Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-05-20
STEAMER ASIA
ON THE ROCKS
(continued from Page ~

teresting story to tell. "The Asia Is
no more" he said Il left the vicinity
of the wreck on the Sunday evening
following the going ashore Of the ship.
FIRE had ragged on board. sweeping
everything before II that was exposed
above the water line.
"The Asia went ashore In a little
cove on Finger or Heachu Island at
5:27 on the morning OF April 90. This
is On the China coast and about TWEEN
ty-hve miles outh-southwest from
Heshan Light. II Is desolate and
foreboding pile OF rock that confronts
the steamer, Judging from photographs
now in the possession of some sixty
cabin passengers who figured in the
disaster. sheer cliff or pail OF at
least two hundred feet In height over
shadows the vessel, which jammed her
nose right into the wall of stone.
ave went ashore in a dense fog"
stated Captain Gaultroger In venturing
ans explanation.
Chinese Fishermen Loot Ship.
According to the story of the sur
vivors on board the Mongolia, and who
continued the voyage to San Francisco
this morning, the Asia Is total loss.
They relate many exciting incidents
in connection with the stranding OF the
vessel. Almost Immediately following
the striking, the helpless steamer was
surrounded by what appeared to he
hundreds of fishing boats. Captain
Gaukroger, as well as his officers and
the passengers. scout the story that pi-
rates swarmed the ship.
The Chinese who came to the steam
err In swarms were fishermen. They
clambered aboard despite the threats
and demonstration offered by officers
and men. They came solely for the
purpose OF looting the ship, and be-
fore they had completed their work by
setting fire to the Asia, they had sue
ceeded in removing about everything
OF value from the cabins as well as the
hold
All officers and passengers save the
skipper and his two chief aids were
taken off the doomed ship by the Chi
nese steamer Smashing. which vessel
was proceeding from Hongkong to
wreck but few hours after the Asia
had gone aground. In addition to the
passengers. their baggage and personal
effects and mails were saved and re-
moved to a place Of safety, afterward
being forwarded to Shanghai.
y "Chinese fishermen were the people
that carried on the looting of the ves-
sci. and not pirates as reported" in
sisted Captain Gaukroger. They fair
! ly swarmed over the ship, and though
myself and my officers were armed with
guns and reviewers, we had but linn
tied supply of ammunition, which soon
became exhausted. and when there was
no more shot and shell we-could no
longer cope with the horde of Chinese
bent upon plumber.
Little Excitement Among Passengers.
"There was little or no excitement
manifested by passengers in leaving the
ship. They appeared to be calm and
collected, They were necessarily
aroused from deep slumber by the force
OF the impact. and many of them came
on deck arrayed In their sleeping
clothes, They were soon assigned to
/ the several boats. and II was but
very short distance from the ship to
a little sand-strewn cove, where all
were landed We then made a number
of trips for the purpose OF gathering
up the baggage and other effects of the
passengers. The baggage as well as
the mails were landed on Finger Island,
and we made trips from shore 10 ship
during the remainder Of the day"
No Clash Of Authority.
The Asia had left Hongkong with
81 cabin, i've second class and 1876 ASH
attic steerage passengers, Contrary 10
general expectation, the Chinese In the
Storage We're the most calm ana coll
looted Of the lot They were easily
held In check, There was not the least