At about 8.30 a.m. on April 7, the C.N.S. Chekiang, whilst on a voyage from Amoy to Shanghai, met with a very serious accident, breaking her tail end shafting, and losing her propeller, leaving the vessel to the mercy of a high sea which was running at the time: Luckily the vessel was then in a position where she could be brought to anchor, but although anchored with a considerable amount of cable out, she continued to drift, but being in the regular track of shipping it was not long before a steamer was signalled, this was the 1.-C.S. Choysang, who at once replied and stood by, being at the time unable to take the Chekiang in tow, owing to the state of the weather. This steamer stood by until about midnight, when the C.N.S. Szechuen was signalled, who, being one of the same company's vessels as the str. Chekiang, relieved the Choysang.
At about 5.30 a.m. on April 8, the str. Szechuen began operations, to take the Chekiang tow line, which was a difficult piece of work, it being at the time impossible to lower any smal] boat to convey the tow line to the Szechuen, owing to the heavy sea that was running and both vessels rolling and pitching heavily. However, after a little manceuvring, it was successfully got on board the Szechuen, with the aid of a life-buoy and small lines, which was much to the credit, of Captain Benson of the Szechuen who displayed fine seamanship in handling his vessel during the whole operation.
At 9 a.m, the tow line was secured to The Szechuen, and both vessels weighed their anchors and proceeded on a 230 mile journey to Shanghai, arriving at Woosung about 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.