The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-02-06 00:00:00

THE BURNING OF THE "JAPAN,"

The Honqkong Times of the 24th ot December has
some particulars of the burning Of the Japan,
which was briefly reported by telegraph a few weeks
ago The disaster occurred 1341 maps from Hong.
kong, near the Breaker Point, = -
The Japan Cap*, Warsaw, was a sister ship to
the Alaska of simS nage, built about seven years
since. She left San Fr'.' ncisco on Saturday, November
14, at noon, with 24 cabin, five European steerage,
eight Japanese, and 422 Chinese passengers, 375 tons
of cargo, 168 boxes of treasure, value $358,508, and 21
packages of mails. The captain reports that he had
pleasant weather, with variable winds, during the
passage to Yokohama. Arriving there on December
10, at 10.40 a.m., he landed 22 cabin, four European
steerage, and eight Japanese passengers, and 400 tons
of cargo and 16 packages of mails. He received on
board one European steerage and three Chinese pas-
sengers, 45 tons of cargo, 600 tons of coal, one bac, of
mails, stores, &c. He sailed from Yokohoma on 'the
11th, at 4 p.m., for Hongkong, experiencing pleasant
weather up to noon of the 17th, when the
wind freshened into a strong breeze from N.E.,
with high sea. At 9 p.m. we passed Lammock light,
distant five miles, the vessel being under sail and
steam. At 11.25 p.m., Breaker Point bearing 111 i S.,
distant 26 miles, and there being a strong N.E. mon-
soon with rough sea, the fire was first discovered and
the engines were stopped. Every effort was made to
sub(me the fire, and officers were detailed tc secure all
boats preparatory to saving life. The captain, finding
it impossible to subdue the fire, abandoned the ship
with the last boat at 1 a.m. on the 18th of December.
The ship was then enveloped in flames amidships, all
communication being cut off between forward and aft.
The captain and his companions remained until neon
in the vicinity of the wreck with a fishing junk, and
succeeded in saving 117 lives. At length, seeing no
more prospect of saving life, they stood in for Cup Chi
Point. At 6. 30 p.m. they intercepted the British
steamer Yottung, Captain Koch, who kindly took
them on board, and conveyed them to Swato. There
they were transferred to the steamer Yeas°, for Hong-
kong.

The Hongkong Times gathered the following in-
formation from Dr. V. B. Gates, surgeon of the
Japan :
- - -

"I was aroused at about 11.30 p.m. on the night of
the 17th by an alarm from the ship's bell. My cabin,
which was abaft the smoke-stack, was full of smoke. I
had only time to put on the first garments to hand,
and secure my watch and sword and three ten-cent
pieces. The intensity of the smoke was such that it
put the lamp out. I was compelled to rush out im-
mediately to get a little fresh air. I have lost my sur-
gical instruments, worth $650, medical and surgical
books to the value of $350, and $2OO locked up in my
trunk which I had not time to open and remove. I re-
mained on board about one hour. A shorttime after I was
roused I perceived flames coming up from the centre of
the vessel, blown forward. All hands went to work and
worked hard. Three streams by hose were immediately
used and then eight others, but without avail. It was a
bad night, pitch dark, with a rough sea. The exer-
tions of the captain were untiring, and I thought he
would sustain personal injury from too close proximity
to the flames. My impression is that the fire arose
from spontaneous combustion. There was something
peculiar about the coals, which were shipped at Yoko-
hama. They were so ignitable and burned so furiously.
At about one p.m.. on the 18th, with Dr. Tyndal and
ten Chinese, we secured a boat and made from the
ship as fast as possible."
Another survivor described the water as "quite
black with Chinese who had thrown themselves over-
board."

The Hongkong Daily Press said "it appeared that
the total number missing was 389 Chinese, one
European steerage passenger, and the cook. One part
of the vessel being cut off from the other, it is easy to
understand that concerted measures for saving life
were impossible, and that those on board had to pro-
vide for their own safety. The life saving apparatus
on board included a raft which could carry as many as
150 persons, but the survivors could not say whether it
had been got off or not."

The Hongkong Times says :—" In no steamer com-
pany trading with the East are such great precautions
against fire taken as in the vessels of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company, in which fire practice is con-
stantly being performed to familiarize the officers and
crew of the steamers with the duties they would be
called upon to fulfil in the event of their vessel taking
fire. In fact, to such an extent is this drill carried on
—sometimes night-time being chosen for the purpose—
that the servants of the company look upon this
exercise as a hardship.