Shanghai, Feb. 14.
"The most severe ice conditions on record, and certainly the worst within "memory," was the descrip xlven by Inv. G. Wright, Chief Omer of the China Navigation Company's s. Shengking, in reference to the recent cold snap in the Gulf of Chih, which temporarily paralysed and seriously dislocated shipping schedules in Northern waters. Mr. Wright said that weather conditions in the Polar re-lions could not be any worse than those which have been prevailing long the northern coast of China, and went on to give a vivid account of the last trip of the Shengking in an exclusive interview with a represent tive of the "North-China Herald, immediately after the vessel's arrival alongside. the French Bund yesterday. afternoon.
On February tho, Shengking lett Shanghai, bound for tientsin, under regular schedule, with the additional purpose of rendering all_ available Assistance to other ships of the fect imprisoned in the ice-pack. With this end in view, she was heavily bunkered ind equipped with adequate towage land rescue gear, The usual call was made at Tsingtao, after which the ship Toft for Chefoo on the 6th Cutting Through tee On the morning of the 7th, the shengking steamed through an' extensive ice-field which had formed between Kungtungtao (an island lying to the Enst of Chefoo) and Sentry. Rock, Assistance wai rendered at this point to the 5 Nangehang, which was completely blocked In by the ice, on which it was possible to skate for a few miles around the vessel. By cleaving n one through the ice "just like a knife going through butter." as Mr, Weight it—the Nangehang was successfully cut out, After leaving Chefoo on the 7th, at 4 bana the Shengking headed for Taku Bar and wag between those two points that the most trying difficulties were encountered, The shade temperature was 12 degrees Fahrenheit, equivalent to 10 degrees of frost. Small bers which had been "calved" from the northern Lee-barrier were encounter: ed, Mr, Wright stated that most of these "averaged 20 ft. in height, which means that approximately 120 {t, of solid lee lay beneath the surface, ready to rip anything that came their way.
The s, Hulchow. which had been imptigoned in the ice for four days, Was sighted 18 miles east of the "Taku Lightship, which subsequently was) removed by the Tangku port author! ties, as it was drifting with the ice: old and therefore useless as a sight for shipping. In this region, the ice wag 3 ft, to 4 ft, thick and, in endeavouring to effect the cutting out of the Huichow, the Shengking became imbedded in' the fee for 1% hours, Great diMeully was experlenced in releasing the Hulchow. It Was frst of all necessary for the Shenaking to plough a tane through the heavy ico, through which the Hulchow had to follow very closely astern of the Shengking, in order to Femain In froe water and obviate the' vis of becoming imprisoned tu gain, This was a very ticklish Job, for, "should the Shengking in_the Tend have suddenly been stopped on her course by the ice, a serious collision would have been dificult to avoid, According to Me. Wright. such a collision only was "narrowly averted by the quick thinking and prompt action of the captain of the Hulehow; who cleverly reduced wa fon his vessel. by causing her to 2iz~ vay and Teoehet off the ice on the jes of the lane when on one occa-Sion the Shenaking brought up) abruptly on the iee-barrier.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.