News reached us on Monday by the China Coast 'Steam Navigation Company's steamer Taku, Captain McClure, to the effect that the China Merchants'
Steam Navigation Company's steamer Hankwang, Captain Boswell, had stranded on the S.E. Promontory, about 30 li from the place where the Shun Lee was lost in June, 1879. The Hankwang, which is the last ocean-going steamer the Company got out from England, and is regarded as one of the finest vessels of their fleet, left Shanghai for Chefoo and Tientsin on Tuesday, the 17th, with a full Gutgo of tribute rice, and, according to the news to hand, she went ashore at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. An overland courier reached Chefoo with information of the disaster at 9 p.m. on Friday, and hie report stated that the crew and passengers had all been saved. A Chinese gunboat, with the Harbour-Master at Chefoo on board, left soon after to render assistance to the stranded vessel. It was rumoured at Chefoo that the Hankwang was likely to become a total wreck, A heavy gale was experienced by the Taku on Thursday in the Gulf of Pechili, and if the Hankwang was exposed to the same storm, the offi of the Taku think that it would go very hard with her. Wo believe, however, that no news has been received as to her real position, but it is said to be a more exposed one than where the Shun Lee was wrecked.
—Tho Hankwang was built for the Viceroy of Nanking by Messrs, Laird and Ca, of Birkouhoad, under the superintendence of Mr. H. 8. Bidwell, who brought her out to Shanghai. Subsequently she was transferred to the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company.
The O.M.S.N. Oo.'s steamer Haeting, which arrived on Tuesday from Tientsin, stopped at midnight on Sunday near the scene of the wreck of the Hankwang. The weather was very thick and hazy all the afternoon, and the Haeting experienced considerable difficulty first in finding the stranded steamer, and then in approaching after her whereabouts had been discovered. About midnight, however, the Hasting anchored about a cable's length from the Zao An, the Chinese gunboat sent to the assistance of the Han-
Kwang by the Taotai of Chefoo. It was impossible to see how the Hankwang lay, but the officers of the Haeting were informed that she was lying on the rocks with her stern towards the shore. It was stated that she went ashore in a dense fog while going dead slow, and that for thirty-four hours she made no water, when it seemed as if her bottom gave way and the water poured in rapidly. However, there was no water in the engine-mom on Sunday, and it was thought that the engines, machinery and boilers would all be saved, and if the weather remained calm it was probable that nearly everything would be saved but the hull. On the day following thostranding, a storm cameron which twisted the vessel round so as to drive her stern on shore and to carry, away. hor "stern-post, rudder and propeller. Large number, of men were busy on Sunday. engaged, in salving the cargo, eto., and the weather was calm, and favourable for their. operation—On Wednesday. morning the, Company's steamer Mell left here with pumps, &v., for the scone of the disaster.
The O.M.S.N. Co.'s steamer Pautah, Captain. Patterson, which arrived yesterday from Tientsin, anchored at 2 am. on Tuesday, about a mile distant from, the Company's steamer Hankwang, stranded on the S.E, Promontory. She could have got nearer if it had been thought desirable todoso. The stranded steamer has the appearance of riding at anchor, deep loaded, with a list to starboard of about two degrees. Her cargo had been taken out of her before the arrival of the Pautah, to which steamer about 900 packages, very little damaged, were transferred, The engine-room was still quite dry when the Pautah left, and the weather.was fine and clear with a smooth sea. The Chinese gunboat Tae An, which had been standing by the wreck, was met on her way to Chefoo at 4.30 p.m, on the 28rd.
A correspondent from the North sends us the following The Hankwang is on a reef of rocks near to the uttermost point of the South-East Shantung Promontory, about two miles to the east of the little bight in which the 0.0.8.N. Co.'s steamer Shunlee was wrecked. The Shunlee has been broken up, and only a few frames of the hull: now remain. The two large boilers are ashore, none the worse for the vessel's mishaps.
The Hankwang at high tide is filled with water in the after and fore holds. The engine-room is free from water at all times, At low tide the fore hold is nearly free from water, and the after compartment is about two-thirds full. The sheer of the ship is unbroken, and the decks show no signs of strain. The screw shaft tunnel is tight, and when the vessel is raised'will serve asa tank. The foremast is through the ship's bottom. The engines are disconnected and can be lifted out complete, The cabin fittings, stoves, cooking ranges, compasses, and steering apparatus have already been got ashore.
A Chinese gunboat now at Chefoo: rendered some perfunctory assistance, but the lors plundered the wreck. The fishermen of the districts near to the scene have behaved very well in rendering assistance by night and by day, and by abstaining from plunder, It is to be hoped that a light will be placed on the South Hast Shantung Pro-mentary. The land is very dangerous in thick weather.
Captain Boswell deserves well of his employers, and his two officers and sailors have zealously seconded his labours. It is rumoured that the vessel was brought to her present position by. a pre-arranged conspiracy, as one iron nail and one iron screw were, unhappily after the wreck, found in the back of the liquid compass, apparently to work mischief. If this be true, we hope the miscreants. will be. brought to justice.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.