'This year's steamer race to Tientsin afforded' a striking contrast to that of last year, inasmuch as no ice was met with in the Gulf of Pechili or in the Taku River, the sea was comparatively smooth, and the weather calm and bright, whereas the race of 1879 was run in a' strong northerly wind, rain, fog and high sea, and the leading steamers had to break their way through the ice up the Taku river. In doing so two or three of them had holes stove in their bows, and two sustained considerable damage from the rough weather. All these unfavourable circumstances were absent from. this year's race; no ice was met: with except a little on the banks near the Taku Bar, and, as we have already said, the weather was all that could be desired, the thermometer standing at sixty-two when the first steamer arrived at Tientsin on the 7th inst.
Between three and half-past four o'clock on the morning of the 4th inst., the six competing steamers cast off from their respective wharves at Shanghai. They were the C.BLS.N, Co.'s stra, Fungshun and Pautah; tha Appin and El Dorado belonging to the G.C.S.N. Ca.; and the Newchwang and Wenchow belonging to the C.N. Ca. Nearly all the other steamers running on the northern route left either the same day or the following morning. The "Fungshun and Pautah were regarded as the favourites, the former being backed against "the field," but from past experience it was known that the Appin would run pretty close, and the result has proved that she was worthy of the good opinion held respecting her. But as we intend to allow the accounts furnished to us by the different steamers to speak for themselves, it is unnecessary to say more here than that the Fungshun won the race, the Pautah was second, and the Appin third, the others being dis-taneed. The official time, as given by the Customs' authorities at Taku, was to the effect, we are informed, that the Fungshun arrived six hours before the Pautah, and the Appin three hours after the latter vessel. Phe Fungshunentored the river a tide before the other two, and the Pautah and Appin went up the river in company. The Appin was the first to get away on the return journey, and though she called in at Chefoo, while the Fungshun came direct, the pair arrived in Shanghai together at' midnight on Thursday. oticers of the Fungshien and Appin.
Appended are the reports given by the
The C.M.S.N. Co.'s steamer Fungehun, Captain R. M, Andrew, left No. 3 buoy at Shanghai at3.10..m. on thedth inst; passed the str. Zl Dorado at Woosung, and crossed the Bar at 4.05 a.m. There were the lights of an unknown steamer visible behind, Shaweishan was passed at 8.40 a.m., three steamers being in sight, none of which were ahead. The Promontory was reached at 5.20 p.m. on the 5th, no other steamers being visible. Arrived at Taku Bar at 3.30 p.m. on the 6th; entered the river at 10 p.m.; and, after anchoring for the night, arrived at'Tientsin at 11.30 a.m. on the 7th. The Fungshun started' on her return to Shanghai at 5.90a.m. on the 9th. The following vessels wore then in port; U.S.S. Palos, the French gunboat Lyn, a Russian gunboat, four "Alphabetical" gunboats, the Steamers Wenchow, Newchwang, Hankoang and Taku; and the sailing vessels Trio and Presto. The steamers Haeting and Sin Nanzing were at the Bar when the Fungshun it. The Pautah had crossed the Bar about an hour before the Fungshun, but was overtaken by her at 6.30 p.m. on the 9th inst., the latter vessel having left the Buoy at1.20p.m.on that day. At6.30a.m.on the 20th, the Leeyen was met going to Chefoo 8.30 a.m, on the Lith, H.M.S. Mosquito, bound south, was overtaken; at 11 a.m. H.MS. Lapioing was met bound north, and at 10.20 p.m. the steamer Appin was passed at the Little Beacon. At noon on the 10th inst., the Pungehun passed the Promontory; passed Shaweishan at 7 p.m. on the 11th, reached Woosung at 11 p.m., and arrived at Shanghai at midnight. The amount of treasure she brought down was Tis, 315,000.
The C.C.S.N. Co.'s steamer Appin, Captain Anderson, cast off from the Hongkew Wharf at 4.05 a.m. on the 4th instant. Crossed the Woosung bar at 5.30 a.m. Nearing Shaweishan passed the steamers Wenchow ana Newchwang, and sighted the El Dorado and Fungshun ahead. Passed Shaweishan at noon. There was a moderate N.E. wind; weather clear and smooth sea. Kept the El Dorado in sight throughout the afternoon, and during the night the Pautah passed up. Rounded the Pro-mentary at 2am, on the 6th, and at daylight the El Dorado was still in sight, but could see nothing of the Pautah and Fungshun, Kept the El Dorado in company, and arrived at Taku Bar at 4a.m. on the 7th, the Pautah and El Dorado then being anchor. The Fungshun had entered the tiverontheprevious tide. At8a.m.the Newelwwang arrived and anchored, The Pautah entered the river first, the Appin following, and the latter arrived at Tientsin at 4 p.m. The Fungshun had then boon in port six hours, Discharged the cargo during the night, and left at 4.30 p.m. on the 8th, bound for Chefoo. On the way down the river met the strs, Newchwang, Wenchow, Taku and Hankwang. Crossed the Bar at 0.20 a.m. on the 9th, the steamer Sin Nanzing being at anchor outside. At 4 a.m, passed a steamer bound west, supposed to be the Haeting. Arrived at Chefoo at 7 p.m, same day, and left again at midnight, leaving three sailing vessels in port, At 5 a.m. rounded the N.E. Promontory, and from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. experienced thick fog. Passed Shaweishan at 6 p.m. on the 11th, When near the Kintoan Lightship was joined by the Fungshun, and arrived at Shanghai at midnight, havin, Tis, 200,043 worth of treasure on board from Tientsin.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.