Wreck of the City Tokio.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 119, 12 September 1885, Page 3

Wreck of the City Tokio.

tin the xUokft in a Fog. The Paoific Mail Steamship Arabic brought the latest intelligence in reference to the loss of the magniacent steamship City of Tokiobff Sagami lighthouse. The following particulars of the disaster, the fact of the sliding of the vessel ou the "rocks at midnight in a dense fog, and how she was at last torn to pieces by a typhoon have been gleaned : The Tokio, which left San Fransisco on June 2nd, sighted the light off Cape King on Tuesday night, June 23rd. After the light was seen the course was taken upthenarrowto Yokohama. Itw as impossible to distinguish the landmarks along the Bhore and there are no foghorn stations m that locality to guide the mariner by mournful sounds from the steam whistle. Although the water w»s calm, Captain Maury was aware of the danger, and was at his place on the bridge, but could perceive nothing, as the steamer was enveloped in a dense fog and darkness. Under these exceedingly dangerous circumstances, the vessel proceeded toward Yokohama until midnight. Commodore Maury, however, supposed that she continued along the usual and wellknown course up the channel. Suddenly the man at the lookout and the Commodore on the bridge felt the doomed steamer sliding noiselessly upon the shelving rocks.

The Tokio on tbe Rooks. In an instant the prow of the steamer had protruded and was tightly wedged among the rocks of the shore. Her engines were immediately revereed, but all the strength of the machinery-failed to move her from the dangerous position. The fog was still dense, but the sea remained unusually calm, and there was neither wind nor waves to pound the hull to pieces against the rocks. The place where the Tokio went ashore was just north of the Sigami Lighthouse and twenty miles from Yokohama. A private letter written by one of the passengers to a friend in this city states that about 6.30 o'clock in the evening land was seen, and at three hours later the steamer was opposite the Cape King Lighthouse. The weather had been thick all day, but just before dark it cleared up, and the mouth of the bay was entered while the moon was shining full. At 11 o'clock the Sigami light was abreast on the port beam and about three miles distant, and tbe passengers were watohing intently for the Kanonsaki Lighthouse, which is nine miles further up the bay. There was a steamer a mile ahead of the Tokio, which she was rapidly overhauling. There was every reason to believe that at 1 o'olock in the morning she would be anchored near the lightship, and the passengers were discussing the probability of the steam launches from the hotel coming out on arrival of the ship or later on in the morning, when like a pall a bank of fog settled on them, shutting out the lighthouse, the steamer, the moon, and almost all light. The order to stop the engines was given. The engines were again started, and the vessel proceeded at a very slow speed— in what direction or for what object it was impossible for the passengers to tell, but^ as it was afterwards proved, she was heading for her doom. Presently the passengers could tell by the straining and trembling of the veseel that the propeller was revolving with wonderful rapidity, but the vessel was stationary. The steamer was stuck fast to the rocky bottom, as before stated.

A Perilous Position. Two Japanese fishermen goon came alongside in their boats, and, through an interpreter, they were questioned by the Commodore. One piece of information which they gave was particularly discouraging. It was high water, but there was not more than three or for feet difference between high and low water at that season. The soundings were taken all about the steamer. On the side of the bow the water was quite ! shoal, while on the other it was deeper than the draught of the ship, Near the fore rig- 1 ging it deepened again, but about amid- j 'ship, just under the engine-room, there were but three fathoms of water, while six ' fathoms lay under the stern. It was soon made known to the passengers that they were in no peril, but in the uncertainty of the place, with the ship leaking as she thumped, and with the possibility that she might break in two under tbem, many of the voyagers silenty prepared for an involuntary bath in the briny deep. Steam was made in the four extra boilers, and, with a full head in all of the ten boilers, she was backed with the whole force of the engines, which worked with a rapidity they had never known before, The machinery shook the ship a8 if to tear her to pieces. The action of the screw increased the swell, and the vessel bumped harder and harder. The crew and 100 of the Chinese passengers ran back and forth on the lower deck, shifting the cargo aft. 6 A Total Wreck. It was finally decided to jettison a part of the cargo, to relieve the frame of the vessel of the great weight pressing against it. A large quantity of flour was thrown overbold, and at one time the water was covered with floating sacks, and one could easily imagine it was a green field upon which a large flock of sheep was pasturing, The passengers, among them Minister Hubbard were taken in the launches to Yokohama, where no eerioua apprehension was felt for the vessel. On Friday night the wind came up, and, seeing that there was but little hope of getting his steamer off, Captain Maury commenced to save all the cargo possible. On the afternoon of July 2nd the commander announced that the barometer was rapidly falling, and a great change in the weather would soon take place, and ordered the crew and attaches, numbering 336 in all, ashore. A terrible tvpboon came up a few minutes after all had landed. The violent winds shook the masts of the vessel, and as they heaved back and forth they rattled the plates of the ship, loosening the bolts and shattering the framework of the hull. Finally a succession of heavy seas washed over her and the Tokjo soon disappeared from sight. The end of the foreyard was | the last vestige of the sinking steamer seen bv the officers and crew, who had watched with awe the battle of the elements and the destruction of the vessel. Eight times a year for seven years past the Tokio had arrived safely at Yokohama, and she was a favourite steamer with the hundreds of passengers that have travelled upon her. At Yokohama there is considerable sympathy expressed for Captain Maury, who haslcommanded vessels for forty years, and who has only now sustained his first serious disaster. By his friends it is claimed that the fog blinded him and currents misled him. In the extremity of his caution he attempted to turn aboutfogain, and got in the "omW'and in turning the rocks were struck. Since the accident he has been calm and subdued, but almost heartbroken, for his record is no longerolean, and his record was bis pride.

Mr W. T. Frith is exhibiting at Te Aroha and Thames his patent electrical apparatus for exploding dynamite. The honorary medioal staff of Wellington Hospital say they have "lost all confidence in Dr. Chilton, beoause of,, his chronic alcoholism and untruthfulnesfl. Had he not been a brother practitioner, they wouldhave said they were "disgusted 1 with his boozing and lying,"