Shpwreckin the South China Sea - 1 A Terrible Accident

Oct 13, 2026

Narrative account of the winter night of February 5, 1822, when nearly 2,000 emigrants aboard the Chinese junk Tek Sing expect a swift voyage toward Java. The story explains how the ship’s painted front can indicate its origin from Amoy or Canton, then describes the sudden collision with hidden underwater rocks. Panic follows as people grab floating bamboo and debris, and only 18 are rescued before the nearby Capella Mera departs, after which Tek Sing capsizes and sinks.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

1 A Terrible Accident

Leaving Amoy

On Board the Tek Sing

Sailing Across the South China Sea

Rescue!

An Important Discovery

Tek Sing Treasures

Glossary and Index

Shpwreckin the South China SeaClaire Daniel Dwreck Shi in the South China Sea Claire Daniel Contents …………………2 1 A Terrible Accident .. 2 Leaving Amoy ………………… ………………6 3 On Board the Tek Sing . …………………10 4 Sailing Across the South China Sea ……………… ..14 5 Rescue! …………………………………… ………18 6 An Important Discovery . ………22 …………………26 7 Tek Sing Treasures .. Glossary and Index . …………………32 Rigby. # 1A Terrible Accident It was a quiet winter's night on February 5,1822.The sky over the ocean had been black for several hours.The nearly 2,000 people aboard the Chinese junk Tek Sing(True Star)expected to complete their journey soon. 水 On deck about 1,600 men,women,and children rested.Some were probably thinking about the new life theywould soon have.Unable to find jobs in China,most wereemigrating—moving from one country to another—to theisland of Java to find work. Sailors who weren't working played games to pass thetime.Another ship,the Capella Mera,sailed nearby.Thewind was good,so both boats sailed swiftly and smoothly.No one saw the danger ahead. A Chinese junk is a ship that carries people andgoods over the ocean or sea.In the 19th century, if the junk wasfrom Amoy,likethe Tek Sing,thefront of the junkwas painted green.If it was fromCanton,the junk'sfront was red. √√√√√ 3 Suddenly the Tek Sing crashed into a group of rockshidden below the water.As the boat turned over on itsside,people spilled into the dark ocean.To help keepthemselves from drowning,they wildly grabbed umbrellasand bamboo canes that had fallen off the sides of the boat.The waves threw the giant boat back and forth against theunderwater rocks,ripping giant holes in the ship's sides. 能 Some of the people thrown overboard had to hang ontobundles of bamboo or rattan poles.Bamboo has a hollowcenter which helps it float Some people were tossed around in the water.Othersclutched onto parts of the ship.They cried to the peopleaboard the Capella Mera for help,but only 18 peoplewere picked up before the Capella Mera sailed away.Thesailors on the Capella Mera were afraid their ship wouldbecome overloaded and sink,too,if they took any morepeople aboard. An hour after the crash,the Tek Sing turned backupright ...and then sank slowly into the sea,never torise again. 飞 5 Leaving Amoy A few weeks earlier on January 14,1822,the Chinese city of Amoy had been filledwith excitement as the Tek Singprepared for its journey.Mast a longMany people were inpole that holdsthe city.to see theChinese junk Tek Singleave the harbor.Stern the backpart of the ship,where a sailorsteers the junkRudder a flatpiece of woodthat steers theship rightor left 6 Heavy,wooden anchors held the TekSing floating in one place.Smaller loadingboats(sampans)brought goods from shoreto the huge junk to be loaded aboard.Thejunk could hold a large amount of goods,and the crew packed each of the Tek Sing'sstorage spaces carefully and tightly.This Chinese junk has a red hullIs it from Canton or Amoy?Deck a floor of the shipProw the front part of theship,where a sailor watchesfor rocks and shipsHull the outercovering of the junk Anchor a heavy weight thatholds the junk in one place 7 In 1822 Amoy was a busy seaport and one of the majorcenters in China for exporting tea. First porcelain objects made of fine clay,such as cups,plates,bowls,spoons,and ornaments,were packed.Theseclay treasures came in various colors,from dark brownand orange to pale green and shiny white painted withbeautiful blue flowers and swirls.Next boxes of tea,animportant Chinese product,were loaded.Then came silk,bamboo furniture,writing paper,inks,glass beads,andother precious materials such as medicines.

FAQs

When did the Tek Sing wreck occur?

It happened on the winter night of February 5, 1822.

Why were many passengers aboard the Tek Sing traveling?

Unable to find jobs in China, most were emigrating to the island of Java for work.

What caused the Tek Sing to sink?

The ship crashed into rockshidden below the water, then turned over and sank slowly into the sea.

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by Emma Wilson