Tai Cheong being dragged after her or else driving her stern on towards North Point. While these events were transpiring, the Perla steamed down the channel, and, though her engines were reversed, was unable to get out of the way of the entangled ships, with the result that she struck the Tai Cheong amidships and then cannoned against the Skarmstad. But for the captain's prompt action in running his ship ashore, the Skarmstad would have sunk in the deep water of the fairway.
In the course of Thursday, the captains of the three vessels involved in the collision visited their several agents and gave in their reports upon the accident. As is mural in the cir cumstances, in view of the official enquiry, there is no anxiety shown by the parties concerned to make public any details regarding the affair. Information, indeed, it is almost impossible 'to get from official sources. According to s
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