SULLIVAN ON THE THAMES!

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1901, 5 February 1875, Page 3

SULLIVAN ON THE THAMES!

" The comet's come at last." Fearful excitement reigned in Shcrtland yesterday when it was known that Sullivan, the world-famed blood-spiller had arrived in this district. What could be his objectin coming here? To stay? Good Heavens! We detail the circumstances of this harrowing fact for the benefit of readers who may be desirous of avoiding the inhuman wretch who wallowed in the blood of his fellow men. At about eleven o'clock yesterday, when a crowd of idle persons, diggers and others were congregated about the wharf at Shortland, & man of strange and marked appearance wai se«n walking along the middle of the road. Hi 3 hair was partly grey, his face bore indications of a latent ferocity of spirit, while the massive square chin of the man, and a restless, fiery eye denoted that he was a character that one would scrcely care to be in company with in the bush with no other object for sympathy than the silent trees and the stupid and purblind owl. Of the middle height, and thick set, he walked with a slouching gait, and a certain defiance of demeanour quite perceptible to anyone attracted to observe him by-his singularity of appearance. He continued in this locality as if with an object; and presently began to attract considerable attention—there appeared to be a fascination in the man. Little knots of men collected, and enquired of each other-" who is that man ? " No one Apparently knew. The excitement —for the curiosity had reached this point— bfcame intensified. One man was emboldened to go towards, the stranger and accost him sociably, to thereby unravel the mystery which seemed to pervade the whole being of this, solitary and demoniacal looking character. " Who is he like?" said one of the crowd. "The Devil" said another. Did you ever see him before.; where's he putting up; is he a and such like were the excited queries which .filled the air. The stranger seemed perfectly aware that he was an object of attraction, and was observed to smile sardonicolly upon the multitude, but withal, seemed- proud of the interest he was exciting. "You don't often see a stranger in these parts ? " said he with a cut-throat leer, as he approached, .beginning to feel anxious apparently for a little sociability. Said one, "Wa don't want none i>f your sort, neither. 1' Just at this moment another man came up and joined the crowd—now by some strange influence seeming to be actuated by one common feeling in respect to this wonderful creature. When he arrived tVe same object attracted his attention which enchained the optical faculties of those who had come b-fore him. " Good God ! " exclaimed he on obtaining a full view of the man, " Have you come to play your old games in a new sphere, OU . b- —- ! " The stranger remarked Hjtat'-lie had ao objection to play old game (said to be lime burning) if he could, but professed that he had no acquaintance with any one j present; "but" he continued, and a strange light glistened in his eyes, "if ; you call names, friend, you'll find I can play a game ■ that ain't agreeable to the losing hand." The new arrival appeared in no way daunted by this ugly reference to what might happen to him, but returned— " You infernal scoundrel; your voice betrays you. Ha! ha! " " What's up, Woodward," shouted some of the crowd ; who is he—where does he come from?" "Who is he!" excitedly exclaimed Woodward, for such was the new arrival's name, " He—he is the deepest dyed villain that ever stepped unhung." (Great confmsion and mutterings followed this announcement) " He's not fit company for honest men, and if he aint off out of this pretty slick, hc'ii be cut off short. He wants chucking over that wharf, aid if I was to tell you who he is—"Thisrousedthecuriosityoftbepeople, and.the demands for the man's name were clamorous. The stranger, in the meantime, appeared to be losing confidence. He evinced evident signs of fear, and did all he could to depreciate the accusations made against him. Escape was impossible—the crowd gathering round; and to flee would have beeri ac open acknowledgment of the dreadful guilt which the words of his accuser would imply. The crowd thickened,, struggling and swaying in their eagerness. Loud cries were

made that the name of the man should be g yen Have you got a mare.'s nest Billy? said one satirically. "Givetheman fair play," said another, '* what's he done? " "That man," shouted Woodward, " is"

— " Who ? Who? " came from a dozen voices, and a breathless silence waa maintained as these awful words were pronqunced—" That man is Sullivan,, the murderer I " The words passed through the ears of all like an electric shock. Thrust from every shore as a loathsome object, unfit to breathe the air of men, he bad come to make the Thames a? refuge, and perchance to make it the scene of a harvest of human blood. If this idea suggested itself to the assembled crowd —which is most likely—the inward response must have been, "Never." "Good Lord/ exclaimed one. -'•' Mercy on us ! " said a woman," " Mind the spoors !" said another woman. " Hold him." " Lynch thb b ." " Douce'liim." Such cries

rose on the air so soon as surprise had sufficiently diminished to permit anyone to speak, tsuliivan was at once seized," and taken possession of. His handling was rough. But what fate did such a fiend incarnate not nierit, is the natural thought which conies to mind. But villainy has for the time triumphed over the right;. Sullivan escaped ! whether by the exercise of his superhuman strength, or whether it is''-'to be attributed to a want of care in his handling does not exactly appear. Sullivan at large, and the Thames must go to sleep each night! The idea does not bear contemplatoa. A tale of Thuggery is scarcely less.appalling. w tp H& * ■¥&

It may be mentioned that an eccentric individual was yesterday evening taken into custody by a vigilant member of the police force, on account •of a certain eccentricity of behaviour, and a disposition to engage in personal combat with the whole of tbe Maori population about the place, and.any odd European who felt he was aggrieved. It seems that this individual, who is about as much like Sullivan as black resembles white; has very much the appearance of the individual who fired the imaginations and " rose the backs" of the populace yesterday; He was fined 20s, or 24 hours' imprisonment. On Woodward's part it was evidently a case of " mistaken identity." . ,