AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 51, 27 February 1873, Page 4

AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY.

A Sydney newspaper publishes an extraordinary story about the ship Madagascar, which sailed from Melbourne years ago, and was never afterwards heard of. It is in the form of a statement by a correspondent, and is dated Nov, 27, 1872 : "Last nigbt I met with one of those wild impulsive spirits who, never at rest — whether with thousands of pounds at their command, or minus a shilling wherewith to buy a meal— are to bo met with in and about our great goldfield rushes only. His. narrative of what he knew of the probable fate of the Madagascar was to the following effect : — A gentleman, a native of Cornwall, but brought up in the firm of Baring Brothers, emigrated from England in 1852, with his wife and family to Melbourne in the ship Birmingham, Captain Kirdy. He brought with him three men servants, hired to serve him in the colony three yeare. On arrival at Melbourne the men were furnished by their employer with a large tent and provisions, and encamped at North Melbourne preparatory to going to tbe diggings with their master. A disposition was shown there by the men threatening an early opi portunity of breaking their engagement with their employer, who bad remonstrated with them for harboring in his tent nearly all the ship who had deserted for the diggings. He settled with them and, gave them their discharge. Some months after this one of these servants, a man named Bobson, returned to Melbourne from the diggings with one thousand seven hundred pounds worth of gold, leaving it at the house of hie former employer, who was not at home when Robson arrivedT On reaching, home, and finding the gold there and learning that Robaon had left it, he

made search, and foiind the man drinking at the Back's Head public-house. He told Robson that if he did not remove the gold he would pitch it into the street, as he was not going to run the risk of being murdered for the sake of the gold. The gold was therefore taken away, the gentleman putting a seal on the string for Robsoo, who banded it for safety to a publican, in the presence of his former master. Robson said that the gold belonged to himself and three mates — his former fellow servants — and he was going to buy a dray and provisions, and re|urn to them at the Ovens. This occurred just about the time of the private escort robbery, and the gentleman had taken his passage to England in the Madagascar for himself, wife, and family. Just then the steamship was detained in consequence of the arrest on board of three of the escort robbers, who were afterwards hanged. One more of the robbers was known to be on board, but he could not be found. Then as is wellknown, those of the mob who turned. Queen's . evidence were put on board the Madagascar, and sent out of the colony. Now, owing to the detention of the steamer, the gentlemen had changed his mind, had landed from the steamer intending to *make a further stay, when illness overtook his wife, and she died within three days of coming ashore. Before this, on going on board the Madagascar one day, he saw Robson there, and asked what he was there for, who immediately answered, 'Ob, I have sent my two mates their shares of the gold, and I am going to England,' and Robson did sail in that vessel. Almost every colonist of standing is aware that the Madagascar took with her an immense store of wealth — some 60,000 sovereigns and 60,0000zs of gold, besides the large sums in the hands of the passengers, and that the steamer was never more heard of. Now, in 1857, the gentleman (our informant) went to England in the Southampton, Captain Tonkin. He visited the father-in-law of Robson , a Mr Chadwick, of New Brighton, in Cheshire, from which place the three menservants hailed. Iv conversation with the old man, who was a well-to-do farmer, he said that some person bad told him (Chadwick) that bis .son-in-law, Robson, had been hanged fer the escort robbery; but by some strange incident he had received a newspaper from California, in which was an account of Robson's death, his age, the place of his birth — Dumfries, Scotland— and the name of his former place of abode in England. This newspaper was brought from a box upstairs, by Margery,- the wife of Chadwick, and our informant read the account of Robson's death himself, but bothered himself no more about the matter. After this our informant again to Victoria in the Lord Raglan, Captain Roper. Again he took passage in 186 , in the Swiftsure, Captain Mayhew ; and one day whilst on the passage, just after noon, when the captain had finished making his observations of the sun, and had recorded the same he (our informant) was in the captain's private cabin, when, among other matters, the mystery attending the fate of the ship Madagascar was mentioned, upon which Captain Mayhew said that Mr Green (the great shipowner) had told him that he heard of a man in Mauritius (Isle of France) who, on his deathbed, said that he knew the man who murdered the captain of the Madagascar. Now, these statements have been made, and the incidents herein related have actually occurred, and one not acquainted with the excitable class of men who rush about to the different goldfields and all over the world, would wonder that these facts have not been published long ago. But, in all probability had the tale not been told in the presence of a member of the press, no notice would have been taken of it had it been mentioned a hundred times. The gentleman and I were talking over the old Victorian affairs, .when the Madagascar became the topic of conversation; and he suddenly made the remark, 'I could tell a tale about the Madagascar that, few people are aware of.' He then related the above particulars, and being well acquainted with the names of the ships, the principal occurrences, also localities named by him, there could be little doubt of its truth. r The inference to be drawn is that this Robson had gone on board with his mates' gold, and afterwards had joined some of the desperate characters known to have been on board the Madagascar. „They had then murdered the captain and passengers, plundered the ship, and afterwards destroyed her by fire or otherwise, so that not a vestige of. her could be discovered. Also, the probability is that some of the gang, participators in the .crime, are still living, and may yet be brought to answer for the deed, or be willing at leasfc. to givesome account, of their diabolical conduct. : -Probably the man Robson, fearing to be hanged, would not 'confess his participation 'in the crime, bat. procured : a' ! promise' ■; Whilst ill that if he died the advertisementof his death /before. mentioriedVshouid be inierted, acid a cojpy aent to England*