Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-12-13

MS sentence, however, WAS lLl"b va
penal servitude at Botany Bay fer life
probably the doubt alone saved him
from being hanged.
Naturally, his spirit was CALLED; ne
became morose, wild, severe in aspect
as in temper, and his reputation on
the convict ship was that OF the worst
criminal on board. lie rebelled at his
jailers, at his food, at his confinement,
and felt ready for auy dark deed. The
chance soon came. The vessel was of
the Cape of Good Hope, some miles
away, when he first got knowledge Of
projected mutiny, in which the cap
tain, crew and iailers we're all to be
murdered; and the successful mutt
neering convicts were then to steer
for some unknown point to Africa and
land there.
SIT was a desperate scheme, and
with the mutiny he was thoroughly in
unison, but not with murder. He was
net yet rs black as that, and tried
hard to dissuade his fierce companions
from it, but in van. As they persist
ed in their plans he felt that all he
could do was to keep quiet till the
time for action came; but the captain
and his wife had been really kind to
him. and he determined that they
should not die. Yet he would not be-
tray his companions like n coward.
"On September s the attack was
made. He stood near the captains
cabin to protect its transporting in
mates. When the mutineers, having
seized the watch on deck and killed
them, came rushing down, he ordered
them back from that cabin; they re-
fused to go, and fight ensued. The
captain became reused, the alarm was
given, and, after a desperate resist
ance, the rebels were overpowered and
put in irons. The captain begged Of
| the guards to set the convict who had
saved his life at liberty, but they de-
clined, pretending that, in reality, be
was rs bad as the rest. So ne was
closely guarded.
at was on touching at Perth that
the captains opportunity came. Hav-
ing secured the cooperation of his
mates, he entertained the whole of the
! guards at dinner one evening, and
made them hopelessly drunk. In the
meantime, one of his party contrIvod
to secure possession Of the keys, and
in very few moments the convict's
irons had been unloosened, and he
was free. The captain himself came
and shook hands with him ere he sent
him of in the boat which was waiting
for him.
".T'know,' said he, that what have
done for you is risky, and may cost
me something if my part is discovered ;
but you saved my life, so ] will take
this risk to save yoa from the crush
ing penal servitude. All / have to
say to you is, get away from the coast,
after YOU have landed, rs soon rs pos
sible, change your name and appear
ance as much as You can 60 into some
honest business, and, though it is not
likely, if ever do hear of you again,
let it be in such way that will do you
credit, and repay me for giving YOU
freedom tonight.
". ''The tears stood in the convict's
eyes as he thanked his bencfactor, and
grasped his hand.
" Sir, 1 shall take your advice. Ny
| little bit of good was almost sgone by
} the brutal treatment | have suffered -
for / don't think killed that game
: keeper, but even if l cid, it was pure
| ly accidental. You have proved tt
| me that all the kindness and gratitude
| are not yet gone out Of the world, anC
| hope some day to be able to SHOW
e you how appreciate it.
u "Nithin a few minutes more tn,
i boat had landed him on the main
r land. He watched it return to tn
/, ship, and then departed
, cit wasIsix years after this that
: with money made in sheep farming
- Joseph Turnell, the former convict
h turned up at Ballarot just as the frs
l. rush of the gold fever occurred. /
was Turnell who bought the grea
e tract of land which was afterward
discovered to be almost wholly gol
d under the surface, and who sold il
IS after getting some thousands out of il
s. for very large sum. But nobody i
st England or Australia, when Josep
TurnelPs name was mentioned, eve
thought for a moment that he was til
escaped convict about whom such
r. stir had been made at home, both o
Of his escape. and later, when dyin
N tramp confessed that it was his gu1
lie shot that memorable night which kille
the keeper.
s. "Joseph Turnell was wealthy, an
lie had married dear girl in Victorit
who had borne him a daughter ere ST
died. Need go on, Emily? You hay
r. guessed it all He came to Englan
1t and took the name of Henry Van,
Is owing to having had some estates lei
st him, as he told his friends; in 1ealit,
Y. to throw any chance old acquaintanC
'e off the scent. There is no fear now
u any discovery or disagreeabie thin
De happening. l felt nervous the fri
~ year or two, but now the only tw
III who know all this are you and I, ft
Sc even the good old captain is dea'
IT So, you see, 1 was imprisoned unjust
e. after all, but it has turned out goo
e. thing for me in the end. And, no
Ill you have wealth and beauty. wante
of for my own ambition, to see you
en- lady by title and position, and Il
Earl of Seacroft could have no fin
re countess, nor you a more desirab
ed husband"
IS She sat pale and agitated, yet smi
x ing now, for was not her dear faith
ct free of that awful even if uninte
in tional crime which made her feel