The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-07-20
"A TRUE STORY
. OF THE
AUSTRALIAN BUSH.

20 = .'ff -
Some years ago, two men, Charles
Storey and Edward. Ladbury, had
charge Of an. outlying sheep-statiop,
belonging to Mr.. John Hassal, a
wealthy Austrian ,squatterr The first
named was, the shepherd, the second
tho ,hutkeeper. Their hut stood in
the midst of a scene of primitive ma
ture. Except ths folds for the Aocks,
there were no enclosures of any descrip-
ton. The country was an open expanse
of grass, with few undulations dotted
sparsely with evergreen trees mostly
of the stringy ba,k species. The walls
Of tho hut were built of rough stakes,
with mud and reeds between them,
other long poles formed the roof,
which was covered with rushes. The
Fireplace was constructed of stones
collected from the neighborhood, and
in this the men baked their daily
damper, composed Of -four, water and
salt, aud boiled their kettle of tea.
Their stores consisted Of salt beef and
pork, -four and rice in casks, chest
Of tea, some sugar and raisins, and a
few other articles. Tin cups and
plates, and two or three knives and
forks formed their dinner and tea
service kettle and saucepan and
gridiron were their ckief cooking
utensils some rough sls hs of the
atringy-bark trees on treesels, ticking
filed with wool, n couple Of blankets,
and kangaroo-skiu rug apiece, form
ed their beds. Jay ,,
Such life as they led, in. spite of
it's sameness, it'd solitude and danger,
has its charms for many men. They
were contented. May be, their carly
days had been spent Fin poverty ana
starvation in some crowded CITY, amid
scenes of proaigacy, squalor, and suf,
tering. Here they enjoyed pure air,
a bright sky, anc abundance of food,
and were moved from tho temptations
which had once beset them. Those
whaahage occupied nearly every, posi-
tion in life will be found among the
shepherds and hut.keepers Of Austria
men who have been brought to pov-
erty either through their own faults
or the faults Of others. Few, of them
like to speak of their early lives.
Whatever had been the position of
Storey and Lad bury, they we're nov
steadily performing their duty. Hav-
ing dispatched their eai y breakfast,
the two men counted and examined
the sheep as they came out of the
fold, aud picked out those requiring
any PARTICULAR treatment. Store y
then started with the flock to q dis
tant pasture. ..
Ladbury had no lack Of duties.
There was the fold to repair here and
there, some sick sheep to DO for, the
roof Of the hut to patch, and piece
of garden ground, which he had wise
ly begun to cultivate, to attend to-.
His dinner was quickly dispatched :.
His usual companion favorite dog
fad disappeared he could not tell
how, but much feared it had been bit
ten by q snake and had died in the
bush. He lit his pipe. and smoked
and thought awhile. Again he bust
ed himself out.of-doors, and once
more, returned to his hut to prepare
the evening meal, for himself and his
companion. He was about to hook
tho freshly made hampers out Of the
aches, when he heard low moan
He listened--the sound was repeated
He hurried out and looked about him.
1t must have been fancy, he thought,
and was about to return to the hut,
when the sound agein reached bis ears.
IT came from q cluster of bushes a
little distance off, With an anxious
heart be ran TO the place, and there
found his companion lying on tho
gfound, bleeding from numerous
wounds, and with spear head still
sticking in his body. Lifting Storey
in his arms, he carried him to the hut
and laid him Cd his bed. OTIS the
work Of those black fellows," said
Ladbury, looking round the but. None
were in sight. He came back, and
warmed some water, bathed poor 'Sto-
roy's wounds, then he carefully cut
out the barbed head of the spear, and
continued bathing the wound, except
for short time, when he poured some
warm tea down the sufferers throat.
Every moment while thus employed
he expectedthe natives TO attack The
nut. He bad no longer Rover to give
him warning "a, Of the approaching Of a
foo. There was little doubt that his
poor dog also had, been spoarod. The
pain being .soothed, Storey at length.
70 LadburyIs great Joy, returned to 10
consciousness, and explained that he
had been attacked, early In the day bv
natives. He had run from them after
receiving several wounds, but had
been speared ,sgain half d mile or or so
from tho hut, and had oraSwiied ethee
rest Of the distanoe, till he tainted
from the loss Of blood and the pain he
was suffering. "s "
Sad indeed was the condition of