the eureka stockade-第21章
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V。 R。 NOTICE。 No light will be allowed to be kept burning in any tent within musket…shot of the line of sentries after 8 o'clock p。m。 No discharge of fire…arms in the neighbourhood of the Camp will be permitted for any purpose whatever。 The sentries have orders to fire upon any person offending against these rules。 （By order）； T。 BAILEY RICHARDS； Lieut。 40th Regt。； Garrison Adjutant。
Chapter LVI。
Remember This Sabbath Day （December Third）； To Keep It Holy。
I awoke。 Sunday morning。 It was full dawn； not daylight。 A discharge of musketrythen a round from the buglethe command 'forward'and another discharge of musketry was sharply kept on by the red…coats （some 300 strong） advancing on the gully west of the stockade； for a couple of minutes。
The shots whizzed by my tent。 I jumped out of the stretcher and rushed to my chimney facing the stockade。 The forces within could not muster above 150 diggers。
The shepherds' holes inside the lower part of the stockade had been turned into rifle…pits； and were now occupied by Californians of the I。C。 Rangers' Brigade； some twenty or thirty in all； who had kept watch at the 'out…posts' during the night。
Ross and his division northward； Thonen and his division southward； and both in front of the gully； under cover of the slabs； answered with such a smart fire； that the military who were now fully within range； did unmistakably appear to me to swerve from their ground： anyhow the command 〃forward〃 from Sergeant Harris was put a stop to。 Here a lad was really courageous with his bugle。 He took up boldly his stand to the left of the gully and in front： the red…coats 'fell in' in their ranks to the right of this lad。 The wounded on the ground behind must have numbered a dozen。
Another scene was going on east of the stockade。 Vern floundered across the stockade eastward； and I lost sight of him。 Curtain whilst making coolly for the holes； appeared to me to give directions to shoot at Vern； but a rush was instantly made in the same direction （Vern's） and a whole pack cut for Warrenheip。
There was； however； a brave American officer； who had the command of the rifle…pit men； he fought like a tiger； was shot in his thigh at the very onset； and yet； though hopping all the while； stuck to Captain Ross like a man。 Should this notice be the means to ascertain his name； it should be written down in the margin at once。
The dragoons from south； the troopers from north； were trotting in full speed towards the stockade。
Peter Lalor； was now on the top of the first logged…up hole within the stockade； and by his decided gestures pointed to the men to retire among the holes。 He was shot down in his left shoulder at this identical moment： it was a chance shot； I recollect it well。
A full discharge of musketry from the military； now mowed down all who had their heads above the barricades。 Ross was shot in the groin。 Another shot struck Thonen exactly in the mouth； and felled him on the spot。
Those who suffered the most were the score of pikemen； who stood their ground from the time the whole division had been posted at the top； facing the Melbourne road from Ballaarat； in double file under the slabs； to stick the cavalry with their pikes。
The old command； 〃Charge！〃 was distinctly heard； and the red…coats rushed with fixed bayonets to storm the stockade。 A few cuts； kicks and pulling down； and the job was done too quickly for their wonted ardour； for they actually thrust their bayonets on the body of the dead and wounded strewed about on the ground。 A wild 〃hurrah！〃 burst out and 'the Southern Cross' was torn down； I should say； among their laughter； such as if it had been a prize from a May…pole。
Of the armed diggers； some made off the best way they could； others surrendered themselves prisoners； and were collected in groups and marched down the gully。 The Indian dragoons； sword in hand； rifle…pistols cocked； took charge of them all； and brought them in chains to the lock…up。
Chapter LVII。
Dirigat Dominus Reginum Nostram。
The red…coats were now ordered to 'fall in；' their bloody work was over； and were marched off； dragging with them the 'Southern Cross。'
Their dead； as far as I did see； were four； and a dozen wounded； including Captain Wise； the identical one； I think whom I speak of in relating the events of Tuesday evening； November 28。
Dead and wounded had been fetched up in carts； waiting on the road； and all red…things hastened to Ballaarat。 The following is for the edification of all the well…affected and well…disposed of the present and future generation：…
V。 R。 NOTICE。 Government Camp； Ballaarat； Dec。 3rd； 1854。 Her Majesty's forces were this morning fired upon by a large body of evil…disposed persons of various nations； who had entrenched themselves in a stockade on the Eureka； and some officers and men killed。
Several of the rioters have paid the penalty of their crime； and a large number are in custody。
All well…disposed persons are earnestly requested to return to their ordinary occupations； and to abstain from assembling in large groups； and every protection will be afforded to them by the authorities。 ROBT。 REDE； Resident Commissioner。 God save the Queen。
Chapter LVIII。
Veritatem Dico Non Menitor。
Here begins a foul deed； worthy of devils； and devils they were。 The accursed troopers were now within the stockade。 They dismounted； and pounced on firebrands from the large fire on the middle of the stockade； and deliberately set in a blaze all the tents round about。 I did see with both eyes one of those devils； a tall； thick…shouldered； long…legged； fast Vandemonian…looking trooper； purposely striking a bundle of matches； and setting fire at the corner end； north of the very store of Diamond； where we had kept the council for the defence。 The howling and yelling was horrible。 The wounded are now burnt to death； those who had laid down their arms； and taken refuge within the tents； were kicked like brutes； and made prisoners。
At the burning of the Eureka Hotel； I expressed it to be my opinion that a characteristic of the British race is to delight in the calamity of a fire。
The troopers； enjoying the fun within the stockade； now spread it without。 The tent next to mine （Quinn's） was soon in a blaze。 I collected in haste my most important papers； and rushed out to remonstrate against such a wanton cruelty。 Sub…inspector Carter pointing with his pistol ordered me to fall in with a batch of prisoners。 There were no two ways： I obeyed。 In the middle of the gully； I expostulated with Captain Thomas； he asked me whether I had been made a prisoner within the stockade。 〃No； sir；〃 was my answer。 He noticed my frankness； my anxiety and grief。 After a few words more in explanation； he； giving me a gentle stroke with his sword； told me 〃If you really are an honest digger； I do not want you； sir； you may return to your tent。〃
Mr。 Gordonof the store of Gordon and M‘Callum； on the left of the gully； near the stockadewho had been made prisoner； and was liberated in the same way； and at the same time as myself； was and is a living witness to the above。
On crossing the gully to return to my tent； an infernal trooper trotting on the road to Ballaarat； took a deliberate aim at me； and fired his Minie rifle pistol with such a tolerable precision； that the shot whizzed and actually struck the brim of my cabbage…tree hat； and blew it off my head。 Mrs。 Davis； who was outside her tent close by； is a living witness to the above。
At this juncture I was called by name from Doctor Carr； and Father Smyth； directed me by signs to come and help the wounded within the stockade。
Chapter LIX。
Quis Dabit Capiti Meo； Aquam Et Oculis Meis Fontem Lacrymarum Et Plorabo Die Ac Nocte！
I hastened； and what a horrible sight！ Old acquaintances crippled with shots； the gore protruding from the bayonet wounds； their clothes and flesh burning all the while。 Poor Thonen had his mouth literally choked with bullets； my neighbour and mate Teddy More； stretched on the ground； both his thighs shot； asked me for a drop of water。 Peter Lalor； who had been concealed under a heap of slabs；
