the eureka stockade-第23章
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ng 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。
The jury express their condemnation of the conduct of Captain Evans； in not swearing deceased at the time of taking his statement after having been cautioned by Dr。 Wills of his immediate danger。 The jury view with extreme horror the brutal conduct of the mounted police in firing at and cutting down unarmed and innocent persons of both sexes； at a distance from the scene of disturbance； on December 3rd； 1854。
WILLIAMS； Coroner。
…
Mind； good reader； the above is a legal document。
After my trial； on my way to Ballaarat； I met in Geelong the identical Akehurst； cracking some nuts with （I mean； speaking to） some young ladies。
I DESPAIR OF THIS COLONY。
May it please HER MAJESTY to cause inquiry to be made into the character of such that have branded the miners of Ballaarat as disloyal to their QUEEN。
Chapter LXII。
Tempora Nostra。
The following documents are put in here as evidence of 'our times。'
II。 Document。
BALLAARAT。 THE STATEMENT OF FRANK ARTHUR HASLEHAM。 （Now lying wounded at Ballaarat。）
〃Whereas I； Frank Arthur Hasleham； a native of the good town of Bedford； and son of a military officer； to wit； William Gale Hasleham； who bore His Majesty's commission in the 48th Foot at Talavera； and afterwards retired from the 6th veteran battallion：
〃Whereas I； the aforesaid； having； in my capacity of newspaper correspondent at Ballaarat； shown； on all proper occasions in general； so especially during the late insurrectionary movement here； a strong instinctive leaning to the side of law； authority； and loyalty； was； on the morning of the 3rd instant； fired at and wounded at a time when the affray was over； and the forces with their prisoners were on the point of returning to the camp； and in a place whence the scene of action was invisible； and when no other bloodshed had taken place；
〃On these considerations I desire to make on oath the following statements of facts as they occurred； and as witnessed by others：…
〃Shortly after daybreak in the morning mentioned； my three mates and myself were aroused from sleep by the fire of musketry； a great proportion of the balls whistling over our tents。 The tent is pitched on a rising ground about 500 yards south of the stockade； the tent and stockade； each situated on an eminence； are separated by a large gully running east and west； and comprising in its breadth nearly the whole of the distance above specified。 Considerably alarmed at the continuance of the firing； we at last got up and went outside； thinking to find a place of shelter of comparative security。 After I had gone outside the firing gradually fell off； the stockade was unoccupied； the insurgents' flag was struck； and whatever fighting was then going on was confined to the further slope of the hill on which the stockade was situated。 As some desultory firing was still going on； I advanced about fifty yards down the gully； in order to insure safety by getting upon lower ground； by this time； with the exception of an occasional cheer from the military or police； everything was perfectly quiet； and from where I stood neither soldier nor trooper was to be seen。 A few minutes after a small detachment of mounted police made its appearance on the hill； and drew up in a line on the either side of the stockade； the off
