H.LC.M, despatch vessel Wan-kien-chang arrived here at 7.30 last night, direct from Keelung, on her way to Tientein, and brought on Captain Tough, his }7! officers, engineers and crew from the late s. Laptek. By this opportunity we are in possession, from our correspondent, of particulars regarding the typhoon of the 17th inst., which proved so disastrous to a party from H.MS. Kestrel, who it appears were at the time engaged dismantling the wreck of the Laptek Keelung, 22nd July, 1874.
Very little remained to be done on board ices of the steamer's for fully a week previous to the day which proved fatal tosa many of them, Lieut. Gardner, Mr. Jones, Chief Engineer, and twelve men and stokers of the Kestrel, under the superintendence of Mr. James Greig, of 'Messrs. Dodd & Ca., Lloyds' Agents, carried on the work of salving by themselves and as the hull was to have been sold the next day, their occupation of it would not in all probability have lasted 24 hours longer. The gunboat steamed away into Keelung harbour as soon as the men were ut on board the wreck, but the cutter in which they were conveyed was left moored at some distance from them. For several days previously, the position of the wreck was the same as when the typhoon came on, and the work of demolition having become difficult, her condition was not altered much during that time.
The hull was so denuded of everything, that it la difficult to imagine how any one could have lived enif even in fine weather full of water fore and aft, up to the "tween decks; saloon and engine-room skylights, the rail and stanchions, accommodation Ladder, all hatches, midship and quarter deck houses removed or in course of removal; all boats, life buoys, ropes, rigging, sails, spars, chains and anchors sent on. shore to be sold, with portions of the engines, steam winches and windlass, and everything above water that could be torn away, "for the benefit of the underwiters"—nothing unfortunately was left to provide for the shelter or safety of the wreckers, Té does seem strange that the desire to secure these odds and ends should have been carried so far, at s0 great a risk to those engaged in the work; and it is highly probable that had advice been given or assistance rendered to the poor fellows whose over-zeal inthe matter cost them their lives, no disaster would have happened.
MasouBay, where the Laptek was beached, is about ten miles from Keelung by water, having Masu Peninsula on the South and Double Rock on the North side, and from the latter a reef crosses the month of the about two-thirds of the way. The chief exposure is northeasterly, and along the shore for several miles tore runs a sandy beach, with sand hills and water courses behind it. The hull of the vessel lay head out to sea, with the stern about one hundred yards from what in fine weather is the shore, but as it is only a narrow sandbank, the rollers during the tyhoon must have swept clear over it and into the low land beyond. To the south of the ship's position only did the high land dip down to the sea, without being intercepted by streams and lagoons, therefore it will be seen that a swimmer had but poor chance, in a dark night and heavy sea, of saving his life, even if he succeeded alning the beach directly opposite the When it commenced to blow on the morning of the 17th, the ship worked a ood deal, and as the wind increased during the afternoon it must have been something dreadful on board, as she lurched with the weight of water in her hold, springing the decks and causing the boiler to bump about, out of its place. Towards night matters became much worse, and the Chinese servants begged to be sent on shore, as they said it was going to blow a typhoon. The others seem only to have ight ion that this might be of the men-of-war's men re allowed to swim on shore, and gain quest of a boat for them. The cutter had previously to this time been once in danger, and was with much difficulty moored further out by two seamen who swam off to her, but afterwards, dragging her moorings, she drove into the breakers, and was swamped, A boat from the shore was at last induced to go alongside, and the boys and two Europeans were landed by it in safety, but it did not succeed in reaching the ship a second time.
Those on board now apparently reoognised the danger of their situation, A raft had been constructed during the day, and by means of it all would doubtless have been enabled to reach the shore, but on being put over the side it broke adrift, and a sailor who jumped overboard, after unsuccessful effort or two to bring it back, scrambled on to it and was landed on the beach in safety. Two more sailors were washed overboard about this time, and driven on the beach, clinging to a piece of the deck, making in all six men-of-war's men who have been saved.
Between eight and nine o'clock, or later, a sea washed Lieut. Gardner and Mr. Jones off the deck. They were both good swimmers, but only Mr. Jones got clear of the wreck, and after a long struggle amongst the breakers, in which he was much bruised and exhausted, he at last got afooting, Lieut, Gardner, it la supposed, was hurled against the ship's alde ov fame
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.