West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-09-07
for months, then our claim began to

for months, then our claim began to
give out.
Just about this time a convoy was
going to Melbourne To take some gold 10
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, I was
surprised To see, among the mounted
troopers forming the escort, my shock
headed fellow-voyager mentioned
my distrust of him to my chum; and
In consequence We only sent half of the
intended quantity. The fellow eyi-
IDENTIFY knew distrusted him, for when
i went up with our parcel, he gave
malicious look that BODIED me no good.
The escort numbered about ten or fif-
teen well-armed troopers, with 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 a safe return. | had singular
foreboding that had seen the last of nv
gold, but mentioned my fears to none
but my chum.
The day following | went TO Mat
Durn's drinking-hut-a place frequented
by tue lucky finders and loafers to hear
the days news. The saloon was full of
diggers Some were discussing the DAYS
hnds; others were playing poker, the
stakes being nuggets of dust; the ma
Jority were standing at the bar drinking
and smoking. i called for a drink,
filled a short Guilty, and took seat
among the card-players.
Well, Tom, how's your luckY said
broad-shouldered Yorkshireman. who
had come over with me.
Very poor at present, / replied
"' Have a hand, then, man: winning
dust at poker is better than digging
" | Joined the game and played for A
while. At last one of the PLAYERS
threw up his hand, and said he was
cleaned out; so, thinking il might be
my turn soon, ] stopped. finished my
glass, and prepared to leave the room.
Just as got 10 the door burlv digger
came rushing in, almost upsetting me.
and rtering the most frightful oaths.
The entire saloon was in an uproar in
an instant. Revolvers and knives were
drawn, and a dozen voices shouted out,
What's the natter
9" Matter enough = cried the invading
digger, with another volley Of expletives.
The escorts been attacked and the
gold is gonev
Words fail To describe the scene that
ensued. Men swore, tore their hair,
danced and Taved like madmen. When
the tumult was somewhat subsided, /
managed TO make out that the wagon
had been attacked in the dead of night.
by party of armed rangers. A fight
had taken place, not trooper had bten
killed, and the gold had been taken.
The attack had evidently been pre-ar-
ranged, for half of the troopers had
been found drugged, and we're con
.sequently unable TO fight. Three of
them were reported missing, Mapping
Bill amongst the number. I went of
to our tent and told Sandy. You're
right about the villain, but we'll be
even with him yet"
i" We went back TO the saloon, where
we found nearly all the diggers assem-
bled, listening to an account of the af-
fair from one of the troopers. II APP
peared that shortly after leaving the
camp the axletree of the wagon broke,
necessitating a stOppage. Night came
on, and found them still delayed by the
broken wagon. Rain fell, and some of
the troopers took little spirits to keep
out the cold About midnight. the
troopers who were acting n sentries
were alarmed by the rush of half-a-
dozen mounted bushrangers. They en-
.deavored Co wake up the others, but
they were overpowered and fastened TO
The trees. The contents of the wagon
were divided among the gang, and they
soon rode off, followed bS whipping
Bill and the three troopers. IN the
.morningthe, bouBd ~troopeIs managed TO
awake theothersb bytheir cries, and then
itwas found by their condition that the
spirits must have been Gdraegedl Hence
their inability TO offer any resistance!r
Y J" We held q nasty council, and de
eided to seIld 10 a station four miles
away for fresh troopers. BY means of a
Heet messenger, a search party was or
ganized, and they left the camp two
hours later, preceded by the black
trackers to point out the trail. Luckily,
] managed TO be enrolled among the
party, much TO my satisfaction. ! had
score to settle with Mapping Bill, and
] intended 10 give good account Of
him II we met We numbered twenty
resolute, well-armed fellows, carrying
Ievolvers and knives, whilst the twelve
troopers with us had rifles in addition.
We proceeded first to the encounter.
We found the wagon drawn off the track
and overturned. The black tracker soon
took up the trail, and we went into the
bush in Indian file. Our progress was
necessarily slow, but we were quite GER
tain of coming up with the rangers at
last. We followed the blacks for a couple
OF hours, then one OF them set up a
warning cry, and we rushed forward
In the center Of an open glade we saw
the body Of man laid upon the ground.
Scattered around were bits Of canvas.
and grains ofgold glittering in the grass.
Examining the body, we recognized il
70 be person some Of us had seen hang
ing about the camp for few davs pre-
vious to the starting Of the escort. A
small blue hole in his forehead told
what had happened. Evidently a dis
pute had arisen among the rangers. and
this poor fellow had been shot for his
obstinacy. We again took up the trail
and proceeded. The bush now became
less dense, and we made greater progress.
About a mile farther on one OF the
blacks, who was some hundred yards
ahead suddenly dropped fat on the
grass, and gave us n warning signal.
Advancing cautiously to his side, We
peerod through the bushes. Down in a
hollow were six bush-rangers, seated
around 2 small fire. Their horses were
Ma.MN Il