The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-10-11 00:00:00

FRANCE AND CHINA.

The following Reuter's telegrams have been re-
ceived:

SHANGHAI, Oct. 5.
The French have occupied Kelung, and are now
bombarding Tamsui.

TIENTSIN, Oct. 4.
In the course of an interview with M. Frandin, the
first interpreter to the French Legation in Pekin, Li
Hung Chang violently attacked France. Neverthe-
less, M. Frandin believes that Li Hung Chang
favours a peaceful solution of the difficulty with
France. _

PARIS, Pet. 4.

A telegram despatched from Hanoi at eight a.m.
to-day states that the French gunboats Mosqueton,
Massue, and Hache, while engaged on a cruise, prior
to the advance of French troops in order to recon-
noitre the valley of the Lochuan, have been attacked
by Chinese regulars. In the fighting that ensued
the French had one officer killed and 30 men slightly
wounded. Reinforcements have already arrived, and
more troops under the command of Brigadier-General
Negrier have left Hanoi.
General Briere de Lisle telegraphs that having been
informed of the forward movement of the Chinese
troops encamped between Bade and Langson, he im-
mediately took all necessary measures to drive back
the enemy. The gunboats Massue, Mosqueton, and
La Hache, while making a reconnaissance in the
Lochuan, had a brilliant engagement with a force of
4000 Chinese. The enemy's losses were considerable.
The French had 21 sailors and 10 soldiers wounded.
Captain Chatie, Commander of the gunboat Massue,
was killed. The Chinese are still being driven back.
PARIS, Oct. 4, 9 p.m.
A telegram received here from Hong Kong, of to-
day's date, states that Admiral Courbet commenced
to bombard the forts at Kelung on Wednesday last.
The Chinese offered a lively resistance. The French
loss during Wednesday morning was two killed and
10 wounded.

FARIS, Oct. 4, 9.50 p.m.

The Minister of Marine has received the following
telegram from Admiral Courbet, dated Kelung, Oct.
3: "I commenced operations against Kelung on the
Ist inst. by the occupation of the height of Saint
Element. After a fairly warm engagement during
the night of the Ist the Chinese troops evacuated two
works to the west of the height, and we subsequently
took possession of them without striking a blow. We
are now engaged in fortifying them. We shall com-
mence operations on the 4th against a work to the
east of the height. Our loss is -four killed, one miss-
ing, five severely and eight slightly wounded. The
inhabitants of the country estimate the Chinese loss
at SO to 100 killed, and 200 to 300 wounded. Admiral
Lespes commenced an attack on Tamsui on the 2nd
inst., and will occupy the port, if possible."
PARIS, Oct. 5.
_

The Temps and National this evening, commenting
upon the engagement between the French gunboats on
the Loochuan River and ale Chinese forces declare
that it was not the result of a surprise, but gthe pre-
lude to operations which have already been decided
upon. They add that this engagement was the result
of a reconnaissance which was being made in order to
ascertain the strength and position of the Chinese
troops. Brigadier-General Negrier now being aware
of the enemy's forces is concentrating his troops and
marching against the Chinese, and an encounter
between the latter and an 'expeditionary force may
soon be expected. The Temps has reason to believe
that Admiral Courbet has instructed Admiral Lespes
to proceed with caution at Tamsui, and not to land
his men unless there is a good chance of being able to
hold the position.
The following telegram has been received from
Admiral Courbet, dated Kelung yesterday, and for-
warded from Foochow to-day: "The works to the
south-east of the roadstead were on the 4th inst.
occupied without resistance by landing parties from
the Bayard, Duguay-Trouin, and Chateau-Renaud,
under the command of Naval Lieutenant Gourdod.
It is indispensable before proceeding to Tamsui or to
the coal mines to fortify the principal positions so as
to be able to defend them with a small force, and also
to destroy seieral of the works. The batteries at
Tamsui have been dismantled. The bar formed in
the river by means of sunken junks and defended by
torpedoes is being removed."

A total failure of the crops as occurred in one police
division of the Beerbhoom district, India, which has an
area of JOO square miles. Extensive relief measures
have been started, and some expenditure will be neces-
sary. Timely rains has done much good in all other
parts of the province,

THE WRECK Or THE WASP.

FINDING OF THE COURT-MAXTIAL.

On Monday morning a court-martial assembled on
board her Majesty's ship Victory, lyirg in Portsmouth
Harbour, for the trial of the survivors of her Majesty
ship Wasp. The court was constituted as follows :
Rear-Admiral F. A. Herbert, superintendent of Ports-
mouth Dockyard, president ; Captain Rowley,. of the
Duke of Wellington • Captain the Hon. E. Fremantle,
of the Duke of Wellington; Captain H. F. Nicholson,.
of the Asia; Captain W. H. Maxwell, of the Neptune;
Captain J. A. Fisher, of the Excellent; Captain A.
H. Markham, of the Vernon ; Captain N. C. Singleton,
of the Jumna ; and Captain A. B. Stewart, of the
Heat; with Mr. G. P. Martin, barrister, Deputy
Judge Advocate of the Fleet.
The Judge Advocate opened the court by reading
the warrant, which was as follows: "By the Coin-.
missioners for executing the office of Lord High
Admiral of the United Kingdom and Ireland.—
Whereas Rear-Admiral Thomas Bridgman Leth-
bridge has reported to our secretary the loss of her
Majesty's gunboat Wasp on Tory Island, county
Donegal, on September 22, 1884; and whereas we.
think fit that a court-martial should be held, pur-
suant to the custom of the navy, to inquire into the.
loss of the said gunboat, and that the survivors of the
said gunboat—namely, Mr. Peter Otway Browne,
M.D., surgeon; Mr. William Hudson, engineer;
B,iehard Rattenbury, quartermaster; Philip Andrews,
second captain of the forecastle; William Dunn,
able seaman; John Hutton, ship's cook; William
Styles, private R.M.L.I. ; and Alfred Broomhead,
private R.M.L.I. ; shall be tried under the 91st and
92ad section of the Naval DiEcipline Act. I hereby
require and direct you to assemble a court-martial as
soon as conveniently may be, which court, you being
pmsident thereof, is required and directed to inquire
into the loss of the said gunboat, and to try the said
survivors accordingly."
The statement of John Hutton, 'ship's cook,
which has been already published, was read by the
Deputy Judge Advocate, and, in reply to the Presi-
dent, witness said that he had been told that Sub-
Lieutenant Guppy was in charge of the ship at the
time she struck, which was, he believed, about ten
minutes to four o'clock in the morning. When he
was on the forecastle he saw the light on Tory Island
just between the fore and main masts, and when the
ship struck the light was showing over the cliff. The
ship was close to the rocks at the time. After the
ship struck he did not again see the light, and he
heard no order given, but he saw Guppy and the
gunner, Mr. Kerrigan, standing on the port side of
top gallant forecastle. The ship struck very heavily,
and he was thrown on the deck of the forecastla by
the shock. He saw no more of Lieutenant Guppy
aad the gunner. The sea broke over the ship abaft
the fore-rigging, but he was unable to say whether it
also broke astern. He was on deck five or six
minutes before the ship struck, and during that
time he heard no order given by the officer.
ire heard an order given to shorten sail, but
where it came from he could not say. Nothing was
done on deck except shortening sail. There was a
good stiff breeze blowing, and the sea was running
very high inside the breakers. He could not speak
as to the state of the sea outside as he was in his
hammock then. The light he saw was on the star-
board beam, and the yards were braced sharp on the
port tack. It was a starry morning, and tbe weather
was clear. He joined the service on the Bth of June,
1850, and had served in the Wasp about twoyears and
10 months. He considered the Wasp to be a seaworthy
vessel. When the ship struck he was in his hammock,
and he immediately hurried on deck. He had for-
merly served as a ship's corporal. He turned into
his hammock about half-past nine o'clock the night
before. The ship was not then under steam. The
ship was going at six or seven knots an hour when she
struck. He did not see or hear of anything being
done to save lives. When the ship struck he was im-
mediately washed overboard. A boat, if lowered,
could not havelived in the sea.

Richard Rattenbury, quartermaster, was next
called. Hie statement was also read, from which it
it appeared that he had been a petty officer for 12
years on board the Wasp. He was in bed at the time
the ship struck, and he heard a man shout out, "Clear
the lower deck; the ship is on a reef." He rushed
on deck, and then heard the quartermaster shout out,
" llard-a-port." He took the starboard lifebouy and
jumped into the main rigging, and just then the sea
washed the ship from under him, and he found him-
self in the water. He was washed into a creek in tho
isla,ad. He saw Captain Nicholls on the bridge in his
night-shirt, but he did not hear him give any orders.
Sub-Lieutenant Guppy and Lieutenant King were on
the bridge with the captain, and whilst in the man
rigging he saw a sea sweep over the ship and wash
them all overboard. Before running to the main
he attempted to lower a boat, but the sea stove it in.
Before turning into his hammock Lieutenant King
directed witness not to let the ship go anything to the
east. This order was given consequent on a conver-
sation between the officers of the watch, the nature of
which witness was unaware of.

By the Court: The ship was not under steam at
the time of the accident, the fires being banked. The
ship was going at between six and six and a Lvlf knots
an hour. The quartermaster was in the habit of
marking the rough log. There was nothing in the
state of the weather to prevent the Tory Island light
being seen from a considerable distance. As far as
he knew the engines were ready for use at the time
of tlle disaster.

Phillip Andrews, the second captain of the fore-
castle was next called. He was in the forecastle at
the time the ship struck, as It was his watch. He
had been there ten minutes. It was dark at the time
she struck, but starlight. He saw land at half-past
three o'clock. The ship was going at about six knots
through water, and the land was about half a point
on the starboard bow, and at one o'clock when ho
came on deck at seven bells land was still half a point
on the starboard bow, and Lieutenant Guppy was the
only officer on the bridge. At about twenty minutes
to four the ship was brought up about a point
and a half to the northward, and about ten minutn
afterwards she struck. They had the main trysail
set. He saw Mr. Xing on the deck with the chart
in his hand, and he heard Lieutenant Guppy give
the order, "Hard a-port," and the captain, who was
on the bridge. "Hard a-starboard." He could not
say which side the ship struck. The vessel did not
obey the helm, and she got wedged in between the
island on the starboard side and the rock on the port
side. Mr. Guppy piped watch, and shortened sail.
He went to his station after the trysail was set. It
appeared to be about five or six minutes between the
time she first struck and when she fixed herself in
the rocks. They were amongst the breakers when
she first struck. An order was given to man the
boats, but the boat abaft the main rigging being
lowered, she was smashed to pieces. He was washed
overboard and climbed on a rook, and he then
noticed that the ship had disappeared.
By the Court: The sea seemed to increase towards
the end of his watch, and he noticed between three
and four o'clock that she rolled a good deal. At
about twenty-five minutes to four he noticed that the
ship was in danger. She was then on the starboard
bow. He reported it to one of the men on watch.

_
The President: Why did you not go to thE, officer
of the watch, and tell him what danger you thought
the ship was in ?—I might have been told to mind my
own business.

He could not say whether the officer of the watch
was aware that the ship was in danger, and the reason
which he had given was the only one which prevented
him from telling him, and thus doing his duty. He
was unable to say whether Captain Nicholls was
called before the ship struck. The officers of the
watch appeared to be calm and collected, and to have
done their duty. When the ship first struck she was
about ten yards from the shore. At one o'clock it
was officially reported land had been seen. There
was only one man on the look-out at the time that he
was on the forecastle; when the look-out man re-
ported land ahead he shouted in louder:voice than
usual. .
_ _

William Dunn, able seaman, stated that at the I
time the ship struck it was his watch. He was at the
wheel from twelve to two, and he then went under
the forecastle for the remainder of the watch. He
heard the watch pipe brace up, and he ran to his
station and saw the land whilst they were bracing up.
He felt the ship strike and she forged afterwards. He
heard Lieutenant Guppy say " Hard-a-port," and the
captain "Hard a-starboard," but he heard no other
order given. He immediately managed to get on the
rook. From twelve until one o'clock they were
steering north-east by east, three-quarter east by
binnacle compass; after that, until two o'clock, they
were steering north-east by east-quarter-east. When
Lieutenant King came on deck at one o'clock the
course was altered to the northward. There were
three officers on the deck when the ship struck, but
he saw nothing of them afterwards.

Alfred Broombead, Royal Marine Light Infantry,
stated that he was in his hammock at the time the
ship struck. He heard the pipe, "Clear lower deck,
the ship is on a reef." He turned out of his ham-
mock, and then heard the pipe "Shorten sail." He
went to his station on the clewgarnet. After being
washed about by the breakers he heard the order
given, "Take to the rigging," and he went into the
rigging. He was washed about by the waves, which
came over the ship and carried him away, and even-
tually managed to crarl on to a rock. He then found
that he had hurt his foot. He did not hear orders
given to shorten sail. He saw Lieutenant King and
Mr. Kerrigan. He could give no information as to
how the ship got on shore.
Mr. William Hudson, engineer on board the Wasp,
stated he went on leave on the 3rd of September, re-
turning on the 24th.

The President: When you proceeded on leave,
were the engines and boilers of the ship Wasp in good
working order?
Witness: Yes.

On the fires being banked, under ordinary circum-
stances, how long did it take before the vessel was
ready to proceed under steam ?—About 40 minutes.
Ile had never been under banked fires at sea in the
Wasp since he joined in January, 1883.
By the Court: During that time was it usual to
draw fires when the vessel was under sail without
steam ?—We were never under sail alone at all, but
always steaming, except on one occasion of half an
hour, when we stopped to sweep tubes. The ship had
a full supply of coal when wo left at Westport; there
were no directions given to the WaSD other than those

given in the ordinary regUilations with regard to pr
seeding under steam.
Dr. Otway Browne having given formal evidence as
to his being on leave,
Mr. H. Small, from the Departlnient of the Con-
troller of the Navy, who declined to take the oath,
and made an affirmation, produced various docu-
ments having reference to the Wasp, including the
official report.
Staff-Commander Jackson, of the Duke of Welling-
ton, stated that the time of high water at Tory Island
on Monday, September 22 was 6.43 am., the rise of
the tide was- Mt., and the probable rise was at the
time of grounding„3:ls a.m., 8f t. The stream turned
to the eastward at 5.45; and the greatest strength of
the tide would be two knots. The stream from 830.
on Sunday till 2:15 on, Monday would be setting to
the westward. The Kathleen 013yrne light was
fixed, and visible for 18 inDes ; the Arran Island
light was revolving, white and red alternately, for
twenty seconds, and was visible for 25 miles; Tory
Island light was- fixed, and visible for 16 miles. Some-
times these lights were visible for a greater distance
than was stated in the directions. The course he had
laid down for the Wasp in pencil was not safe and
reasonable, allowing for a deviation in the standard
compass table. With regard to :;he statement that
the Wasp passed within six miles of the Kathleen
O'Byrne light, he could not bring the distance less
than 18 miles.

This concluded the evidence; and the court was
cleared for deliberation.

The court deliberated for about half-an-hour, when
the finding was read by the Deputy Judge Advocate
as follows: The Court finds that the gunboat Wasp
was wrecked on Tory Island on the morning of
September 22nd, 1884, in consequence of the want of
due care and attention in the navigation of the gun-
boat while proceeding from Westport to Moville.
The Court further finds that no blame is attributable
to any of the surviving officers, petty officers, and
crew of the gunboat Wasp, and therefore acquits
them of all blame in respect therecf."

The gunboat Banterer arrived at Sheephaven Bay
on Sunday evening, having on board the six bodies
which were washed ashore on Saturday afternoon
from the wreck of the Wasp. The islanders, under
the direction of the Rev. Father M'Donnell, enclosed
the bodies in rough wooden shells, and were about to
bury them in the island graveyard when the Banterer
hove in sight. James Eva, who has been sent from
Queenstown to identify the bodies, was put on shore
from the gunboat, and was able to recognise five of
them; those of J. C. F. Bartlett, John Buckley,
David Derry, Langham Ennis, and W. F. Hoyle. He
was unable to identify the sixth. All the bodies
were in an advanced state of decomposition and
greatly disfigured. Upon the arrival of the Banterer
at Sheephaven Bay the remains were placed in the
C Astguard house.
Admiral Lethbridge, at Queenstown, reports: "Her
Majesty's ship Banterer arrived at Lough Swilly at
eleven o'clock on Sunday, and took from the Valiant
a diver and diving apparatus, leaving there at noon
for Tory Island. The six bodies landed at Sheep-
haven were buried in the cemetery on Sunday even-
ing at Dunfanagby. One body was buried without
being identified."