A PRISON SCULPTOR.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 830, 27 June 1871, Page 3

A PRISON SCULPTOR.

Visitors to Pentridge must, for a considerable time past, have had their attention directed to a massive and handsome work of art that is rapidly approaching completion. It is a fountain of rare and elegant design, entirely executed in bluestone. At the base it measures about 20 feet across, and it is proportionate in height. The basin, supported on a pillar beautifully carved, rests on the square base. It is cut from a solid block of stone, and from its size, must weigh considerably over a ton. The base itself is richly ornamented, and bears indications of a lavish expenditure of labor. At the sides are representations of eagles, with their wings full spread, and chains suspended from their beaks. Above this, the outer portion of the basin is embellished with intricate but extremely handsome designs, encircling a variety of finely executed human masks. Surmounting the basin is the statue of a boy, holding a jet of water, and this itself is a work of rare merit. The figure is well proportioned, the attitude graceful, and every outline seems perfect. Such is but a brief description of what must be admitted to be one of the finest works of the kind the colony can boast. But what renders it of still greater vnlue, is it s peculiar history. So far from being the workmanship of a tutored hand, it is the noble product of five years of laborious exertion, and close application, on the part of one of the prisoners. The prisoner is Harry Stanford, his history is a somewhat remarkable one. Several years ago, when a mere youth, he was riding at the Bendigo races, and leaping over one of the hurdles his horse swerved, and he came into collision with that well-known notability, " Bendigo Mac," who was riding his favorite mare Polly. The result was the police magistrate was dismounted, and this led to the arrest and subsequent imprisonment of Stanford. Stanford was afterwards engaged as a stone-mason at the. Malmsbury viaduct, eventually he had the misfortune to be again apprehended, together with another man, for an alleged highway robbery at Epsom. The prosecutor, a German, identified the accused, but it afterwards transpired that the prisoner who was sentenced with Stanford was in gaol at the time of the alleged offence, and he was in released. Stanford denies the crime imputed to him, and in his case it is quite possible that there may have been an error in the identity. One day while in prison, he was observed carving a female profile on the ivory handle of a knife, and this led to an iuterest being taken in him by the late Sheriff, Claud Farie. Young had hitherto been one of the most refractory prisoners in Pentridge, but no sooner was he supplied with the implements for carving and modelling, than he set himself assiduously to work. The hard bluestone was speedily moulded into the most beautiful and fantastic designs imaginable, and the fountain referred to is the result. Nearly five years have been spent upon it, till the prisoner who is now about twenty-five years of age, has even injured his

health by earnest application over his self-imposed task. So intent is he on completing his work, that he states that even if he was entitled to hit? liberation ho would remain to finish it. It appears that the Melbourne Corporation have been endeavoring to get possession of the fountain, and would make a handsome offer for it, but it is the intention of the Government to retain it in their hands.—" Ballarat Courier."