Peking. Mar. 3.
The American Legation protested yesterday evening to the Ministry of Foreign its regarding the detent steamer Chichuen on Fel the arrest of author Jo is reported ito have arisen through the sinking compan, in which the Chiehuen yas in some way euncerned, vewilt of which a Chinese major and two soldiers wore reported. to have been drowned, and $29,000 alleged to have been lost.
While deploring the lose of life, protests are made on four counts, namely (1) That focal authorities hoarded the shin, (2) That they forcibly abducted the Captain, (3) That they held him in custody ashore, and (4) That they meantime constitute an cup flag. under which the vessel was and sise. a violation of proper procedure would have. been to affect an amicable settlement with the Captain, or, failing that, a complaint with the American Consul at Chungking, that the issue instruc. tions to. the Provincial and Military authorities concerned to arrange 2 satisfactory settlement with" thet American Consul at Chungking, The Chinese version of the chuen episode is contained in a note of the Foreign Office sent to the yesterday, which was drafted before the American protest of the previous [day had been received.
The note reviews the clrcumstances under which a Chinese major and seven petty officers were drowned, and accuses Captain Hawley of having started up the engines and swamped the lighter in which they were being conveyed ashore, 'The Foreign Office explains that the local authorities arranged with the master and pilot of the Chichuen to proceed to the office of the district magistrate at Fengehieh, in onder that their evidence might' be taken, and they decided to leave some soldiers aboard to protect the ship. Both master and pilot were yelensed as soon as the investigation had been completed.
The note complains thut every month a similar catastrophe occurs, some craft or other being sunk by the wash of some steamer. Therefore the note requests that the American Consul at Chungking be instructed to settle the matter on a Just basis, and that in future Steamers use more caution in order to prevent repetitions of this oecurrence—Reuter's Pacific Service.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.