On Saturday morning last, at about twelve o'clock, the steamer Mongol struck on a rock a few miles from Hongkong. In about five minutes she was completely submerged. Of a crew of fifty-two, 0 teen were drowned, including Captain J. Flamank and Mrs. Flamank, About ten o'clock on Saturday morning, the Mongol started for Yokohama. She had a general cargo, about one-third only of what she could carry, and wai out eighteen feot of water. and a Chinese pilot were on the bridge. The Captain was not, we believe, familiar ith the navigation of these waters; and id that the pilot, on leaving—just Deyond the Ly-ed-moon pass—directed that his attention should be called to keep clear of the Ninepins.
The second officer, Mr. Fry, afterwards took his place on the bridge with the captain, At about a quarter to twelve, the Captain told Mr. Fry there was alittle rock ahead, and asked him to see if he could make it out onthe chart. The second officer examined the chart, but said he could not discover the position of the rock. Then the Captain, telling the second officer to keep well off the island, himself went and examined the chart. Soon afterwards he returned to the bridge, and said he could not discover the place of the The Captain, however, altered the ship's course, alittle more to the land. A few minutes afterwards there was heard a grating noise, followed by two or three shocks, and the steamer rolled heavily. There was no "wash" or anything to indicate the presence of sunken rocks; but it was evident that the steamer had struck upon one, The vessel was then going at full speed—eleven or twelve knots an hour—and contact with any hard and fixed substance must cause serious damage. A huge vent must indeed have been made in her bottom. The Captain gave an order to sound the pumps, and it was found that the ship was full up to the orlop deck forward; and was rapidly filling. The engi were then ordered to be the steamer was got clear of second oticer suggested whether it would la not be well to make for the land, but it was soon evident that the damage was of far too serious a nature to permit of that being done. It being reported that the water was gaining rapidly, the Captain and the second officer left the' bridge, and the boats were begun to be got out. Some confusion seems to have ensued, but two of the boats, which wore hanging over the ship's sides, were lowered without much difficulty, and some of the crew got into them, These boats were soon some little distance from the ship. Efforts were then made to get off another boat, but the gear did not work easily; and as the vessel's head was then well under the water, and the ship was fast sinking, the attempt had to be abandoned. Every one then did the best he could for himself, Those who could seized life-buoys or pieces of wood and jumped overboard. The chief engineer meantime had thoughtfully ordered the engines to be stopped, and directed the men below to at once come on deck and look to their safety. The only lady on board was the Captain's wife, and she was an invalid, That she has perished is of course to be regretted; but it is satisfactory to note that, even amid the hurry and confusion, she was not neglected. The Captain had laced her aft, thinking no doubt she would safe till the third boat was lowered, in which he himself was assisting. Mr. Roggers, th surgeon, remained with her, till desired to aid in clearing away the buoy was fetched and placed round her. boat; not however quitting her till
said that not more than five minutes elapsed from the time of the vessel striking on the rock and going down. She disappeared head foremost, Somewerewashed overboard before she foundered, but most went down with her. A violent explosion was heard she sank, the decks being apparently blown asunder. The water completely covered her. The two boats which had been lowered were taken charge of by Mr. 'Hodgkins and the Chief Steward, and they pulled about for a long time, and picked up, many who were struggling in the water,' supported on an upturned boat or on pieces of wreckage. Mr. Fry, who was tho/last to throw himself from the vessel, was in the water nearly three quarters of an hour before being rescued. Mr. Rogers supported himself fora time, on the keel of the life-boat, to which several others also were clinging. 'The body of the Captain drifted towards him, and Mr. Rogers seized it and held it for afew minutes; till a swelling wave compelled him to reish his hold. Tt was then, however, that the Captain had' ceased to When all that could be were rescued, the two boats made for Hongkong. They oon fell in with two Chinese boats, which Mr, Hodgkins chartered to bring them on to Honykong. Mr. Hodgkins at once reported the matter to Messrs.-Heard and Company, the local agents of the' New York, London, and China Steamship Com-Flomo, where their wants were attended any. The crew were taken to the Sailors?
to; the officers being furnished with accommodation at the Hongkong Hotel.
Subjoined are the names of those who are lost 3 Sain sie Captain J. Flamank.
W. H. Gawtl lief officer. W. F Bing, 4th often.
i, second engineer. J. Smith, 4th engineer. J. Gentle, boiler marker.
Smith, carpenter.
Jewell, second steward. 8. Bovis, mess steward, Ludlow, fireman,—Mudock, do.—Lewis, ' do.
Frankenstone, and Stone, sailors.
two Chines The suddenness of the catastrophe pre vented any attempt being made to save anything but life. It may be said that all have lost everything, not even one landing with a complete suit of clothing. The loss will, of course, be severe to all; but-we understand that Mr. Hodgkins, in addition to loss of other property, lias been deprived of a valuable and extensive collection of curios. The carpenter has left a widow and ten children; and several others of the crew alto were married and had families.
About five o'clock on Saturday evening, the steam-tug Pilot Fish left the harbour for the Ninepin, withthe view of savin any of the Mongol wreckage. It was dari when the place was reached; nothing was to be seen to denote where the steamer had
The tug returned to harbour-the same gone down, nor was anything picked. up. night, The Douglas, which. arrived yea.
day, reports having passed a quantity of and a white lifeboat, half sunk, townwards, off S.E. Ninepins, the appearing to have been in the water but a short time, Mr. Fry, the Second Officer, states The Mongot left Hongkong at, about 10.30 a.m, on 12th December, with pilot on board, for Yokohama, At 11.20 the pilot left us, when off Tamtoo Island. At11.30 passed' the "North Ninepin Rock." I went upon the bridge as officer of the watch, 1.40, the Captain being on the bridge himeelf, informed mo there was a small ken' rock off the South Ninepin Rock," and sent me down to look at the chart, but I could not discover it. 1 returned to the bridge, and reported this to him. Be then told me not to keep the ship's head too near the island, and went down himself to look at the chart. He came up and said he likewise could not see the rock marked, He then told me he thought it must be a small rock visible to the "South Ninepin." Ho then altered 'p's course a utile to the Northward. Five minutes afterwards the ship struck, The Captain: then told mo to get the well sounded, which was done, and reported water coming into the fore compartment." We then backed the engines "full speed astern" for afew minutes. Immediately afterwards we discovered that the ship had jumped off the rock and was ati then asked him if we should turn the ship's head round and steer for the shore, putting the engines full speed ahead. He told me to do #0, and it was done. The man then reported the water gaining rapidly in the fore-hold and the onymes were then stopped, Tran aft to assist in getting the boats out. I then discovered that the two after boats had left the shi sy contained principally firemen and sailors. Whilst getting the second port boat out, I saw the ship was sinking rapidly by the head; and when the water reached the fore part of the engine house, I, knowing T could not be of further use on board, got on the rail and jumped overboard. "I then swam out of the eddy and turned round, and saw the ship's decks blow up and the ship sink. After floating about on a piece of wreck for sometime, together with the third officer, the boatswain, one fireman and a China man, I saw the bodies of the Captain's wife and the officer floating about, dend. I ascertained this by raising their heads. Sometime afterwards I was picked up by a boat containing Mr. Hodgkins and several others and brought to Hongkong.
Mr. Macfarlane, the Chief Engineer, states that he was in the engine-room at about ten minutes to 12 a.m., when sudden shock to.the vessel knocked him nearly off his legs, a second shock following immediately after. He reported the matter to the Captain, but could get no answer from him. The stokehole was then nearly fol of water. The Captain hed previously given the order to "full speed astern,"..and he left the bridge with. out giving any further orders. Mr, Mac-far lane then ordered the, engines to be stopped and all the people to come on deck. He afterwards told them to do the best
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.