The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-02-24
DOUGLAS AND BLOOM.
Their Brief Visit to Tahiti
Described.
R. G, HaCkay Tells Of the Trial Be.
fore Consul HaW0S at Papoete,
Is. I. Chronicle. February 50


The brigantine Galilee, which ar
rived from Tahiti Saturday night,
brings news of Messrs. Bloom and
Douglas, the owners of the yacht
Beagle, who defrauded their creditors
in Sydney of some 10000 British
sovereigns last year. 1t will be re-
membered that Bloom and Douglas
created sensation in Honolulu,
where they were accosted by a detec-
tive from Sydney, who accused them
of theft. Before the detective had
time to obtain the proper papers in
order that he might arrest the fugi-
tives they fled in their yacht for the
South seas.
r. G. Mackay, one of the passen-
gers on the Gallee, told Chronicle
reporter yesterday that Bloom and
Douglas arrived at Papeete, Tahiti,
on the morning of December 18th,
and at once became known to the
English residents of the island.
They had plenty of money!" said
Mr.. Mackay, land spent it lavishly,
giving elaborate breakfasts and din
ners, costing from $500 to $500
everytime. Their particular friend
was A. G. $. Hawes, the British
Consul at Tahiti, who, believing
them to be what they represented
they were, entertained them royalty.
The natives also looked up to them,
and believed the Beagle to be as
great as any yacht in the royal
squadron.
They continued their festivities
for several weeks, until the arrival of
the steamer Richmond from Sydney.
Among the passengers were Maxine
and j. l.. de Lambert, agents for an
insurance company, who said they
were looking for the Beagle's owners.
They said that Bloom and Douglas,
whose real names are Davis and Bell,
were wanted in Sydney for the rob-
berry of the Melbourne National
Bank, and accordingly they appeared
before British Consul Tlawes for
their arrest. Mr.. Hawes was more
than surprised at the charges made,
and could not be made to believe that
his friends were bank robbers. How
ever, he ordered them before him for
trial. The testimony of the De Lam
bertSt proved TO be very damaging,
and Mr.. Hawes was almost convinced
of Bloom and Douglas guilt, when
Bloom produced paper proving him
to be the owner of the Beagle, and
on this evidence Consul Hawes allow
ed him and his partner their liberty.
Mr.. Hawes claimed that ownership
papers were very hard to get, and
that man could not possess a vessel
in any name but his own.
just after they were exonerated
Bloom and Douglas went aboard their
yacht and had her towed alongside
the Galilee. They had placed aboard
the latter vessel large safe, a piano
and several cases of personal effects,
all of which were consigned to Joseph
Byrne of San Francisco. Byrne was
one of the party when the Beagle
touched at Honolulu. He came to
San Francisco on one of the steam
ers and it is believed is here now.
"Ihe next morning the residents
of Papeete were surprised to see that
the Beagle and her owners had van
ished. 1t is believed that she set
sail for some South American port.
Messrs. Bloom and Douglas forgot to
say 'good-by' to their friends or to
tell them where they were bound
for"
DOUGLAS AND BLOOMS SAFE.
SO far no one has called to claim
the safe, piano and fourteen pieces
Of furniture sent up on the Galilee
from Tahiti by j. Bloom of the yacht
Beagle and consigned to his brother