Foochow, 31st March, 1870.
Ata Naval Court summoned to investigate the circumstances which led to the loss of the Steam ship Prince Kung," on the night of the 26th March, 18700n Grab Island-—present.
J.G, Murray, H. B. M. Acting Vice Consul, President, 8. Ashton, Master of S.S. "Yess Dowdie, Master of the Ship "Taepin; L. Shaw, Marine Surveyor at Pagoda Anchorage, Members of Court.
Wituiast Brows, Muster of the "Prince Kung."—I hold a'Master's certifieste from Hoagkong, its number is 19. [hand in the Official Log as evidence. It is kept by me not Uy the mate, The oficial Log was read aloud to the Court.
"Saturday, 26th March, 1870.—Fresh southerly winds and clear. Unmoored and started from Foochow city at 7.30 4... proceeded clown the river and anchored at Pagoda at 9 A.sf., took on board 30 tons of coal and weighed at noon, proceeded down ths river as far as Woga point, anchored there at 4 P.at., for the tide, 6 v.3t. light southerly winds, and clear, weighed and proceeded to sea through the Woya channel. 6.45 safe to sea, light southerly winds and hazy horizon but clear overhead Sharp peak W.S.W. about 2} or 3 wiles—steored N.E. by B. 4 E. to go outside Seat, fog se in fast, $30 raat, dense of Square Rocks, 7.30 haze sts thicker, fog, saw breakers close too, and nearly ahead, put the helm hard to port and stopped the tngines—but before they could be reversed the steamer struck heavily on_the port side breaking the discharge pipe off close to the condenser—and shaking the steamer fearfully
"against the rocha with fearful violence. Lowered off, the southerly swal rowing her tamed astern, but found she would not come the starboard boat, to effect a lauding on the lee side of the Island and take a rope from the steamer to the shore wherewith to land the passengers and crew. 9 p.xt. water over Snendous force against the rocks and filing stoke hole plates, steamer striking with tre-fast; 10 p.st, succeeded in d apeva Ip Tope on shore, fog cleared away found steamer om the south side of Crab Island, water increasing rapidly in the hold. Midnight all the passengers safe on shore on Crab Island.
Wma Brows, Master, Cuantes Brows, Chief tier, Tuomas Giuazer, Chief Engineer.
Sunday, 27th March, 1870.—The tide being Jow 3 fect between the steamer and the shore, 8 fact of water on the outside, employed until 2.30 am, sending personal property and the remaining portion of the crew on shore, when all had to land om account of the tide making and sea rising. Daylight the steamer rolling on the rocks with the heavy swell, 7 am. the deck cargo washing away, water over the deck. 8 am. sea washing over the hurricane deck on the outside, blowing fresh from the southward, causing a very heavy swell to roll in. Noon, the tide being low, boarded with the intention of trying to save tome of the copper piping: brasses, and anything that could be got the machinery, but found all thie engine room tools had been' washed about the hold. 20 that we could not do anything. Saw several holes in the port-bilge made by the rocks. 3 p.m. tide making, wind and sea also increasing, we had to leave the vessel and proceeded to Foochow.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.