Exact Details of the Recent Unparalleled Series of Disasters The following additional details of the recent wrecks in the Gorges, from an authoritative source, ill be of interest as showing what exactly happened in this unequalled series of interests.
Tehang April 21.
The str. Pakiang (under Italian flag), is reported a total loss at the Yeh-tan, 60 miles up river from Tehang, on the 15th inst.
She left here at daylight on above date, under command of Captain Turner, and was on her 14th low water trip. this season. She had only one pilot on board; the other having gone to the str. Yungkiang, bring her down from Chung-King, that vessel having been sold to the military.
The Pakiang carried a cargo of ease oil for the S, 0, Ca, and a small quantity of general cargo. She was drawing 7'6", being greatly. overloaded. She passed the Gangerous Hsin-tan and Kung-ling-tan rapids, but came to grief at the Yeh-tan, striking, it is said, the same rock as the Lichuen struck some years ago, It is not clear whether it was a case of the vessel sheering owing to being overoaded, or an error of judgment, but all interested in low water navigation regret this accident as Captain Turner, who was piloting at the time of the accident, has had a most successful season, and ran at levels hitherto thought impossible.
The vessel was beached on the right bank below the rapid, and had salvage pump been available she would probably have been salved. She was holed in the forehold and boiler room just at the bulkhead. Tunks were procured and lashed alongside the forepart, but the water rapidly at the Fate of one ki foot an hour, causing the spars supporting the fore end to break, The after part then rose with the water, and the vessel broke in two at 1.00 a.m. on the morning of the 19th. The water at Chungking suddenly rose from 1' to 9'0" and this sudden rise was responsible for the total loss of this vessel. Had the accident happened when the water was at its lowest, she would doubtless have been There was no loss of life and most of the cargo is salved.
Total Loss of Robert Dollar 11
This vessel left Chungking at about 6 am. on the with and at 9 fam, struck the rocks on the left dance at miteago $10.4 at Ch'ai Pan Tau. The vessel at the time was proceeding full speed, and it appears the rocks pierced the port quarter, and must have torn almost the whole ofthe after: end out of her. She heeled over to a dangerous angle. The captain at once put the helm hard Shashih fend." Almost immediately the vessel settled down by the stern and heeled over to, starboard, submerging the stern. The vessel is now probably covered and will become a total loss as the river is rising rapidly, tis known. that two Chinese children were washed overboard and drowned, and an authoress, who was travelling under the auspices of the Robert. Dollar Company to write a descriptive handbook of the Gorges, was washed overboard, and carried by the current on to the shingle bunk.
80 Chinese Drowned feared that 30 Chinese passengers may have lost their fives, 80 quickly "did she settle down, "which would indicate that had she.not. been promptly beached she might have gone down in deep water with a heavy loss of life. All cargo is lost. were able to keep the water under control, and it is reported this morning that the vessel is in no danger, and no cargo damaged.
The Kuling left this morning with salvage gear, and a motor salvage pump, supplied by Messrs. Rochs White the. vessel isin no immediate danger it must: be remembered that she is very old, and her bottom plates are most probably in very bad condition. The water day is still rising, but not so rapid-to cause any anxiety,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.