On Wednesday and the day before a Naval Court sat at H.B.M.'s Consulate to enquire into the circumstances attending the loss of the British steamer America, which occurred on the 28th ult. It was consti-Carles, H.M.'s Acting Vice-Consul tuted as follows:—President, W. R.
Assessors, Lieut. J. 0. Roughton, R.N., H.M.S. 'Lapwing, and Captain Jackson, of the 0.C.S.N. Co.'s steamer Pechili.' The finding of the Court was as follows That about 7.30 p.m, on the 27th June, 1881, the vs. America ran ashore in a thick fog, probably on an island in the Hydrographer That there is no evidence to show how on the course the steamer was following she could have reached that po That after she ran ashore every precaution was taken by the Master, Will li to save the vessel and bring her back to Shanghai, but that on hor way to this port the water gained such way that it wae necessary to abandon her in lat, 34° 10 E., long. 128° 8 That the captain, officers, engi crew were taken on board 'a Chinese.sailing from Newchwang to Ningpo, they remained until the jank fell in with the 2.8. Hiroshima Maru, which brought them to Shanghai.
The Court is of opinion that under the circumstances the Master, William (Willinins, showed a lack of prudence in hastening to the conclusion that the p.m, was Ross Island, and in shaping hi course accordingly, but that there is not efficient occasion to reprimand him for the ess of the vessel as there was no reason to suspect the-existence of a strong current or other causes such as must have affected the course of the ateamer.
That the officera and onginoors worked steadily to save the vessel, and that after a short-lived panic they wore assisted by the crew. The Court has great pleasure in referring to the assistance rendered by the Chinese jank, the German barque Afinna, and the s.a. Hiroshima Maru.
The Court returns the certificates to the master, officers and engineer of the America, with a strong commendation of their conduct after the vessel ran ashore.
Costs of the Court (£7.4.0) to be paid by William Williams, Into Master of the #8, America.
(Signed) W. R. Canes, Acting Vice Consul and President of the Court, Joux ©. Rovextox, Lieut. R.N., H.MS. " Lapwing." W. H. Jackson, Master, 8.8. Pechili."
Olerk of the Court,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.