STEALING GOLD—A CHINAMAN SHOT.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 144, 1 December 1871, Page 3

STEALING GOLD—A CHINAMAN SHOT.

ST. BATHANS.—Nov. 26.

During the last six months, and up to three o'clock this (Sunday) morning, a pair of Chinamen lived and fattened here on the fruits of other men's toil. Before describing the manner of their arrest I will mention a few of the particulars which preceded and led up to it. It is usual for miners here to place a long iron ripples in it at the loot of their tail race for the purpose of catching such gold as the race may tail to save; those boxes are cleaned out three or four times a week—each party putting the contents, sand and gold together, into a large tub kept close handy for the purpose. When it becomes necessary to clean out this tub and pan off the sand, it not unfre(jueutly happens that the yield of gold i is 3 to 6 ounces, just as the claim, being I sluiced, away happens to be rich or, poor, and also as t\ie\engt\\ of ta\lrace' leading from the claim to the box may I belong or short. All at once several parties were astonished to find the yield of their tubs to fall from ounces to pennyweights. It was then noticed, though not for the first time, that the Chiuamei* in question never did any work during the day ; and that in fact they wer? directly connected with the decline of gold in the tubs. )That is now inany weeks ago, and although watches were set night after night the gold was •still disappearing from tubs and even tail races, and the thief or thieves were never caught until this morning. You may judge of the excitement then of parties here upon hearing that one of the suspected robbers had been seen taking gold from a tub in a claim belonging to Mr. Ewiug, of Surface Hill, and captured immediately, by a man named James Leonard, in Ewing's em* ploy. Leonard, who was on the nightshift, saw the Chinaman, about three o'clock in the morning, stoop over the tub, and was not sure at the time but it might he Kwing himself ; however, he at once made for the spot. The Chinaman, as he proved to be, had taken a dishful of stuff out of the tub,

and fled at Leonard's approach. A grand chase followed, and "John," finding that he had not heels enough to escape by flight, made up his mind to escape by fight. Deliberately putting down the disb, he faced about and made a. tremendous blow with a stick which he carried, at Leonard, who dodged the blow, and caught " John " with a lump of mullock in the abdqman. They then grappled, and Leou ird succeeded in putting the Chinaman down and wrenching the stick from him. " John," however, jumped to his feet and again grappled with his man. This time the Celestial again went undermost anj into a race flowing full of water. He now offered money to be let go, which offer was of course declined ; and as he refused on the other hand to walk or be led away a captive, Leonard ingenionsly tied one of " John's " legs up to his neck with " John's " own tail, and, having partially secured the other leg and a hand with a scarf, he went to give the alarm to Ewing, who was asleep in his hut about 150 yards off. lie then returned to where he had left " John," and found that that individual had just succeeded in working himself free, and was trying to get away. Leonard, however, collared him again, and novv comes the most serious part of the business. Ewing, who for several weeks had been sitting up, or paying men to sit up at night intorder to catch those who were stealing his gold, came upon the scene (utterly unconscious of what had already taken place between Leonard and the Chinaman outside) bearing a gun loaded' with shot, and in a state ot great excitement, thinking the Chinaman was escaping, he 'fired, the shot taking effect in the inside of the Chinaman's arm, and close to the armpit. Although every one rejoices at Lis capture, they are all, Mr. Ewing included, very glad that the unfortunate fellow escaped with his life. After securing him parties were sent in search of his mate, who, it was supposed was stationed near at hand with a, bag to receive the stuff which the other might take from the tubs. He was found, however, in his hut, but taken from ther.°. Constable Morton was sent for, and both were given in charge to him, who had them on the road to Naseby soon afterwards.

Too inuch credit cannot be given to the man Leonard for the courage and presence of mind he displayed in effecting the capture, particularly when it is remembered that Chinese thieves are reputed to carry sharp knives, and are not at all scrupulous about using: them. —A.B.C.