We are indebted to the Doctor on board the str. Port Maria for the following account of the recent accident to that vessel, Writing from Tsuraga on July 17 he says I regret to have to inform you that on our way to Tsuruga, carrying mails and passengers, we struck a rock off the coast of Japan, near Taurnga, at 3.05 o'clock this morning.
Most of us on board were awakened by a sudden sharp shock and a hideous kind of grating, tearing sensation. Then I heard the propeller going hard-and my friend the third officer's "Get up, Doctor, Getting up without waiting for " second hint I noticed the poor wounded ship had " helpless kind of list to port. As this increased slowly but curely, an order came down from the bridge to awaken the passengers them on deck. emergency like ours the efficacy of a strict rule of the Company that no cabin keys are allowed w passengers was obvious, ax they could all be quietly but effectually roused, and they dressed without delay. "All were on deck, by 3.20. The boats were! swung onjside flush with the saloon deck ready for any emergency. The morning broke peaceful, fortunately the sea was and the wind blowing a Bat the poor Port Maria looked 1s if hor time was spent T heard that the water at 4 o'clock had reached the stoke-hole plates, and even above that, until it flowed through the water-tight doors between the engine-room and stoke-hole. This was kept under control by what is understood in engineering parlance ax the bilge injection being opened as a substitute forthe tain injection Should we unfortunately not have been able to keep the engines under control, the water undoubtedly would have risen to such an extentes to putin jeopardy the lives of all aboard. As the port list was increasing, especially towards the stern, detonators were fired, at the same time we proceeded at full steam ahead with the ailable boilers on the starboard side, and the ship was comfortably beached at 7.30 with its wounded side to the! shelving shore. At once we were surrounded by sampansete. Fortunately two German men-of-war were at anchor in the harbour—S. M.S. 8. Leipzic and First Bismarck and__ the) officers and men were soon assisting us. They sent off a boat with a splendid equipment for diving, and s man was sent down to look at our damage below the water line.
'A diver was also sent to look on the inside, but to the time of writing the full damage has not been ascertained.
Just a word in conclusion. The behaviour of our Captain and officers was simply splendid, as was to be expected under the British Flag, Engineers working downstairs, up to their waists in water, deserve special mention for they performed not only their duty, but more, acting like men and heroes! in time of stress and danger. The Chinese stood to stations and did their duty perfectly: there was no panic.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.