It will doubtless be remembered that when the P. & 0. S. N. Co.'s steamer Lombardy arrived at Shanghai on the 27th of February she had sustained some damage by touching on a rock on Mor-risen Island on her voyage from Hongkong. She went into the Old Dock for repairs on the 10th of March, a delay of several days being occasioned by the lowness of the tides. The stem was found to be broken and the new portion, fixed began at about the 15-feet fine and went back about twelve ' frames." Tt was all in one piece and weighed about two tons. Nine "frames" of wrought iron in. x 34 in.) were broken on each side. Four iron plates were carried away and at least a dozen more were broken. All these of course have been replaced.—Altogether the total weight of iron used in the repairs is estimated at about seven tons, Two or three days have elapsed since they were completed, the state of the tides having kept the steamer in dock now, as it kept her out before. The steamer was the largest ever docked in this port and the event was felt to be of somewhat more than ordinary interest. The success that attended the carrying out of the arrangements showed that they had been made with care and judgment. Shortly after noon the vessel was seen to be afloat at 12.17 the caisson being removed, she gradually floated outwards until her stern Projected perhaps thirty fest from the jock entrance. Here she was kept stationary for about three-quarters of an hour in consequence of the velocity of the tide. Tt had been decided that four tugs should pull her out, working in pairs. One consisted of the Samson. and the Fullee, which had a wire hawser; and the other pair, the Fokelin and the Rocket, had a Manila one. The cables were each about 100 fathoms in length. These were attached to the starboard side of the steamer as the tide was flood. The Samson and the Fuklee had the cable nearest the stern. A fow minutes after one o'clock the tugs were set in motion, the Samson and Fullee towing across the river, and the other two heading down the river. In five minutes the Lombardy was clear of the Dock, and she then swung round with her stern up stream. The Fokelin and Rocket than began to tow her down, being as nearly as could be judyed about two points on her starboard bow, the other two being ' broad off" on the same side. A somewhat sensational element was now introduced into the proceedings. The steamer had gone stern first up the river for perhaps a hundred yards, and in tow of the tugs Old Dock, the steamer. Strathmore lay was returning. Immediately below the
alongside the Hongkew Wharf and abreast of her lay the C.M.S.N. Co.'s steamer Tahyew and the Danish steamer H. C. Grsted. As the Lombardy was proooes ing down the river she almost came in collision with the last-named vessel. The men on board of her showed their apprehensions by a considerable display of activity, but the Fokelin and Rocket suddenly changed their course and turned across the river. Fortunately the Samson and Fublee were already towing powerfully at the steamer from their position, and the momentary danger was speedily averted, As it was, the Lombardy passed within a very few feet of the Danish steamer, but did not touch her. She then proceeded to the Lower Buoy.
Mr. ©. P. Blethen, of the firm of Messrs. 8. ©. Farnham & Go., had the manage: ment of the process of undocking, and as soon as the steamer had safely passed the H. ©. Orsted, he was surrounded by his nds, who tendered him their double congratulations; first, on account of the Lombardy's safe exit from the Old Dock, and second, for the narrow escape that she had from collision with the Danish vessel. Great credit was certainly reflected on all concerned by the way in which everything was done.
'The Lombardy had hardly got safely away, when the Chinese gunboat Pao Shun came' down the river to take the place she had just vacated, and she was safely docked by about two o'clock.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.