THE CRIETIC

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 3, 2 October 1880, Page 21

THE CRIETIC

save 'himself, though the seas were now washing ■over the poop ; and one taking him with the wheel "broken to pieces in his hand, sAvept him overboard. I shall noAV go back a little, and give an .account of our OAvn actions — those of my mother and myself. My mother had been very *ea,-rsick the whole voyage, as Avell as being ill with -a sort of loav fever Avhich had hung about her since Aye had been in the tropics ; but the aiight before the catastrophe, feeling better, Aye liad all -of vs — i.e., the saloon passengers — been playing cards in the saloon. The captain, either that night or a day or tA\ T o before, had playfully told my mother that if she did not ,get better soon, he would land her on the "TAvelye Apostles." He little thought hoAV soon his words Avere to come true. We Avere in bed, of course, when the ship struck. The iirst bump aAVoke me ; the second told me something was wrong, and I jumped out of bed, for I had guessed the truth. Telling Mr. Keith to light the lamp, I ran to mother's «abin, and told her and Miss Henderson to -dress quickly. I then returned to my own ■cabin and dressed myself, putting on my warmest clothes and a new pair of Wellington boots. I unlocked my box, and took out of it a little safe, in which Avas £155 in Bank of England notes, enclosed in a sort of leather pocket-book, and Avhich I put in the breastpocket of my coat ; also a revolver and a sheath-knife, which afterwards turned out to be invaluable. The latter I put in my belt. The only tiling I forgot Avas a cap ; otherwise I was fully equipped for anything that might turn up. My mother and I Avent up on deck, folloAved J)y Miss Henderson and her brother. Some of the men were trying to get the port quarterboat out, and I went to help ; but my mother «aid she would not get into the first boat, as she thought this boat would have all the women packed into it, and very likely I should

the main deck, for the AvaA r es were running almost in a straight line from aft, forward. The boat, when it readied the sea, was still foul of the main brace, and as we thought the ship was going down every moment, we made strenuous efforts to get clear. We spent a miserable time of it till daylight, dodging about in the darkness and fog, trying to keep clear of the rocks, breakers, and large quantities of sea- weed, and yet keep near land. Half of us were engaged in baling, we being up to our middle almost in water ; but we might have saved ourselves the trouble, for the water neither decreasing nor increasing, the air-tight tanks keeping her afloat. The rest that were able pulled the oars. It was this night I lost my £155. I had taken my coat off to pull an oar, and it was then I think I lost it ; for most likely it'dropped out of mjr pocket and was baled overboard during the night, for I never saw it again, and the list of the numbers of the notes I had left on board. At last morning came, but with it fog, and we were very nearly losing land altogether. We had just made up our minds to run off before the wind and give all our energies to bailing out the boat, Avhen the fog lifted, and we saAV the big rocks looming out ; so we put on a spurt and got close inshore, and looked out for a landing-place, which was not easily found, the rocks rising perpendicularly out of the sea. We had not been pulling long when we sighted the gig, with Mr. Peters, our second mate, in it. We gave him a hearty cheer, and he towed us to the only landing-place on the island, which was a ledge on the face of the perpendicular rock, and to reach which a man had to watch Ms chance when the swell took the boat up, catch hold of parts of the rock, and haul himself up a height of about twelve feet from the sea. We all then that were not going back to the wreck got on shore, pulling ourselves up by the "painter" of the boat. My mother was hoisted up in a "bowline," a knot she now

their painters, but smashed and bottom up, they having been driven by the gale through a tunnel that ran underneath the island, and caught for a time in some sea- weed a mile or so off the land ; and we had the mortification to see them drift out to sea without the possibility of saving them. The first night ashore was dreadful ; we lay exposed on the rocks, huddled together for warmth, the rain pouring down and chilling us to the marrow. We got the covers off the gig and dingey, and made a sort of tent, which came down during the night and made matters worse. My mother, in consideration of her sex, had some planks to lie upon, but she was wofully crushed, and her legs nearly broken, by people crowding in under the canvas. Though greatly fatigued, few of us slept, and during the night a man named Mellor died from fright and exhaustion. For the next night or two my mother and myself, with one or two others, slept in a sort of a open cave, or rather overhanging ledge of rock, a little higher up than we were before ; and though the frost lay on our blankets, and the icicles over our heads, yet it was pleasant to what the other place had been. We stayed there about a couple of nights, untl another shanty, by no means water-tight, had been built. About 30 of us crammed in here, lying in tiers on and between each other's legs ; and it was not for month after that this horrid crowding was remedied by building other shanties. From the Strathmore 40 were drowned and 49 got ashore, my mother being the only woman saved, and Walter Walker, son of one of our cabin Jpassengers, the only child. My mother and Walter got what was supposed to be the best corner of this delightful place. From the damp and frost many of us had sore and frost-bitten feet, and one poor fellow called Stanbury was so bad that lockjaw set in. Before he died his feet were in a horrible state

Mrs. Lingard is a wonderful woman. As Josephine, in "H.M.S. Pinafore," she was, on Monday evening, the life, soul, body, and bones of a very ricketty and uncertain performance. An enthusiastic theatre-goer declares that he, more than once, saw her acting, singing, dancing, and directing the chorus all at the same time. Certain it is the opera would, on that evening at any rate, have gone to pieces without her. Now, lam told the company are better up to their work, and give a fair, though scarcely a first-class representation. Lingard's Sir Joseph is not, in local estimation, up to liiccardi's; but I fancy people think this because they saw the latter first in the part. Lingard has not much of a voice, but he is immensely funny in a quiet way, and makes every point tell. The tenor has a good voice, but can't act ; and the same remark applies to Mr. Campbell's Corcoran. Mr. Craig's Bosun is a hit ; and Mr. Westford's Deadeye a semi-failure. Of the others it is unnecessary to speak. They are just mediocre, and that's all. Mr. Seurell deserves great praise for making up such a respectable orchestra out of a scratch pack. It was quite a treat to hear a good band for once. Space won't permit of a lengthier notice this issue.

Salvini re-visits America. The wet weather played " old Harry " with Lingard's benefit. Ketten received £50 a night for playing at the Melbourne Opera House. Lydia Howarde has gone to Dunedin, where she awaits her troupe. Walter Reynolds' new piece "The Sprishaun " was a success in Christchurch. Teddy Haygarth says- he's not "the dawg" the Observer makes him out, but a nice quiet man, who " always goes home to his tea." John Faxilkner, the husband of Sallie de Angelis, was one of the through passengers by the mail steamer to Sydney. He goes to join his wife. The principal character in Walter Reynolds' "Sprishaun" is modelled on an Irish gentleman wellknown in Auckland. Tilly Andrews is doing uncommonly well in San Francisco. She made quite a hit in Byron's " Upper Crust." Signor Varley intends to produce the Opera of " Lucretia Borgia " at Dunedin, with the assistance of his pupils. Chiarini's Circus took £4,700 for six nights in Brisbane. Yet people complain that the season is bad and the times hard, and that they have no money. Lingarclhas made a fortune by his actino-. He owns a splendid house— almost a palace — in New York. Loyal, the Apollo gymnast, who was here a few months ago, is at Woodward's Gardens, San Francisco. He appears to be doing well. Horace Lingard and J. C. Williamson don't love each other. The origin of their quarrel was strange to say, not " a petticoat," but a " pinafore." The " San Francisco News Letter " calls Emilie Melville a " dramatic darling." In Melbourne she is styled the •' Australians' pet." There is no truth' in the statement that Emilie Melville meditates returning to the colonies im« mediately. '. . .

J. K. Emmett told"Carados,"of the"Referee," that his incarceration in the inebriate asylum was the result of a wicked plot got up by his enemies. Johnny Hall's latest impersonation is Col. Mulberry Sellars, in the " Gilded Age." "Lost and "Won " has been played in Christchurch, under the title of "A Christmas Mystery." Walter Reynolds seems to be doing well there. Luscombe Searell declares the piano at the theatre was made up cheap out of old gin cases. In-gin-ious, but un-gin-erous man ! The Lingards go South by either Tuesday or Thursday's boat. They have now decided to take Wellington first, and will play there a fortnight. J. A. Lord, who is bringing Thorn and Darvin to the colony, is not the gentleman associated with Bacheldor's Panorama, but a wealthy St. Louis merchant, whom the illusionists appear to have fascinated. Professor S. S. Baldwin, the exposer of Spiritualism, has been very unsuccessful since leaving New Zealand, and lost nearly all his money. A baby " Pinafore" troupe was the most fatal venture. Eleanor Carey is "starring" in the Eastern States of America, accompanied by Samuel Purcy, familiarly known in Melbourne and Sydney as " Handsome Sain." According to the "New York Clipper," John Jack and Annie Firinin opened at the Park Theatre, Philadelphia, on August 16, in the " Civil Marriage." Mr. Thomson, late of the American War Panorama, has bought a new diorama of the Z\ilu War, which is said to be Al. in all respects. Unfortunately it has been killed by the stupid " gift " system. After a run of nearly 300 nights, the " Merchant of Venice " has been withdrawn from the boards of the Lyceum Theatre, London. Irving' s autumn season was to open with the Corsican Brothers. Fairclough took a benefit at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, on the 10th hist., in the "Merchant of Venice " and " Katherine and Petruchio." There was a good house. . On the 16th inst. the Dunedin Garrick Club gave a highly successful performance of the " Happy Pair" and Byron's "Old Soldiers." The comedy went splendidly. The "Dred" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" Company, now playing at Hobart Town, are coming to New Zealand. George Atkins, who was here with the Loftus Company, has joined them as stage manager. Lingard's sketches are really very clever. With the exception of J. L. Toole, I don't know anyone who gives better representations of well-known characters such as Ward Beecher and the Prince of Wales. In the first act of "Our Boys," Miss Huran, the rich heiress, wore a plain grey dress of quaker-like simplicity, whilst her poor relation (Mrs. Lingard) was gorgeously and tastefully costumed in a richly embroidered silk. Adelaide is the most extraordinary toAvn for theatricals. Pro's, who fail every where else, do well there, and the veriest " frosts" in Melbourne often draw crowded houses. The " Steele Dramatic Company" had better reorganise and start off instanter for the South Australian capital. Nevill Thornton had a very good house at Napier, on the occasion of his benefit, which took place about ten days ago. The piece played was the " Streets of London." Subsequently the Company produced " Belpehgor," for the benefit of the local Fire Brigade. After a run of several weeks at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, Burnaud's "Turn of the Tide" suddenly failed to draw, and "Money" was hurriedly substituted. Owing to insufficient rehearsals, the London Comedy Company were not as good as usual, and the piece has consequently proved a failure. About fourteen or fifteen years ago, when the famous " Perfect Cure " first came out, Lingard's Sketches were the talk of London. He was then at Weston's Miisic Hall, and the Great Vance was the star of an opposition shop. Strange that the careers of the two men should have differed so widely. Lingard has risen to the top of his profession, whereas Vance is no longc «.«-en " great," and would scarcely draw a house. "Mrs. P. M. Bates" (says the "San Francisco News Letter") " has lately returned from a most successful career in Aiistralia ; she used to be a great favourite here, but now cannot get an opening. Why is this thus ? Surely it wovdd pay to welcome back an old friend, and give her a chance to show what she can do. We are not so flush of dramatic talent that we can afford to pass over that which Heaven sends us." "Bannennan and Louise Beaudet have," says the " 'Frisco News Letter," "gone to Australia. Pretty little Louise had some difficulties in the way of debts, which, at first, threatened to clap a stopper on her departure, and the Great Tragedian was broken hearted at the loss of his 'Desdeinona;' but some kind Christian friend came to the fore and paid up like a man, and the Great B. and the Little B. went on their way rejoicing." The Loftus Troupe are doing £160 a week in Brisbane. The ladies have taken the tucks from their dresses, and never raise their feet more than six inches from the ground. Minnie Esmond is disgusted and looks it. Mr. James Maas still tells his audience that he will " belch " them a song, and cannot understand why the "Courier" complains that there might be more refinement in the entertainment. Edmund Yates, chatting with W. S. Gilbert, said : "How came you to select the word ' Pinafore.' It is such a neat lucky name ?" " ' Pinafore,' " the author explained, "was suggested entirely by the rhyme. ' Three cheers more,' sung when the ' gallant captain' comes on board, must have something to rhyme to it. 'Semaphore' was the first idea; but this was subsequently set aside for 'Pinafore.' " The illness which carried off Tom Taylor was not paralysis, as was currently reported some time ago ; nor suppressed gout, as he himself believed ; but what is known in the profession as a " travelling clot " — a coagulation of blood which forms in a vein, and which, when in the circulation it reaches the heart, is instantly fatal. During his long and active career Mr. Taylor enjoyed excellent health, and "saw out" all his contemporary colleagues. At a rehearsal of Pinafore on Saturday last, the chorus sang terribly out of tune, and Mrs. Lingard "was much exercised in consequence. "Now, boys, do keep your eye on the baton," she ejaculated persuasively, meaning, of course, the conductor's baton. The chorus, however, were altogether at sea, and knew not where to look. At length a son of Erin, gazing up at the ceiling, murmured perplexedly : " Whar the divil is th' battong, thin ?" DeLias says no one possessed of a sound critical facility would say "Charity" was a poor play. If that is so, there can't be a decent reviewer on the Metropolitan press, for, in London, the piece got " slated " all round. I will admit it is immeasurably superior to the kind of fare set before us by the Steele Dramatic Company, but the comedy won't bear comparison with " Pygmalion and Galatea," " Engaged," " Randall's Thumb," " The Palace of Truth," or any other of Gilbert's pieces. The Salsbury Troubadours are being regularly sat upon by the English press. The " Porcupine," which is the principal critical weekly in Liverpool, says : " Although the performance has been modified during the week, .in deference to the susceptibilities of the ' Britisher,' it is full of such features as one does not expect to find in any piece put on the Alexandra boards. Were the piece and the players from London, there could be but one opinion about them ; as they are from New York— well, they are simply ' out of their element.'" My temerity in daring to " crack up " a " super " like Miss Raymond has been severely criticised by the professionals. It is, lam told, most unusual and improper to award more praise to a "super " than to the stars, and the latter don't at all approve of the new departure. Moreover, my critique was entirely wrong. The part of Ruth Tredgett is, in theatrical parlance, such a " fat " one that even a poor actress would shine in it, and Miss Raymond's impersonation, the "pro's" say, was decidedly poor. Well, I am content to leave the verdict to those who saw the piece. There are, doubtless, actresses able to act the character better, but I still persist in thinking Miss Raymond got through, it uncommonly well.