CAPTAINS OF THE NORTHFLEET.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 282, 26 June 1873, Page 7

CAPTAINS OF THE NORTHFLEET.

The London correspondent of the "Birmingham News" supplies the following incidents connected with Captain Oates and Captain Knowles — " For more than seven years, Captain Oates has, he tells me, been fretting and *uming in the toils which the Tichborne case cast around him, as being an important witness against the claimant. Captain Oates is the only man living who saw Eoger Tichborne safe on board the Bella, at Eio, bound to New York, and he was subpoenaed by the counsel for the young heir as soon as the claim of the popularlyesteemed Sir Roger was put in. When the Northfleet was ready for sea Captain Oates secretly feared detention, but as he had already made a deposition, which was in the hands of the leading counsel for the prosecution, he put a bold face on matters, and went on with his preparations for the voyage as if no subpoena were hanging over his head. When the lawyers heard that the Northfleet was about to sail, they intimated to Captain Oates that ho was ' wanted ' in April, and must not sail, under heavy penalties. 'Fine me £200 or .£300" if you like,' said Captain Oate?, ' but I must sail in the Norfchfleet on Saturday next.' • No,' said Mr. Hawkins, ' we must have your body in court, and if you attempt to sail you will be arrested.' The Northfleet was to have sailed on Saturday, ; the 11th instant, only on the previous Friday Captain Oates, from informa- ; tion received in the shape of sundry formidable- instructions of the law, said it was impossible for him to sail. After a hasty consultation with his brother owners (Captain Oates bad a large share in the ship), it was decided to give the command to Captain Knowles, who had sailed with Captain Oates for five years, and of whom a very high opinion was held. All the personal effects of Captain Oates and Mrs. Oates were at the time on board the vessel, and were hastily removed to give place to those of the new captain and his bride. Mr. Knowles had been engaged for soino time to bo married, but had always said he would wait till he got a command. The waiting was so long that about Christmas he determined to tarry uo longer, and here, with wonderful good luck, as it appeared to the poor fellow, a command tumbled into his hands when he had been married only a few weeks. He and M-s. Knowles gave up the apartments which they bad just taken and furnished, and on Wednesday week Mrs. Knowles joined the ship at G-ravesend, taking up her residence in the superior cabins which Captain Oates had specially fitted up for himself and his wife. The rest of the story the world knows; but there are some curious incidents connected with it which Captain Oates has communicated to me, and which have not yet been published. About seven years ago, Mr. Knowles being then chief officer, an emigrant ship outward bound from London was lying in the Downs, when his ship was run into by a steamer, and cut down to the water's edge. Fortunately assistance was at hand, and she was towed back safely to London, and there underwent repairs. What adds greatly to the remarkable character of the coincidence is that George Brock, the pilot in charge of the Northfleet at the time of her being run down, was also in charge of the other emigrant ship, of which the hapless captain was chief mate.