A BAILIFF ADRIFT.

Evening Star, Issue 3836, 10 June 1875, Page 3

A BAILIFF ADRIFT.

The ‘Sydney Evening News’ of 25bh May reports that on Friday, the 21st inst., a certain bank had an unsatisfied lien upon a steam launch, and the manager determined to foreclose. An officer of the establishment, armed with proper powers, went down to the wharf, where lay the object of his “attachment.” The *wner was about to start on a pleasure trip, and upon his explaining this, the bank manager, who was applied to, kindly allowed him the use of the launch for the excursion. Ihe man in possession was one of the party, and joined in the sports. The trip ended, and the craft that had changed ownership went alongside the jetty, where the party’disembarked, all but the representative of the bank, and the engineer, who had secret instructions from the dispossessed one. Suddenly the engines were turned fall speed ahead, the lines were cast off, the engineer leaped upon the jetty, and off went the launch as the shore party wished the solitary occupant bon voyage. The man in possession could neither back nor step her, and he had all the fear of the uninitiated that any tampering with the machinery would end in a blow-up. He could steer, however, and to the wheel he went. Then {commenced a trip unparalleled in the era of steam. It was a weird scene. The loaely man of the ocean did not dare approach a wharf to call for assistance. The ■hades of night were falling fast as the ancient mariner, like a modern Flying Dutchman, went on his way “ abrnt, about, in reel and rout” with a firm conviction that the boiler was priming and the water getting low, while the condenser was refusing duty and the cocks were preparing to shoot out like catapults. All the lovely spots in our far-farmed harbor were thus involuntarily visited by the unwilling voyager who could get close enough to see the haven of safety on shore, yet did not dare attempt to taste of it. At last b« sought the more open bay, and bore down on the Scotland, round which vessel he steamed, like a pilot-fish round a gigantic shark. Fortunately, someone noticed tihe fact that a steam launch was making rings round the ship, and the crew gathered to see, as they supposed, a madman who hid ran away from an asylum with a steamer. A boat was sent in chase, an explanation given, and the errant property secured. The bailiff now declares that he will never again attach anything without a substantial foundation. Our New South Wales telegrams stats that Mr Macquarie, the shipbuilder, and two men named respectively Budge and Woolness, have been committed for trial on a charge of assaulting the bailiff and sending him adrift.