We regret to announce that news has been received by cable from Swatow of the death of Mr. Isaac Roberts, late chief-engineer in the China Navigation Company, who left by the O.N.S. Luchow for a brief trip to Hongkong on Saturday last only to succumb, presumably to heart failure, on the following morning.
Born in Glasgow on April-27, 1856, Mr. Roberts arrived in China as far back as 1878, when he joined the firm of Jardine, Matheson & Ca., subsequently serving the '"'Siemssen" Line and "Hewett" Line, and later as chief engineer of the Cass, which ° together. with the Smith, maintained a service between Shanghai and Formosa prior.to the' China-Japan war. During the war, while in Tamsui, the Cass was heavily shelled.by mutinous: Chinese troops and all on board had a narrow escape for their lives, After a brief trip to South Africa, Mr. Roberts returned to China and joined the firm of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire in 1897, with whom he remained until March of this year, when he retired on pension. As a token of respect the Company's flags were flown ab half mast yesterday.
Of a genial and "indly disposition, "Isaac" was well known and respected up and down the whole China coast. He is survived by a wife, two sons and two daughters, with whom the deepest sympathy will be felt in the sad bereavement.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.