A collision of a most serious character occurred in Hongkong harbour on the 29th November perhaps the most disasirous that has occurred here with the exception of that between the Comorta and the Glenfruin last year. the Paxcitic Mull S. 8. Co.'s steamer City of Peking arrived between two and three o'clock p.m, from Sau Francisoy, and was steam: ing slowly slong the fairway to take up her buoy when abe found three large junks becalmed right in her way when within a short distance of the French mail steamer Saghalien, which was lying at her buoy. To avoid these junks it was neces: sary to alter the vessel's course ud pans what close to the Sayhalicn, but as the vessel Iny than, there was a clear cour Unfortunately, however, the tide was th on the turn, and before the Elly of Peking could yet past, the Sughalien swung round and presented her broadside to the Pacific Mail steamer, There was no possibility of avoiding hee then, and the only thing to be done was to get the way off the steamer much na possible, so a8 to minimise the foray of the collision, This was done, the engines being put full speed astern," but though the vowel was going at but a speed at the time, the way could not be yot off sufficiently to avoid disastrous consequences. The City of Peking struck Saghalien, end on, about the bridge, and though she had then but very little way on, her immense weight drove her sharp straight atom into the side of the Frenich steamer like a knife, penetrating her from the top of her starboard side to about four feet below water, making a very clean cut about two to three feet wide all the way down. The City of Peking was at once backed out, and stood by to render tance possible, The prench in the side of the Saghalien was within theengineroomand boiler compartment, which was somewhat fortunate, asthe watertight bulkheads here are extra strony. Water poured into the bunkers and the engine room in great volume, and in a very short time filled the compartment more than half way up the cylinders. The catastrophe was witnessed by large numbers of people ashore and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.