The Hsinming is commanded by Capt. J. S. Soden and this feat in getting a line to the helpless Vessel in such fearful weather is described as a great and meritori" ous, performance.
The vessel left Shanghai at 3 pam. on January 4. The weather was bad and inclined to be foggy. Passing Tongting light it was blowing a gale from the northwest and veering northerly with heavy snow and sleet squalls Which obscured everything. At 9 ain, on Sunday, January 5, the vessel passed the position given by wireless but could sco nothing. Further wireless communication with the Hsinchang gave a very vague position in the vicinity of the Heachu Islands to' which the vou sel proceeded feeling the way cly soundings. Finding nothing, they headed north again and at 9.40 pin. received a definite position' from the Hsinchang.
'A further message stated - that the position of the vessel was very dangerous. The Hsinming, therefore, set off at full speed again and sighted the Hsinchang at 240 amon January 6. As. it was blowing very hard with a heavy rough sea they rounded to stood north keeping the yessd in all the time. The str.
fakutakusn Maru was also attendance. At daylight it was decided that nothing could be done fon account of the high seas and there was nothing to do but wait.
Flooding the Aft Hold owing to her very light condition, was making very heavy weather of it and no. matter in what direction the ship headed, the engines raced heavily. The people on board the Hsinchang ter informed Capt. Soden that in a sea-way they could see the whole of the propeller and the! keel as far as the mai [Owing to these conditions, tain ordered that the flooring the after hold be taken up and when completed water was run Into the hold to the extent of four ft, The steamer was then st. dier. On Tuesday, January 7, it was still' blowing a gale and the Japanese yesso! tried all the morn-1 to couple up with the Hsin-ichang but gave up before neon owing' to weather conditions. At' 430 the same day, an S.0.S. was received from the Hsinchang stating that his anchor had go ind thathe was drifting fast. A reply was sent that the Hsinming would Keep close all night. The Japanese vessel left at 1 am. on January 8. The Hsinchang continued to drift and the weather was still very bad. The position was now getting critical and as it] was absolutely impossible to get ear enough to pass a line on board, Capt. Soden determined to try and sweep one alongside of the helpless vessel. Two 24 in. Hines were bent together and buoyed with wooden fenders and. paid out to the end. The Hsin-chang was broadside on and in the trough of the sea, the Hsinming circled ther and in the first attempt managed f get the Dut the crew of the helpless vessel missed it The third attempt was successful and the line was passed on beard.
The Hsinming accordingly commenced the tow to Amoy but the weather got worse and worse. Men were stationed day and night to watch the ropes and after a stormy passage eventually arrived fu Amoy harbour on January 11 transferred to the ived in Shanghat on January 17 at 9. a.m.
Capt. Soden paid a great tribute to his officers, engineers, and crew and referred to the efficient and willing way that all performed their duties in an exceptionally hard and trying experience.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.