MEMORIES CONNECTED WITH THE EARLY Gold Discoveries IN VICTORIA

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 37, 8 December 1894, Page 6

MEMORIES CONNECTED WITH THE EARLY Gold Discoveries IN VICTORIA

(By an Old Identity).

(Written for the Southern Cross.) [all rights reserved.] CHAP TEH XYI. Black Harry and his Dog. A Friendly Understanding. The Story op an Illspent Life. A Limitless Liquor Swiller. — Bestial Scenes. A Madman’s Fury. In appearance the most formidable cf Burns’s gang was the man he stated he had left drunk at Ballan, aril whose company he had expected the day after his last arrival at the creek. Over two months had elapsed, however, without any sign of him, and his friends frequently expresssed wonder at his long delay in joining them. ‘ Black Harry ’ was the name or designation they applied to the individual that thus exercised their thoughts, and they made. frequent admiring mention of his loyalty to the ‘ fraternity,’ and his unlimited craving for strong drink. About the time stated we were listening one night to a description by Jerry of a street scene in Paris, when cover was broken in a piece of scrub close by, and a tall, gaunt form stood before ns. He was accompanied by a splendid English mastiff dog, and after a heavy fit of coughing, saluted his friends with the Yan Demonian password, ‘ D cut D.’ While partaking.of food the new comer explained the reason for not joining his comrades earlier. He had dropped across some old Norfolk Island pals who were ‘in funds.’ With these he had been enjoying himself at one of the locations of the ‘craft’ in Bullarook. and having lain out during a wet night had contracted a heavy cold that had precluded him for weeks from travelling any distance. His late companions had departed several days previously, and left him in the bush almost entirely without nourishing food. ‘.ln fact,’ he concluded, ‘ 1 am more fitted for an hospital than this place, and only that poor old Captain ’ (alluding to his dog) ‘ was starving I would not be here now.’

It was not necessary to inform us of his illness. His frequent attacks of hoarse coughing while imparting his late experience indicated that he was incapab'e of much further physical exertion, and that disease had peimanently settled upon his lungs. After Burns acquainted him with the circumstances that led to our meeting with him at the surveyor’s, and our visit to Sailor Creek, Black Harry glanced hastily at Johnny and Kintock, and then his sunken, lustrous eyes became rivetted on me in a long and intensely searching gaze. Did he interpret the feeling of pity that had seized upon me for his forlorn appearance, and the inevitable early doom that his hacking cough a id distressful breathing portended ? Perhaps some redeeming trait in his nature that had lain dormant throughout a long career of crime and reckless living had become awakened into life and gratitude in response to what he had seldom or never experienced—the sympathy of a fellow mortal. Whatever may have been his thoughts during those few minutes, when his gaze was withdrawn from me a melancholy smile played about his lips, a softer expression overspread his naturally rugged features, and, although no words had passed between us, the impression was instinctively conveyed that neither then or afterwards would he entertain unfriendly feelings towards me. Black Harry was about 36 years of age, and a native,. of the north. of England. He was over six feet in height and straight as an arrow.

His coal-black shaggy hair, redundant beard, and swarthy complexion gave him a semi-savage appearance, and had gained for him the prefix he was known by. A constant career of drunkenness, debauchery, and exposure had reduced him to almost a skeleton, and he appeared to be a complete wreck of manhood. He never made the slightest pretension to honesty or respectability, and denounced in scathing terms those of his companions that did so. He had some slight conception of a Supreme Ruler and of a future state of existence. ‘ I’m sure,’ he remarked on one occasion when the subject was discussed ‘ that an all-merciful God will deal lightly with me. I was conceived and horn in sin, and was taught nothing but villainy from my infancy, and I'll not be held responsible for my wrongdoings in this life.’ Harry had a highly impressionable nature, and would have made an excellent subject for a red-hot Salvationist to operate upon with a view to conversion. Like Melville, he was a remarkable conglomeration of good and bad —the latter predominating. After some slight attentions I paid him in the early stages of his illness the amicable understanding established at our first meeting developed into confidential relations, and one might over the fire, when all the others had retired to rest, he related to me his history.

The solemn stillness that surrounded us ; his fierce and repclleut aspect, with his black tangled mass of hair, tawny-coloured skin, and cadaverous expression ; the great sagacious dog that lay curled up alongside him ; the lonely bush-sur-rounded spot, we bad camped in ; and the garish reflection of our fire on the tall, spectral-looking white gum-trees that grew in the vicinity, reminded one of primeval times and made as novel and awe-inspiring, a scene as could be imagined. I will here briefly outline his story.

Black Harry never saw or heard of his father. His mother was a confirmed drunkard, and when only a few years old shared with him the liquor she became possessed of. He soon acquired a taste for it, and before attaining the age of sixteen became a slave to alcohol. The only education he received was how to expertly commit petty larcenies. He became smart at the business, and was able to support himself and his mother by thieving for many years. He was captured twice, and on each occasion was convicted and imprisoned. He learned more villainy, he said, from his fellow-prisoners than he did all the previous term of his life. On being released he went in for higher game, and his career in England terminated when he was 17. He was detected in an attempt to steal a gold watch from a jeweller’s shop, brought to trial, convicted, and sentenced to 14 years ■transportation to Botany Bay. There were about 250 prisoners on board the ship, and when near Rio Janiero some of them succeeded in setting fire to her. The weather being fine, and two other vessels in sight they knew that little personal risk would be incurred by the destruction of their temporary prison. The object was to get ashore for a spell—perhaps they might escape altogether. When the fire was discovered the prisoners were brought on deck, and directions given the soldiers to shoot down any that showed symptoms of insubordination The hatches were then battened down, but the fire spread, and signals of distress were hoisted. One of the vessels in sight observed them, and bore up to render assistance. She proved to be a British sloop of war, and by the united efforts of the crews of both vessels the fire was extinguished. The partitions and means for keeping the prisoners in security had, however, been consumed, and it was decided to take the transport to Rio, Before that could be accomplished the foremast—near which the fire had originated—went

overboard; but with the assistance of the man-of-war, they succeeded in reaching Rio harbour. To effect repairs all the prisoners had to be landed, and were kept under a strong guard. Notwithstanding the vigilant watch kept over them, Harry and five others succeeded in escaping one dark night, and got to a house resorted to by sea-faring men. The second night after their arrival there a free fight took place, and an English sailor was murdered. The crime soon became known in the city, and before any could escape a file of soldiers suirounded the building and arrested all the inmates. On appearing before a magistrate next day the runaway convicts were recognised, conveyed back to prison, heavily ironed, and a stricter watch than previously kept over their movements. It took over two months to effect repairs to the ship, and when ready for sea the prisoners were again, placed aboard of her. In due time they reached Sydney, where Harry had a diversified career for some years. He was frequently punished for breaches of prison discipline, and exhibiting no sign of reformation wa& sent as a hopeless case to Norfolk Island. He was in the latter place during the most demoralised period of its histor3 r as a place of detention, for Crown prisoners, and came in fora full share of the fearful ordeals refractory convicts were subjected to under the despotic government that then prevailed there. He remained at Norfolk Island until the breaking up of the penal establishment, and on his return to Sydney became implicated in a robbery of Government stores. He was tried and convicted for the offence, and with seven others concernedin it received sentence of death. Through the intercession of a Roman Catholic priest (a co-religionist), and on the ground that he was only an instrument in the hands of the leaders of the robbery, he was reprieved with the hangman’s noose about his neck. The others were executed a few minutes later. This latter terrible experience sobered Harry for some time, and shortly before the breaking out of the goldfields he was granted his ticket-of-leave, and engaged in stock-driving overland between Sydney and Melbourne. In that capacity he had several narrow escapes in encounters with the aborigines, and once received a dangerous wound that rendered hint helpless for several months. When, gold was discovered he joined some of his former criminal associates, abandoned himself to the baser instincts of his nature, and with them took to bushranging. He had been concerned in most of the principal robberies that had taken place in Sydney and Victoria, and was a member of Jerry’s gang at the time Burns fell in with him.

‘ And now look at me!' pathetica l ly moaned that battered semblance of humanity, after thus relating his experiences, ‘ and tell me if my life was worth living, or why such a miserable wretch was brought into existence P I have been a drunkard and a thief since I was a child, and have gone through as much as would have killed, a dozen men. Look what they did to me at Norfolk Island for what they called breach of regulations,’ he went on, and dragging off his shirt and turning his back to the firelight, exposed to view great furrows of discoloured flesh, where the terrible instrument of torture had literally cut into his bones. 1 And they talk; about the cruelties of the Spanish Inquisition !’ he remarked bitterly as he re-clothed himself. ‘ I can tell you that no savage torture or barbarity ever equalled the hellish usage that I have seen some suffer in that, cursed place in the name of British justice! Did it reform them, or tame them, or break their spirit? No I It made us the incarnate fiends tha£ we are and will be till our graves are closed over us !’ The latter remarks of the narrative were delivered with strong, passionate emphasis, while his eyes glared like fire under their 1 black lashes —reminding one of the terrible volcanic forces that would sway such a nature wheat

in his prime and labouring under a sense of ill-usage or provocation. At the conclusion of the above portion of the pitiful and suggestive story of his eventful life, a heavy tit of coughing seized him, and for several minutes he was unable to resume. Then in softened tones he added mournfully : —‘ I never knew what friendship was, or received a kindness from any living creature except poor old Captain. 1 saved his life when he was bad with distemper and his owner was going to drown him. I cared him, and he has been the one grateful creature I have met in my lifetime and the one companion that I could trust.’

I could well believe all that Harry said about the faithful brute that lay alongside him. It was a powerfullybuilt sagacious animal, and with such a guardian during his master’s frequent intervals of dinnken helplessness it must have been a courageous man that would dare to molest him. The sad story was told with frequent stoppages by the ravaging ailment he was suffering from. It was too evident that the disease had taken firm root in his constitution, and that •ere many months elapsed his sapped and misused life would be brought to a close.

Black Harry was coarser in mind and person than Melville, but after hearing bis recital I could not help thinking that, degraded and repulsive as he then appeared, with the trail of the serpent over him, there were implanted in his nature germs that might have developed into usefulness had he enjoyed the advantages of a sound moral training and elevating companionship in early life, and been treated with kindness and gentleness later on. As he had never fitting opportunity for improvement, who knows but the remarkable words he uttered a few days previously may not be correct ? and was never taught anything but villany, and a merciful God will not hold me responsible for my misdeeds!” From the foregoing description of the gang that we were now daily compelled to hold intercourse with the reader will have understood the unenviable position we were placed in. Even to leave for other fields would have been attended with danger, as we were satisfied that a close watch was kept on all our movements, and equally conscious that the miscreants were only waiting until we had acquired sufficient wealth to make it worth their while to force it from us. Anxious were the days and almost sleepless the nights when we thus fully realised the perils that confronted ns. We were accumulating the wealth we had come so far to seek, but with the over-taxing mental strain experienced to preserve it from these marauders 'it was it was scarcely worth possessing. To hold what we earned, or keep a man’s Own, *lwas the very worst place that ever was known.

Oar main hope towards retaining 1 it and getting clear of their company nnscathed lay in the outlaw that had unfolded to me the secrets of his misspent life. In his then repentent state of mind, induced by the knowledge of approaching dissolution, he had informed me that if he could prevent it no injury would he done us, and that assurance caused us to continue work in the profitable ground we were engaged at. A day or two after hearing Black Harry’s recital his companions decided to shift camp close to ours. That movement they accounted for on the ground that they would be nearer their claim and that one fire would suffice for all. Thus we were brought into closer contact than ever with the «nen we wished above all things to ■avoid and be distantly separated from. Three of their party set into the ground that 1 had marked out for Burns, while Harry, who was not fit for hard work, attended to their cooking. Their claim yielded excellent returns, and at the expiry of a fortnight they were in possession of some sixty ounces of gold. After dividing it. a scene of dissipation ensued thirt

baffles description. Day - and night were made hideous by their unnatural revels. Four kegs of spirits were procured from Spring Creek, and each - of them became possessed of one. Thus squatted round the camp tire, with eight gallons of fiery, undiluted liquor, itjis easy to conceive the effects it produced on men with such depraved instincts. Blood - curdling stories of crime in which each had been a participator were freely and openly related —confessions that should have consigned some to execution and others to imprisonment for life. Imprecations, blasphemy, slang, and braggadocio marked their discussions until they became senseless from the powerful"stimulants they had been indulging in, and lay prone on the earth helpless, void of reason, and fitting emblems of gorged swine. Thus became desecrated a place that until now, from its widespread golden stores and lovely external surroundings, was the most attractive spot for a fixed residence that could be found in the colony. Of all the drunkards that came under my notice in the early fifties I never found any to have as insatiable a desire for alcoholic liquor as Black Harry. After getting their first instalment of rum he woiild sit by the fire all night with the keg in his lap or with his head resting upon it, and would drink the potent spirit from the oxlfice until nearly suffocated. Then in his drunken senility he wonld fondle and speak to it in a maudlin way as if conversing with or nursing a child, while his intelligent canine companion—the superior animal of the two —would occasionally raise his great massive head, and look in an apparently pitiful way into the face of the debased being that claimed to be his master. 1 had somehow gained the confidence of “ Captain,” and was the only onehe wonld allow to use liberty with his owner or his belongings. He appeared to understand that I was well disposed towards him.

In a half-delirious state one night Harry had nearly finished his share of the liquor when he was seized with a heavy fit of coughing that I thought would result in the bursting of a bloodvessel. Fearing his death would result from the effects of his frequent potations we agreed to deprive him of the remainder of the drink when he slept by turning the keg over and allowing the contents to escape through the tap hole. Accordingly after he became unconscious I succeeded in accomplishing my object, and in getting back to our resting place unobserved. We had not long to wait for developments. In a short time he awoke, and as usual endeavoured to drink from the tap-hole. It was amusing for a while to notice his futile endeavours to imbibe his usual supply. After several ludicrous attempts he began to expostulate impressively with the keg. Finding that to be ineffectual in obtaining his desire his worst passions became aroused, and his savage appearance and ferocious yells of anger were revolting to look upon and listen to. His mates had all come outside their tent, half drunk as they Were, on hearing his furious outbursts of rage. It was fortunate that they had done so, for, on seeing them, Harry concluded that they had stolen bis liquor, and made for them wildly brandishing a miner’s spade. A stampede ensued, and they contented themselves with watching the madman’s movements from the top of a neighbouring hill for a couple of hours. Those who were parties to emptying his keg also thought it advisable to retire to a convenient distance until his frenzy had abated. There was no occasion for alarm, however. Harry took possession of Jerry’s allotment of liquor, and after a heavy levy on it became pacified and began to drawl out the chorus of an old bacchanalian song for his own amusement and for the edification of those who were sitting patiently and bedewed and cold in their elevated positions on the hillside.

When he had again fallen asleep Jerry sought to regain his property, but. a fierce growl from Captain as. he

lay with, his two paws over the inebriate decided him to allow things to remain as they were. The revolting scenes described continued for nearly a week, when they left, oS they stated, to finish their orgy at Spring Creek, where some of their friends were located. They returned in about a week completely cleared out of the large amount of wealth they had taken with them. Their dissipation appeared to have told heavily upon them—especially on Harry—and they remained in their tent for several days after their return. With the exception of Burns none of the outlaws appeared to partake of solid food during their revels, and the nourishment in his ease consisted of raw meat. That diet had the effect to some extent of preserving his senses and of giving him an advantage over his comrades. But the use of such loathsome and blood-heating food increased his natural ferocity, and rendered him all the more dangerous to those against whom he entertained feelings of resentment. While thus gorging himself with ardent spirits and uncooked flesh — with his blood-shot eyes and haggard expression—he reminded one of man in his primitive state, and suggested what the instincts of such a ghoul would be if in company with a weaker companion in some isolated place where death through hunger or thirst confronted them. (To be continued.)