THE YACHT BEAGLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 36, 12 February 1892, Page 3

THE YACHT BEAGLE.

A MYSTERIOUS CRUISE

NEWS FROM TAHITI.

By the s.s. Richmond from the South Sea Islands further particulars are to hand from Tahiti (Society Group) regarding the mysterious cruise of the ex - .Imperial schooner yachb Beagle with the two Melbourne defaulters, .Messrs Bell and Davis (alias Bloom and Douglass).

Bell and Davis, it will be remembered, absconded from Melbourne recently with about £40,001* in cash belonging to a Building Society, which suspended payment in consequence. They turned up at Honolulu subsequently in tho Beagle, and next ab Tahiti in December last. Advices received from Honolulu state that ibhasbecomeknown since the Beagle left that aboub 24,000d01. in sovereigns was placed in the hands of a man named Leonard, who came from Hilo with Bloom and Douglass, for the purpose of keeping the sovereigns out of tho hands of bho authorises, and also for the purpose of changing them into American gold. This Leonard succeeded in doing, and he then left bo join bhe yacht. The Beagle arrived ab Tahiti in December from Honolulu, and her passengers soon became very friendly with the citizens of that lively little Frencli town and were feted everywhere. A short time after her arrival there, however, tho two men wero recognisod by Dr. De Lambert, a French gentleman who had known them in Melbourne. Dr. Lambert had been medical attendant to tha family of one of the men during their residence in Melbourne. He communicated his discovery to tho British Consul at Papeete (Captain Hawse), who, on interviewing tho absconders, was bold thab he was altogother mistaken, and that he had greatly insultod ■ them by entertaining such an idea.

However, in a day or bivo afterwards, towards the end of December, 11.M.5. Garnet arrived in Papceto harbour from Honolulu, on a cruise, and her commander happened to havo with him photographs and papers relating to the absconders. The Governor of Tahiti was communicated with, the identification of tho owners of tho Beagle being established, and was asked to detain the yacht. He was quite willing to. do so, bub the Bribish Consul placed an obstacle in the way, declining to sign tho necessary documents till ho had been given moro absolute proof of the men's identity.

In the meantime, the Beagle slipped out of the harbour for parts unknown, and this has so far boon tho hist heard of her. The owners gave out that bhey were going bo Valparaiso, but ib is believed by eomo thab they havo proceeded to Mangarewa (Gambier Group), to the eastward of Tahiti, where Captain V. Micheii, well known in Auckland, has a pearling station. It is bolievod thab they are trying to sell tho Beagle, and to settle down with their money in somo spot whero they will not bo likely to be detected.

Captain Gill, of Sydney, who navigated tho Beagle from Melbourne to Honolulu, and who returned to Sydney the other day, left tho vessol at Honolulu aud wenb on to Uongkon_r, tho owners engaging another master before leaving Hawaii.