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Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 171, 18 February 1873, Page 7

The disappearance of a young man named Higgins, only son of Mr Matthew Higgins, a well-known Melbourne contractor, while en route from Sydney to Sandridge, is a very mysterious affair. It appears that the youth, who was about fifteen years of ago, was, about five o'clock on the evening of January 10th, lying on the vessel's skylight between his father and Mr John Tait, but complaining of a violent headache, he went below to his cabin, where he was followed by his father, who saw him to bed and covered him with a great-coat. Mr Higgins asked the steward to prepai'e soup for his son. The request was complied with, but when the soup was taken to the cabin occupied by Master Higgins it was found to be empty. "This was reported to his father, and a search was made all over the vessel without avail. The only surmise to be made is that the youth must have fallen overboard out of the cabin window. This, however, seems almost incredible, as it was barely of sufficient size to admit of his passing through, it being but fifteen inches square. Strange to say, the coat with which he was covered was also missing, and as it was a very large one, it could not have gone through the port wrapped round the youth.