The Madagascar Mystery.

Southland Times, Issue 4493, 4 December 1882, Page 2

The Madagascar Mystery.

— : « TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — From the inaccuracies in the com. munication of R.S.B.C. Cm to -day's Times) regarding the loss of the ship Madagascar, T am led to believe that his informants, Messrs Gilroy and Anglem, drew . largely on their imagination when relating their story over the camp fire at Facile Harbor. R.S.B.C. is evidently not very long in these parts, and appears to be imperfectly acquainted with the early history of this and the neighboring colonies, or he would know something himself about the Madagascar, as probably none of the many missing ships from Australian waters have been more spoken about — owing to the notorious characters that were known to be on board — than the vessel referred to by your correspondent. It may not be out of place to hint to K.S.B.C, that the next time be desires to put his reminiscences before the public, he would act wisely by not placing too much reliance in the veracity of the ancient mariners who may be his companions for the time, and from whom he will probably seek information regarding the wonders that may come under bis notice. There are some estimable old " shellbacks " in these parts, in whose company it would be a perfect treat to spend an evening at sea, or on the quiet shores of the West Coast— men who could, metaphorically speaking, knock Captain William Jackson Barry into a '■*' cocked hat ;" .albsit they bavejnever ridden on the back of a whale from Samoa to the New Hebrides— but whose statements at the same time should be received with a very large "pinch of salt. 7 ' Personally, I h%ve much cause to ba interested^

in the fate of the ship referred to in your correspondent's let er. I bave made numerous enquiries during the past twentynine years, without getting the slightest clue as to what became of her. Under the circumstances, I was, to say the least, surprised to learn from " 8.5.8.C.V letter that her, hull was to be seen within a few hours' sail of the place I have been so lons residing - in. The particulars o£ the mutiny, the burying, of the sbip in Facile Harbor,! the "planting" of the boxes of gold, the pick in the tree, and the story of the three survivors reaching Lake Wakatip, are. well told by Mesßrs Gilroy and Anglem, and would,' I have no douht, attract a good deal of attention in Victoria, and perhaps cause Facile Harbor to become a noted resort for tourists from that colony, but for the fact that there are" so many evident errors in the narrative. One of the. most glaring is the positive assertion, in two places, tbat the Madagascar sailed from Sydney. Since the date of her departure through Port Phillip Heads, up to the present, nothing authentic has been heard; of .--her,:, that I could Mm, and this could! scarcely be the case if she had been ruii ashore at; Facile Harbor, and her V^w: VahdV passengers had landed there. Then the getting assistance at JVakatip twenty-nine years ago, seems another ; palpable mistake, as- there was no settlement there at tliat time. After a careful perusal of the statements made regarding the Madagascar by your correspondent's:, informants, I regret to come to 'the conclusion *that these gentlemen "are almost as perfect as "Mr Thomas Peppery in .".yarn spinning." The fact is the fate.of ;the Madagascar io likely to remain foi ever a sealed my s tery. She certainly^had onyboard a large amount of gold— consignments from tbe Banks — and besides her crew, there were some 70 paseengers, who had all done well on tbe diggings. It. was ascertained, however, after the ship sailed, that among the passengers were some of, the most reckless of the numerous desperadoes who at that period levied •'black-mail" on the roads from the goldfields. and who were strongly suspected of being implicated in the daring " Nelson % robbery in Hobson's Bay, and the stioking-upof the Mclvor escort. The impression that prevails in Melbourne up to the present regarding the disappearance of the Madagascar is, that, when off the north-east coast of Patagonia, the freebooters alluded to, had with the assistance of some of the crew, succeeded in battening down all the well disposed on board, and took to the boats with the gold, after scuttling tb c ship. Tb is much was gathered from the ravings of a maniac who died in the hospital at Monte Video some 27 years ago — that he and others had been engaged in a terrible crime at sea in connection with, boxes of gold, but nothing definite could be elicited from him on the subject before he expired. From the character of the men who got on board the Madagascar just prior to leaving Hobson's Bay, there is every reason to suppose that there was bad work on board of her ; but that her remains are those lying at Facile Harbor appears to me altogether improbable. Had she reached there, traces of the passengers who had shipped in her must have undoubtedly been found long before this. In any case, it seems strange that Messrs Gilroy and Anglem have-kept silent for 29 years regarding the hull to be seen at Facile Harbor- Their story, I am afraid, sir, is altogether an improbable one. Considering the length of time that has elapsed since she sailed on her last cruise, I am inclined to think that the fate of the good ship Madagascar will remain a sealed mystery till the " last trump shall sound,. and the grave give up its dead." — I am, &c., Wm. Craig. November 30th, 1882.