WRECK OF THE BANCOORA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8632, 30 July 1891, Page 5

WRECK OF THE BANCOORA.

PASSENGERS' LUGGAGE

i PLUNDERED. Thk Geelong correspondent of a Melbourne contemporary writing on the 18th inst. says . .. : 4

The most sensational feature of the wreck of the British-India steamer Bancoora up to the present has been the robbing of the passengers, whose luggage in many cases disappeared as soon as it was sent ashore. Many of the passengers who had boxes of clothing, etc., were deprived of everything but the clothes they stood ,up in. The officers, too, have lost heavily in .the same way. The second mate brought his cash-box, containing some valuable papers, on shore, and left, it down on the sand for a minute or two while he went to assist in"dragging one of the boats and saving life, as it was then thought the ship was going to, pieces. When he went for the cash-box it was gone. Fortunately there was nob much money in it, but he will forgivo tbe thief if he returns the papers, which are important The purser had £18 in money stolen and nearly all his clothes, and many little trinkets of value. These are only one or two of many similar instances. • '

The saddest of all has to be bold. I have already briefly referred to ib, but ib requires more than brief mention bo do ibjustiee, for it is nothing short of a national scandal —a reflection on the fair name of Victoria. Had the Bancoora been wrecked on one of the South Sea Islands, among a lob of savages, the same thing would hardly have happened. That it should have happened in Christian Australia is incredible. Mrs. (tout was the only.lady passenger on board. She is a Tasmanian native, "but resides in London. She was on her way home for a holiday, taking her infant child with her." They had passed through Paris on her way out, and while in the French capital had bought many nice costumes, also presents for the old- people. ■ The child, too, had a valuable and rare outfit. When the ship went on shore on Sunday morning Mrs. Rout and her baby and her boxes received every attention, and • were sent ashore as soon as possible. The mother and child being safe, the luggage followed. Sneaking about were three or four ovil-looking creatures who, vulture like, were seeking what they could dovour. Some kind friend, seeing the helpless condition of the shipwrecked mother and her little one, took them off as soon as possible to a neighbouring farmhouse. The • luggage was left on the shore, and then commenced one of the meanest pieces of pilfering that ever- human creature descended to. To call the perpetrator of such a . deed a man would be a libel on the name of humanity. All Mrs. Rout's boxes were forced open ; everything was taken out and carried offjewellery, dresses, and everything went, and then the baby's fancy cradle, which was filled with all sorts of pretty things. Upon this the thieves pounced greedily, and did not leave a thing, nob even the baby's presents. When it was emptied, and of no furthor use, the cradle, with its filigree work, was flung into the sea, to be washed up on the shore a little later on with tho flotsam and jetsam. »

Mrs. Rout gives me a list of the following things which may be of sorvico to the police in tracing her stolen property. There are three brooches, one a silver gondola, one a sleigh, with horses in silver and bronze, and one an Indian view painted on ivory. There is an opossum rug, lined with red flannel, one ring with forget-me-nots, and several other piecoa of plain jewellery. Among her dresses was a black one trimmed with braid, a brown tweed cape lined with tartan, a brown cloth tailor-made jacket, and no end of other things. The residents of the neighbourhood are greatly incensed at what has happened,' regarding it as a reflection on them. Senioronstable White, of Geelong, thinks he can recognise three of the men who were at the wreck on Monday. The fault is that the police were nob on the spob early enough bo protect property. Constables Rawlings and Lsidlaw are here doing good work ; but they did not come till yesterday. Last night they had to sib up all night, looking after the discharged cargo, to keep ib from disappearing. '