ABDUCTION EXTRAORDINARY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 67, 9 March 1877, Page 3

ABDUCTION EXTRAORDINARY.

An extraordinaiy case of abduction took place on boxing day at the Auckland Racecourse during the progress of the races. Shortly before 4 o'clock previous to the Handicap being run, a number of sailors belonging to H.M.s 'Sapphire,' in port, were seen to decamp from the rear of the saddling paddock, one stalworth bluejacket bearing in his arms a female form. His companions, apparently to drown the lady's screams, kept up a vociferous shouting and laughter. Owing to the sailors crowding round the abducted one, it was impossible to observe whether the unfortunate Sabine was offering any resistance to the men-of-war's men. But Detective Jeffrey and a newspaper reporter caught sight of the occurence, and started in pursuit. The latter overtook the miscreants after the second field had been traversed and demanded the surrender of the fair one. The sailors evidently fearing the consequences of their act, relinquished

their burden, and, as she fell to the ground, the reporter at once recognised in her face the features of "Aunt Sally." Raising up tenderly the ancient relative, one of the band complained that they had in fair game succeeded in demolishing the old lady's pipe, but the proprietor refused to pay the accustomed 6d., whereupon" Aunt Sally" was seized by the jolly tars and borne away in the manner set for h. The owner of the rag figure did not make any attempt to regain his property, and as darkness Zset in, the much maltreated creatures Avas still seen lying in a ditch by the side of the railway, exposed to the midnight dews.