FATAL PUGILISTIC EXPEDITION

West Coast Times, Issue 572, 25 July 1867, Page 2 (Supplement)

FATAL PUGILISTIC EXPEDITION

(jROJI THE MELBOURNE LEADEff.)

The most shocking disaster that has occurred in Melbourne for .a considerable length of time happened on Tuesday, July 9, in Hobson's Bay during the preliminary arrangements for a prize-fight between Alfred M'Laren and Carstairs. It appears that the friends of the pugilists engaged the steam-tugs Resolute and Sophia to convey them down the Bay to witness the fight. The boats left early in the morning, it being the intention or the party to bring off the fight near Povtarlington, if practicable, or if not, on one of tho mid islands of the South Channel. The boats proceeded to their destination, but on nearing the coast it was discovered that the police had received information of the intended fight, and were busy scouring the beach. Finding that a landing was impracticable inside the Bay, the tugs steamed outside the Heads, but owing .to a heavy swell they were compelled to return. One of the rules of prize-fighting gives to the winner of a toss the privilege of selecting the ground for the fight; and, Alfred M'Laren having won, it was decided to pitch the ring about six miles south of Dromana. The tugs dropped anchor four miles from shore, and in face of what appeared to be deep water. Several boats, it is positively stated, were cast. on the reef among the fierce surf that was breaking over it, and their occupants hurried to a sudden and untimely doom. The steamers returned to town about nine o'clock ; and on the news spreadingmostdistressfulscenestookplace. At Sandridge, where friends were becoming anxious at the long delay of the steamers, a generalfeeHngappearedtoforeshadowsome mournful tidings, and a few were loud in expressing their belief that an accident had happened. When the news became generally known in Melbourne, crowds gathered! round the Butchers' Anns Hotel, Elizabeth street, and Tattersall's Hotel, Bourke street, and the utmost impatience was manifested to learn the particulars. Mothers, wives, and offspring eagerly rushed to ascertain the safety of those dear to them, and few there were- among the crowd of hardened hearts that in the morning rejoiced in,the anticipation* of a brutal exhibition, but felt softened and subdued in the face of the- judgment that had overtaken their friends.

The following account of this shocking catastrophe has been furnished by an eyewitness ; and we have reason to believe that, so far as it goes, it is in every respect a reliable narrative :—": — " The men were to fight at some place over twenty and under fifty miles from Melbourne. The toss for the whereabouts was won by Carstairs, and our party, on board the steamers Sophia and Resolute, started

from Melbourne at about 8 o'clock, a.m., on Tuesday last. Carstairs having won the toss, and being on board the Sophia, Captain Eockett, of that vessel proceeded to pilot the party to the scene of action, the Resolute being obliged to followwherever he led. Eockett led us to the mud-banks, a place where nobody ever dreamt of having a fight before, it is so unsuitable altogether. Still the Sophia was bound to go on, according to the articles, llockett soon bumped his vessel twice on the mudbanks. Observing this. Captain Richardson, of the Resolute, immediately reversed the engines, and went at full speed astern. Those on board the Resolute now hailed the Sophia, and asked what was going to be done, as there seemed to be a mess somehow. Rockett replied only *by turning round his vessel, and th.o Resolute had no option but to do the same, still following on. Shortly afterwards Rockett mtide it known that he thought Arthur's Seat a suitable place for the fight. He let go the anchor of the Sophia, and the Resolute anchored not far off. At the same time, it seemed perfect madness to endanger men's lives by sending them ashore at such a place, especially under such circumstances — the wind blowing fiercely from the north, and there being a tremendous sea, the waves literally like mountains of water, the surf and breakers in proportion. In fact the local fishermen say that even in fine weather it is almost impossible to effect a landing at the spot selected without risk of life, although a few miles higher up or lower down, it is less dangerous. At all events, the word having been given, Captain Rockelt, Mr George Strike, of the Butchers' Arms, and two or three others, got into one of the' Sftphia's boats with the ropes and stakes. They landed only with very great difficulty, but not before their boat was capsized. They managed to haul the boat up ashore — most fortiinatoly, as it afterwards proved. Their escape seemed almost miraculous, and but for the exertions of Sawdy, a boatman of Sandridge, •no doubt they woxild have all found a watery grave. Shortly afterwards another boat, with several passengers, was sent from the Sophia, and met a similar fate, having been capsized. A boat was also sent from the Resolute, with from ten to thirteen passengers — the exact number is unknown — and the wind blowing fair ashore, she fared well till she got into the breakers. Those on board the .steamers at first thought that the boats were only in the trough of the sea, but they found out the truth when they distinctly saw the Resolute's boat turned over and over, and the men struggling inthe l'aging water. The clistance must have been about a quarter of a mile from the shore, so that the unfortunate men struggling in the surf seemed abandoned hopelessly to their fate. Here again, Mr Sawdy displayed most commendable foresight and courage. He got those on shore with him to help in clearing the water out of the boat that had been capsized ; and this having been done, he and his mates, at the risk of their own lives, put off among the breakers, and rescued seven of the men, who otherwise must have perished. Mr J. Taylor gave the most valuable assistance both in launching the boat and bringing the sufferers ashore, and relieving them when got beyond reach of the waves. He risked his OAvn safety over and over again in endeavoring to save the others, wading up to his neck, and it was mainly through him that life was" afterwards kept in the famishing frames of the men rescued. Those still on board the steamers did not yet know the nature and extent of the calamity ; but some of the Resolute's party volunteered to man a boat, and find out what was the matter. Great praise is due to Mr Holliii and Mr Dempsey, the boatmen, and to Mr Richard Banner, of Sandridge, for their exertions in making ashore, and rendering assistance. It was all done at the risk of their own lives. Having reached the shore, they made a signal to the steamer that something very serious had occurred. They then manned two boats, and endeavored to come .on board and tell the particulars, wisely resolving to keep together, so that if in that awful sea either of them should be swampedand the other survive, the survivor should assist its consort. They pulled their boats manfully with this resolution, and fortunately reached the vessel without mishap. . When they told their dreadful story, the scenes on board the Sophia and Resolute were of a more touching character than it would bo easy to realise, for obvioua reasons. When the Resolute's boat was capsized several of the men clung to her, but the mighty waves turned the vessel overhand over like a foather, so that there was no holding on. Before the capsize, Mr J. Taylor at one time broke the force of a great wave by standing up in the stern, and keeping his overcoat spread out. He and Sawdy waded into the water, and so helped oiit some of the sufferers, who, exhausted and cold, and muffled up iii seasonable gai'ments, were utterly unable to. help themselves. The two troopers on the ground, Thompson and O'Shanassy, rendered great assistance in getting blankets and restoratives for the sufferers. Some Maori fishermen in the neighborhood are said not to have displayed a superabundance of sympathy on the occasion, and a local hotel-keeper is said to have been rather slow to help those who stood so much in need of assistance." The inquest upon the bodies of five of the men, Newman, Jones, Cheshire, Branston, and Willicott, who were drowned at Rosebud, near Dromana, whilst trying to effect a landing on the shore, was held at Dromana, on "Wednesday evening, by Mr Candler. The inquest on the two former men resulted in a verdict of accidental death.