The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-02-11

from you husband"
Emily sat in doubt and fear, sure
that the kind father who had so loved
her would not tell anything to distress
her, If he could help it; and yet anx-
lous as to what such an awful secret
could be. The master of Olton sat in
chair with his face away from the
light, watching intently that dear,
sweet face of his daughter, upon which
the full sunlight shone.
"Ihirty-five years ago convict
ship was sailing from England for
Botany Bay, under the command of
brave captain and crew. There were
no fewer than forty convicts on board
desperate fellows of every descrip.
tion-thieves, highwaymen, manslay-
ers, all kinds of villains. Among them
wac one whose case had excited much
interest at home, since many people
believed him Internationally, at
any rate-of crime he was said to
have committed. Among n gang of
poachers one night he, their superior
in rank, had had the misfortune
TO shoot one of the keepers
who had watched for them
and attacked them. The shot had
killed. the keeper. but there was some
doubt as to whose gun it had come
from, and, when the C nvict in ques-
tion was arrested and charged, the
keepers swore that he had fired the
shot. For himself, he know not
whether this was so several of his fel.
low poachers said he was innocent,
and that the real culprit had escaped.
His sentence, however. was that of
penal servitude at Botany Bay for life
probably the doubt alone saved him
from being hanged.
Naturally, his spirit was CALLED he
became morose, wild, severe in aspect
as in temper, and his reputation on
the convict ship was that OF tho worst
criminal on board. He rebelled Mt his
jailers, at his food, at his confinement,
and felt ready for any dirk deed The
chance soon came. The vessel was off
the Cape of Good Hope, some miles
away, when he first got knowledge of
projected mutiny, in which the cap
tain, crew and jailers were all to be
murdered and the successful mutt
for some unknown point to Africa and
land there.
at was desperate scheme, md
with the mutiny he was thoroughly in
unison, but not with murder. He was
not yet rs black rs that, and tried
hard to dissuade his fierce companions
from it, but in va N. 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 coward.
"On September 8 the attack was
made. He stood near the captain s
cabin to protect its unguspecting 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 n fight ensued. The
captain became reused, the alurm 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, he
was as bad as the rest. So he was
closely guarded.
cit 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 contrlyed
| to secure possession of the KEYS, and
in very few moments the convict
irons had been unloosened, and he
was free. The captain himself came
and shook hands with him ere he sent
him off in the boat which was waiting
for him.
81 know, said be, that what 1 have
done for you is risky, and may cost
me something if my part is discovered ;
but you saved my life, 10 ] will take
/ this risk to save you from the crush
ing penal servitude. All I have to
say to you is, get away from the coast,
after you have landed, as soon rs pos.
sible, change your name and appear.
auce as much as You can go into some
honest business, and, though it is not
! likely, If ever / do hear Of you again,
let it be in such n way that will do you
credit, and repay me for giving you
freedom tonight
"Ihe tears stood in the convicPs
eyes as he thanked his benefactor, and
grasped his hand
Sir, / shall take your advice. NJ
little bit Of good was almost gone by
the brutal treatment have suffere -
for / don't think / killed that game.
keeper, but even if did, it was pure.
ly accidental. You have proved to
me that all the kindness aud gratitude
aro not yet gone out Of the world, and
! hope some day to be able to show
you how J appreciate it,.
Within % few minutes more the
boat had landed him on the main.
lind. He watched it return to the
ship, and then departed
ut wasisix years after this that,
with money made M sheep farming,
Joseph Turnell, the former convict,
turned mp at Ballarat just rs the first
rush Of the gold fever occurred. 70
was Turuell who bought the great
tract of laul which was afterwards
discovered 10 bn oluogt whole cold