A LEAF PROM A DIGGER'S JOURNAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 164, 26 May 1862, Page 5

A LEAF PROM A DIGGER'S JOURNAL.

(From the Ovens Constitution.) The writer of the following narrative says: —The perusal of the chapter " Bomance in Real' Life," in your paper, has induced me to dot off a leaf from my journal, as another illustration ot the " strangeness of truth in colonial life." How many cadets o noble houses, kc, military and 'naval officers, lawyers, doctors, aud parsons, have been, and are still amongst us in the various occupations ofthe country, its butchers, bakers, and barbers, blue-shirted diggers, and evpu fsul-mouthed bullock drivers, it is not for any one to say; but it has been my experience to rub shoulders with one or more of the various ranks above named, allowing one ofthe other ofthe professions or cal.ings enumerated. The incident I submit Ls tame in comparison with that ofthe Hon. Paget O'Grady's;" nevertheless, " Long Ginger," I believe, had Vilfiers' blood in his veins. Different men have different whims — for instance, mine troubling me. , ' ' Upwards of seven years ago I became acquainted with " Long Singer," a digger working on one of tlie rich flats in the district on Forest Creek. 1 often passed away an'evening with him iv hia tent, ! leading, playing draughts, drawing, or else "yarniner." " Long Ginger" was a strange sort of man, somewhere about 28 years of age, over six feet high, sandy complexion, and altogether very good looking, notwithstanding his old blue shirt and very dirty moleskin pants. He had been working with the same mates about three years, but would not make known his real name ! sto any one. " Call me Long Ginger," he would tay. "1 am best known among you as such. What is here in a name '?" All I could ever learn of his previous career was, that he had once held a commission in her Majesty's service, aud been to one of the Universities. He possessed a cultivated mind, and was gentlemanly in manner and conversation when sober. He lived by himself in a Binall tent, a little distance up one ofthe "Blind gullies" near where he was working; and when on the "bteady" he was yery hard working, and the first man on the flat at-his claim. Diggings wero good in these days. 1 don't think "Long Ginger", would work for less than half an ounce to the tub. I know he made plenty of gold, I have seen him with 50 ounces for one week's work, yet I believe he never spent a sb illing for trousers or shirt during the two years I was acquainted with him. He would patch and mend and patch again, until it would be difficult to point out the original material. For five orsix weeks he would save every grain of gold, and not taste a drop of intoxicating drink of any description ; then,, all at once; he would burst out on the "spree," or as he 'used'to term it "thunder and lightning and heavy wet." From morning to. night and niglit to morning, day after day, he would continue to drink so long,as the grog-shanty would supply the liquid fire, or as the last pennyweight of gold lasted. Then, gradually recovering himself, he would resume his labor, become the mild gentlemanly man as before, spend his evenings in his own little tent, reading or drawing,-as usual, for he was a clever artist. 1 had occasion to leave the Flat, having joined a party some three miles away, and consequently jsaw nothing of Long Ginger Ibrsome months. The following summer I was residing in the neighbouring township, and again had the sorrow to witness the tail-end of another, which proved to be the last of " Long Ginger's thunder aud lightning and heavy wet."

He came into the bonrding-hou«e where I was staying, pale and trembling, his eyes glaring and rolling in v most frightful manner. Poor fellow, — I thought I saw in his sunken cheeks the rows of nails he had put in his coffin since we parted, but a few months before. He attempted to eat some dinner, th'en spat it out of his moiith, and said he was being poisoned. 1 spoke to him, but he did not re? member me. I thought he y/ss suffering from delirium tremens; his constant cry was for brandy, give me brandy ? I was going in search of bis mate, when I met twp of them, who informed me that they had lost the run of him for five or six days. We went to tlie boarding-house, but " Ginger" had gone away shortly after I had left After making a cruise of the numerous hotels and grog shanties in the neighborhood, we learned that our friend was taken to the lock-up for having broken some windows and "jawing" the policeman. We found him at the Camp in a dreadful delirium; though alone iv the "lock-up" he fancied himself sur- ' rounded by multitudes of fiends, intent upon destroying him, and to hear the poor fellow's cries was heartrending. When we entered the miserable den in which he was placed, he wa3 crouched in one corner the very picture of terror, alternately hooting, bellowing, and barking like a dog, until he panted for breath.

He did not recognise his mates, but yelled more unearthly; attempted to hide himself in the straw bedding on the floor, and quaked with fear. By a little influence we procured jiis release from custody, and placed him in the hospital. The doctor shook his

head, when I cast an enquiring glance towards him. I did not see " Loug Ginger" again until two days after, when 1 attended the coroners,- inquest over his remains. The verdict was, as is usual in such eases, " Bied from the excessive drinking, &c." lv the tent of deceased some papers and some letters were iuund which disclosed the secret of poor Ginger's real name to be T- G V— and also the address of v solicitor in Melbourne who was, advertising for tbe same T G V- . The solicitor was communicated with at once, and he or his clerk (I don't know which) speedily came up to the diggings to make further inquiry respecting the fate of poor V ', aud informed his mates that the object of their advertisement was to find V- , and put him in the.possession of thirteen thousand pounds left to him some year or so before. Such was the end of one of England's well born sons, who, bearded and bluo-shirted, diig for gold amongst, lis, and also dug a premature grave. .... -