A Trip on the Giang Seng, 21 June 1896
Tan Kim Tian & Sons Steamship Co. · New steamer from England · Picnic to Johore · Straits Times, 22 June 1896Summary: On Sunday 21 June 1896, Tan Kim Tian & Sons gave a picnic on board its new steamer Giang Seng, which had recently arrived from England. More than 140 guests, European and Chinese, went aboard in the Singapore Roads and the ship left at about seven in the morning with the Santa Cecilia Band playing on the poop. She was meant to sail round the island, but the shoals on the western side were thought too risky for so large a vessel, so she steamed past Changi to Johore and came back the same way, reaching the Roads at about six in the evening. Over breakfast and tiffin there were toasts to the ship, the firm, Tan Kim Tian's memory and the guests, and Tan Hap Leong presented a gold watch to the ship's captain and a diamond ring to the firm's superintending engineer. On the next day, Monday 22 June, the ship left on her first trading trip to Java. The Straits Times reported the picnic on page 3 of its issue of 22 June 1896.
The Ship 船
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Giang Seng. The Chinese characters are not given in the report | Straits Times, 22 Jun 1896 |
| Owners | Tan Kim Tian & Sons Steamship Co. Ltd. | Straits Times, 22 Jun 1896 |
| Length | 235 feet | Straits Times, 22 Jun 1896 |
| Breadth | 34 feet | Straits Times, 22 Jun 1896 |
| Moulded depth | 17 feet 6 inches | Straits Times, 22 Jun 1896 |
| Tonnage | Registered tonnage 700 in the report. 1,183 gross and 722 net registered tons in the ship record, and 1,183 gross tons in the Annual | Straits Times, 22 Jun 1896; Scottish Built Ships database; Straits Times Annual, 1 Jan 1978 |
| Engines | Indicated horsepower of 2,200 | Straits Times, 22 Jun 1896 |
| Builder | John Scott & Co., Abden Shipyard, Kinghorn, yard no. 95. Launched 18 April 1896 and completed in April 1896. Steel screw steamer, passenger | Scottish Built Ships database; Straits Times Annual, 1 Jan 1978 |
| Dimensions in the ship record | 235.3 feet by 34.1 feet by 16.6 feet | Scottish Built Ships database |
| Engine | Triple expansion, three cylinders (19.5, 31 and 51 inches by 36 inches stroke), 182 nominal horsepower, one screw | Scottish Built Ships database |
| Official number | 105821, British flag | Scottish Built Ships database |
| Master | Captain Follette, in the firm's service for twenty years | Straits Times, 22 Jun 1896 |
| Superintending Engineer | Mr Mackie, with the firm for ten years | Straits Times, 22 Jun 1896 |
| Features | A bridge deck running the whole length of the vessel, as a promenade for passengers, and cabin accommodation "not to be excelled by any steamer on the local service" | Straits Times, 22 Jun 1896 |
| First trading trip | To Java, starting 22 June 1896 | Straits Times, 22 Jun 1896 |
A similar ship Giang Seng (1899) for illustration
Pic source : https://www.wrecksite.eu/imgBrowser.aspx?35071
During tiffin the guests were served champagne from the Garrison Cup, which Tan Hap Seng had won with Ballater at the recent Races.
Notes on the guests:
The toast to Tan Kim Tian. Arnot Reid's remark that Tan Kim Tian was one of the first Straits-born Chinese to go into steam shipping is a contemporary statement, made fourteen years after his death.
Ownership history. The ship record lists the following owners.
About this record. This entry is part of Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials (S.T.E.M.) 新加坡墓碑銘集录, a specialised digital documentation project and archive recording historical tomb inscriptions in Singapore, with a focus on Bukit Brown Cemetery 武吉布朗坟场 and other early Chinese burial grounds. Each record transcribes the original Chinese inscription, gives an English translation, cross-checks it against the burial register, and adds a short biography drawn from contemporary newspapers and archival sources.
Cite this entry as:
Raymond Goh. "A Trip on the Giang Seng, 1896." Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials (S.T.E.M.), tombs.bukitbrown.org, [post URL]. Accessed [date].
Keywords: Giang Seng, Tan Kim Tian and Sons Steamship Company, Tan Hap Seng, Tan Hap Leong, Tan Hap Swee, Tan Kim Tian, Straits Chinese shipowners, steamship picnic 1896, Johore, Dr Lim Boon Keng, Tan Jiak Kim, John Scott Kinghorn, Singapore shipping history, Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials, S.T.E.M.
Family - Tan Kim Tian Name - Tan 陳
The Day 當日行程
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 6.30 am | Time set for departure. Nearly all the passengers were aboard. The steamer lay in the Roads "gay with bunting" |
| 7 am | The ship steamed slowly through the Roads, with the Santa Cecilia Band on the poop playing |
| Before 9 am | The guests inspected the new ship |
| 9 am | Breakfast. Afterwards Arnot Reid proposed the prosperity of the ship and the firm, and Tan Hap Leong replied and presented the gifts |
| About 11 am | Arrived at Johore. A large part of the company landed to see the Istana and the other sights |
| 1 pm | Tiffin served on board, followed by more speeches and toasts |
| 2 pm | The return journey began, with music from the band |
| About 6 pm | Back in the Singapore Roads |
The Speeches and Gifts 致辭與贈禮
| Speaker | What was said or done |
|---|---|
| Arnot Reid | After breakfast, proposed the prosperity of the ship and the firm. He praised the new vessel and reminded his hearers that the late Tan Kim Tian was, "if not the first, one of the first Straits-born Chinamen who went into steam shipping". He said the Colony was much indebted to such adventurous Chinese, whose enterprise, energy, sagacity and skill had helped to centre so much of the local trade in Singapore. The toast was coupled with the name of Tan Hap Seng and drunk "with musical honours" |
| Tan Hap Leong | Replied for his brothers and himself. He presented Captain Follette with "a very handsome gold watch" in esteem of his twenty years of faithful service, and Mr Mackie, the Superintending Engineer, with "a valuable diamond ring" for ten years as "an excellent servant of the firm". The gifts were made "amid much cheering" |
| Dr Lim Boon Keng | After tiffin, made a speech on the enterprise of the firm and the spirit in which it did business, shown by its treatment of Captain Follette and Mr Mackie. At his suggestion the health of the firm was drunk again, and he proposed the health of the European guests |
| Arnot Reid and Tan Jiak Kim | Reid proposed the health of Tan Jiak Kim, "Singapore's millionaire", and Tan Jiak Kim replied |
| Ong Kim Cheow | Also addressed the gathering. The report spells his name Ong Kim Chiow at this point |
During tiffin the guests were served champagne from the Garrison Cup, which Tan Hap Seng had won with Ballater at the recent Races.
The Hosts and Guests 主人與賓客
| Group | Names as printed |
|---|---|
| The firm | Tan Hap Seng (named as Managing Owner), Tan Hap Leong and Tan Hap Swee |
| European guests | Arnot Reid, D. D. Mackie, J. S. Robertson, J. Knox, E. S. Campbell, G. MacDonald, J. Gow, W. Kilgour, W. Jardine, J. McHardy, R. T. Reid and W. F. Lawson |
| Chinese guests | The Hon. Dr Lim Boon Keng; Tan Jiak Kim; Tan Yeong Siak; Tan Kiam Hock; Tan Jin Hock; Tay Kim Tee; Koh San Tee; Lee Cheng Yan; Lee Choon Guan; Lee Keng Kiat; Lee Keng Tit; Lim Ah Sam; Chia Keng Chay; Chia Keng Chin; Chia Hood Tiam; Chan Kim Boon; Chiew Swee Teong; Ong Kim Cheow; Oh Yang Moh; Oh Kee Chuan; Seet Tiang Lim; Wee Keng Hoe; "and others" |
Notes on the guests:
- The "Mr Mackie" of the speeches, the Superintending Engineer, is probably the "D. D. Mackie" in the list of European guests.
- A Wee Keng Hoe is named in the Malaya Tribune death notice of 13 November 1931 as the son of Tan Nyachik (那舌), a daughter of Tan Kim Tian.
The Report in Full 報道全文
|
The Straits Times, 22 June 1896, page 3 Messrs. Tan Kim Tian's new steamship, the Giang Seng, has recently arrived from England, and her owners celebrated her arrival, and thus the addition that has been made to their fleet, by giving a picnic yesterday. That picnic took the appropriate form of a trip on the new steamer, and extremely enjoyable and very successful in every way the proceedings proved to be. It had been arranged to circumnavigate the Island of Singapore, but, in the case of so large a vessel, it was, after all, deemed imprudent to endeavour to traverse the shoals on the western side. The Giang Seng, consequently, only steamed past Changhie as far as Johore, and returned the same way. The vessel was timed to start at half-past six in the morning, and, at that hour, nearly all the passengers were aboard. The steamer looked a very handsome craft as she lay in the roads, gay with bunting. At seven o'clock all was ready, and the ship slowly steamed through the Roads, the Santa Cecilia Band, stationed on the poop, playing a merry air the while. The guests numbered over a hundred and forty, and among them were: Messrs. Arnot Reid, D. D. Mackie, J. S. Robertson, J. Knox, E. S. Campbell, G. MacDonald, J. Gow, W. Kilgour, W. Jardine, J. McHardy, R. T. Reid, and W. F. Lawson. The Chinese guests included: the Hon. Dr. Lim Boon Keng, Messrs. Tan Jiak Kim, Tan Yeong Siak, Tan Kiam Hock, Tan Jin Hock, Tay Kim Tee, Koh San Tee, Lee Cheng Yan, Lee Choon Guan, Lee Keng Kiat, Lee Keng Tit, Lim Ah Sam, Chia Keng Chay, Chia Keng Chin, Chia Hood Tiam, Chan Kim Boon, Chiew Swee Teong, Ong Kim Cheow, Oh Yang Moh, Oh Kee Chuan, Seet Tiang Lim, Wee Keng Hoe, and others. The members of the firm, Messrs. Tan Hap Seng, Managing Owner, Tan Hap Leong, and Tan Hap Swee were busily engaged throughout the day, in attending to the comfort and enjoyment of their numerous guests. Praise must be freely accorded them for the excellent arrangements they made, by means of which the whole of a long programme went without a hitch. Before breakfast, which was served at nine, the party had a good opportunity of inspecting the new ship. She is a fine vessel in every respect. Her length is 235 feet, her breadth 34 feet, and her moulded depth 17 feet 6 inches. Her registered tonnage is 700, and her engines have an indicated horsepower of 2,200. The bridge deck, running the whole length of the vessel, affords a fine promenade for passengers, and the cabin accommodation is certainly not to be excelled by any steamer on the local service. She started on her first trading trip to Java to-day, and all friends of the firm will wish her prosperous journeys for many years to come. After breakfast, Mr. Arnot Reid proposed the prosperity of the ship and the prosperity of the firm. Mr. Reid, after referring in terms of praise to the new vessel, reminded his hearers that the late Mr. Tan Kim Tian was, if not the first, one of the first Straits-born Chinamen who went into steam shipping. They were very much indebted to such adventurous Chinamen, because it was very largely owing to their enterprise, energy, sagacity, and skill that so enormous a portion of the local trade was now centred in Singapore. They had not only made profits for themselves, but had done good for the Colony. The toast was coupled with the name of Mr. Tan Hap Seng, and was drunk with musical honours. Mr. Tan Hap Leong replied for his brothers and himself, and concluded by presenting to Captain Follette, a very handsome gold watch, as a mark of the firm's esteem for his twenty years of faithful service; and a valuable diamond ring to Mr. Mackie, their Superintending Engineer, who had been, he said, an excellent servant of the firm for the past ten years. The gifts were made amid much cheering, and the recipients suitably replied. The vessel arrived at Johore at about eleven, and a large portion of the company landed to view the Istana, and to enjoy the other attractions of the place. Tiffin was served on board at one, and, at two o'clock, the return journey was commenced. After tiffin, the Hon. Dr. Lim Boon Keng made an excellent speech on the enterprise of the firm, and the spirit in which they conducted their business, as evidenced by their treatment of Captain Follette and Mr. Mackie. On the Doctor's initiative, the health of the firm was again heartily drunk. Mr. Arnot Reid proposed the health of Mr. Tan Jiak Kim, Singapore's millionaire, and Mr. Tan Jiak Kim replied. Mr. Ong Kim Chiow also addressed the gathering, and the European guests were toasted on the proposition of Dr. Lim Boon Keng. During tiffin the guests were able to partake of champagne brought round in the Garrison Cup, which Mr. Tan Hap Seng won with Ballater at the recent Races. The afternoon passed pleasantly, with the music of the Band, and other enjoyments; and the vessel arrived safely in the roads at about six o'clock, everybody agreeing that it had been a very jolly picnic. |
The Firm in 1896 背景
The family. Tan Kim Tian had died in December 1882 and his son Tan Beng Wan in 1890, so the three men named as the firm in 1896 were Hap Seng, Hap Leong and Hap Swee. Hap Seng is described as Managing Owner. See the entries for Tan Hap Seng and Tan Hap Leong.The toast to Tan Kim Tian. Arnot Reid's remark that Tan Kim Tian was one of the first Straits-born Chinese to go into steam shipping is a contemporary statement, made fourteen years after his death.
Ownership history. The ship record lists the following owners.
| Year | Owner |
|---|---|
| 1896 | First owner given as "Peterson & Simons, London", registered in London |
| 1896 | Tan Kim Tian Steamship Co. Ltd., Singapore, registered at Singapore |
| 1904 | Tan Hap Seng, Singapore |
| 1906 | Samarang Stoomvaart Mij., Samarang, under the Dutch flag |
| 1913 | Heap Eng Moh Steamship Co. Ltd., Singapore |
Further research
- A photograph or drawing of the Giang Seng, and her Chinese name. Lloyd's Register, the Heap Eng Moh fleet records, and the collections of the National Archives, the National Museum and PictureSG may help.
- The fate of the 1896 ship after 1913 under the Heap Eng Moh Steamship Co. One database gives a breaking-up date in 1931 (to be confirmed from the record). A later Giang Seng of 1899, 1,811 gross tons, was scuttled on 2 March 1942 (wrecksite.eu). It is a different ship, and the two should not be mixed up.
- Whether "Peterson & Simons, London", the first owner, is the firm Paterson Simons, where Tan Kim Tian began his career.
- What Ballater was, and the Garrison Cup that Tan Hap Seng won with it at the "recent Races" before June 1896.
Sources 資料來源
- "A Trip on the 'Giang Seng'", The Straits Times, 22 June 1896, page 3. NewspaperSG link to be added.
- Giang Seng, ship record, Scottish Built Ships database (clydeships.co.uk, ref. 50445).
- "Tales of a Singapore Entrepreneur", The Straits Times Annual, 1 January 1978, pages 22 to 23.
- The Straits Times, 13 January 1883, page 3, Notices (for the date of Tan Kim Tian's death and the continuation of the firm).
- S.T.E.M.: Tan Kim Tian, Tan Hap Seng and Tan Hap Leong.
Cite this entry as:
Raymond Goh. "A Trip on the Giang Seng, 1896." Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials (S.T.E.M.), tombs.bukitbrown.org, [post URL]. Accessed [date].
Keywords: Giang Seng, Tan Kim Tian and Sons Steamship Company, Tan Hap Seng, Tan Hap Leong, Tan Hap Swee, Tan Kim Tian, Straits Chinese shipowners, steamship picnic 1896, Johore, Dr Lim Boon Keng, Tan Jiak Kim, John Scott Kinghorn, Singapore shipping history, Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials, S.T.E.M.
Family - Tan Kim Tian Name - Tan 陳
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