3 22nd August. Before Capt. Vavoran Lewes, R. N., H. M.S. Fraxiuess (President), B.
G. Touns, Esq. (H. B, M.'s Vico-Consul), and Capt. Writiam Liovp Joes (of the s. Ichang).
This Court was convened to enquire into the circumstances attending the sinking of the s. Hipsang on the 16th ult.
The Clerk of the Court read the order convening the Court, and also the request from Messrs. Jardine, Matheson Ca. for the enguiry.
Mr. L. E. P. Jones appeared on behalf of the owners of the vessel to watch proceedings.
Captain R. ©. D. Bradley, sworn—I was master of the s, Hipsang when she was lost. I have a copy of my statement here.
The President—If you will agree to it, it will save time to accept that statement as your evidence, Captain Bradley expresses his will done so, than another shot was fired from ness, and accordingly read the following 1 torpedo-boat-destroyer that was on our statement starboard side abaft the beam. I at one At about 2.35 p.m. on the 16th July, rang "full speed astern" on the engine-1904, the s. Hipsang having have her room telegraph. Than another was anchors up and managed to turn head fired from the torpedo-boat destroyer, down stream under steam, proceeded and then another and another—from the anchorage at Newchwang down the intervals between the shots not being river towards the Newchwang Bar under a long one—and as one shot passed chose the charge of pilot Lawrence.
The ind me on the bridge, hitting some-passage down the river and cross the thing which I believe was the chart-table, bar was managed without stoppages, and I then realised that the torpedo-boat-the pilot was disembarked outside of the destroyer was firing at the ship, 0 Newchwang Bar at about 4.45 p.m. I I called out to the chief officer (the Captain) then took some azimuths. whose voice I heard on the by the sun to check the errors on the lower bridge: "Mr Smith, got the courses that would take the ship down boats out," or words to that effect, the coast during the night, and then the and also called out to a lot of the Chinese ship going full-speed ahead, at about who were crowding into the small work-5.10 p.m., I set the course $. W. 3 S. ing-boat that was always carried hanging by the standard compass, which would in the davits, to got out of the boat so be S. 33° W, true.
At about 11.15 pin.. that she could be lowered down into Reef Point was abeam, either 2} or the water, Meanwhile the torpedo-boat miles off (I do not remember which) and destroyer was firing at the ship—but as the ship—owing to a strong how many shots I cannot say, as I did tide—had come down the coast at a not count them—and she then fired what much greater rate over the ground than believe was a torpedo—anyhow the ship Thad estimated that she would travel, I P then rang " half-speed" on the engine-room telegraph, and altered the course gan to sink by th to S. by W. 2 W. nothing 8. which Before the ship was struck by this would be 8. 17° W. true, and would be I or torpedo, the English ensign was up expected a true course of S. 18° W. The and flying from the flagstaff aft, and I reason why I reduced speed to "half-had recognised the Russian ensign on the speed" when off Reef Point, was because torpedo-boat-destroyer. When the way having received notices from the Chinese was nearly off the ship, I rang stop" Imperial Maritime Customs that float on the engine-room telegraph; and then mines had been scon on the open sea, recognising that the ship was doomed, that some had been seen in the neigh-the idea of lifo-belts for the Chinese came bourhood of Iron Island, I wanted to have into my mind, so I ran down into the ood daylight when getting down to saloon to one of the cabins where they ron Island so that I could see objects had been kept, but found that others had floating on the water, and, if mines, avoid been before me. Still seeing two, I striking them.
Thought of danger from snatched these up, and noticing a big ither Russian or Japanese men-of-war carving-knife as I' passed the pantry fire, never at any time occurred to me; door, I picked it up to cut away the the only danger that I reco, ed round lashings of some of the boats. Running about that neighbourhood, was the out of the saloon, I throw' he life-belte possible danger of stu ig a floating at some of the Chi and then clam-mine. At about 3 a.m. on the 16th July bered up on the boat-skids and started I rang "slow" on the engine-room in cutting adrift the starboard forward is Worship remarked that the charge telegraph, as I fancied that the life-boat, so that she could float off when ship was still getting over the the ship sunk. I then cut through throo ground much too fast, but at about 3.30 of the gripe lashings of the next boat aft, am. Lrang " full speed" on the engine-but could not cut through the fourth lash-room telegraph, as at that time I felt ing because of a wire-seizing. Finding confident that I could see far enough that I could not cut it through, I threw round the ship to clear a floating mine. away the knife and jambed down on At about 3.45 or 3.50 am. as we were deck, and then noticing that the torpedo-getting down to Iron Island, I altered the boat-destroyer had come alongside the course to S. by W. by the standard comip on the starboard side by the fore pass, and shortly afterwards to South, igging, and that the people were and passed ontside—or to the westward—getting over the rail and on board of of Iron Island on that course. her, I began hurrying the Chinese At4.15 am. onthe 16th July, Iron along the deck towards the fore part. Island was abeam bearing Eust'by the Most of them being on board the Standard compass, and distant 13 miles. destroyer, the officers and engineers I then altered the course to S. by E., and bogan calling out to me to come on went down off the bridge. The weather board the destroyer; so having hoisted a being beautifully clear for miles all round young Chinese woman over the rail who the ship and the land boldly distinct, had "caused mo some delay, and got only Iron Island had a small cloud rest-hor caught hold of by some of the people ing on its summit, ud a long way ahead on the torpedo-boat-destroyer, I got down there was an appearance as though a fog rope on to the bridge of the destroyer bank was making up from the south-where the captain was, The Russian ward.
At about 4.20 ain—I at that captain then asked me if.I had got the time being in my room and going to fill ship's papers. To which I answered my pipe—I heard the sound of a shot words to this effect " By Jove! no; clean fired from somewhere to the westward of forgot all about them; but I'll jolly soon the ship. I at once put my pipe down got them." And I started back to get and rau out of my room to the bridge them. The chief officer wanted to go, Indder, meeting the second officer half-saying " Captain, lot me go but I would way down the ladder, and who said not lot him; so getting up the side again, words to this effect "A torpedo-boat has Iran along the main deck and across, and fired a shot across the bow, Tan-up on to the lower bridge and into' the swered with words to this effect "All chart-room; collared hold of the dispatch right sir, hoist the ensign up," and run-box, to get it and myself back on board ning up on the bridge and across to the the torpedo-boat-destroyer. The Russian telegraph stand, I rang "stop" on the captain than gave some orders in Russian, engine-room telegraph. I had no sooner the rope was cast off, and the destroyer
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.