PEARCE'S PLOT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5409, 9 November 1895, Page 1

PEARCE'S PLOT.

A TAUE OF EARLY VAN DIEMEN'S

LAND

(Copyrighted.)

Chapter I.

That period of Tasmanian history between the death of Miohael Howe in 1818 and the disappearance of Alfred Pearce in 1828 ie about tho worst in the history of Tan Diemen'a Land. Prom the foundation of the settlement in 1804 till the advent of governor Arthur, twenty yeara later, the lieutenant-governors of the island had not seemed equal to the task of maintaining law and order. No doubts the task was a very difficult one— almost impossible in fact. Not only were the colonists a very difficult lotto keep in order, as they were lawbreakers of some sort or other, but in addition the governor-general in Sydney exercised a maleficent a wa"y over the detraies of the southern settlement. He was supreme, and not being on the spot frequently authorised acts that were injurious to the public welfare. With the modeß of communication ■whioh prevailed in those early days Sydney was infinitely more distant, measured by time, from Hobarfc Town than Melbourne or Sydney is from Dowsing Street at the preiientday. All kinds of misconception and corruption crept into the Government, and that reacted on th© people with disastrous effect.

Lieutenant -Governors Collins, Davey, and Sorrell were no doubt honestly desirous of doing their duty j but even had they been stronger men it is questionable if they would have been able to overcome the nearly insuperable difficulties of the position. Dftvey in particular was unfitted for the position, and speedily brought Government into contempt. His free and easy Btyle, with his alternate fits of ferocious severity or criminal indulgence, showed a charaoter that was specially tra.anited to firmly maintain authority. His very conriofc servants frequently set him at defiance in matters of importance, and ha weakly allowed them to do so. Neither was he a strict temperanoe man, and the prinking orgies at Government House were notorious. On some few occasions when he sought to do what was right he, was overruled by Governor-General Macquarie, and thus authority drifted into contempt.

It was at this time that the island was overrun with marauding bands of convicte and bushrangers. In many instances the supposed respectable settlers connived at the outrages and shared tho plunder. They were not only sympathisers, but helped in the midnight attacks on obnoxious neighbours by which they gratified some standing grudge. On several occasions it happened that the assailed parties were on . their guard and Bhot down come of the attackers, and unexpected disooveries were made. Supposed friends— and on three, occasions relativeswere found amongst the dead, and they had been, in fact, the ringleaders. In his fits of severity Davey was merci--2eB3 r .: Daring theae times hangiogs were of daily occurrence. In on© month there tr*r& sixty-four men hanged at Hobart Ipown, and the laab. was never idle > This blind severity had no effect in checking crime, but rather increased it, for innocent persons were sometimes vie* j^sms and their relatives sought revenge Against the authorities. This was certainly the case with Alfred Pearce, the subjeot of this narrative. The reader must not confound Paarce, the convict, with the Alfred Pearce of whom we write, as they bad no connection.

I Pence was the eon of one oE the transplanted Norfolk 1 Island settlezs, and came foVan .piemen's Land a child with his parent*. Jjikeznostof the beat founders, nig family took upland in the district of New Norfolk, and were quite as good as :fhe ordinary ran of the colonists. Great Britain had no attractive memories for them, and they were more than reconciled to the new country under the Southern Orofio. The patents had gone to Norfolk Island with Captain King in the Sinus, and they w«te thus the pioneers of two (rtttlementa. QFhe nearest neighbours of the Fearces ©a the New Norfolk plainß were a family jiamed M'Kenaie. The latter had more Jand than Pearce, and they soon became persons of some importance in the locality, for they were wealthier than their jaaighbours, and money obtains recognition pUthe world over. There were four sons in the M'Kenzie family, the youngest of whom was about the same age as Alfred Pearce, ■tfrho wm the only child of his parents. | the neighbours did not see much of 'each 3sher during the early years of the settlejaent, for their hands were full in fighting Jfcft wilderness. H If; was the year 1820 when sinister ■rotnonra spread over the settlement about ■the M'Kenzieß. It was hinted that the/ ■iwreamaesingwealthatthe expense of their ■neighbours, and that they were in fact in ■league with some of the moat notorious ■bands of plundet ers that infested the disHtriot. These latter were sheltered and proHtected by old M'Kenzie and his sons, and Hwere thus enabled to defy the authorities, Hwith whom M'Kenzie had considerable inHftnence. By judicious distribution of _ his HEll-gottan money amongst certain offioials, was unquestionable that the old settler Hwm allowed to do thingß with impunity Hfchat would have brought other less Hpavpnred persons under the lash of the Cattle-stealing was the moat common [Hmode of pillage to which the respectable HBresidsnta were subjected, and it was a HEnatter of serious moment to the owners. BEit that period fresh meat commanded a HEdgh price, for there was a large nonHEroduCing population on the island that oEaito be fed, and flocks and herds were BEhe chief source of wealth. ■B The system which the M'Kenzie Bhmily pursned, and which was afterHraxds found out, wbb a bold and Ifiespezate one. Their homestead was Hfeafly the headquarters of a marauding B^B>and. The very convict-Bervauts were Hfcbliged to embark in plundering expedi|Hions, and in most instances it fitted in HLith their natural inclinations. A system dividing the spoils'was established which ■Hemoved any socupleß the more conscienBHioua might have, and though the H»TKenziea had not so far taken an aotive HEart in the murder and robbery of their ■Neighbours, their aid was indispensible, ■Hnd fortune was flowing to them. Bs Pearce was a sufferer by these thieving Hnpoditions, and he discovered enough to HKstify him in denouncing M'Kenzie to HKe authorities. Aotionwas taken in the HEatter, but it wbb really to blind justice effectually. The faroe that was HBone through brought M'Kenzie through HSsriumphantlv innooent, and exposed the HHrgrieved Pearce to an action for damages. HBLia was not taken, bat a deadly feud up between the two families, and HB| 1820 this had reaohad its height. Hf M'Kenzie senior was a shrewd and ■Htexly unscsapulous man, and he conI^Kuded that if Pearce was not put out of Ihßls way it would go hard with himself. HHhe ruffians that acknowledged him as HBftader were quite willing to slay a dozen BKmilies, muchlesa one, and on the 16 th of HEme 1820, it was arranged that Pearce's should be attacked and Wandered. This particular night was ■Sheeted because it was known that Alfred Hmm* *•*«•*• t0 Bo^att Tdtttt with otte {

of the servants and could not be back until late the following day. For some time past the young M'Eenzies had been in the habit of taking an active part in the predatory attacks, and they were specially eager to Blay the family which they so bitterly hated and lay waste the homestead. Pearce had led so wild and troubled a life in such lawless times that being on his guard was a sort of second nature to him, and he had a well grounded suspicion that M'Kenzie meditated violence towards him. He had four convict-servants, of whom one was in Hobart Town with his son, and he could depend upon each of them. They felt a sort of rough gratitude toward him for the invariable kindness with which he treated them. In a land where the convicts were looked upon aa little better than beasts of burthen a small measure of kindness was thought a very great deal of by ' the assigned Bervanta. The party which M'Kenzie had arranged to attack Pearoe's house numbered nine men, of whom seven were convicts and the other two his sons. He never accompanied these parties himself for fear of awkward discoveries, but he was the guiding spirit of the whole.

The night on which the assassins set out was a dark and stormy one, but there was no difficulty in reaching Pearce's homestead. It was not more than a mile and a half to the. south-east' and the country was not rough. Some difficulty was experienced in keeping the priming of the muskets dry, but the men were used to such expeditions and succeeded in doing so. All of them knew the surroundings of Pearce's homestead well, and more than one of them had been in the house at one time or another. Some fifty yards to the eaßt of the dwellinghouse was a large stable divided off into a barn at one end, whilst to the north were several other smaller outhouses.

The usual course of action ia these midnight attacks on the settlers was to either boldly enter tho house and Beize the inmates, of if that was not possible, to fire the building and capture or kill them as they ran out. In this case it was murder that was the object and not plunder, and as it was known that Pearce kept the servants armed, it was decided to fire the house and shoot down the occupants as they came out. The light from the fire would enable them to do this and for that purpose they brought with them several lumps of tarred matter that would speedily set the wooden structure in flames.

When they reached the outer buildings one of the M'Kenzieß and three other members of the party volunteered to start the conflagration. For this purpose they approached the house, and in order to light the inflammable material they carried the four incendiaries took shelter on the eastern side of the building, and at once proceeded to carry out their ferocious task. They had struck alight from the flint and tinder they carried and applied it to the tarred inaßS which flamed up brightly when a flash of light broke from the barn, followed by the loud report of a musket shot which rose above the howling storm, and young M'Kenzie, who was holding the burning tow, lurched forward and fell to the ground without a. sound.

The desperado who was nearest him instantly tore the burning material from the; grasp of th& - JnrQfittata man, and, qaickly running to the windward, stuck it under the cave of the house. His companions bent for a moment over M'Kenzie, and, seeing that he was dead, followed their companion and placed the remaining inflammable stuff along with the ignited mass. This done the men, instantly retreated in different directions into the outer circle of darkness.

The fatal Bhot had been fired by Tone of the conviot-servants who was stationed in the barn on nightwatch, and had faithfully kept it. His attention had been attracted to the' incendiaries by the light, and when the material flared up iff gave him light enough to take such deadly aim at the man who was in the best position, who happened to be Boderick M'Kenzie.

The fire which had been bo skilfully placed by the experienced ruffians was fanned by the fierce wind and burned with extraordinary rapidity. The inmates within were aroused by the sound of the shot, and the glare which filled the room told them but too well what had happened. Pearce knew that it was almost certain death to go out, for he rightly concluded his foes were ambushed around waiting for the occupants to be forced out by the fire to shoot them. There was a loop-hole on each side of the building, and the distracted settler on looking out of. the one faeirig the stables saw the convict-servant, | Tranter, running towards the dwelling.

The flames lighted up the surroundings to a distance of forty or .fifty yards in every direction and almost as soon as Pearce saw the watchful servant running lie heard two shots ring out, but sfcill the man kept on his rapid way towards him. With a noble heroism Tranter was giving his life to save those of the family who had been .so good to him. His object was to extinguish the flames which it was not too late to do. After the two Bhots which missed him there was a lull fora few moments, and the faithful man had reached the end of the house whiph was on fire. A long pole lay close to it, and, taking it up, he began to beat out the flames. It seemed as if he would accomplish his mission and save the inmates when another shot was heard at close quarters and Tranter let the pole fall. He blindly staggered round the building seeking for the. doorway, but ■before he could reach it he fell dead. Ho had given up his life to save the inmates. Two of the assailants had divined his intention, and when the shots missed they ran up close enough, to take fatal aim at the stationary man.

Pearce could not see the end of . the attempt' made by Tranter, but he realised what had happened and knew that the heroic effort had failed. His wife was beside him, and also the two convict-servants that slept in the house. They were all armed, even to Mrs Pearce, for she could ■use a zriuskofc as well as the best of them.

Pearce and his wife were close on sixty years of age, but they were both active and vigorous, whilst the convict-servants were men of powerful physique. One of them in particular named—or rather nicknamed— after a famous strong man, Topping, was an extraordinary fellow. He was only five feet seven incheß in height, and had a chest measurement of forty-eight inches, and was a perfect Samson in atrength. In close quarters, or given a fair chance, the party inside the house could have given a good account of themselves; bub Fearce and his companions well knew that they could hope for neither. The moment they left the burning building they would become targets for their foes who would be protected by the outer darkness. ■ The situation was fast becoming desperate. In spite of the rain the wooden building was burning fiercely* and they eonld not remain longer in it. The small amount of money and valuables that were in the place was gathered and given to Mrs Pearce, and, after a hasty consultation, it was deoided to leave the place together and endeavour to reach the barn, where they could keep their foes off until' succour arrived. It was shortly after, two in the' morning when Topping flung the door open and rushed out into the area of light towards the stables. In a few seconds he was followed by the other inmates, and immediately after several shots were fired at them.

In tanning to the barn Topping when

almost at it stumbled and fell, and* the aooident saved his life, aa a bullet whioh would have pierced his body whistled over him. To the terror of the fugitives it was Been that this shot came from the barn whioh had been occupied by the assailants. Pearce caught his wife and drew her in a> southerly direction towards a clump of '£mber in which he might be able to defend fUmself. Several shots were fired, and the Wo had gone ten yards when Pearce felt his wife shiver and then grow heavy in his grasp. In another second she fell almost dragging him. down, and, faithful to the last, he would not leave her; They had seen strange vicissitudes together for nearly half a century. When quite a girl she had committed a trifling offence in order to be transported to an unknown land, and had gone through the horrors of the voyage to Botany Bay and the first settlement at Norfolk Island, as well as Captain Collins'a expedition to Van Die* men's Land. All this she had done to be near the man she loved, and Pearce reciprocated her faithfulness. . As she fell he tried to lift her, in . his. arms to bear her out of danger, but it was not to be. As he made the attempt .a bullet Btruck him on the right leg and broke it, and whilst kneeling two more shots took effect and ended his life. One of the convict-servants had been Bhot almost as he left the house, and only Topping remained.

After the fall which caused him to escape the bullet aimed at him, he regained his. feet, and, seeing that the barn was occupied, swerved to the north to get behind it. As be did so one of the ambushed assailants rose directly in front of him; Fortunately for Topping the man had just discharged his musket and could only use it as a club. Before he could evade the man Topping was upon him, and with such suddenness that; the sweeping blow aimed by tho desperado missed its objeot. In another instant Topping hadclutohed the man by the throat, and, bearing him backwards, used his phenomenal strength with such terrible effect that he dislocated the man's neck and killed him instantly.

(To be continued.)