ORIGINAL POETRY.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 90, 1 August 1871, Page 3

ORIGINAL POETRY.

[The following poem was -written in commemoration of the Ballaiat Riots and of the Eureka Massacre. The massacre took place on Sunday morning, the 4th December 1554, at the Eureka Stockade, Ballarat. Many New Zealand miners will no doubt remember the harsh treatment Victorian gold-seekers of those early times suffered from the Government of that period ; how men not having licences were hunted like wild beasts by armed troopers ; how, when captured, they were driven in like dangerous cattle to the campyv*nd chained to logs like felons of the vilesvai|>mp ; and how, after remaining in that terrible condition often for twenty-four hours, they were tried by a Warden (or Commissioner, as that officer was then stvled), and a heavy fine was inflicted on them. This state of things at last eventuated in the Ballarat Riota. The disturbances were quelled by the soldiery and the constabulary, but not until twenty-five human victims—fellow-countrymen—had been sacrificed upon the altar of despotism ! Here, happily, the digger has been treated as a man, and nearly as much, consideration has been shown for his feelings and comfort as for those of a squatter or any other member of the community.]

THE DIGGERS' DIRGE. COMMEMORATIVE OF THE KttREKA MASSACRE. Toll the bell softly—toll, toll for the digger ; Solemnly, solemnly, toll for the dead : Rash men yet brave ones, cut down in life's vigor, Gently recline them in earth's lowly bed. Slaughtered by scores, their hearts' blood ran luridly, Tingeing the moonbeams that shone o'er the plain ; Peaceful men hayonetted* horridly, horridly, Seeking their friends 'midst the heap of the slain !

Toll the bell slowlv. yet mournfully, mournfully; Toll the bell snftlv—the knell's for the brave ! Toll for the weaponless, innocent, loyal man,+ Sabred and shot as a fugitive slave. "Whizzing, the fatal ball sped on its ruthless way ; Gleaming, the keen sword leaped out from its sheath : Feirful the groans ">f the wounded who dvinglay, Mangled in death by the troop-horses' feet.

Toll the bell loudly—the Lord hears its doleful cry, "Wailing for Justice before His high throne ; In fullness of time will His forked lightnings dreadful flv: Vengeance is His. Pray for those who have gone ; Prav for the heart-broken mother, whose sorrow Pierceth the clouds : His her son's death she weeps. Prav for the young wife : a bitter to-morrow Scowls o'er her life, though unconscious she sleeps.

Pray—see the burning tents 'lumine the dark wool ; Pray—bv that wild glare sad deeds have been traced ; Pnv that again may he never shed diggers' blood, Pray that, all tvrannv soon he erased. Toll the ball softly : toll, toll for the digger ; Solemnly, solemnly, toll for the dead ; Rash men vet brave ones, cut down in their vigor, Gently recline them in earth's lowly bed. JRerjuiexcdt in 2>(tce! Cromwell. J. M.

* A poor, harmless, deformed little foreigner, an itinerant vendor of lemonade and ginger-beer, Was found dead amidst a grout) of slaughtered diggers. It is sunposed he had been hilled while engaged looking for some of his fallen friends. + Mr 'Prank Haslam, a gentleman who was employed on the literary staff of the Ballnrat 'Times, was also shot, and lost an arm"', while ■peacefully pursuing his journalistic calling. The Victorian Government of a later period evinced their recognition of the unjust and cruel injury he sustained on the occasion bv awarding him compensation to the amount of £4OO.