AN INVERCARGILL EPISODE.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 17, 9 October 1894, Page 3

AN INVERCARGILL EPISODE.

Regarding a section of land in Invorcargill, the ownership to which formed the subject of an action in the Supreme Court, JDunedin, an Invercargill contemporary writes : Mr Ro. Carrick, then, or shortly afterwards, in the service oi the 'Southland Naws,' kindly supplies the following particulars of the episode : —-•• Yankee Clark " was a carpenter, engaged, at the time of his disappearance, ' erecting, a dwelling house at Long Bush. He brought a cheque to town with him for LSO, which was cashed in small bank notes. The evening prior to his disappearance he attended a ball in celebration of the opening of the first courthouse. There he got introduced to, and danced repeatedly with, a girl who resided as a domestic at Mokomcko. Next day he spoke of going down to visit her at Mokomoko. The result was that for two days no notice was taken of his absence. The third day, it was ascertained ho hud not been to the Mckomoko, and a search was instituted, every man in the place turning out and taking part therein. The deose bush back from Tay street as far as the Wuihopai waa ransacked, but no traces were found. A report got current that he had been murdered for his money, and the body deposited down a well on tho premises of tbe Albion Hotel. The well, however, was examined, with no better results. I understand tbe search in that direction was repeated, but nothing was got to support the suspicion. There can be no doubt that a most unjust aspersion was cast on Lind, the then proprieter of the establishment, wbo was, in other respects, a man of good repute. The only glimmer of light ever thrown on Clark's fate came from the " Black Doctor," poor fellow, a man also badly misused in his time. The doctor's otory was that on Ibe night of the disappearance he got benighted in the bush down the river flat, and heard repeated cries of distress proceeding from the direction of the river. No attention was paid to the story, and now, after the lapse of 35 years, the theory suggested by the Black Doctor's statement is, to jay mind, the only feasible one.