AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8391, 3 April 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

A LAUNCH RUN DOWN. TEN PERSONS DROWNED. Received April 2| 9.33' a.m. LAUNCESTON, April 2. Last night the steamer Togo collided with the steam launch Alice in the river Tamar. The meagre details to hand indicate that out of sixteen persons aboard the Alice only six were saved, the victims including Mr J., Macdonald, his wife, and two boys, Mrs F. Macdonald, Miss Macdonald, Mrs Campbell, Miss Pilgri, Mr J. Presmall. Received April 2, 10.4*6 p.m. LAUNCESTON, April 2. Details of the disaster to the steam launch Alice show that she was returning from the upper river, where the party £of sixteen on board had been picnicking. The Alice was in charge of J. T. Macdonald, a partner in the engineering firm of Salisbury and Company'and part owner of the launch. The river steamer Togo had run an excursion from Launceston to the Georgetown regatta during the day, and was returning to take up her usual running. At nine o'clock, when nearing the Freshwater Point —the night was fine and there was a bright moon—the lights of the approaching launch were seen. Those on board the Togo state that the Alice attempted to cross the bows of the steamer. The latter blew her syren, and the order was given to reverse the engines, but too late, the Alice being 1 struck amidships. The impact came with such terrible suddenness that scarcely a cry was heard. The launch was cut down below the water, and sank almost immediately.

Received April 2, 10.55 p.m. LAUNCESTON, April 2. The Togo's boats were quickly manned. Lifebuoys were thrown to those struggling in the water, six. being rescued. Only those in the fore part of the Alice were saved. The majority of the victims were in the cabin at the time of the disaster. One of the survivors states that Mac'clonald was steering the Alice, which was on the starboard slide of the Togo. Evidently Macdonaild did not see her coming. She was very close to the Alice when Gilbert Mac'donald went up to his father and said, "Don't you see the Togo?" The course of the Alice was altered to avoid the Togo, but the latter having a good speed on, the Alice did not get clear in time, and the Togo struck her with great force, catting the launch right through. Six bodies were recovered from the cabin to-day.

THE RESCUED MINER., Received April 2, 9.33 a.m. ■;'■ PERTH,-April-2. Varischetti, the Italian; • miner, who was imprisoned by water in a rise of the Westralia East Mine, and who was rescued by the diver Hughes is progressing well. In an interesting interview, Varischetti said that after his imprisonment he knocked for a long time before he heard knocks in response. He felt better then. He was surprised, but not afraid, when the, diver appeared. If divers had done similar work in Italy, they would have been carried through the streets, with the bands playing.

DRUIDS' WHEEL RACE. Received April 2, 9.33 a.m. MELBOURNE. April 2. The Druids' Wheel Race resulted: —Gordon 1, Smith 2, Eckhardt 3. Won by a wheel in 2min lsec. EARTHQUAKE AT MELBOURNE. , . ReceivecJ April 2, 0.33ja;:m. : ~, / MELBOURi\ T E, April 2. , A slight earth tremor was felt in the city and suburbs yesterday. ' AN ISLAND MURDER. Received April 2, 9.33 a.m. SYDNEY, April 2.' The steamer Titus brings news that a native in the island of Mukunau quarrelled with his wife, and killed her and her sister-in-law, the latter a girl aged 12 years. The murderer was arrested. AGRICULTURAL SHOW. Received April 2, 9.33 a.m. SYDNEY, April 2. In the high jump at the Agricultural Show, Desmond cleared "■6ft lOin. In the ladies' high jump, Desmond and Skylark cleared 6ft 3in. These are records. EASTER CROWDS IN SYDNEY. Received April 2, 9.33 a„m. SYDNEY, April 2. Thirty thousand people attended the races, and 54,000 the Agricultural Show.