FOUR FISHERMEN DROWNED AT DUNEDIN.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 205, 16 December 1864, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOUR FISHERMEN DROWNED AT DUNEDIN.

Information was received in town yesterday of the drowning of four fishermen on Sunday evening ; the fifth man of the crew being alive, but much bruised and exhausted. The scene of the the accident was a small inlet a little to the west of Sandfly Bay (Peninsula) : which, as we are told was first used as a place of shelter by fishermen during the last winter. The information respecting the melancholy accident is so far scanty ; and the following is all that could be ascertained yesterday : —Clare Jeffrey, generally known as “ Jeff,” Alexander M’Lean, Edward M’Lean, his nephew, John Sutherland, and Alexander Andersen, a Norwegian, known as “ German Alick,” started from Dunedin for the neighborhood of the Green Island, to the south-west of the Ocean Beach to fish for cod, that being a favorite locality for that purpose. They were in the whaleboat London, known to the boatmen as “ old Rednose,” which belonged to Jeffrey, who some time ago bought her from Mr. S. Crafts, in whose employment Jeffrey had long been, as had also Alexander M’Lean for a period of two years and a half. The London was reputed to be an excellent seaboat—one of the best in the port, and the men were all acquainted with their business and with the coast. On Sunday afternoon they left their fishing-ground and ran for the little inlet before mentioned ; they intended to remain there for the night, but whether because of the state of the weather, or simply to wait for daylight before attempting to round Cape Saunders doci not appear. We are told that although the inlet is a very safe shelter for a boat that gets in. it is often very dangerous to attempt to enter ; that from a comparative calm at the mouth there will suddenly come a surf breaking right across and heavily. In Dunedin on Sunday evening, there was a fresh breeze and no more, but outside it blew strongly. The London, it appears, got to the surf at the mouth of the inlet, under sail, and there broachedto and was upset. Nothing is known as to the struggles of the unfortunate men who were thus tossed into the water; but Andersen, the Norwegian, is the only survivor. The accident, we infer, was observed by some one connected with the household of Mr. John Robertson, whose farmhouse stands about a quarter of a mile from the inlet; at any rate, Andersen was yesterday lying at the farm-house, and the fact of the accident was first learned here from a note addressed by Mr. Robertson to the police, and forwarded by his son, who reached town yesterday afternoon. The deceased were we believe all unmarried men. We shall probably learn to-day whether any of the bodies have been recovered ; but some fishermen who know the inlet, regard it as improbable that such will be the case.—Daily Times, 29th November.

An Amusing Lettee in Rhyme. —The following humorous specimen of epistolary rhyme was found some time ago in St. James’s Park:-“My dear Lady Norris,-Mymind very sore is to find it in vain to hope for less rain. I’m tired of reading and almost of feeding, and wish I were walking or sociably talking ; but I mope all alone quite as still as a stone, and have nothing to do but get into a stew, and stare through a pane at the thick falling rain. You’ll own such employment has little enjoyment. I’ve only one book into which I can look, and so often I’ve read it that really I dread it. ’Tis Gibbon’s great tome of the History of Rome. He is pompous and grand with fine words at command, but some how or other I find it a bother to follow him long in his solemn sing-song. This pragmatical prig was as fat a pig, and almost as short, and perhaps you have heard, what has oft been averred, that he once paid his court to the famed madame Neckar, and, anxious to check her before she should lose her power to choose (outrageously jealous of all other fellows), he fell on his knees, and by rapid degrees unfolded his heart. This of course made her start. In a minute or two she recovered her cue, and telling her lover the farce to give over, she coldly entreated he’d please to bo seated. “ Cruel fair one,” he said, “ I’m as heavy as lead, and I swear most devoutly by those lovely eyes, I feel it more easy to kneel than to rise.” The poor fellow spoke, I assure you, no joke, but gravely and truly. So the lady quite coolly gave the bellrope a tug, but her laughter to cover she turned from her lover, who was fixed on the rug like a little fat pug when you’ve taught him to beg for a duck’s wing or leg. A man-servant came (John Stubbs was his name) ‘‘Alas!” cries the mistress, “ here’s a writer of hist’ries (a sceptic, they say, who ne'er knows now to pray) ; having dropped on his knees, he swears by my eyes he’s unable to rise, so John, if you please, without rope or ribbon, pull up Mr. Gibbon!” I give you this letter in lieu of a better, and perhaps you suppose I should send it in prose, and ’tis wasting my time to write it in rhyme; but I find it a pleasure the sounds thus to measure, and the task is as light these wild rhymes to indite, as it is to compose the same quantum of prose. Believe me, most duly, yours very truly.” The Solemn Rite of Scalp-Taking.— Scalp taking in America is a solemn rite. In the good old times men scrupulously awaited the wounded man’s death before they ‘raised his hair;’ in the laxity of modern days, however, this humane custom is too often disregarded. Properly speaking, the trophy should be taken after fair fight; this, also, is now neglected. When the Indian sees his enemy fall, he draws his scalp-knfe—the modern is of stone, formerly it was of flint, obsidian, or other hard stone —and twisting the scalp lock, which is left long for that purpose, and boastfully braided or decorated with some gaudy ribbon, or with the lone eagle’s plume, round his left hand, marks with the right two semicircular insertions, with and against the sun, about the part to be removed. The skin is loosened with the knife point, if there be time to spare, aiuj much scalp is to be taken. The operator then sits on the ground, places his feet by way of leverage against the subject’s shoulders, and holding the scalp lock with both hands, he applies a strain which soon brings off the spoils with a sound which I am told is not unlike ‘ flop.’ Without the long lock it would be difficult to remove the scalp A few cunning men have surprised their adversaries with wigs. The operation of scalping must bo exceedingly painful; the sufferer tosses, wriggles and squirms upon the ground like a scotched snake. It is supposed to induce brain fever. Many instances, however, are known of men and women recovering from it, as the former do from an even more dreadful infliction in Abyssinia and fialla Land, cases are, of course, rare, as a disabling wound is generally inflicted before the bloodier work is done.

A Race for a Heavy Stake. —When the Eclipse, arrived here on Tuesday with despatches to the Collector pf Customs referring to the new Tariff, it is whispered that a young but enterprising firm in our city at once despatched a mounted messenger to Wanganui, carrying a letter to a business connection there containing the important intelligence. The messenger started at about 2 o’clock, and if the letter were delivered the following morning he was to receive £59, but nothing otherwise. Should the intelligence reach Wanganui before the Government despatches, a very neat and profitable operation will be the result.— Independe t, Dec. 15.