An action for $42,905.10 damages was brought by the Sai Shing Steamship Company against Messrs, Melchers & Ca. agents for the North German Lloyd, in the Provisional Court before Judge Kao, on August 3. There is also a Jcounter-claim of Tis, 10,543.58, Mr, Jas, Wu appeared for the Sai Shing S. Ca, and Dr. F. Wile helm for the North German Lloyd.
The notions arise out of a collision between the str. Hai Shing and the North German Lloyd str, Komaline Bright, outside Woosung on January 19.
Chow Mein-ding, manager of the Shing Ca., Shing, which was anchored at No, 2 buoy off Woosung and which was loaded with 65 piculs of fish, lifted anchor at about 7 aa. on January 19, and while turning round to make for Shanghai was rammed amid: ships by the Komaline Bright, "Wit: ness contended that defendant' vessel was travelling at a high speed despite the fact that it high tide and that it was a misty morning. The Sai Shing had to be beached and the cost of salvaging, ete. amounted to Tls, 21,871.75, Further sums of Tis, 520 and Ts, 8,000, respectively, were claimed for loss of fish and as damages for the Jo3s incurred through the vessel being tied up from January 19 to March 6, The defendant's answer, filed by Dr. Wilhelm, states that the accident was due to. the negligence of those in charge of the Sai Shing. It claims that the weather was not that the Komaline Bright was not travelling at an excessive speed, but that the Sai Shing attempted to cross the bows of the German vessel from a very short distance, The action of those in Jcharge of the Chinese ship gave no chance to the captain of the Ko-maline Bright to avoid a collision, although the ship was put full speed astern, The defendant's anewer further states that the visibility on the morning of the collision was Jtwo miles and that the Komaline Bright had blown her whistle within a half mile of the Chinese vessel.
After the collision, the Komaline Bright assisted in the beaching of the Sai Shing, thus avoiding a total loss. Temporary repairs were effected at Shanghai to the Ko-maline Bright and on the return of the ship to Bremen repairs and de-Jmurrage fees cost the company Ts. 10,534.68.
Dr. Withelm asked the Court to permit a maritime court in Bremen or Hamburg to take the evidence of the captain and crew of the Ko-Jmaline Bright, but Judge Kao said that such a procedure would not allow the counsel for the plaintiff the privilege of eross-examination. He would, therefore, order an ad-Jjournment until such time as the captain of the Komaline Bright could appear in Court.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.