BRUCE BAY.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 243, 18 April 1866, Page 1 (Supplement)

BRUCE BAY.

(From the Okarita Times, 31st March.)

Never, perhaps, in mining history has a more extraordinary rush, attended with more extraordinary consequences occurred, than the recent Bruce Bay stampede. An air of mystery attended its beginning, and the same mystery has hung over its progress up to the time of writing. At the latest we heard that Hunt had arrived, that a great goldfield had been discovered, and that personal friends had been " given the office," and were off for their " piles^" A mining community is easily agitated, and a general scramble for the goldbearing country took place. Hunt, in his prospecting application did not certainly incite the rush that took place, but thousands thought fit to misunderstand or disbelieve him, and forthwith, as it were, took him into custody, in order that he might substantiate, not what he himself had stated, but what they in their wisdom thought fit to imagine. * Now, without either attacking or defending Hunt, it must be admitted that he was against his will and without his consent, set down as the discoverer of a great new* goldfield. It was ' uselesss for him to deny the honor, and unless he fulfilled the expectations that had been formed, he was threatened with death, In the few particulars we were able to give our readers in the last issue we stated, that the dream had not been realised, .that the goldfield had not been found, and that Hunt had escaped from his uninvited followers. We are now able to supplement the story, and add a few explanatory items in reference to the above facts.

When Hunt left here thousands had preceded him, and his steps were dogged in such, a manner as could be scarcely

credible, were it not the case. Instead of being hailed as a person who had been of service to his kind, he was regarded and treated by the mob by whom he was surrounded as though he were a criminal that was about to make an unwilling disclosure of plunder that he had concealed. On arriving about a mile and a half from Bruce Bay, he was met by about five hundred roughs, who demanded that he should instantlyiead them to the ground, threatening, in case of refusal'to attack him on the spot. His reply was, that he never such gave information as would lead people to believe that he had discovered any extent of ground, that he would not take them to the place till it quite suited his conveniene, and that if they would give him fair play he would fight any man in the crowd. The invitation was declined, and the cortege proceeded 'to Bruce Bay. The remaining history ouo readers are acquainted with. Hunt war in all respects in custody, and so tightl s was- he stack to, that one man actually laid hold of his coat during the pilgrimagey At a fittiug moment, however, he dis. robed himself of his outer garment, lefit in his custodian's hands, and was in tht bush, and out of ken in a few secondse The details of his escapes, with the ex. ception of this one, we have not receivedbut one thing is certain, that he has got, away, and that his life has not been taken as threatened. After losing their unwilling leader, the crowd were, as may be imagined, anything but satisfied. They had been, clambering over rocks, had come without blankets in their eagerness, night was coming on, and curses, both loud and deep were heard in all directions. By degrees, there being nothing else for it, the crowd found their way back to Bruce Bay. and then occurred scenes, most disgraceful to all concerned. During Eriday a rumor ran round that it was intended to plunder the stores that night, but it was generally disbelieved. At the same time it was feared that some riot or other might take place, and the owners of goods then lying in the bay, in the Tiger and Lloyd's Herald, declined to land anything. We omitted to state that, after Hunt's disappearance, Bill Pox oflered to lead the miners to the ground, but after making an attempt, he \vas "obliged to return discomfited. During Friday a large number of people surrounded Mr Warden Price, and threatened him with violence, their cause of complaint being that he had granted the prospecting claim. 7EJ7e addressed the assemblage, and explained that he* could only have acted in the manner that he had done, and that if they had been deceived in way the fault was nofc his. The explanation was coldly received, but no breach of the peace took place. On Friday evening the storm burst, and the threatened raid on the stores commenced. About two hundred of the most violent, armed with knives, sticks, _ and other things, commenced the work of destruction, and were followed by four 'or five hundred more, who, though they did not tabe any active part in the affair, calmly looked on, and did not interfere to prevent the disturbance and robbery. About nine o'clock the rioters first visited the.77store of Eccleslield Bros., but then their demands were limited to liquor, and a few stores, amounting in all to perhaps £30. From there they crossed the road and attacked the store of Beatty. and Co., smashing cases jpf porter, destroying everything ip reach, tearing the tent to pieces, and in fact accomplishing the utter destruction or pillage of the store and contents. The next place visited was the store of Brennan and Byrne, here the work of demolition and robbery was frightful, and Mr Byrne could do nothing, being unarmed and without support, but ; look on and see his property carried oft 7 j or wasted. The heads of quarter-casks of brandy were smashed in, and the liquor handed out in pannikins to the infuriated mob, whilst the remaining portion was spilt on the sand. Hams, bags of flour, and provisions of all kinds were carried away, the tent was torn to ribbons, though the frame was left standing, and altogether between £600 and £700 worth of damage was done in less than half an hour. The next move w,as to Foley's store, but here the owner and his friends were prepared to give them a warm reception, Foley standing at the door with a double-barrelled gun, and swearing that he would shoot the first man dead that' came into the place. ' This threat intimidated the rowdies, who then proceeded to Sweeney's, but here they were also put to rout, for there were between twenty of Sweeney's friends outside, and a similar number inside the store, a large proportion of whom had firearms. Finding that they were baulked there, the mob went next to Wood's store, the door of which was closed. The first intimation the inmates had of their unpleasant visitors was seeing a large butcher's knife run along the whole canvass of the tent, and directly after the covering was torn' down and the door destroyed. The spoliation here was complete, the store was literally gutted, and some spirits, &c.,that were in a tent on the adjoining section were also found, and either drank or spilt. The coolness of a portion of these desperadoes can be imagined, for one of them came up to Mr Wood with a pannakin of liquor that he had just taken, and requested him " to keep his pecker up and have a drink." It is hardly necessary to say that the offer was declined. At other stores, whose owner's names we do not know, they were treated in a similar manner, and a more abominable orgie was never held on the sacking of a town after a siege. A woman named Smith, who was keeping a shanty, was dragged out by the hair of the head, one ruffian struck and treated her most indecently, but we are glad to say that that blackguard outdid even his associates, and as a redeeming feature ofthe whole infamous proceedings, some of those present administered a hearty good thrashing to the scoundrel for his conduct to the woman. The other women on the ground fled for shelter into the bnsh, one of them attired in. men's apparel. On the next day (Sunday), it was freely stated that the mob intended to demolish the stores that

had escaped on the previous night, but on that day the Kennedy, with four police, arrived, and the Warden swore in twenty special constables to assist trem. This evidently had a very pacifying effect on the turbulent, for though some small disturbances occurred, yet they were of comparatively little moment after the "scenes of the previous night. In one store, however, where a man and wife were, some blackguards called, and after compelling hospitality in the shape of free drinks, one of the party wished to appropriate the storekeeper's better half, on the alleged gsound that she was not married. " This was demurred to, as may be imagined, and the police were sent for, but, if we are informed correctly, declined on some ground or other to come. If, as is stated, the cause of their non-attendance was thefear of consequences how they would have got on if a serious riot of Friday's description had occurred, is hard to guess. At the time of the Tiger leaving (on Monday evening), everything was quiet, but hundreds were going away, in fact the beach was covered with those returning. The Lioness left on Sunday morning for Hokitika, crowded with passengers, and was expected to return yesterday to tow back the Lloyd's Herald. No damage has occurred to Sweeney's place, and one or two others have been equally fortunate. It is supposed that there is no danger of further disturbance, ac such crowds are leaving. We have no information as to when the Warden will return,, and no news of any gold having been struck.