BROACHING CARGO.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2284, 13 July 1880, Page 2

BROACHING CARGO.

[iiV TFLKG-KAF.il.] Auckland, July 10. Since the trial of the cargo-broachcrs among the crew of the barque Chili,the police have been able to gather some information as to the proceedings of the gang when at murk. That the vessel mas not blown up or set on Arc seems almost miraculous. When the match came off duty at 12 o’clock at night, some went below on a fossicking expedition. The man on the look-out kept sharp match, not ahead, but astern upon the olllccrs on the poop, and he mas much more concerned for the safety of his comrades than for the vessel. Whenever the searcher returned there mas a sharing out of the spoil, and imbibing of grog, all the more palatable for being stolon. The candlesticks used mere simply Hat pieces of board,on which candles mere fastened by means of: a little of their own grease melted ; yet with these, reckless and almost drunken sailors roamed about in midst of gunpowder and many very inflammable materials. As an instance, one night two men went down at 12 o’clock on behalf of the match to explore for plunder. Two dreary hours passed, at the expiration of which time the rest being weary of waiting and watching, despatched a third explorer. Another hour passed drearily enough, but eventually the messenger revived their drooping spirits and set them rejoicing, appearing laden with two bottles of brand}". At I o’clock the other two men came up from the hold_ empty handed. It is as likely as anything else that they found grog, drank, slept, and only awoke in time (o return to duty. The hardy adventurers left- traces everywhere, not the least insignificant being a crate of charred straw. They tried and tested everything. Thus, in one corner was to be seen a case of bottles, once bottled beer. They had drunk the beer but restored the bottles. A case was found containing some preserved pears. A portion had been eaten, and a tin containing the balance thrown in amongst the bottles. Sometimes they dropped across articles valuable in themselves, but apparently not to their tastes. A quantity of drugs for Kemptliornc and Prosser’s New Zealand Drug (Jo. (Limited) did not diminish much through their instrumentality. A parcel addressed in a bold hand to the Bishop of Auckland did not seem to have excited their cupidity, being passed by with a merely cursory examination ; but most disappointing of all was a case of Polyglot Bibles. After the labor of cutting through the zinc the Bibles wore discovered. When the division of the bounty came in the forecastle, ludicrous scenes occurred. Fancy a man with a foot of twelve inches at least, having a pair of stockings suitable fora young miss of twelve summers! Another individual’s share was a pint bottle of cold drawn castor oil. Lome perfumed themselves with otto of roses for the lirst time in (heir lives, while others softened their wiry and nnkempl locks with Howland’s macassar oil. Shirts and clothes were found in possession of one or two. with the trade tickets on and minus the retail mark. —•‘Times” correspondent.