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- The context of this film is that it is one of a sequence of ten reels of film documenting the 1896 Melbourne Cup Carnival. Shown here is the racehorse Newhaven, winner of the Victoria Derby and the Melbourne Cup along with his jockey H. J. Gardiner and trainer Walter Hickenbotham.
- Eccentric exercises of a skater with roller skates.
- The plot outlined the story of the early Christian martyrs with a compendium of horrors guaranteed to jolt audiences into an awareness of terrible suffering for the sake of Christianity. Contained maulings at the Colosseum, crucifixions, beheadings, savage hackings and burnings at the stake, burnings in the limepit, the spectacle of human torches in Nero's garden. Overall "soul stirring stories of the martyrs, illustrated by the most beautiful living pictures by kinematograph and limelight and never before witnessed in this or any other country.
- Originally 70 minutes in running time, only 17 minutes of the world's first full-length narrative feature film survived in stills and other fragments and tell the story of Ned Kelly, an infamous 19th-century Australian outlaw.
- Enthusiastic lovers of the latest craze will no doubt be charmed to witness the prowess of the Australians on the whizzing wheels. The hall in which the views of our film have been taken appears to be very decent one, and some of the skaters possess no mean ability in the performance of clever evolutions, although, of course, none of them reaches the standard of the world's champion roller skater, who also appears on the floor. To those in the throes of first strenuous endeavors to master the secret of maintaining one's balance, the ease with which this gentleman carries out some astonishing long jumps and other feats must be somewhat annoying, but it's a capital performance to look at.
- Frederick Ward is accused of cattle theft and sent to Cockatoo island for seven years. After he escapes he finds that his fiancée has died of grief. For revenge he undertakes a life of crime.
- The plot concerns the rivalry between two neighboring sheep stations, Enderby and Waratah. This version includes the subplot about the bushranger Ben Hall.
- Edgar Dalmore, an impulsive youth, quarrels with his father, and in the heat of anger is disowned. Edgar's cousin, Vincent Lennox, is hard pressed for money, owing to his gambling proclivities. With aid of his friend, John Sterling, he beats Edgar's father into insensibility, robs the safe and accuses Edgar of having committed the crime. The father dies, and Edgar is sentenced to prison for life. At the end of six months, Edgar escapes from prison. As an escaped convict, he is welcomed into the Hellville band of bushrangers, made their captain, and called "Captain Midnight." He leads his band on several daring adventures, including an attack on and robbery of the government gold coach. After a thrilling chase by the bandits, the escort of the coach are overpowered and the chest of gold stolen. The mounted police chase Edgar and his band, and Edgar is separated from the bushrangers. Edgar meets his sweetheart, Thelma, who prevails upon him to renounce his bushranger connections. Elsa Harling, who is in love with Edgar, but whose love is not returned, sees Edgar with his sweetheart. She decides to turn Edgar over to the police and lays a plan for his capture. Edgar visits her at her father's cabin in the forest. The police surround the cabin. Elsa relents at the last moment, and helps Edgar to escape by cutting a hole in the back of the hut, thus eluding the police. Another exciting chase follows, during which Edgar has to swim across a river. Elsa overhears Vincent Lennox and his friend Sterling quarreling about the division of the money they have stolen after murdering Edgar's father. Her presence is discovered. She is seized by Lennox and Sterling, and tied to a tree. Lennox bargains with one of the bushrangers to do away with Elsa. Edgar, in his flight from the police, discovers Elsa tied to the tree, rescues her and in a thrilling scene he and Elsa overcome the two bushrangers and escape. Elsa notifies the police of the guilt of Lennox and Sterling, and the police start on the trail of the criminals. Edgar decides to cross the border and to live an honest life. He marries Thelma, and as they are coming out of the church they are seized by Lennox and Sterling and their followers, but Elsa arrives with the police in time to save Edgar and his wife. The stolen notes are found on Lennox, and he and Sterling are arrested for the murder. Through Elsa's noble sacrifice, Edgar is free to join his bride.
- A Melbourne playboy, Oliver White, is murdered as he is driven home one night in a hansom cab. Investigating the crime encompasses all aspects of Melbourne society.
- At the opening of the story, Nell Gwynne, a popular English actress, is seen as an orange girl selling her goods in and around the old Drury Theater. While she is bantering, Lady Olivia Vernon, the ward of Lord Jeffreys, Chief Justice of England, appeals to Nell for a hiding place. Lady Olivia is being pursued by her guardian and his soldiers and Lord Jeffreys is trying to force Lady Olivia to marry a wealthy lord. By quickness of wit, Nell secures a hiding place for Lady Olivia and later directs Lord Fairfax, Lady Olivia's lover, to the hiding place. While the soldiers are searching for the young couple, Nell distracts their attention by her powers of mimicry. Nell has been endeavoring to secure a part in one of the productions at the Drury Lane Theater, but has been unable to secure an opportunity to show her ability. In desperation she had assumed the role of the orange girl, hoping in this way to find occasion to demonstrate her histrionic ability to the manager of that theater. On the occasion of the illness of one of the principal characters in a production, Nell secures an opportunity to appear in the part. She makes an instantaneous hit, and from then on her success is assured. Lord Jeffreys tries to force Lady Olivia to marry the wealthy Lord Rochester, but Nell Gywnn repeatedly outwits the chief justice. Fairfax, Lady Olivia's lover, is finally captured by Lord Jeffreys and thrown into prison. Lord Jeffreys has trumped up charges against Fairfax, and by trickery has made King Charles believe them. Nell seizes an opportunity to disguise herself as Lord Jeffreys, and to issue orders which help release Fairfax. Nell's final appeal to the King saves her young lover, and he is set free to join his sweetheart. Lord Jeffreys, for his trickery, is dismissed by the King. Nell continues on her rollicking way, and is the idol of the country. Her final good deed is the presentation of a wonderful hospital to the nation. Although she is now the favorite of the King, Nell does not forget her old friend.
- The story opens with a May festival, during which Margaret Carrington is crowned Queen of the May. The rival lovers, a lieutenant in the army and a smuggler chief, meet Margaret, and she is compelled to choose between them. She chooses Morgan, the smuggler chief, and in a battle between the soldiers and the smugglers she persuades the lieutenant to let Morgan go free. The lieutenant resigns his commission and leaves for Australia. The soldiers are close on the track of the smugglers. A traitor in the smuggler band sends a false message to Margaret and signs the note "Morgan." In this note Margaret is told to come to a certain rendezvous. She steals a horse for this purpose, and is captured. Little seven-year-old Marjorie, in a thrilling horseback ride across country, carries a note to Morgan. Morgan goes to Margaret's assistance, rescues her, and she goes with Morgan to join the smugglers. Among the picturesque scenes along the coasts, arrangements are made for the marriage of Morgan and Margaret. Before the priest can pronounce the final words the soldiers enter the smugglers' cave, and there is a pitched battle between the smugglers and the soldiers. Morgan is killed, Margaret is captured and sentenced to death. Sentence is afterward commuted to the convict colony in Australia. Six months later we see Margaret in Australia as matron of the children's hospital. Here she meets the former applicant for her hand, the lieutenant, who is now an officer in the government service. Through his influence Margaret is pardoned, and finally becomes the lieutenant's bride.
- The story opens in a room in the old Spaniard's Inn at Hempstead Heath, England. Sir Richard Devine has a meeting with Crofton, a man-about-town, who has also been known under the name of Rex. Crofton attempts to blackmail Sir Richard, and a quarrel ensues, during which Sir Richard is killed by Rex. Previous to this, Sir Richard's son Dick, a hail-fellow-well-met chap, had a quarrel with his father on account of Dick's debts, and the elder man cast off his son. Rex, knowing this, has prepared evidence so that Dick is accused of murdering his father. He is unjustly sent to prison. Several years previous to this, Parson North, before entering the ministry, had forged some notes, which were held by Sir Richard. Dick is sent to the convict settlement in an Dieman's Land, Australia, and some wonderful scenes are shown of the convicts working on the rock pile. The chain gang is shown at work, and one of the prisoners who has tried to escape is overtaken by the guard and brought back. Parson North is chaplain, and is the friend of all the convicts. Lieutenant Black, in charge of the prison, discovers the chaplain giving tobacco to the convicts, and threatens to report him. Dick Devine, now known as Rufus Dawes, is seen as a convict, working beside Rex, the man who killed Dick's father. Shortly after this, orders are given to have the convict settlement moved to Port Arthur, and the prisoners are taken in small boats on board the "Osprey," a large sailing ship. The convicts plan to overpower the guards and capture the ship. Chaplain North proves his courage by saving one of the officers from being murdered toy two of the convicts. That night the convicts overpower the crew of the "Osprey" and secure command of her. Their knowledge of sailing is limited, however, and the boat is dashed on the rocks. A stirring situation develops, during which the wrecked convicts are washed up on the beach. Major Vickers, the commanding officer of the convict settlement, had sent his wife and daughter, Sylvia, on the "Osprey," and their lives are saved only by the courageous work of some of the convicts, headed by Rufus Dawes. Dawes has made a little camp for Sylvia, and is building a boat in which he hopes to take her away from the island on which they are marooned. On the other side of the island are seen the three remaining convicts, among whom is Rex. These three are reduced to the last extremity and are drawing lots to see who shall be killed for food for the others. The convicts are recaptured and taken back to the settlement. In the meantime, Dawes has finished his boat and is about ready to launch same and take Sylvia back to civilization, when a searching party arrives and rescues them. Previous to this, one of the three convicts had killed Sylvia's mother, and the shock had deprived Sylvia of her memory. Lieutenant Black, with the rescuing party, accuses Dawes of the murder. In desperation, Dawes finally escapes from the prison at Port Arthur, and on his way to the shore meets Sylvia, now Mrs. Black. She fails to recognize Dawes, and he escapes. The sudden sight of Dawes partly restores Sylvia's memory, and she demands to see the man who rescued her. Dawes is again captured and brought back to Port Arthur, and upon seeing him, Sylvia's memory comes back to her. In the meantime, Lady Devine has arrived from England and demands to see her son, who is known as Rufus Dawes. Rex, weakened by his dreadful experiences, finally confesses to the murders of Sir Richard and Mrs. Vickers. Rufus Dawes is therefore released from prison and returns to England under his own name and title, Sir Richard Devine.
- In a wild part of Australia, Wilson, an English trader in kangaroo skins, has his camp. Coming into daily contact with the black Negroes of that country, he becomes their friend and they, in return, protect him. An Englishman, a stranger, comes to the camp whom Wilson's black friends take an instinctive dislike to, but since he brings news of the outside world, the trader takes him in as a guest. Wilson receives gold for a consignment of skins, and. believing the stranger to be asleep, steals carefully away to place it in his secret hiding place. But his guest sees all, and, following him, learns of the hiding place. When Wilson returns the stranger is lying, as when be left, apparently asleep, but no sooner is the trader off his guard than his guest pounces upon him and deals a terrific blow. Then so as to point suspicion of the crime toward the black natives, he places spears about the trader's body and sets fire to the camp. The flames and smoke alarm the natives and they come in time to rescue their friend from being burned to death. Then, assured that his wounds are but slight they leave him and take up the trail of the culprit. The stranger having secured the gold takes refuge in the nearest village, spreading the news that the blacks have murdered Wilson. The village is aroused and a party sets out to avenge the crime. Meeting the blacks they learn the truth, verified by Wilson, and all make haste back to the village just in time to prevent the stranger from making his escape by boat.
- A party of English explorers make their way into the uncivilized region of Northern Queensland, Australia, and pitch camp. Jennings, one of the number, taking a little walk from the camp, is surprised by a tribe of aboriginal black fellows, who at first mean to kill and eat him, but beholding his white skin, the first white man they had ever seen, believe he is a god and receive him in honor. They are more convinced of his deity when he obtains fire from a match, whereas their method is antiquated and long. The black fellows amuse Jennings with a "Corroboree," a native savage dance, after which he wishes to make his departure, but the aboriginals hold him a prisoner of honor. Next morning all go hunting, the aboriginals with their spears, Jennings with his gun. The report of his gun so scares them that they flee. The Englishman attempts escape, but is tracked by the skilled black fellows and brought back to the chief. The chief, taking Jennings aside, surprises him by talking English, and explaining that he once lived among the white men, but has concealed the fact from his fellows, wishing them to preserve their primitive happiness. He offers to aid Jennings' escape if he promises to leave the land forever and take his white friends with him. The chief gives his fellows "pituri," the opium of the Australia aboriginal and soon they sink into profound slumber. He then carries the white man on his shoulders so as to leave no tracks and taking him to his camp in safety returns while his men still sleep. So that when they awake and can find no trace of the stranger, they raise their arms to the skies, believing he has returned there.
- Interesting views of the method employed in getting these gem-bearing oysters from the highly cultivated and well known beds at Thursday Island, just north of Cape York Peninsula, Australia.
- Two young Australian prospectors, Brown and Smith, ride up to a settler's shanty. The settler is an old man, living alone and endeavoring to clear a heavily stumped bit of land. He places before the visitors the best fare he has and moves off toward the creek with bucket in hand. Brown kindly relieves him of the bucket and himself goes to fetch the water. At the creek Brown discovers indications of gold. That evening, having accepted the old man's hospitality for the night, they steal off to the creek and their beliefs are confirmed. They buy out the settler for 100 pounds. Two years later a prosperous mine is developed. Brown sticks to the property, bat Smith sells out his half interest for 20,000 pounds and goes to the city. Brown becomes rich, and in his prosperity befriends the old settler making him confidential man at the mine. After ten years. Smith returns, a poor and dissipated tramp, to find his old partner still managing the mine, married, and happy in his home life. Smith is given a Job at the mine, and an attempt is made to reform him, but the seeds of envy are sown too deep. He is ungrateful, jealous, and sullen, and tries to rob the mine. The old settler foils the plot. Smith is driven away in disgrace, goes out prospecting for another mine, and dies of thirst in the bush, the end of a career along the gilded way.
- At a boarding house in Sydney, Australia, Franz, a young artist, holds himself aloof from his fellow boarders. In vain do they try to induce him to join their picnics and frolics. Secretly he is in love with the young and pretty Dolly, but dare not make advances because of his poverty and her wealth. Secretly she loves him. At length, peeved at the artist's reserve, the boarders decide to play him a joke, a la Edgar Allan Poe's "The Gold Bug." Even little Dolly joins in the plot, lest by refusing she betray her secret. They ingeniously steal from the artist his large, soft, black hat, his inseparable companion, which they place carefully in a large box and bury among the rocks on Mosman Point. While the artist is busily at work on a picture of Sydney Harbor, a rag blowing at his feet attracts his attention. It is supposedly an old note written by a dying sailor to his pal, giving directions to a buried treasure at Mosman Point. The artist bites. Not a moment does he lose to seek the spot, and not a moment do the boarders lose to follow him. But on opening the box and discovering the joke, the look on his face is so pitiable that Dolly deserts the jokers, runs to Franz and confesses her love. That is revelation Number One. Number Two is in the form of a letter the artist finds in his hat, which he had neglected to open. It contains a check for 1,000 pounds in payment for a painting. The drinks are on the boarders.
- Beautiful scenic of Australia's leading city and its fashionable seaside resort, Manly.
- Rhodda, an old prospector, has been nursed through an attack of fever by Harry Murray, a young miner. In gratitude, he shows him a bag of rich specimens and marks on a map directions to find the reef from which they came. While Harry is absent getting food for the old man, the specimen bag, with the paper in it is stolen, also Rhodda's watch. The thief is a working miner named Hurley. When Harry returns to the cottage, Rhodda is overcome by the shock of the robbery and dies. He bequeaths the claim to Harry. A few days later, Jack Murray, the young miner's brother, arrives by train on the gold fields. By the same train comes a capitalist named Cuthbert, with his wife and their daughter, Hilda. Jack Murray has become friends with them on their way up. Also on the train is Colonel Baylor, a gentleman miner, who proves to be an associate of the working miner, Hurley. Hurley tells the colonel of a rich discovery he has made, really the dead prospector's claim. The colonel takes in Cuthbert as an associate to provide money for operations. Meanwhile, young Harry has told his brother Jack of the rich find, and of the robbery, and declares he remembers Rhodda's directions well enough to locate the claim. The two parties start almost at the same time for the same goal, nobody but Hurley knowing the fact. They camp near each other on the night before the place will be reached, and in the evening the Murrays visit the other camp, during which time Hurley steals off to their camp and drugs their coffee in the billy can. The two brothers do not awake until midday, to find the others gone ahead. They follow, only to find the colonel and Hurley in possession of the claim. Jack Murray, however, tackles them in a fight, and Rhodda's stolen watch is found in Hurley's belt pouch. The colonel disclaims all knowledge of the theft and voluntarily renounces his rights to the claim, and Hurley is allowed to go free by similarly surrendering the property. The Murrays are congratulated by Cuthbert and his daughter.
- Freeman, a young American traveler, landing at Surabaja, Java, purchases a catch of Thursday Island oysters. Opening them, he finds in one a black pearl, the stone that is sacred to Buddha. A Buddhist religious fanatic perceiving the stone, tries to wrench it from the American, but without success. Freeman repairs to a hotel with his friends where the fanatic, disguised, makes an offer for the pearl that he may present it to Buddha; but his offer is too low and Freeman refuses. From that day on the American is shadowed from morning till night and at last is attacked and seriously wounded. Regaining consciousness, he discovers that the pearl has been stolen and suspicion is at once directed towards the fanatic. Knowing the use the fanatic would make of the jewel. Freeman journeys to the temple of Boro-Budur; "the temple of the thousand Buddhas," where he disguises himself as a Buddhist priest and makes a search of all the statues for his missing pearl. Giving up almost in despair, he suddenly sees the fanatic coining to offer the pearl to "make merit" with Buddha. Freeman quickly calls in the police and the fanatic, caught with the goods, but fearing that Buddha, deprived of the pearl, will have revenge, gives his whole fortune for the gem.
- The Tern, or Australian sea-bird, finds its breeding place on the little island of Oyster Key, situated about thirty miles out at sea from Cairns, North Queensland, Australia. They are so numerous that, when flying, they form a sort of fog, and are so tame that the grinding of the camera does not in the least scare them.
- Sir George Waterbury, accompanied by his wife and foster brother, Robert, is on a shooting expedition in a wild part of Australia. The two men, although occupying different stations in life, are deeply attached to each other. Inadvertently, mistaking the victim for a tiger, they shoot a native, and as they both fired at the same instant, it cannot be told which was the one actually responsible for the fatal shot. The native's father, according to the savage doctrine "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." demands the death of the slayer. Robert would gladly yield himself up, but the nobleman will not assent to this. They resolve to decide the issue by cutting the cards. By a trick the heroic Robert cuts the low card, and goes cheerfully to his doom. But his act of self-sacrifice is discovered, and by the prompt action of Sir George, death is averted and the matter settled in a more amicable way.
- One hundred years ago a sailor is cast away on the Australian coast, reaching shore on a raft. Almost the only thing left to him is a chart in a thin case. When attacked by natives he uses this as a weapon, and the savages shrink away in terror, thinking the object to possess some evil power. The sailor makes full use of this superstitious dread to save his life. He is befriended by a native boy, who reveals to him a hidden water hole and gets him food. But this brings on the fierce enmity of his own people and he is eventually killed when showing the sailor a place where alluvial gold could be picked up. The sailor, unable now without the boy's help to find nourishment, dies, but writes on the chart with his blood where the gold exists. Fifty years later the skeleton of the sailor is found hugging the chart case. The natives have still preserved their superstitious fear and shunned the spot as accursed. Two prospectors and a woman, wife of one of the men, are the discoverers of the skeleton. They read the words on the chart and find the gold deposit. Attacked by the natives, the woman remembers the words on the chart which told of its powerful influence over the aboriginal minds. Thus she saves the party's lives. She also rides to mining headquarters to register the claim, escaping the savages, and there follows a rush of miners to the golden gully before which the black tribesmen fade away.