Great anxiety was caused in Hongkong by' the news that a serious collision had oe curred at the North extremity of the har-hour and a steamer had been sunk. Owing to the conflicting rumours, there was con siderable doubt as to what vessel the dis. aster had befallen, and it was not until yesterday morning that the facts became properly clear. There were no less than three steamers involved in the disaster The Norwegian s, s. Skramstad of Sande fjord (Capt. Hansen) was sunk; the German s.s. Tai Cheong of Hamburg (Capt. Alirens) and the British s.s. Perla (Cap. Blaxland were more or less damaged.
The Skramstad was backing out from Butterfield and Swire's wharf at Taikoo vas nearly opposite North Porat when abe where she had been discharging sugar, and
collided with the Tai Cheong, which was leaving for Langkat, in Sumatra. The Skramstad was struck on the port bow and had a great hole made in hor side, Aiter the collision, the vessels remained fast and continued so for about 15 minutes, during which time the Tai Cheong continued to drive the other vessel before her stern on towards the shore. Meanwhile the Perla bad been following in the wake of the Tai Cheong on her outward passage to Manila with cargo and passengers. Those on board the Perla saw the state of affairs, and the order was given to reverse the engines. This was done with all speed, but the captain was not able to prevent 2 collision, and he ran Into, or was run into by, the two boats, which are said to have been then steaming towards him at about 6 knots, and striking the Tai Cheong amidships on the port side, cannoned on to the Skramstad. " The Norwegian vessel was now cleared by the Tai Cheong and rapidly
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.