The Wahyenng, a river steamer of 313 tons, trading between Hongkongand Canton, was destroyed by fire on the Lath while on her way up the Canton River, and about three hundred Chinese passengers perished. he terrible disaster occurred about nine o'clock, when the vessel was about halfway on her journey, and near to Chun Pee Point. The Walyeung, which was owned
Kong, left this port shout five' o'clock by Sin Kee of the Nan-pak Hong, Hong: p.m, on the 16th with about 500 Chinese passengers and a general cargo, the Usually lage number of passengers being accounted for by the exodus of visitors that has been taking place since the close of the Jubilee Celebration in this Colony. The ship was densely crowded with these holiday-makers, a large proportion of whom were women and children. All went well until the hour mentioned, when, suddenly, the alarm was raised that fire had broken out in the after-hold, The alarm was too well founded, What the origin of was has not yet been discovered—the only conjecture with regard to it is that some of the Chinese passengers had been smoking down below and had carelessly set fire to some material of an inflammable character amongst the cargo—but it was evident that the fire had got a serious hold before any measures could be taken to prevent its speeding. The second engineer, Mr. Hannan, who was the first of the officers to notice the beginning of the contlagration, immediately informed the Captain, Mr.' De Witt, who having called the Chief Engineer, Mr. Charles Chambers, to accompany him, went to see what could done." They attempted to go down the companion way, but by that time the thick suffocating smoke from the burning cargo and timber was coming up in so dense a mass that to descend with the hope of coming up again alive was impossible. The officers, after one or two efforts to get down, gave up the attempt and ran forward. By this time the crowd of Chinese passengers were ina state of the wildest excitement, and the scene on deck was one of the utmost panic and confusion, Scarcely had the officers reached the forward part of the vessel when a vast mass of flame rose above the after-hold and driven by the wind, which was blowing from aft, sped forward with dreadful rapi and in a few seconds the ship was burning from stem to stern. 'The flames literally ran along the deck. An attempt was made to get out the life-boats, but it was impossi-Ule to get near them. In this awful state of matters it was found that absolutely noth "could be done except to turn the vessel' head on to the beach. The mass of human beings on deck had crowded forward before the fire as it swiftly advanced, until there was no room for further retreat, and those who did not throw themselves overboard were devoured by the flames, In the frantic crush which took place many of the women and children met a death little less horrible than that of burning, while of those who in desperation flung themselves from the fated ship but few escaped drowning. The fearful spectacle of the blazing ship was seen from other vessels at a consi derable distance, and what help could be rendered was readily given; but in so short a tine as there was for making any efforts to save live it was but little that could be done. The Captain and officers, the only Europeans on board barely escaped with their lives. The engineers had been driven from the engines soon after the fire was observed, but the vessel continued to go full speed towards the beach. The officers were in momentary expectation of an explosion occurring and had given up all hope of ever leaving the vessel alive. Fortunately for them, however, no explosion did take plaice, and a few seconds after the ship touched the bank of the river they leapt into the water, the deck being then burningundertheirfeet. They eouldall except chambers, the chief neer, but he, thanks to Captain de Witt's gallant efforts, was safely taken on shore with the others—Hannan the second engineer, and Sindel the clef officer. As the Wulyenuy struck the beach a buat of thes.s. Pasig canie round the Point and succeeded in' picking up about fifty of the passengers out of the water. The s.s, Potcan, which was astern of the Wahyenng going up the river, also despatched 'a boat to the rescue, in which about twenty passengers were saved. A boat from the Fi which was further up the river, few. A few were saved by th mich Kum Wah belonging to the Tok Kee, and by Chinese Customis boats. About a hundred altogether succeeded in getting ashore from the burn-
"WWe are informed that the Tahyenng had on board, including the crew, about 520 persons, "Among the passengers were about 20 children. The cargo consisted of 100 pieces of lend, 21 cases of o and over 100 packages of merchandise There was no kerosene oil on board.
The Captain and officers of the Wakyering arrived here with the Pasig about half-past four on Wednesday morning. The Captain and the chief officer, along with the owner of the ill-fated steamer, left in a steam Launch about six o'clock for the scene of the disaster. The Wuhyewng, we understand, was not insured. Among the rumours prevailing with regard to the disaster was one that the vessel had a large quantity of kerosene on board, but this, we are assured, was not the ease. "Another run.our, equally unfounded, was that the catastrophe was the work of incendiaries.
The oticers mention that the Chinese soldiers at the fort at Chuen Pee behaved extremely well, offering them food and drink and making preparations to dry their clothes, ete.
The Committee of the Tung Wah Hospital have despatched four steam-launches to the scene of the disaster for the purpose of picking up bodies.—China Wail.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.