The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-10-02

steerage passenger on board the clipper
built liner Australasia"
Mary was his sweetheart" /" interpos-
ed my left-hand neighbor.
well remember the day we sailed.
The scenes at the docks were very affect
ing. Husbands were parting from wives
brothers from sisters, young fellows
from their sweethearts, and / was not
sorry when the tug towed us out to sea.
We were motley company. There
were representatives of all classes-la-
borers, mechanics, broken. down lawyers
and students, clerks, goodly sprink-
ling, too, of the hangers-on about town,
and even couple of Methodist minis
ters. All were going to try their for
tunes at the new Eldorado. We had
very good weather during our voyage,
and L suffered but little from sea-sick-
ness. 1 made many companions, but
there was one man took an aversion
to. He was called Mapping Bill. He
was o tall, broad shouldered fellow, with
great shock of red hair, and close
cropped beard pair of small, ferret
like eyes that seemed to vanish beneath
his shaggy eyebrows when any one adj
dressed him, and an expression that
showed him to be the reverse of quiet
and respectable fellow.
''In due time we arrived at Mel
bourne. 1t was then mere collection
of wooden houses, and hastily thrown
up shanties, and was peopled by repre-
sentatives from nearly all civilized ma
tions on the face of the earth. Twenty
of us formed party, bought some tools,
and proceeded to the diggings ON foot.
Arriving there, we bought claims and
set to work to unearth the long-talked
of gold. My chum was a steady-going
fellow, called Sandy, Scotchman. We
dug shaft, hauled up the gold-bearing
earth, and washed it in large box with
plates full of holes. The water washed
away the earth, leaving the gold in the
form of nugguts and dust on the plates
For the first week or so we found little
or nothing, and my golden dreams be-
gan to wane. Then, one morning, San
dy gave shout of joy, and, hastily
several nuggets of pure gold. L was
half mad with delight, and for the rest
of the day worked with the energy of
two men. Before nightfall we had more
than 20 ounces of small nuggets and
dust. We stitched it up in small canvas
bags, and hid it for safety in the floor of
the tent. We went on in this way for
months, then our claim began to give
out.
Just about this time convoy was
| going to Melbourne to take some gold
| to the bank there. We therefore agreed
| to send some of ours to be deposited in
| the bank, and get notes in exchange.
When we got to the place of starting, L
was surprised to see among the mount
ed troopers forming the escort, my
shock-headed fellow-voyager. L men
| toned my distrust of him to my chum !;
and, in consequence, we only sent half
of the intended quantity. The fellow
| evidently knew i distrusted him, for
when went up with our parcel, ,he gave
me malicious look that boded me no
| good. The escort numbered about ten
or fifteen well armed troopers, with q
four-horse wagon, and they left early
in the morning for their destination.
We gave them three ringing cheers at
the boundaries of the camp, and wished
them safe return. 1 had singular
foreboding that had seen the last of
my gold, but mentioned my fears to
none but my chum.
"The day following L went to Mat
| Durn's drinking hut-a place frequented
by the lucky finders and loafers--to hear
the days news. The saloon was full of
diggers, etc. Some were discussing the
days finds others were playing poker,
the stakes being nuggets or dust; the
majority were standing at the bar
drinking and smoking. called for o
drink, filled the short Guilty, and took q
seat among the card-players.
g" Well, Tom, how's your luck p
said broad-shouldered Yorkshireman,
who had came over with me.
So Very poor at present. 1 replied.
"' Have hand then, man winning
dust at poker, is better than digging"
l Joined the game, and played for u
while. AT last one of the players threw
up his hand, and said he was cleaned
out; so, thinking it might be my turn
soon, l stopped. finished my glass
and prepared to leave the room. Just as