Australian Telegrams.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3149, 22 March 1879, Page 2

Australian Telegrams.

(Pcs s.s. Tababtta, at the Bluff.)

(Peb Pbebs Agency.)

Sydnby, March 15. Several sailors of an immigrant ship have been heavily punished for their attempts to cause a mutiny. A searching inquiry has been made into the Sydney steamboat collision and the following account of the sad disaster is supplied by Henry Dose, A. B. of the Bonnie Dundee, at the wheel at the time of the collision. Dose says he went to the wheel at six o'clock, the steamer then being about opposite Bird Island. The mate was in command and the steamer's course was ]^".N.E. About half-past seven or a quarter to eight they sighted a steamer'& mast head light, and soon after they saw another (red) light, and Dose steered about two points clear of her red light. The mate gave orders to keep her off a little more, and Dose kept her off another point, and the steamer's course was then about N.E. by N. they kept this course until the Barrabool came right abreast of them and then they could plainly see two lights one green and the other red. The mate then gave orders to put the helm hard a starboard. Dose did so, but immediately after the Barrabool struck the Bonnie Dundee amidships just opposite where Dose was standing. The shock was very severe, and Dose was thrown off his feet on to his back. The captain sang out to them to save themselves, as the Bonnie Dundee began to sink with alarming rapidity. Dose made a rush for the bows of the Barrabool, and managed to gel on her deck; but had scarcely done so when, looking round, he saw the Bonnie Dundee going down by her nose. This was about 8 o'clock or a little after. Three others got on board the Barrabool before Dose. The Bonnie's boat had now been got out and came alongside the Barrabool full of men and water, and the men were baling the boat out with their boots. Afterwards a boat was lowered from the Barrabool to assist the people from the Bonnie Dundee. The boat returned with the body of a female passenger (Miss Brown). They also searched about in a boat for about an hour but found nothing further. The Bonnie Dundee sank in about three or four minutes after being struck. The first thing done on board was to assist the passengers, this was done by the captain and mate. While the boat was being lowered the stewardess caught hold of a little girl that was on board, and threw it to the men in the boat who caught it, and and was then saved. The stewardess appeared more composed than anyone else, being evidently unconscious of any danger; the men called out to her to jump into the boat, but she would not do so, and went down with the vessel. Had she got into the boat she Would have been saved, or if she had jumped overboard while the steamer was sinking she could easily have been picked up. If any of the women had jumped overboard they must have been saved, but they never, left the ship. There was one passenger, an elderly lady, below at the time of the collision, but she soon came on deck. The captain gave the women life-buoys, and told them to save themselves. The captain stopped on board the Bonnie Dundee until after she went down. He was last to leave the sinking vessel but rose again and was saved notwithstanding his broken leg. Miss Brown was about to be married to a wealthy squatter but was drowned like her mother. The body of Mrs Dugdale was recovered and indentified by rings on her finger. She apparently died from exhaustion while floating on the hencoop. The Bonnie Dundee was partially insured for six thousand. The captains blame each other, and it is considered a scandalous affair.

Benjamin Wilson, usher of the black rod to the Taamanian Assembly has been arrested for procuring abortion.

There were awful scenes at the at* tempted departure of the Aldinga to Sclender's Island with the pugilistic crew. Eventually the steamer was stopped, the ring endeavouring to get the encounter over the border.

All the pugilists, magsmen, scoundrels and roughs of the country were on the wharf, with a fair sprinkling of respectable sporting men. Many of the crowd of magsmen bore very long faces because unable to procure tickets to go with the party; others because they had no money bet on the fight. Both Foley and Hicken were in splendid condition, each man being confident of winning the fight. Betting, 7 to 4on Hicken, although a lot of Sydney money was being offered by Foley's backers, who are asking 2 to 1. Thompson's crowd and followers and Mace are backing Foley very confidently. There are numerous arrivals of Chinamen at Fort Darwin—fifteen hundred i* a few days. " There have been extensive revenue frauds in Queensland. The illicit still case evidence shows that on the premises

was a complete plant for imitating the brands, capsules and labels of Hennessy's and Martell's brandy, and J D.K.Z. and other brands of gin labels for this business, supplied by a respectable stationer. It was also shown that large orders for these goods have for a long time past been supplied to respectable firms in Brisbane and country ' districts. The newspapers intend publishing names.