Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-07-24
THE PENALTY OF CRIME.
HORRORS OF TRANSPORTATION.

lcncc was pronounced, he delivered long,
touching, and eloquent speech, in which he
detailed the horrors of transportation as ter
riblc indeed.
"llc described the manner in which the
several classes of convicts were taken from
the ship on their arrival. Those who were
doomed to the chain gangs for life were first
sent of to their horrible punishment, which
he described as being considered by all con-
vcts who knew any thing of the matter, as a
thousand times worse than death in its most
dreaded form. Many thought they had a
chance of lettering their condition when
transported, but they were drcadiully mista-
ken. Even the gentlemen who were trans
ported, he meant those who were well cdu-
Gated, and who thought their education
would prove an advantage to them, were
doomed to suffer equally with the most igno-
rant and depravcd, for they were ranked
amongst those who were lnlirm and invalids,
and were, being useless, sent to quarter
where they were under the command of men
whom they regarded, in all respects, as their
interiors, so that, instead of being better,
they were absolutely worse off than their fell
lows. lie was attached, he said, to that we
believe, he called the Woollaloo party, with
which he continued for time, working un-
der burning sun by day, and subjected to
the most severe discipline. Every thug was
under military regulation, and on the Sigh
test niraction of rule or orders, the convicts
were tied up to the trianglcs and logged. At
length gentleman and lady wished to take
a man into their service, and he was assigned
to them.-IIe behaved well, and he found
his circumstances as good as he could expect
or even better, for he had done wrong and
deserved punishment. This lasted only
about twelve months, for Mr., he
would not mention the name of that gentle
man in juxtaposition with his own for he be-
levcd he was in London at that moment, and
if he was not, he had brother thcrc--but he
told him that he was going to England, and
must turn him over to Government. This
was done, aud he again experienced renew
al of the hardships to which he had at first
been subicctcd.-But even these hardships
were nothing to what he had afterwards ex.
pcrenced, for the Governor was changed
and when Governor Phipps went out it was
much worse for convicts. lie was now sent
forth with others to work in the inlcriorot the
colony, amongst the chain gangs, and here
it was that he SAW transportation in its true
colors. They were miscrably dealt wi h.
indeed, forced by the most severe treatment
to work all day beyond their strength, boncatl
a burning sun, not daring to u,tcra complaint
for fear Of the !ash and with scarcely food
enough to support them, consisting only o.
wrctchcd meal of hommany, it was out O
the power of language to describe what the,
endured. (The prisoner wcpt at the rccol.
lection of his suilcrngs during this period
The most conspicuous object at their cncamp
ncnt was the trianglcs, and for the mos
trivial error, they were taken before mil
tary gentleman, who ass gned them a fog
ging, which always took place at dinner tins
after which they were taken out to tot
again beneath the scorching sun. At nigh
they slept in hu,s. They had no beds, ant
merely a covering Of a sort of stringy bark
If one word was spoken during the hours o
rest, the sentinel called out the offender, ant
he was handculed till morning, whenh he wa
logged for having violated the regulations b.
the expression of cvcna natural and invoun
tary complait. Here his life became a mise
nv to him, and he had no consolation from
,, the reflection that he had deserved his pu
nishmcnt.
lie then detailed his efforts to escape; an,
in company with comradc, succeeded in get
tin! on board a vessel. He knew not wlcr
his comradc concealed himself, but he go
: into a water Enthusiastically afterwards tin
Inspector came on board and examined tn
shin, and he was under lnconcevablc drea
: that they would be taken, when, by the lay
of the colony, he would have been sent t.
Norfolk Island for fourteen years. The pr
soncr cndcavorcd to give some notion Of tin
horrors of Norfolk Island, but here his powe
Of language failed him.-The Inspector dit
not find them, but he heard the sailors puttin
on the matches and tarpluling, and imme
diatcly his companion joined him. "A nev
horror appeared before them. The prisonc
stated that it was customary, when convict
were suspected of having concealed them
selves on board ships, to smoke the hold, AM
force them to come forth.-To this operation
they became convinced they were about t.
be subjected. Believing themselves to be Il
, this fearful extremity, his companion aske'
: him il he had any memorial which he wishc'
him to deliver in England, in case he survi
we'd him and ever reached this country. IL
, replied, no; he had no one in the world VIII
cared for him, and, therefore, no one whom
be wished to be reminded of him.-Ilis com
panion (the prisoner) wept at the remcm
brancc, took ont dirty letter, and told hin
where to find his poor mother in London
Sobbing as he spoke, he babe his brothe
convict, fever he should reach England, t,
tell her that the last time he saw him, he wa
well and prospecting, and would, some tim
or other, come and see her, "and that" sal
: he, "will add many years to my poor dea
mothers life"
The prisoner, said, he then wctted pal
: ofdrawcrs, and swathed them round his com
radc's head.-IIe himself got into the tank Q
water, when he, some hours after, heard tn
order to put up the topsals, which gave hin
, some satisfaction, as he knew by that, tina
, the vessel was going to sea. lie knew no
where she was bound to, nor did he care, s.
that they got away from the miserable plac
which he had quilted, lie remained in fin