After making the ship secure, a messenger was despatched Kuanchi, a village four miles iver, to engage junks and boatmen ashist in the salvage of the cargo. Another was sent to Changshou, the nearest city, to telegraph news of the accident to the Company's 'Agent at Wanksion, and to request him to inform the' Commander of the U. 8.8 Oahu, stationed Wanhsien. The Chita was under Amevican registration and the U. S.
Oahu was the nearest American szunboat on the river.
Some hours later a party of hoatmen came down with junks from Kunnehi, prepared by all means at heir disposal to make the most out fof the vessel in distress on their Shore, Exorbitant rates were manded for the hive of the junks andthe labour of the batsmen mander Mackenzie sent over an officer to offer assistance. Lieut.
Commander Thomas of the U. 8. S.
Asha, being unable to leave' Wanhsien on account of the low level of the river at that time, had requested Commander Mackenzie of the Tern to send a full report of the accident by wireless, and this was done.
"Mr, Pidgin"
Meanwhile salvage, operations wers continued and efforts made to clear the cargo and locate the leak. 'More junks were required to take! the earzo, but the Kuanchi boatmen ted on monopolizing the business and keeping off outside jank-' men who were willing to help, To circumvent their scheme, when' fresh junks appeared in sight down! river, Capt. Pickerment sent hia men in the ship's sampan to. meet them, and engage the junks before their owners came under the in-nonce of the Kuanchi men, ig his plans frustrated, the i leader of the Kuanchi gang. went aboard the newly-arrived james to intinvidate the boatmen and compel them to hold-off, as he had succeed. ed in doing before. After much! provocation he was warned by Capt.
cerment to desist from inter ference, but he persisted in spite warnings. Further, he made' himself generally obnoxious, attempting to terrorize the passengers and crete, and create a panic favourable to pillage of the steam by his gang.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.