F Blackhead & Company, c1908 article
IDJ已发送了以下关于F.Blackhead&Company的文章，写于1908年：
In the early days, before the establishment of Hongkong as a British Colony, Whampoa was the farthest point to which the Chinese permitted foreign ships to proceed up the West River. Many difficulties were experienced at this port by vessels in obtaining stores, and it was this fact which led to the establishment of the firm of F. Blackhead & Co. by Mr. B. Schwarzkopf.
Purchasing a dismantled Chinese junk of suitable proportions, Mr. Schwarzkopf commenced business on the waters of the harbour in 1855. There was a good opening for the new venture, but many restrictions were placed upon foreign traders by Chinese officials, and there was little guarantee of protection against the pirates who infested the Chinese waters.
In spite of all obstacles, however, Mr, Schwarzkopf built up a thriving trade. But when the troubles at Canton culminated in war between England and China the business was removed to Hongkong, and here it has remained, progressing with the Colony year after year. At about the time when the headquarters were removed from Whampoa to Hongkong a branch was established in the Portuguese city of Macao, where there was great activity in shipping circles on account of the coolie trade. This branch, however, was not destined to meet with overmuch success, for in 1874 the many abuses of the coolie traffic had become so glaring that the traffic was abolished, and the firm, by withdrawing, anticipated the steady decline in Macao’s importance as a shipping port.
在B.Schwarzkopf先生的一生中，Smith先生、Schoenemann先生、Hoeinike先生和F.Schwarzkopf先生被接纳为合伙人，业务一直由他们经营，直到1903年，Smith先生和后来的Schoenemann先生前往欧洲。然而，他们回到祖国后活不了多久。
The firm’s offices are now in that magnificent pile on the water front known as St. George’s Buildings. Here they stock everything that comes under the heading of ship’s stores, for they are contractors to the German, Austrian, and Russian Navies.
They are also interested in the coal trade of the Colony. Some years ago they acquired a large parcel of land, known as Blackhead’s Point, at Kowloon, having an extensive deep water frontage, and here they built godowns and a pier constructed on Differdingen piles capable of accommodating quite large vessels.
多年来，港口航运的一个显著特点是布莱克黑德先生的大型船体，上面印有著名的“红手”牌铁船船底成分的广告，该公司是该港的独家代理。在香港，唯一的欧洲制帆业务也是由布莱克黑德公司经营的。即使这样，他们的行业也没有穷尽，因为他们在绍基湾建立了一家大型肥皂和苏打厂，详细情况见本工作中有关行业的章节。
The present partners in the firm are Messrs. F. Schwarzkopf, son of the founder, and F. Hoehnke. They have branches at Neishiem, Tsingtau, and Tsinanfu, where the business is carried on under the style of F. Schwarzkopf & Co.
Source: Wright, Arnold, : Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and Other Treaty Ports of China: Their History. People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources. London: Lloyd’s Greater Britain Publishing Company, Ltd., 1908.
This article was first posted on 23rd December 2014.
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My Great Grandfather Andreas Wilhelm Augustus Wohlters worked in the Blackhead Company in the 1800’s. I assume he worked in the Macau area, as my great Grandmother Ceriane Maria da Cruz is from that area. She was the daughter of Edward Fransiceo da Cruz.
Are there any records of employees, from that era? As I would be grateful for any information found.