'THE Loss or THE ' Ferma,"
Shanghai, 16th November.
Before James Scorr, Esq., Lieut. OwEn Guxerr of H.M.S. Severn, and Captain AwpERTON of the P. & O, steamer Ganges, A Naval Court of Enquiry into the loss of the s.s. Feima was held this afternuou at the Jritish Consulate. Mr. Reginald P. Walker, Assistant Paymaster H, M.S, Severn, acted as Clerk of the Court, and read the order constituting the tribunal, Captain William Goo. G. Leask, master of the es. Feima, put in the following statement:—On November 8th, 1892, at 0.30 p.m. cast off from the wharf at Shanglini and proceeded down river with moderate easterly wind and fine weather, tide flood, Draft 12ft. and 13ft. Sin, When off Black Point I noticed the s, s, Hangchow following at sume distance, and when Gough Island was reached she was not far astern, und rapidly overtaking us. When getting close she reduced her ed, keeping astern several lengths, Ish. Gine and some vdd inches of water was hoisted at the Signal Station I kept on, meeting a strong flood tide. All my attention was taken up by the navigation of my own: véasel, an ing another steamer coming up meetin, me, she having the right of way, I therefore to be careful to give her room. After crossing the bar "ud nearly abreast of the French godowns, taking: the usual mid-channel course, Lheard the Hangchow's whistle blown. Looking abaft I saw her on my starboard quarter, coming rapidly. towards us in an oblique direction, und so near that I could avoidable. I kept my cours going at full speed. Almost' immediately afterwards the Hangehno collided with us, striking us on the starboard quarter, 42 fect from the stern, with great force, cutting deep into the' side. I at once put the telegraph to "stop" and then turned it om to full speed ahead" which order at once carried out, I, seeing that the steamer would soon sink, put the helm hard sport, and with " the assistance of the Hangchow, which did not back out of the hole, but kept going ahead, helping to turn our head over..towards the north shore. The steamer rapidly filled with water and sank about 300 feet to the northward of the line of bar-marks, The lifeboats were gut out at once, and, the Harbour Master came alongside'in his Munch to render assistance, also boats from the Chinese men-of-war, and native sampans. All the passengers und most of their effect were quickly: taken off the steamer in safety and no lives were lost. I asked" Mr. Hansen the Harbour Master to telegraph
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.