The opium clippers / by Basil Lubbock.

  • Lubbock, Basil, 1876-1944.
Date:
1933
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The opium clippers / by Basil Lubbock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    1st Division .. Commander Barlow (Nimrod) 2nd „ .. Commander Clarke (Columbine 3rd „ .. Lieutenant Coulson (Blonde) 4th „ .. Captain Belcher (Sulphur), and Captain Warren (Hyacinth) This large fleet of boats was needed to deal with the swarm of fast boats and other small craft which, under the command of a famous smuggler, were drawn up across the Macao Passage opposite the Birdsnest Fort, on the Canton side of a boom of rafts stretching right across the river. The British attack started at 11*30; whilst the Modeste, Nemesis and Madagascar bombarded and silenced the Birdsnest Fort and a neighbouring field-work; the Algerine, Starling, Hebe and Louisa forced a passage through the boom, followed by a division of boats, and engaged a sandbag battery and several war junks besides innumerable Chinese boats of every description. Meanwhile Captains Belcher and Warren with the Fourth Division came through by way of Fatee Creek, dispersing and destroying another fleet of Chinese boats. After the Birdsnest Fort had been captured by landing parties, the ships moved on through the broken boom and silenced the Rouge Fort, opposite the city. Lastly came the turn of the Shameen Fort and Dutch Folly in the middle of the stream. The whole operation only took an hour before every defence was in the hands of the attackers, and the ships themselves had anchored right opposite the Factories. At 1*30 a race took place between Captain Hall from the Nemesis and Captain Belcher from the Sulphur—which had come up past the Dutch Folly Fort—as to who should be the first to hoist the British flag once more on the Factory flagpole. As the flag ran up, three cheers came from the ships and boats. By tremendous exertions the Herald (Captain Nias), and the Commodore, Sir Gordon Bremer, in his gig reached the scene in time to see the Union Jack hoisted. Only 1 officer and less than 10 men were wounded in the attack though once more the Chinese suffered heavily. Many ludicrous incidents were recorded. Just before the attack started, a Chinaman came aboard the Modeste and asked