CAPTURE OF THREE OF THE RUNAWAY PRISONERS.

Colonist, Volume VII, Issue 697, 1 July 1864, Page 2

CAPTURE OF THREE OF THE RUNAWAY PRISONERS.

Last Tuesday we announced tho escape from prison and flight pn Sunday last from Nelson, ef f-mr prisoners, who fled up the Maitai towards the Maungatapu. Mpunted cpnsUbles were despatched in pursuit of the fugitives, one pf them, Bradcocle, ihortly sfter the escape was reported, and the eth^r, Petfcr Levy, whp started ph Monday mprning abput tw© o'clock. He met with many difficulties and not* few dangers, in riding through the dark tip the nSrrew tdrtuom path along thelUaitai ritrer, with iv numerous deep and dangerous crossings, and up the steep and slippery sides of tho Maungatapu. The horse's foot fcracfc between the boulders at one crossing, andh«h«dto dismount in tho middle of the stream, and pofce tho stone aside with his swerd, getting himtelf drenched in the meantime, and his rcvelver rendered «s*l#sß by the water. After oalling at Dwyer's accommodttion house, where ho found no trace of the men he was in search of, he pressed on to Franklyn's accommodation store, en the pther side ef the Manngatnpn, and there found his brether-ceustable Bradeoefc laid n* ill. After a short time stay he again set oat atdaylfght, and about two miles pn tho ether side of the Heringa river he observed two men without swags climbing the hill, net far in advance. These he shortly Tecegnised as twp pf the fenr whom he " wanted," and riding rapidly on was clpse on them before they discovered who he was, when they ran for sheltei to the bush. Levy dismounted, fastened his horse, and pistol in hand pursued them on fppt, calling on them tp stand pr he would fire en them. The twp men whe were Jehn Perry, and Jphn Russell, burglars, refused tp stpp and ran on, Levy follewing until he made np with Perry, and seized him by the cellar. Adppting the plan pften follpwed by bushrangers in their "stioking-up'' processes, Levy erdered his prisoner te hpld his hands pver his head, fearing he might stab him, and in this attitude he was handcuffed. The mail was tired and hungry, and after walking a little way he lay down and said Levy might kill him but he could not ge any further. Se Levy disrueunted and set his prisoner en horseback, and thus walked to the Wakamarina. Here herse, prisoner, and eapter had a narrow escape trom diowing.anditwasenly by the prempt intrepidity ef a cpuple pf Maories that Levy was saved, as the river was so high and rapid that the canoe npset. Next morning Levy returned with hiß man, and learned on his way that the prisener whp escaped him had slept that night at a whare near the Pelerus bridge, but had left very early. At the feot pf the Maungatapu the efficer met five diggers, whp were carrying swags, and in one cf whpm, whp Beemed veiy desirous te hide his ceuntenance by a heavy load pn his head, he recegnised Johnson, the ex sea-cook, whem he at ence arrested, explaining to the ethers whp and what he was, and that he was in quest ef other escaped cenvicts. Hereupon he was interned that the party had 6een another man a shert time time since, and en pffering £-5 fpr his apprehension one pf the diggers went and secured him, and brought him tp the efficer. This man turned put to be Jenaa, whp earnestly besought the diggers to rescue him, but wifcheut avail, as they all refused and after arranging respecting the reward, giving £2 to the diggers, and premising £3 tp the man whp tppk Jpnas,- Levy. proceeded with the three priseners to Nelsen, accempauied by the digger aforesaid and Mr. Kpwe.

The three men were brought before Mr. Ppynter en Wednesday and remanded.

Russell, the fourth fugitive, whp is still at large, is believed te have gone to the Wakamarina. He is well knewh tp the Marlborough pplice, and it is not likely that much time will elapse before he too is again in gapl. Thisquiclcoapture of these men, and that <• of other escaped prisoners, show that even if a gaol bir4 succeed in getting out of pvispu, ths\% i| gvW'

TRIAL TRIP OP THE STEAMER NELSON.

The smai-t-lppking lpcal steamer Nelson performed her trial trip on Wednesday lasfc. The Trustees of the Nelson Trust Funds, to whom she belongs, invited a number of ladies aud gentlemen to accempany them in tho shert voyage which was to test the capacities of their new purchase; and accordingly a party of about forty persons assembled on board by 11 o'clock, when steam was up, the engiues \rere set in motion, round went the paddles, and away tho Nelson steamed down tho harbour. The day was fine, the bay, as usual, calm and smooth, aud all on board appeared to enjoy the trip. After getting eutside the beulder bank, the speed of the vessel was tried in passing the measured mile, as it was when she returned homeward. Sho went straight along the bank, and the following is the result of tho test, both going and returning:—

Ist trial. 2nd trial. Pressure of steam per sq. inch 26 lbs. ... 24 lbs. Revolutions of paddles per minute 39 ... 36 Tune running the milo 6m. 33 5...6 m. 20s. Rate in miles per hour 9.16 ... 9.47 The speed was thus nearly 9J- miles per hour the first trip, and nearly 9* ou the return, duriug which there was a slight land breeze against her. On her first trial trip at home wo believo she went eleven miles, winch was increased, by some alteration in the funnel and otherwise, to thirteen miles. But to neither of these could she attain on Wednesday ; and indeed it appears that tho trial trip at home, before leaving tho builders' hands, is generally a different thing from that in the colony, when ready for prdinary useful wPrk. The Nelson proceeded to Wakapuaka harbou*, and the passengers on board had an opportunity, of which ono could scarcely tire, of admiring the fine and grandly picturesque mountain scenery that surrounds our smooth and spacious bay. The snowy mountains on theone hand, with tbe snowline distinctly marked along the sides of the ranges, and the remarkable dome-like mount, called the Devil's Thumb, rising prominontly np from tho summit; and on tho other sido a similarly abrupt peak, styled Gordon's Knob, while along our side pf tho bay, the occasienal pretty openings in the cliffs wore seen, shewing us valleys dotted with homesteads and bright patches of green cultivated land. It is not usual in noticing trips of this kind—Which aro generally crouched in the phraseology of compliment—to institute comparisons with other vessels; but we cannot help remarking that thoso present on Wednesday, who went over the same ground pne day last year, in the steamer Sturt, could not but observe a difference in the vessels, and that, howovor good and pleasant a sailing boat tho Nelspn may prove, the Sturt was cpnsiderably superior, the vibration in the latter being scarcely noticeable, so smooth and oasily she worked and sailed, while it was decidedly apparent in the Nelson. Still, ■he seems withal a comfortable boat, and we hope, with Principal Greenwood, that sho may succeed in obtaining a trade in tliis Province and in Marlberough, although the present seasen pffers pbstacles in this way, wliich, h»d spring been pretty -rell advanced, might net havo existed.

Arrived at Wakapuaka Bay, Mr. Cross wont out in the boat to sound the entranco to the harbour, fprmed by the miniature beulder bank there existing, but it was found advisable to anchor outside. A couple of tables were erected on deck, and a tasteful repast spread on the boards, the cut glass sparkling in the sun-light, and tho generous liquid, vhich the celebrated Mr. Richard Swiveller denominates the "rosy," gleamed still more warmly. The dishes were all decorated by tiny union jacks, tricobrs, and tho stars and stripes pf America, while bannerettes and scrolls bore in golden characters such inscriptions as " God save the Queen," "Success to the s.s. Nelsen," "Welceme Strangers," &c. After dinner— The Chairman, Principal Greenwepd, first proppsed the health of the Queen, which was cordially drunk. He next gave success to the steamer Nelson. In doing so he spoke of the object of tho meeting wliich was to try a vessel which had been ordered by the Trustees pf tho Trust. Funds, fpr tho benefit of the settlement, and which it was hoped would prove a great convenience to the public. The Trustees of the Trust Funds had at their disppsal mpney set aside by the early settlers for the purpose pf encpuraging steam navigation ; and they had applied it to this purpose. Some yoars ago they lent money without interest to a steam company of twelve gentlemen, who purchased the Tasmanian Maid; and this vessel he was informed had paid them very well. They however, received a tempting offer for tho steamer, and disposed of her, by which means sho was taken from the province, and they repaid tho meney lent, but left tho province destitute of any steamer suited to its requirements. The Trustees were desirous pf preventing a similar pecurrenco, and therefpre after pbtaining all the most valuable information they could get, respecting the kind of boat which was wanted, ordered from England a vessel ef a suitable descriptien, and they were npw embarked qn board of her. There would probably be a difference of opinion as to the propriety of tho course followed by the Trustees, and fault would likely be found with them, but it was tho privilege ef Englishmen to find faultandtp give tlieir opinipnfreely and there was np likelihood of any failure in the exercise of this privilege here. However, he did not object tp such criticism provided it was fair and honest. (Hear, hear.) As success was generally the best evidence of the wisdpm pf any enterprise, he hoped that the success of the steamer which was about to be let to a lecal cempany would provo that tho conduct of the Trustees in purchasing the steamer was judicious and well considered. (Applause.) The toast waswarmly responded to. Mr. Scaife, chairman of the Steam Cpmpany replied, statin" that he was well pleased with tho result pf tlie trial, and that the Company would do their utmost to make the Nelson a useful and convenient boat, to the public. Shortly afterwards tho vessel was again under way, and during part of the route she steamed pretty fast against a head wind ; and after doing the measured mile as above described, was moored at tho wharf shortly after five o'clock, and landed a party who had enjoyed a pleasant aquatic excursion.