THE NELSON TOM SAWYERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 11587, 24 October 1901, Page 4

THE NELSON TOM SAWYERS.

From the Nelson "Chronicle" we take | the following particulars respecting the strange escapade of two young fellows who j were making for themselves materials for a Dick Deadwood kind of romance: — For some time it has been known that two young men, Albert Walker, about 20 years of age, and Henry Howard, aged about 18 (the former living with his grandfather, the latter with his father, in Nelson), had been doing a little prospecting for gold in the Upper Pelorus Valley, proceeding thereto by way of the Maungatapu track. There was nothing to indicate that they were doing anything improper, and - the young fellows went their way from : time to time unchallenged. Then a wellknown citizen gave information to the police that a dog of his had been stolen, and. he connected Walker with the theft. This jut- the police on the track of the two young men, who were known to be companions, and two constables by inquiries traced them out of town to the foot of Maungatapu HOI, and thence by foot tracks, on of them barefoot —-(Howard was accustomed to go barefoot} —-over the hill and some distance beyond it. Then the tracks turned into rough country, and after going three miles, the constables returned to "Nelson, having no food with .them. Then they learned that Howard was lat home, and they induced him _to go to the police station and then detained him. Next day, taking Howard with them in a vehicle, the constables returned to Maungafapn. At the foot of the hill Howard jgsfiawed the officers their " half-way camp." JgpISSS large cavity in the rock on the bank JB pPlfie creek, and about a quarter of a mile jßHpabOTe the bridge, was found a store of misarticles, of which the folowmg |>C an incomplete list:—Pair of gum-boots, le 51b bags and two 31b bags of wheatone 21b and. two lib tins of coffee, £lb tin of ground ginger, lcwt of seed triple iron boot last, pair of paint brushes, fishing lines, carrot; and pumpkin seeds, boot nails, enajnel dish, 12 oars of soap, lOlbs of onions, oilskin, razor, sheath knife, sundry tools, including chisels, spirit leTel, planes, vice, shears, soldering iron, plumb bob, oilstone, keyhole saw, spokeshave, etc. Leaving this plant behind them the party set forth over the Maungatapu, following exactly the same track the constables had taken the day before. It was feared that Walker - would clear away if he got scent of anyone f being on his track, and Howard was cautioned to let- the constables know when they were near the camp. It was somewhat mortifying to them to find that the previous day they had been' within ten minutes walk of the site of the camp, but -this was so well hidden that unless pointed out or led to by. tracks it would be very difficult to discover. When the camp was in sight a good deal of circumspection had to be observed as i£ was certain that Walker would clear if he got the chance, and both he and. Howard have reputations for their activity on rough country. Walker was seen at work sawing up a tree he had • fallen, his three dogs being near him, and Constable Kemp crept ahead of the other two. Howard was made to show himself, and Walker's attention having been attracted, he came towards Howard and Constable Durbridge, naturally concluding the latter to be a friend. Constable Kemp, from his hiding place, dashed across the creek, and was within four yards of Walker before the latter knew of his presence. He arrested Walker, who took matters coolly and wished to see a warrant for his arrest, and then tried to break away, but wasthrown down, and Constable Durbridge arushing up he was handcuffed. Even then he tried to get away, and had to be made more secure till he was amenable to reason. The camp found consisted of two good six by eight tents, pitched on a small fiat between the hills, on a tributary of the Pelorus, and about two miles distant from the river. As before stated, it is admirably situated for the purposes of secrecy, and, surrounded by high birch bush, could not be overlooked from any but a short distance. The adventurous pair had fallen about an eighth of an acre of the ' bush in front of the camp', and a small piece of ground had been dug up and pumpkin seed sown. A small piece of sidling nad also- been cleared in order to provide space for a garden. One of the tents having a fly, was used . as a sleeping apartment, and the other as a store. The sleeping tent was fenced round in order to keep the pigs from disturbing it during the owners' absence. In the store tent the collection of goods put that at the half-way camp in the shade, and the following is again an incomplete list:—7lb tin of white pepper, one 101b, seven 51b, and one 2jlb bags of rolled oats, lOlbs washing soda, seven lib and one 21b tins jam, 19 tins of baking powder from 21bs to 41b in weight, two lib tins coffee, two lib tins carbonate of soda, three jib tins tartaric acid, 51b bag wheat meal, about 2Clbs lose sugar, 501b bag of flour, biscuit tin "full of soap, bottle of spirits of salt for soldering and •older, 2 hams, about 40ibs onions, 4 fry pans, 5 billies, 3 small saucepans, 3 or 4 enamel plates, 2 mugs, table knife, 7 or 8 kinds vegetable seeds, bag of grass seed, double barrelled- muzzle-loading fowling piece, Snider carbine, Marlin magazine rifle, 100 rounds ball cartridge, several tins gunpowder, about lOlbs shot, cartridge reloader, lead, bullet mould, prospectors washing cis<n, nsiihooks, 2 crosscut saws, handsaw, hammer and nails, 2-axes, slasher, sickle, chopper, about 41bs boot nails, double rem bridle and martingale, etc. In the sleeping tent- were five blankets and a quantity of wearing apparel, two or three pairs new boots, razor anct strop, comb, mirror, scissors, needles, wool, cotton, etc.. for mending, pack of cards, tin whistle, and some manuscript music, etc. A couple of goats were dressed and hung, showing that there was scarcity of meat, of this kind, and, indeed, the day previous the constables had found on the ilaungatapa track a couple of the same animals killed, a portion of one having been taken awav. Tue constables did not spend a very comfortable night at the lonely camp, each with a prisoner handcuffed to his own wrist, and an early start was made yesterday m r >rniri£r. swags being made up of different itrHcles" for identification purposes. Walker and Howard each carried a swag, : wiiich. however, was so lashed to them that thev could not rid themselves of their bur- *>' dea and get away. They behaved with *ha ntmost cheerfulness, and whiled. away

the time with, the relation, of some of their experiences. Sergeant Mackay was in ■waiting at the head of the dray road, and the -whole party reached town at about sis o'clock in the evening. Informations have been laid against botii Walker and Howard charging them with the theft of the articles that have been missed from severtil places in town. It is to some extent puzzling to know what were the exact intentions of the. two young men, but there seems to be good ground for the statement that they believed thev had discovered payable gold, and, anxious to work secretly, they have been since early in tfce present year preparing the camp we have described. The sus- 1 picion of having stolen a dog, however, has led to the whole plant being discovered and the impending charges. The labour of conveying supplies to the half-wqy camp was reduced by the employment of a horse belonging to Howard's father.