THE MISSING WARATAH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2603, 10 September 1909, Page 5

THE MISSING WARATAH.

NAVAL OFFICER TO ACCOAIPAXY SEARCH VESSEL. llniteo Pit chs Association— rroPTiiiuiiT LONDON, Sept. 8. A naval officer will accompany the Sabine on the search for the missing steamer Waratah. ALLEGED TELEPATHY. Between 400 and 500 persons, mostly ladies, witnessed, in Melbourne, August 31, an attempt hv Airs. Alurray to call up spirits from the vasty deep. The meeting took place in the Temperance Flail. There was no appearance of the Premier (Air. Alurray) or the agents of the vessel, who, according to Airs. Alurray, had promised to attend. At the outset . there was a very long pause while Mrs. Alurray canvassed the audience for a chairman. After much difficulty a chairman was secured. Then a request was made that someone should open the meeting with prayer. No one volunteered, and 'Airs. Alurray herself performed the duty.

Airs. Alurray then asked if Captain Tickell were present, “because,” she added, “he seems to agree with my view as to tlm position of tho Waratah.”. A nautical-looking man, who certainly was not Captain Tick ell, ascended the platform amidst great laughter. Fie made a brief speech, and, on being informed by the chairman that he was not wanted, descended the platform steps again. Airs. Alurray then intimated that she had been in communication with a gentleman on board, who possessed a heavy moustache. As a result of his information she was able to mark on a chart the position in which the vessel was now to be found. She asked if any gentleman with a knowledge of navigation would pass his opinion upon this. A ship’s officer inspected the marked chart, and declared that it was impossible for the AVaratah to be in the place marked by Airs. Alurray, or, indeed, within a thousand miles of it. “According to this,” lie remarked, “the vessel has drifted at least 2000 miles to the east, -and five hundred miles to the north in the spaco of 33 days. “Could she do that with a broken propeller?” asked a lady in the audience. Airs. Alurray, however, persisted, stating that seme currents were so swift that they would carry steamers faster than they could travel under full Bteam.

Relatives of persons on the AVaratah wore then invited to tho platform, and five responded. Airs. Murray appealed for quietness while she obtained contact, but there was considerable disorder, many of those present having “come to scoff.” After much guessing, she announced to the audience that she had obtained Hidings. She had, through a small boy, received a message from a gentleman on board, who said that the vessel was safe, but he was annoyed at the awful waste of time, and lie was anxious to get back to_l>usiness. AVitli other persons she had failed. She ingenuously attributed this to the fact that tho first subject had given a direct denial to one of her conjectures. “That broke the magnetism,” she complained. A gentleman in the audience rose and ventured to express his dissent from Mrs. Murray’s conclusions. Ho was instantly surrounded by excited women. Several of them dealt him blows and endeavored to eject him from the hall. For seme time groat excitement reigned, the women'screaming “Coward”' and “Brute.” Finally the caretaker intervened, and the women were pacified. The gentleman was invited to the platfonu, where he made a short, hut heroic, speech in protest against Airs. Murray’s teachings. In conclusion Airs. Alurray made an offer to the Government. “If they charter a boat and take me on her with a relative of any passenger, I will guide tho vessel to the AVaratah. I will accept no fee if the steamer is not found.” The offer was greeted with applause, mingled with jeering, and the gathering dispersed.