A STRANGE RE-APPEARANCE AT GABRIEL'S RUSH

Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1334, 16 March 1887, Page 6

A STRANGE RE-APPEARANCE AT GABRIEL'S RUSH

(" Canterbury Tiires.") . Go back thirty odd years, and think of old Bendigo as it then was, with its golden gullies, creeks, and flats, and the busy crowd of the first adventurers. It had not yet developed into quartzopoiis, the abode and trysting-place of an army of adepts in the scrip business ; people whose share in dragging the hidden gold to light consists in well-organised systems of trickery, deceit, and swindling. The old race were workers, who by the sweat of their brows and their strong arms, opened mother earth, and revealed to an astonished world what treasurers Dame Nature had waited until then to give up to the hardy miners. These diligent explorers were not searchers. Here and there might be a brawny Northumbrian, an adept at coal-hewing, and one might see the well-known Cousin Jack of the Cornish copper mines and the Burra Burn; but the mass of miners, call them diggers, were an impromptu lot turned out at call of gold from every office and workshop, store and farm, added to many who until then had never handled tool or implement, by j which to earn their bread. But they unearthed the gold. It was strange to see young fellows, gay sparks, like those who have so freely faced fearful odds in the Soudan, and given up their lives, when the game was lost, with all the coolpe3S of a chess player, fresh from their old English homes of comfort and luxury, amidst all sorts of surroundings, thirst, hunger, sickness, ill-luck, tackling the work of the miner, as if to the manner born. Many a bred navvy and miner has been compelled by sheer defeat to admit, ! that it does not follow that because a man has not baen brought up to slavish, hard work, that, therefore, ha will not be able to d o it when necessity or choice compels it. It is an unsafe calculation to work upon. Many of those young fellows had an undying pluck that would never admit defeat, and their high spirit would make up for the deficient training to the pick and shovel until they became so expert that, on bad luck following their digging efforts, they had no hesitation in taking road, quarry, or bush work. The crowd was mixed. Jamie M'Alpine was a Higblandman of big frame, and stern, determined, unblending character; morose, with few words; under his uncouth exterior carrying a depth of acuteness and resource. There was unhesitatingdecision in every movement, however cloaked. The fierce passion underneath might be raging like a smouldering Tarawera, and give no sign ; but the moment for action arrived, nothing must stand in the way. Jamie had been a game-keeper, a shepherd, a poacher. He knew all about sheep and their ways, and was quite at home in all the devices of the familiar with every river travel of a salmon, and with all the schemes and tricks by which "he could be brought within reach. A gun in bis hand, and in the humour to talk, you could imagine the deer in sight and the crouching poacher again on his native beatb, and every development of the crafty and daring business was described with a relish that showed how heartily his heart was in the work. Jamie came to misfortune, and an encounter with the keepers led to his departure for Van Diemen's Land for fifteen years. A year or two saw him assigned to one of the convict officials with a big estate of Crown granted land, covered with sheep. Such a servant at the few pounds a yeat that was paid for him was in* valuable to the sheepowner, and Jamie felt again in his element. The country abounded with native animals— the wombat, the opossum, the kangaroo ; with parrots, pigeons, and ducks, and with vermin and snakes in abundance. Here his store of poaching craft, his skill with the gun and rod, and his knowledge of the net and trap soon made him a name. Of tbe old days Jamie could tell many a blood-curdling tale. ' You won't believe it, man ; but I've seen more thai one man face death, and awful death, before he wo aid stand the tyranny of tbe wretches who were in power over them. Desperate death, nothing else. No sneaking poison, although tbe bush was full of it in bashes and roots ; no stealthy hanging, but bold defiance of death, with tbeb

comrades looking on. What would you think of three men making up their minds to kill themselves, and carrying it out to the end by loosening the brake of a tram and lotting the waggons go down the incline like a sheet of lightning, shouting end cheering to their chums and hooting the keepers, and — at the last moment, before tbe awful plunge, when the waggons struck the impediment near the precipice, where the loads tipped and capsized, and sent the stones to an immense depth below — waving their convict headgear, and sending up a last howl and cheer just as their bodies were sent, by the force of the blow, perhaps fifty feet into the air, and the next moment were seen circling in the dread fall before they struck the stones below, smashed into shapeless, broken, pulpy masses ? Yes, man ; I!ve seen it. I could tell you more. But that will do for now.' At other times his stories would be grimly humorous. The recollection of some well-played dodge or trick, by which the dogs — such was his term for the officials — had been overreached and deceived, gave him glorious delight. , Tbe way in which, in spite o!' i all the searches, lights were got in the dead of tbe night for the cherished smoke of smuggled tobacco, and tbe devices by which the pungent smell was smothered ; the mode by which liquor found its way into the gangs in defiance of all the regulations and prohibitions, showed an ingenuity and neatness of hand, that the old poacher delighted in recalling. Such a character, with the inducement of tbe gold discoveries across the straits, was not the type to remain a contented bond slave to a domineering land owner, and the first opening was taken to bid adieu to the land of prisons and overseers. Seizing the chance when sent on sheep business away from the station for a week or two, Jamie, a good busbman, made his way to one of the small inlets on the northeast coast, and taking without leave, a whale boat, started without compass and alone, for the land of gold and freedom, desperately taking what he thought to be the course for Gippsland or Weste'-nport. In the old land, on the lochs, he bad had experience in the handling of a boat, and instinct taught him the rest. With good luck, meeting a slant of wind on the third day he was in the vicinity of the coast, and in a few days more bad penetrated unchallenged to Bendigo. There in the strange way in which acquaintances are made on a gold rush, Jamie, despite his antecedents, soon found mates, and his discerning and acute mind told him who he could trust. To such be was a good mate. Strange to say, the man with whom he worked was one of the very class above referred to : young, fresh from Home, unused to work, but facing it boldly ; and, although Jamie had made a clean breast to him of bis previous career and bis escape, treating him as a mate, which was met on Jamie's part by a sort of rout.b fatherly protection, wfcen rough, language or rough measures were needed with some of tbe characters that there abounded. One of the first boles they bottomed turned out seven ounces cS the bottom. That, of course, satisfied them, and if the ground ran anything like it, having a good block, they felt sure of soaao hundreds in a short time, and worked with a will. Working near them were two men, one a big Tip, red haired, and full of humbugging bosh. "With the usual freedom and cbaff time passed on, the ground proving good. The Irishman's, 'How are yez getting on, Jimmy ? What are yez doing at all?' meeting with, 'Nothing much, Mick ; but won't do to leave tucker. '' And thus deceit met deceit, for Mick was on gold, and of this Jamie wat, soon to be assured, for dr'ving away to near the boundary of their claim his pick went through, and he found that Mick and his mate had gouged almost every inch of the bottom for feet beyond their pegs. His rage was something awful ; his undertoned impre- j cations were diabolical ; his threats murderous — that, in the tent, and out of their hearing. To them, the most accomplished professor of physiognomy would have looked in vain for even an inkling of the smouldering fire. He possessed a power of self-control and concealment of passion such as is only rarely seen. But his decision was taken, and that very night after cunningly and carefully ascertaining that Mick and his mate were asleep, Jamie made bis preparations. A bottle with the bottom knocked off was his lantern a piece of candle and a few matches his outfit. ' Look alive ! They're safe and may the infernal thieves never wake. I'm as certain as I stand here that they've got every inch of our ground/ ' All right, Jamie, we'll see all about it directly. Keep quiet.' All the instincts of the old poacher were aroused, all the stealthiness and cunning of one who had mixed with a variety of men. They made their way out of the tent in darkness, not a sound heard, except the ceaseless barking of the numberless dogs chained arouud, care fully keeping clear of tents, and tent pegs; crossed the creek on the old tree log that did duty for a bridge, and picked their way, rrequiring almost as much neatress of foot in dodging tbe holes and heaps, as wants an eggdancer, and reachf d the claims. - Not a soul was about. * You stop here, I'll go below ; keep a quick ear for anyone moving.' Down he went. The time passed, and, under cover of a heap, after again fill'ng his pipe, the watcher struck, a match and enjoyed a glorious smoke in the pleasant cool night air, a star here and tbe.'e showing its preserve in the dark sky. The time passed, and with the stillness and the soothing pipe, his thoughts rushing back to tie old home aad old

associations, off he went into a relish" ing doze, lasting how long he knew not, until the little noise Jamie made in ascending the shaft by tbe footholes and his muffled voice on reaching the surface fairly awoke him. 1 Well, Jamie, how is it ?' ' The murdering thieves have got every inch of it. There isn't the size of your hand that hasn't been gouged. All is out against us, and they are working away now in the other direction. I'll igo bail 1,11 be even with them. Is your pipe empty ?' They lit up and moodily returned to tbe tent?, Jamie's muttered expressions indicating desperate resolve. The next morning to work as usual, and the greetings between them just PS if their doings were unKnown. 1 How is she shaping, Mick ?'- ' Well, Jamie, since we got that bit of a patch against the shaft, she's hardly been worth washing. We drive all" round on spec, but get nothing worth, the work. How 13 she doing with you, Jamie?' 'Oh, damn her, much like you, Mick. She ain't worth a cent going your way.' And thus they lied. Lied as money makes men lie, as selfinterest, grab, overreaching, make men lie. It grows upon them, until it has the mastery, and truth is scorned as the weapon of soft people and unfit for busy life. Jamie went below and, just as on other days, sent up washdirt, some of it wretchedly poor, and a mere blind, while he was thoroughly sarveying the drives and making his preparations. A word drooped now and tben showed that his plans were formed, and that revenge would lead him to rest unsatisfied until he had amply paid them j and, although his friend saw that it would be worked out underground, be hrd no idea that it would take the savage course which events proved. The next day they both went below, and Jamie, under tome preteace, gave bis mate the task of throwing back tons of earth from the boundary between the claims. This was noiseless work. The claim was quite untimbered. On clearing away, as the drives Cleared, and knowing as be did the state of the others' groand, it was plain that the whole concern rested upon what little was left on Jamie's side of solid ground. Upon that he made his calculations, and so countermined that nothing was left but a small pillar, perhaps a few inches in diameter at the base. Upon that hung the full weight " of all the surrounding ground. Tne others, having gouged out all the dividing grounds, were row busy working at right angles and backwards to the shaft. The rext morning they again met in the most unconcerned manner, with tbe usual salutes, Jamie going below with the full intent of finishing his plans. That done, he drove bis pick through the wall. ' G-ood day to you, Mick; here we are through.' 'So I see,' replied Mick, ' did yez get anything coming that way? The deul a color, .30 to spake, could we raise.' 'Well, Mick, we got it pretty g,ood this morniog ; didn't it run your way ? Or does it go the way you're diiving now ?' Mick and his mate had come during tb., iAlk, aad we^e some twenty feet or more from the mo ith of their shaft. Jamie's mate was near their own shaft. The conver3at'on still went on, and there was something weirdish at the coolness of Jamie, for every second a collision might be expected. It came; but in another way. Bear in miud that all rested upon that small pillar on the boundary. Jainie had cunningly kept them in talk as near him as possible. ' How much solid is there left, Mick ?' ' Oh, a few feet, Jimmy.' ' Then we'll have it out to day.' ' Yes, aisy.' „ Jamie had his heavy haoime»rheaded pick ready and lifted, and had shifted his po&ition. Savaae determination in every "eaiure. With a solid voice, he said, cool as a drill sergeant, •Take it, you infernal thieves!' aod with an overwhelming blow smashed the pillar, sprung back to the shaft quick as lightning, and a dull crack : =jg thus told that the mass had fallen. A shout, a groan were heard and all was still. Satisfaction was on Jamie's, face. Revenge at that moment was the sweetest morsel he had enjoyed for some time. In those days all were strangers to each other, and that a tent should be struck and tbe men away before daylight, caused no further remark than that very likely they bad heard of some new rush and wished to be off unobserved. At all events, Mick's tent was gone. Tbe claim was as good as worked out, and nothing more was thought of it. Jamie's own idea was that only one of them bad been killed by the fall, and that the other, knowing where bis mate's gold was planted, took it, said nothing and left. He took no trouble whatever to find out the truth, and looked upon the whole affair as a justifiable retaliation. On his mate's part it may have been wrong, it was wrong, to conceal the crime. Many considerations may be offered. He was young, thoughtless, perhaps reckless, and did not look upon the matter with the severe light of later days. The state of society was unsettled. Men had in a measure to defend their lives at a moment's notice. Badcharacters abounded; robberies were numerous, murders common. People disappeared and nothing more was said. It was like living in a snake and deadly vermin country ; the thing was of such daily experience, that positively people took no notice of it. All this, of course, did not justify or excuse his-apathy—only explains it. They shortly left those diggings, carrying the secret, Jamie remorsely determined and quiet v tbe o*her thoughtless and heedlesb^or apparently so. Whatever may Lave passed

through the Highlandman's mind, no thought or idea of crime or punishment seemed to dwell with his mate. They made for a district which was then just spoken of, and where, shortly afterwards, the immense Simpson's rush took place, later on called Maryborough. There, thus early, they secured fine ground on the lead, and had a pile hole, Gold was abundant. Men on tbe leads in high spirits. They were glorious, gay times, for many were flush and shouts all round the rule, publicans coining money and silver almost despised. Ah ! that is where many a now old grey bead made his mistake. In health and strength and luck, just when be ought to have put the money by, he spent it. Spent it, wasted it. With cheap land all round him, he preferred other investments. With town sections for a song, now of fabulous value, he passed them by, aB unworthy of serious thought. Jamie and his mate were like others, and though ao singularly coupled, and it would be thought unfitted for each other, those iwo men carried their secret and their swag from Simson's to Ararat, to Rockhampton and Omeo, to Lambing Flat, and finally across the deep sei to G-abrieFs. One day, in September, 1861, when Gabriel's was, as it were, but a couple of months old, and the good gold was being; got out of its shallow ground with ease — although numbers were disan »or>ted and had left, pronouncing it a t"»am and a failure — two men, new arrivals, threw their swags down beside a claim worked by two Irish brothers by the name of Short, a good claim, one of the early ones, for the brothers had made their way over the suow f p om the Lindus on the first rumour of Gabriel Bead's seven ounces in a day with a knife. They were acquaintances, and bad known each other on one of the late Victorian rushe3, perhaps Inglewood. With tbe freemasonry sometimes existing amongst miners, the men chummed, and were told where to set in, getting a good fair claim, whilst others were walking about aod leaving dissatisfied. They went to work, rigged up their tent, got in tucker, a bundle of manuka brushwood, and felt settled down for a month or two. One of them was Jamie, the Highland nan, looking more stern and grizzled, tbe other his young mate, the very type of a fine athletic, bearded, true Victorian miner of tho3e days. Saturday night came, and a stroll down tbe gully was proposed. It was lively. One big tent licensed shanty was the resort of many of the harder cases who were getting heavy gold, and could afford to induce in all the restless and rowdy revehie3 of those palmy times. No proposition was too extvavagaot, no foolery too costly. Wagers on anything and nothing. Coin tossing, dice throwing, cai-d playiog, all were rampant. In spite of bis morose temper Jamie went into tbe heart of it, utterly heedless and careless of money. Ore night, while he was going odd tnp.n out for sovereigns, or tbeir value — for though there was gold cash was not plentiful — winning and loaiog with an unconcerned coolness amidst all the excitement around, a ma i joined the company, looking on. He wore tbe usual miner's garb, and had an immense hat, that iv a certain light left an indistinct view of his features. He looked on for some time, seemingly interested.' Jamie's voice was never beard. He won and lost w'th an utter indifference. After a time tbe stranger broke in, saying, in a loud voice aud brogue, ' Oi'll btand ia ef yez don't mind, chaps,' The momeat the words were uttered, Jam's sprang up as if shot. He looked havd t.t the man from whom the words had come, and recognised him. There stood tbe man he had believed himself for years to have crushed and covered in the drive.' c What ! you here ?' said Jamie, glaring at him with all his spva&e temper aroused. 'Aisy now, Jiui_ay; sure yez did yer best; yez needn't be ashamed of it ; damn ye, if I baio't sprung out of reach when yez did it, and just gave a groan and kept quiet, yez would bave finished me with yer pick, yez would. Go along wid ye, Jimmy ; ain't yez better pleased to see me than if yez had killed me. All's fair in digging. Give it a name, Jimmy, champagne, if you like. I see yez doing it, or I'd put yez on a bit of ground that would make up for the bit I lifted. Come on now, give us yer hand, if ever I get alongside yez again I won't gouge ye. Come on now, ye ould dlviL* Jamie stood gloomy, but it was no use with his light-hearted acquaintance. 'Well, damn ye, for an Irish thief. Upon my coul you beat old Paddy tbe lifer, and be stole his mate's bread and gave him the crust. But I'll say the truth, though you deserved it and I meant it, I ain't sorry your ugly carcase is standing here. Come on we'll make a night of it.' Mick led off by telling tbe whole story how they had kept quiet and shammed death in the drive until night, fearing that Jamie in his rage would have finished them from above. At night they cautiously made their way to the tent, in the dead of night struck, and before daylight were miles away.