Page 1 Advertisements Column 4

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1980, 16 January 1907, Page 1

TROOPSHIP BURNED. TOULON (Franco), Nov. 25. Tho tornado sclioolship Algociras, stationod ill this lmrbor, was totally, destroyed by firo at a late hour this evening. Tlioro wore 500 moil oiii board when the fire broke out, bufe it is believed that all but throe wore; saved. Tho Algociras was a ship oil' the lino, and for a number of years, past lmd been doing duty as a liari hour vessel, ‘and was employed asi $a torpedo training ship. She was ofj 5047 tons displacement and was built: in 1855. , Tho burning of the sclioolship ere-,? ated tho greatest alarm throughout" tho city, Nows of tho fire was first conveyed at about 11 o’clock by the: firing of a cannon in tho lmrbor. XIlO? people hurriedly left tho cafes and theatres, and rushed to tho clocks/, whence they could see tho Algoon-asi a mass of flames in the harbor. The burning vessel stood out brilliantly;, in the encircling darkness, and tlio glare of the flames lit up tho other shipping and tho coast and wharves. Tlioro was torriblo anxiety concerning'the fate of the 500 men on board until tho authorities announced that everybody had been taken off in boats and saved, with the exception of three. Thoso men did not answer tho roll call, and it is presumed 'they wero burned to death. \ ,yk Tho authorities came rapidly cvp tho conclusion that tho doomed, and she was loft to burn herself out. Tho discipline maintained on board tho Algociras was excellent. • A majority of tho men wore cool and collected. The small boats of tho Algociras wore launched, filled with men and rowed away, while those who could not leave in this manner awaited tho arrival of their rescuers. A few of tho men, howover, were forced by tho flames to jump ovorboard and swim away. Six torpedoes on board tho sclioolship exploded while tho men wore leaving tho vessel. Tlioro was much fear during the iioiglit of the fire that a torpedo magazine on shore would ho ignited, but tliis was prevented by deluging the magazine with heavy streams of water from powerful (ire boats.

It is not known whether the fire originated from an explosion of powder or broke out among the' stores on board. It is thought the fire which broke out to-day had been smouldering all day long in the vessel’s bunkers. This would account for the sudden breaking out of the flames at practically the samo time on different parts of the ship . There is somo uncertainty as to whether the tlirco missing men were really burned or not. It is reported that they wore last seen standing on deck, and when ordered to .jump into the wator replied that they could not swim.

SWELL MOBSMEN. THE SAME OLD GAME. LONDON, Nov. 30. At Bow-stVcct last Tuesday, Detec-tive-Inspector Stackloy said thero wore about a dozen Australian confidence tricksters now ill London lobbing people daily. The original Australian gang was composed of Bowers, Cooper, Hamilton, Thompson, McNally, Sepli, “Sorgt.” Macdonald, Robinson, and Connor, the lastnamed being one of the first to fall into trouble. Ho got a seven-year sentence some time before McNally and Thompson met their "Waterloo at the Renmark widow’s hands. A later gang was composed of D’Arcy, Middleton, Forrester, Lovelock, and Cassol, alias Castles, all of whom found temporary refuge in H.M.’s free hotels. How many of this baker’s _<i ozen were, really Australians it is impossible t'o say. In all probability they most of them really owe allegiance to Uncle Sam. But it is a fact that they seemed to take a special pride in “doing down” Australians, and the intimate knowledge some of them possessed of Australia and Australian visitors’ affairs and friends suggested that they had at least? something more than a book acquaintance with the Commonwealth. The police kept and continue to keep a sharp eye on the rogues, but the groat difficulty Scotland Yard has to lace is that of getting the swindlers’ dupes to come forward and testify against tho men who have tricked them.

At present there is considerable doubt ns to the identity of a gang who have boon operating against colonial visitors during the past few weeks. They arc known as the “motor-car gang,” One is a man of apparently early middle-age, tall and dark, and the other a younger man of medium height and inclining to bo fair. Both are remarkably plausible and well-spoken. Their plan of operation is simple, but audacious. One of thorn calls nfe the house or hotel of some well-known Australian, and introduces himself as a fellow colonial, who knows many of his intended victim’s most valued friends. . Various reasons for calling are given, suited in eaeli case to tho- circumstances. An invitation to lunch at some expensive restaurant, ends the interview, and should this bo accepted, the second act of tho comedy is played with equal fearlessness. While the two arc chatting over their coffee, enter the second villain. Like his accomplice, he is well-dressed and of good address, but whereas the first stranger’s attire proclaims him t-lio man of business, the second rogue’s clothes and conversation convicts him of sporting proclivities. Indeed, he says as he joins in the proffered cigar and liquer, that he is just off tb the races to back a good thing; has liis motor car waiting outside, in fact. Why not join him? If the invitation is accepted, the way to the third act and the final curtain is easy. It is the old confidence trick in some of its most ingenious aspects, worked by clever, unscrupulous men. They have the names and histories of many wellknown Australians at their fingeronds, and are able t'o impart a feeling of eonfidenco by tlieir easy talk and apparently nourishing circumstances.

Another gang now at work con- | sists of three men of apparently Ger- j man extraction, with a Yankee tip- j bringing, who have their headquarters ill London, but arc inveterate j globe-trotters. They arc suspected ! of being the same gang which some years ago mulcted the London office of a well-known Australian hank in | £3OO, by moans of a forged cheque. | One of them gives himself out as being a duly qualified medical practitioner. Occasionally a woman plays a prominent part in their “little games.” The method employed by these swindlers is to travel, first-class by steamer in any direction where victims arc likely to be picked up, but Australians are especially favored with their attention. One of their latest victims was an Astralian jockey, who gets mounts at Ostond and in Paris, and frequently crosses the Channel. Not long ago lie was coming from Ostend to London, and fell in with the gang. The qartotte played cards on the trip and the jockey lost a large sum—over £l5O it' is said—before lie had the “nous” to stop playing. Drinks were thc.n ordered bv one of the gang. What happened after the jockey had liis drink reveals a new danger to travellers. He suddenly became very ill, and was moved to a cabin. The medical man stayed with him to render “aid!” When the steamer arrived in London, and the jockey was roused from his sleep ho found that ills waistcoat had boon ripped open, and 1700 francs were missing from the inside pocket, which had been sewn up for safety. Needless to say, perhaps, that his “friends” were not on board when the jockey made this discovery.

The Tenterfield-Casino mail coach overturned near Sandilauds range, owing to a cow frightening the horses. Several passengers were injured. T. Owen Owestry, who is a vegetarian of 69, stated at the vegetarian conference in Manchester that for some time lie has made it a rule to fast twenty out of the twenty-four hours of each day. He allows himself two meals a day, and these consist invariably of a little bread or biscuit, fresh dried fruits, and a few nuts. To consume those he takes from forty to forty-five minutes, and to each mouthful he administers from fifty to a hundred bites. Mr. Owen claims that on this diet lie is able to cycle considerable distances and undergo severe mental strain, without the least fatigue,.