About tivo o'clock on the morning of th 8th, afire broke out on board the steamship China, Captain Gardner, which arrived at Hongkong on the 3rd instant, with a general cargo, from Calcutta and Singapore, Immediately after the alarm was raised, a number of the Fire Brigade and body of police from the Central Sta and some men from the hulk, promptly on the spot, and these, together with two officers ans two boats? crows from the Spanish corvette St. Lucia, and an officer with one boat's crew from the French mail steamer Zraowaddy, were soon hard at work, with the officers and crew of the China, uring, with the aid of three to master the fire, which at that time appeared to have obtained a firm hold forwards, At about 8.80, by great exertions, one of the land engines was Biel on board a cargo-boat at Motes alongside by the steam tug Fame, og, Hagedorn & Cos wharf, and rowe 'a more plentiful supply of water was obtained, An engine from the Princess Charlotte, and one from H.M.S. Curlew, with a force from each, arrived sometime afterwards, and another engine from the Harbour Master's office was also got into scargoboat and brought alongside. There was a atrong breeze blowing the whole of the time, and the steam tug Fame kept th China's beam to windward, which kept the smoke clear of those on board. About 56.45 the flames, which at one time threatened to destroy the vessel, were slightly sot under, but soon after it was discovered that the fire was spreading along the deck fore and aft. This necessitated the cutting away of the deck on the port side at the coal bunkers, and the water was kept playing on it fora considerable time afterwards, The China, about eight o'clock, was towed to the Pier, 20 as to allow the powerful steam engines to play upon her in the event of the flames breaking out when the cargo was being removed. The of the fire is as yet unknown. It at first supposed that some cotton, which was damp, near the coal bunkers, get Gyerheated and ignited, A gunner on d, named Mitchell. was arrested ion with raising matches were found ing at the Police Court, no evide: forthcoming, he was discharge glad Lo say no accident of a ocourred while the fire was being got under. The unaccountable delay in rendering thsistenco from the British war vessels tient at hand was the subject of strong jadvertion," This is, unfortunately, the second time " fire has occurred on board the China, the last time being on the voyage from Calcutta to Singepore, in April, 1873.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.