RUNNING THE BLOCKADE. AN EPISODE OF THE CHINESE WAR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 4214, 19 June 1895, Page 5

RUNNING THE BLOCKADE. AN EPISODE OF THE CHINESE WAR.

A portion of the crew of the Metapedia, Liverpool, which successfully ran the Chinese blockade with war material last December, have returned to Swansea, where they were shipped. They include John Dumphy, fireman ; Alf. Pugh, seaman ; James Welsh, donkeyman; Charles Williams, fireman; Dan Bryant, seainau ; Jack Euston, and James Fergusson. The men shipped on the vessel at Swansea in October last, having no fcuspicion that they were going to carry contraband of war. At Havre and Antwerp several cases of rifles aud sidearms were shipped, with half a dozen heavy cannon, and several cases of ammunition, including dynamite, etc., were taken on board — an operation which was repeated in port at Hamburg. The Swansea men took the first opportunity of interviewing the captain, with the result that four of them (cook, steward, donkeyman, and fireman) thereupon left the ship. Some new hands were shipped, and the vessel proceeded to sea — and to Japan. The Swansea men who remained say they had no alternative, seeing that they had no money to return, the half of their pay being left at home for their wives. They also had the captain's assurance that they would be all right. Seventy days were occupied by the voyage. Kobey and Eucoska, in Japan, were the alternative ports of their destination. Describing the running of the blockade, the men say that their vessel ignored Gibraltar, aud probably because they were living the English flag were let pass. At fort Said, where !/..ey were buuud to stop, they took in a lew tons, of buiiken> as a bhnii. Every precaution was taken in other wa\-s, and by clever manoeuvring every vessel was avoided. It was here, too, as they after■».a da learnt, that i.he Cuinese Government lir-di suspected her, and a search was made I'll 1 her nu'iiedidte y. After her departure Japanese wdttrts were leached in due course, aud Kobey was reached, and here the dynaiivte .«.ud saltpetre anl powder were discna» guil. Ou the CnrifcUnas Eve the Metapedid, Siiiled for Eucobka,, where there is a J ipme.->e dockyard, and there the remainder of her cargo was discharged. She then returned to Kobey, aud, having been inspected ]>y the Japanese officials, was sold to the Government, and the men were shipped home as passengers on board a North German Lloyd mail steamer.