AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2461, 27 March 1909, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

YOUTH DROWNED IN BOTANYBAY. -- As the result of the capsizing of a sailing beat In Botany Bay, Bert. Martin,- a youth, residing at Cook-street, North Botany, was drowned, and five others came perilously near meeting with a similar fate. The occupants of the boat were: Frank and Rupert Poison, Thomas Puckeridge, Peter Wilson, Daniel McNamara, and Bert Martin, of Cockstreet, North Botany. All came from North Botany.

The party left Kurnell, where they had been fishing overnight, at about nine o’clock, and were sailing across the bay towards Botany Pier. At about ten o’clock, when opposite Yarra Bay, at which time there was a heavy sea running, a stiff southerly struck the boat and overturned her. The lads clung to the craft with difficulty for some time, but eventually Martin, becoming exhausted, disappeared. Mr Howe, of Yarra Bay, came to the rescue of the remainder, and brought them safely to land. FIERCE FIGHT IN MELBOURNE. An exciting encounter between the police and two men caught in the act of assault and robbery took place in Little Lonsdale-street, Melbourne, early on Sunday morning, one of the. men being shot and seriously injured. At about 4 a.m. Constable Hunt,came across two men assaulting and robbing another man, whom they held on the ground. One was kneeling on him, while the other ransacked his pockets. They had knocked him about badly, and when Constable Hunt arrived on the scene the man avas insensible. ; The constable immediately arrested on© man; but he was determined not to be taken without a fight, and a fierce struggle ensued. The other man, howtook a hand, and as a result of this unequal contest both got away. Hunt, still undaunted, pursued one, and called on him to stop. As he iefused to do so Hunt fired three shots at him, and the third went through the man’s back, and out through the. lower ribs, grazing the liver and bursting a hydatid cyst which was growing thereon. The man, who gave the name of Patrick a serious condition. Stephen Allen (30), the victim of the assault, was taken to the hospital, where his injuries, consisting of cuts and abrasions upon the hands and face, were treated. He had been badly knocked about. A MAN ELECTROCUTED.

A shocking electrocution tragedy occurred in Fremantle-street, Perth, where Lineman Albert Cox was practically roasted to death in sight of a large crowd opposite the Town Hall. The unfortunate man was working on an overhead wire when he apparently slipped and fell across a live wire which supplies the power to the Fremantle electric trams. There was a delay in getting the power-house by telephone to get the current, which was over 2000 volts, cut off. . , . The man was hanging head downwards groaning with pain, and unable to release himself. The fire brigade, with ropes and ladders, eventually extricated Cox, but he was then quite dead, and mutilated by burns. Cox, who was a capable lineman, was 38, and leaves a widow and two children. ' VISITING FRENCH WxYRSHIP. The French cruiser Kersaint arrived at Svdney from Noumea oil March 15. The object of her visit is to. undergo an 4jperhaul, rendered necessary after active service among the Islands. The Kersaint belongs to the Pacific division, her headquarters being Noumea. She left Noumea on March 10, at 4 p.m., and had some rough weather during the trip, heavy seas causing her to knock about a good deal. The officers are:— Captain Margolie, Lieut. Valat, Sublieuts. Raffi, de Tesson, 'Tenot, and Robin; Engineer Sauzereau, Paymaster Simian, and surgeon, Dr Geoffroy. The cruiser will remain in Port Jackson about a month.