REIGNED A WEEK

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 69, 18 September 1930, Page 19

REIGNED A WEEK

DEMENTED SAILOR

CAPTURED LAUNCESTON

SUNSTROKE COMEDY

In 1812, eight years after its-estab-lishment, Launceston; in Tasmania, was captured by a demented sailor (writ«B Kay Francis i& the Melbourne "Argun"). Hia reign lasted only a week. The amusing feature of the incident was that both the principal actors w«e, for the time being, mad; and a* each went mad of the same complaint, at the same time,-it does seem that tie gods with nothing better to do just then were enjoying a practical joke.- ,

Second in importance of the. two characters was Major Gordon, commandant of Launceston, an officer of the 73rd Regiment. From information which, has. survived concerning the early commandants of Launceston it cannot be doubted that Major Gordon; in lisscarlet coat and top-boots,'was a stormy and tyrannical figure. Major James Stewart, one of Major Gordon's successors, connived in the burning down of the barracks at Launceston, aided'the escape of convicts, and did everything that was; likely to embarrass his superior, the Lieutenant-Gov-ernor of the Colony. It is enough to say of Major Gordon ;that shortly after the episode I am writing of he was recalled to Sydney by Governor Macquarrie, from which time his .rather ghostly figure slipped into obscurity. On a certai" day in 1812> Major Gordon fell ili ji sunstroke. He was carried, "quite off his head," to the barracks, and left there to curse and rage. At that time there: was. a ship passing • through Bass Strait,, and, by some odd turn of chance, its owner, Mr. M'Hugo, also fell, ill of sunstroke. In him' the malady took a more violent form. He craved: action. So >he decided in his mad fit; to sail into Launceston as the champion of the oppressed. -TO THE RESCUE. ■M'Hngb's. ship .was -making a -passage from India whero some years before Major Gordon had been stationed,

and if may be assumed that M'Hugo knew something of the major's temperament, for majors of the line in the days of the Napoleonic wars wore not angels, jf' Hugo had heard also,, probably from one of the mainland ports, that the troops and inhabitants of Launceston were in a state of uni'fest. Food and water were scarce, the troops were on the verge of mutiny, and every man felt that he had some grievance to-be redressed.

Imagine the amazement of Mr. Henry Robinson, the pilot and harbourmaster at Port Dalrymple,- when he clambered over the ship's side, to be ushered by a solemn crew int6 the presence of "General Count M'Hugo," as the demented fellow now saw himself. He was seated on deck on a rich/Indian settee. The crew had entered fully into his mad humour,' and Mr. Robinson was informed that tho "Count" had been commissioned by the Government.of India to inquire into the state of. affairs at Launceston and to punish the guilty. ■Mr. Eobnison was impressed. He bowed profoundly to the haughty Ambassador. M'Hugo, who must have looked sane even though his brain was on fire, told Mr. Kobinson the purpose of i his visit, and the news spread so rapidly up the river that by the time Launceston was reached the whole populace was out to greet its deliverer, and M'Hugo landed amid the acclamation of the citizens and tho troops. PROMISED RELIEF. The people-were completely duped. M'Hugo promised to correct all the .evils ' under which they were suffering, and promptly paid his respects to his brother madman, Major Gordon. The major's derangement did not take so' active a form as M'Hugo's, and -he could do no more than curse feebly when1 the mythical count stormed in. "Po you know who I am?" demanded M'Hugo. "No," answered the major vaguely. '. "I am General Count M'Hugo, and my business is to inquire into the deplorable state of. the town-and garrison." The major was impressed, and M'Hugo strode off, followed by his crew/gfi.nning discreetly behind their hands. The mad count was six feet in height, and handsome. He was able 'to:carry out his part so skilfully that within a few hours of landing the command of the town was surrendered to him, and the troops joyfully transferred their allegiance to him.

M'Hugo's next ftep was to 'have Major Gordon placed under arrest pending the result of the inquiry. The ■major's own soldiers arrested,him, and

he was'locked up in his own barracks, still deranged, and in terror of the grand man from India.

Perhaps some members of M' Hugo 'a crew told tales over the bottle, or it may be that M'Hugo was not always the clever actor, for a few voices were raised against him. "Who is ho? Where is- his authority?" But M' Hugo, a born dictator, had his effectual way of. silencing criticism. "They must be hanged," he roared. Toward the end of the week M'Hugo concluded what he was pleased to call his inquiries, and he sentenced Major Gordon to be hanged as the author of the troops' distress. Protests were useless. "He shall hang!" said M'Hugo, enjoying the taste of power. TIMELY RETURN. How long this extraordinary state of affairs would have continued one cannot say, but it is (Certain that the wretched Gordon, who was now prostrated with-terror, would have hanged -had it not been for the timely return of a young and commanding subaltern named Lyttelton, who had been absent from Launceston on leave. There were two other .junior officers at the garrison, but history does not say. the part they, played, in the Gilbertian farce. "Lyttelton did not waste time. He saw through M'Hugo's fantastic pre : tences,: and hurried to the, barracks) whero Gordon was trembling for his life. ■ , "He's an. impostor. You must assume your command," said the young officer. "Sh—j" whispered Gordon, pointing to a door to the adjoining room, in whiclrM'Hugo was working. The major was useless. He was afraid. Lyttelton threw no more words away. He burst into M'Hugo's room, and told him that his imposture had been discovered. He ordered two of tho soldiers to arrest the pseu do-general. At first they- demurred, but the subaltern was so imperious that they did not hesitate for. long. In a few moments, the reign o£,"Count" M'Hugo was over.

Those, were not gentle days. Human life was. held rather cheaply. But M'Hugo'was allowed to go free. Exact-ly-how he was dealt, with is not clearly known. Lyttelton could have had him shot. ' Probably he did not take long in discovering that the man was demented. At'all events Lyttelton didno more than.pack M'Hugo and his crew off to their ship, and they sailed away and out of history.