EASTERN NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13863, 28 March 1907, Page 2

EASTERN NEWS.

A STEAMER FOUNDERS.

TYPHOON AT HONGKONG.

Files brought Iγ Port Darwin by the steamer Eastern state ihat, St. Jolm'-j College at Shanghai, which last year received from the United States power to confer degrees, has conferred upon four Chinese students the degree of 'Bachelor of Arts. Extraordinary enthusiasm To! ehown by the Chinese'students when their fellows received degrees. Details from Wuohow .relating to the sinking of the Hong Hinp show that tho steamer left Wuchow on Fobruarv 11 for Nanking with a large number of passengers . of tho superior class, tho majority being students rcturnuig from Europe and Japan to Kwangsi to spend the Chinese Now Year in their homes. Shortly after leavins Wiidiow W more pastcngers embarked on the vessel, which was already overloaded. At noon, wheu near Yuen Chow, the vessel struck a rock and

remained temporarily fixed, ■ and if the engines hart not been reversed might havo remained fast long enougli to save all lives. Tho ", effect of reversing the engines was that the vesso-1 slipped olf tho rook into deep watet and capsized. Indescribable confusion followed. The unfortunate people fought, desporaiely to escape through one little ■2ft hatch, their only means of exit. Very few passed out before the vessel sank. Tho. victims numbered 13') to 160, and only 33 were saved. Hongkong Ims bad far more than it? share <■•[ calamity recently, the jrrcat. typhoon having fccsri followed by tbe burning of Hankow, and then a typhoon on January 28 came without warning, and resulted in the loss of ICO lives. On January 28 tho harbour was restless, and save for a.black sky there was no suggestion of tho deathwind that TCi»ed only a. fow minutes later. At. 10 minutes io 1 hundreds of busy little sampan;, with Hioir thousands of' inhabitants, sped about, morrily on tho water. Out of tho calin cairn* a distant niutt-crinsr. In a few seconds all the light was shut out. by dark cloud masses, and tho blackness presaged disaster. Tho wind camo in puffs and in gusts slowly, and thon moro quickly. Tim water began to ctftch th<S forcp quicker and quicker, and with an ever-gatheri-i" speed came the squall. With a piercing " eehu " it. rushed acroa? the harbour, trailing a dense mist behind, then broke, and there came a drenching, lashing- pitiless rain, willi bail in its breath, and through it. lightning, and over it thunder. In five minules tho gloom lifted, and brightness took its place. In that brief period tho horror of the lyphoon had again been felt.