The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1880-11-25

30 many PROPOSES.
After we had passed. between Tas.
mania and the South Sea continent
we caught light breeze on our
quarter ami headel for Sydney. No
sooner hal we dropped our right
bower in the river just OF the town
than our vessel was boarded by the
surgeon OF the port. who examined
oar papers, aud. being satisfied tina,
we we're in good health, our ship vas
allowed to haul up nearer the city.
Tue old man went ashore to make
his report t. the Consul, bat when
he returned his face wore q tronblel
look. He called Mr.. Bolter ani NV.
self into the cabin, where, TO our sur.
prise and chagrin, he stated that the
Consul informed him that whsn the
cargo was discharged he should have
to press tho ship iuto service for the
Government to carry lot of con-
victs to Van Diemans Land. The
vessel that brought them was disa-
bled, and could proceed no further.
The skipper demonstrated against
the seizure, but it WAS Of ~ avail
The Consul said bo was sorry. but
it conld not b, avJiisi-nur vessel
being the only one in port that
would answer the purpose, ani the
couvicts must mo got of without de-
lay This news found its way among
the crew. aud several of them rln
away and took to tho bush. not car
ing TO ri-k them. elves Ut sea with y
lot Of desperate men fresh frou tne
prisons VI England rha skipper
qnieted The fears by telling them that
no danger c0uld possibly arise, as
the convicts would be heavily ilouel
aud placed between decks with "A
guard over them.
Ou tue following morning, between
decks were prepared for the r,cap.
ton of our i've freight A strong
double bulkheai vas pnt up lust
forward OF tho cabin. aud QUE Just
aft oi the chain lockers, ana extr,
bars aui pad padlocks we're procured
Tor the hatchcs.
When | surveyed the work Of the
Government carpenters my miul felt
somewhat easier.
Every thing being in readiness. our
guests were marched down betseGn
tiles OF soldiers, Each convict was
handcutfed, und on tho right ankle
of every man au iron ring vas fast
"ned, To which were attached heavy
chaius. Sis Of them beiug fastened
together, their movements were
Inita SLOW ani re tr,lsl. As thoy
hiod up the gaDg plnlk to the dock
| counted eighty-seveD. S)ns were
large. powerfrl men; others wore
weak add wore slcSy expraSUpl
but they all had look Of dogged i.
termination t'ieir closely cropped
bar anl stiIpe | trousers aul sc&eta
nakioS th6in look Nil the more s4y.
age. " hen uuAber eighty-scyeu
reached the de,k. they were lraNa
mp in line and inspected BY tlu sl-
priintsDlent aul hs ussi,ttut,.
Each convict was thoroughly arcl-
cd III order to see IL he hat weapons
Nothing was fIuld, however, bat
what was proper 10 tho.p to nave,
30 the Inspector Informed rs that
there would bo no danger. aud that
we would oJn be rid Of them. rnr
guard that wis to accompany uS hal
beeu selected with gcoat care, casa
one having mnsses. two revolvere
aud II cuIlass' Several extra clsks
Il water were got ou board for fear
we would not have enough to last
dnrius the run. Al no signs Of our
runasays were t. be had, the skipper
was Obliged to shIp several !nen iu
order to fill bis compliment. One OF
these fellows was vllMinous.lpDk-
ing customer, mud | aske | the Cap.
tain why he shipped such man.
lie replied that it was the best he
could do. Sailors were scarce, as
nearly every one was off in the mines
or stock-raising. l told Captain
Billows that did not relish having
such man on board tho Marathon,
but he laughed at my fears, aud said
the man had been discharged from
Liverpool ship some two mouths be-.
fore, and, as he wished to return
home, he thought he would snip on
the Marathon.
The Consul verified the man
abatement, which satisfied the skip-
per, 50 he had shipped nin on tn,
strength Of this. | said nothing more
to the old man, but determined to
keep weather eye on that man' s |
NOV ,ments. We were to put out to
sea that night, if tho wind was iav r.
able. The elghty-seveu meu were
placed between decks, TO remain
there until morning, when they would
be taken out for an airing. The
guard consisted of twenty-folr msn,
half the number standing watch
while the others tur Iel in below,
1t was Ii o clock before the wind
was in our favor, aud nearly eight
bells when Wa weighed anci or.
tell you l did not sleep much in my
watch below the shouts aud curses
of the convicts made perfect Bed,
lam aud would have aroused tue sev
en- sleepers Ia vain the gnard
threatened them, but they answered
derisively aud dared the soldiers to
shoot.