AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2444, 18 January 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

BURNED TO DEATH. The followingtelegram, dated January 1, from a correspondent at Wallaroo, was published in the “South Australian Register” : —“ Mr M'Carthy, a settler in the Hundred Hawker, arrived by open boat at 2 o’clock to-day, with the charred remains of his wife, his live daughters, and son, who were burnt to death by a lire that consumed the house on Thursday last. The lire is described as being terrific, even the kangaroo dogs being unable to get away, McCarthy was reaping about a mile away. The lire is supposed to have originated in the Hundred of Boothhy, and was not expected to come near M'Carthy’s, which is at Carpa, 1G miles south-west of Franklin Harbor. However, at 2 o’clock the wind changed, and the fire came up like magic, taking everything before it, M'Carthy tried to get to the house, but was driven back, aud the fact of Lis being to leeward of a piece of fallow land accounts for his and his four sons’ escape. It is said that a solid flame at times 40ft high swept down, and appeared to roll over places where there was nothing to burn. After the lire had somewhat burnt out M'Carthy returned to his house, and found in and around the ruins the remains of his family—namely his wife (aged 50), his daughter Mary (19), jNorah (11), Catherine (9), Bridget (4), Ellen Agnes (2), and| son, Joseph Francis (aged 7). The live daughters were in the kitchen; whilst Mrs M’Carthy’s body was found near the tank at the end of the house, she having apparently been for water. The boy’s remains were also outside.”

MISTAKEN IDENTITY. Our Australian files give the sequel to the case of a man named Chapman, who was arrested in Geelong, Victoria, a few weeks ago, at the instance of Fanny Belperroud, who claimed to be his wife, and charged him with deserting his family since 1873. The case was adjourned till Dec. 30 in order that the accused might be able to prove his alleged identity. On the case being again called on, Fanny Belperroud re peated the evidence given by herein which she swore that she was the wife of the defendant, who called himself Edward Belperroud. Her brother, William Thomas Groves, was present at the marriage at the Rev Mr Moore’s Presbyterian Church on December 10, 1872. After being married they went to Melbourne for a week, and then parted by mutual consent. In March, 1873, defendant deserted her, and she next saw him in Moorabool street on Dec. 25. She recognised him by bis side face, and by the mark across the fingers of the right hand. The defendant and herself before marriage were a year and a half at Darlington, on Mr Cummings’ station, where he was groom. This was in 1871. Thomas Groves, brother of the plaintiff, deposed to being a witness to the marriage. To the best of his opinion the defendant was the man. Elizabeth M‘Kay, sister of the plaintiff, stated that the defendent strongly resembled Belperroud. Mr Dwyer pointed out in defence that it was a clear case of mistaken identity, and called Anne Chapman, of Victoria parade, Collingwood, a widow, who stated that the

defendant was her. son, and was 30 years and three months old, and not married. He had been engaged as a traveller to a Melbourne house for five years, and had never boen out of Melbourne for three weeks at a time. He had never been a groom at Mr Cummings’ station. He was at home at the time it was stated he was there. The witness further stated the different places the accused had been in during a long period. She knew no one of the name of Belperroud. George Mateer, in whose employment the accused was for six years, corroborated the evidence given, as also did Mr William Norris, grocer, Collingwood, and ex-Couneillor Austin, The Bench dismissed the case, the police magistrate remarking that a great injustice had been done to the accused.

A SHOEMAKER SURGEON. A singular case of a shoemaker turning surgeon, and treating his patients after the fashion of patent upper leather, came under the attention of the Sandhurst (Victoria) magistrates, on Dec. 24. Samuel Fischer was charged with having falsely pretended to be a doctor of medicine, while he was not registered as a medical practitioner, as required by the statute. Fischer for several years followed the trade of a bootmaker in Sandhurst, but he retired from that pursuit two or three years ago, and has since been practising “ Baun Scheiditism,” a system of counter irritation, produced by pricking patients with needles, and by means of which he claims to be able to cure all the diseases that human flesh is heir to. Evidence was taken at some length, the principal witness being Bridget O’Brien, barmaid at the Southern Cross Hotel, who stated that the defendant had volunteered to cure a toothache from which she was suffering on the Ilth inst., and she allowed him to appty the instrument behind her ear. Fischer then wanted to apply it to her back, intimating that the fee would be ss, but she refused to allow him to do so, when he stated that she was very foolish, as he was a doctor, and had practised as one in the old country. An eruption subsequently broke out on the girl’s cheek and at the back of the ears, similar to what would be produced by croton oil. The girl was in great pain, and had to call in the services of Dr Boyd. Eventually the Bench fined the defendant £lO, with 2s 6d costs. Notice of appeal was given.

SAD END OF A HERO. The following particulars of tbe f sad death, of Mr Percy Edward Flint an old resident in Victoria (who was accidently shot on Boxing Day, near Jclloar Creek, New South Wales, while wallaby shooting), are supplied by the “Sydney Morning Herald Deceased was one of a party of four, who started at 4 a.m. on Boxing Day, to shoot across the cultivation paddocks of Lake’s farm. They went into the scrub, firing in very extended order, till they came to the creek in which the accident took place. Flavelle fired a bullet at a wallaby, and probably missed. Lee then fired at it, and immediately Flint cried out he was shot, and was found by the party sitting on a rocky ledge, with the tail of the wallaby by his side, and on opening his shirt, his breast was found to be pierced with 15 shot, as was subsequently discovered, although at first only seven shot were found. This was at 25 minutes to eight in the morning. He bled internally, and knew he was dying from the very first. All was done that could be thought of to alleviate bis sufferings. Mr Lee held him up to prevent his suffocating, While Messrs Dawson and Flavelle fetched water in their hats. The former then went for help. Deceased bade him an affectionate farewell, knowing he had not many minntes to live. After Dawson’s departure ho asked Lee and Flavelle to pray for him, and expired without a groan. He had not a chance, as he was hit on both breasts, the shoulders, side, and heart, and the immediate cause of death was syncope of the heart. He was a man of great courage and splendid physique. He only lived seven minutes after the buckshot entered his breast. He had gained great distinction in various parts of the world in saving life, and told his friends that that was the object for which he lived. While in Indian waters, a little girl dropped a kitten overboard, and childlike, jumped after it. Flint plunged in after her, although the vessel was steaming about 12 knots an hour, and saved her, after an immersion of threequarters of an hour. He saved three other lives. A magisterial inquiry was held, the decision being that the death was purely accidental, and was caused by the shots in the heart and lungs. Deceased was 23 years of age. He was formerly employed in the Bank of Australasia, both in Victoria and in New South Wales.

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE,

The “ Maryborough Chronicle ” (Queensland) reports an exceedingly painful occurrence at Muna Creek, near Miva. On December 21, a woman named Gescb, wife of a selector, left her house to drive some cattle out of a paddock, leaving on the verandah her little son named Willie, agedtwo years. She returned in about 10 minutes, and missed the child. A vigorous search by the neighbors proving futile, the assistance of the police was sought, and mounted-constable Dawson made a thorough examination of the locality. All hope was abandoned after four days’ hunting, and the bereaved parents were compelled to resign themselves to the terrible belief that the child had been stolen off the verandah and eaten. This conclusion is strengthened by the circumstance that only two days before some dingoes in the neighborhood, apparently unusually bold and ravenous, were seen to steal pigs and even a large goat, in every instance bearing their prey away at a rapid rate. On the day on which the child was lost two dingoes were prowling round Gesch’s selection. The unfortunate little victim wore merely light clothing, was bootless, and, as he suffered from a sore foot, which prevented his walking on rough ground, it is impossible that he could have strayed away from the house.