It Was Removed, But Always Returned To The Same Spot;
And When His Master's Body Was Huddled, With The Other Corpses, Into The Cart,
The Little Dog Jumped In After Him, And Lying Again On His Dead Master's
Breast, Began Howling Again.
- - Was dead there also, and - - , who escaped,
had said, that when he offered his sword, he was shot in the side
by a trooper, as he was lying on the ground wounded.
He expired
almost immediately. Another was lying dead just inside the barricade,
where he seemed to have crawled. Some of the bodies might have been removed -
I counted fifteen. A poor woman and her children were standing outside a tent;
she said that the troopers had surrounded the tent and pierced it
with their swords. She, her husband, and children, were ordered out
by the troopers, and were inspected in their night-clothes outside,
whilst the troopers searched the tent. Mr. Haslam was roused from sleep
by a volley of bullets fired through his tent; he rushed out, and was shot down
by a trooper, and handcuffed. He lay there for two hours bleeding
from a wound in his breast, until his friends sent for a black-smith,
who forced off the handcuffs with a hammer and cold chisel. When I last heard
of Mr. Haslam, a surgeon was attending him, and probing for the ball.
R - - , from Canada, [Captain Ross, of Toronto, once my mate] escaped
the carnage; but is dead since, from the wounds. R - - has effected
his escape. [ Johnny Robertson, who had a striking resemblance to me,
not so much in size as in complexion and colour of the beard especially:
Poor Johnny was shot down dead on the stockade; and was the identical body
which Mr. Binney mistook for me. Hence the belief by many, that I was dead.]
V - - is reported to be amongst the wounded [Oh! no his legs were too long
even for a Minie rifle ]. One man was seen yesterday trailing along the road:
he said he could not last much longer, and that his brother was shot
along-side of him. All whom I spoke to were of one opinion, that it was
a cowardly massacre. There were only about one hundred and seventy diggers,
and they were opposed to nearly six hundred military. I hope all is over;
but I fear not: or amongst many, the feeling is not of intimidation,
but a cry for vengeance, and an opportunity to meet the soldiers
with equal numbers. There is an awful list of casualties yet to come in;
and when uncertainty is made certain, and relatives and friends know the worst,
there will be gaps that cannot be filled up. I have little knowledge
of the gold-fields; but I fear that the massacre at Eureka is only a skirmish.
I bid farewell to the gold-fields, and if what I have seen is a specimen
of the government of Victoria, the sooner I am out of it the better for myself
and family. Sir, I am horrified at what I witnessed, and I did not see
the worst of it. I could not breathe the blood-tainted air of the diggings,
and I have left them for ever.
You may rely upon this simple statement, and submit it if you approve of it,
to your readers.
I am, Sir.
Chapter LXI.
Ab Initio Usque Ad Finem Horribile Dictu.
- - -
Avanit Il Tuo Cospetto, Dio Potente! Grida Vendetta Il Sangue Innocente.
I. Document.
As I want to be believed, so I transcribed the following document
from 'The Argus' of Friday, December 15th, 1854. - Gordon Evans,
one of H.M. Captains in the Eureka massacre, now acts in the capacity
of magistrate! -
DEPOSITION OF HENRY POWELL.
The deceased deposed to the following effect: - My name
is Henry Powell, I am a digger residing at Creswick-creek.
I left Creswick-creek about noon on Saturday, December 2nd.
I said to my mates, 'You'll get the slabs ready. I will
just go over to see Cox and his family at Ballaarat.'
I arrived at Ballaarat about half-past four, or thereabouts.
I saw armed men walking about in parties of twenty or
thirty; went to Cox's tent; put on another pair of
trousers, and walked down the diggings. Looked in the
ring (the stockade). After that, went home, went to bed
in the tent at the back of Cox's tent, about half-past
nine. On Sunday morning about four or half-past,
was awoke by the noise of firing. Got up soon after,
and walked about twenty yards, when some trooper rode
up to me. The foremost one was a young man whom I knew
as the Clerk of the Peace. He was of a light, fair
complexion, with reddish hair. He told me to "stand in
the Queen's name! You are my prisoner." I said "Very good,
Sir." Up came more troopers. I cannot say how many.
Believe about twenty or thirty. I said, "Very well,
gentlemen (!) don't be in a hurry, there are plenty of
you," and then the young man struck me on the head with
a crooked knife, about three feet and a half long,
in a sheath. I fell to the ground. They then fired
at me, and rode over me several times. I never had
any hand in the disturbance. There, that's all.
Ballaarat, Dec. 11, 1854.
- - -
FIRST CASE of an inquest which has taken place since
the massacre of the memorable 3rd. The evidence as to
the murder of Powell (writes 'The Argus' express
correspondent) is but a specimen of the recitals heard
on every hand of the reckless brutality of the troopers
that morning.
VERDICT OF THE JURY.
The death of deceased, Henry Powell, gold-digger, was
caused by sabre cuts and gun shot wounds, wilfully
and feloniously, and of their malice aforethought
inflicted and fired by ARTHUR PURCELL AKEHURST, Clerk
of the Peace, Ballaarat bench, and other persons unknown.
The jury return a verdict of Wilful Murder against
A. P. Akehurst and other persons unknown.
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