Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-10-25
The Miners Of Copper Island.
By s. }. REA.


OF and on for years. Thus it was
that We were goldminers together at
Bendigo, tried silver-mining at Broken
Hill. and at a later date worked side
by side i'll the tin mines at Mount
Zeehan, in Tasmania, besides conduct
ing several prospecting trips on our
own account.
O'Conneil was a man for whom had
wholesome respect. He was quiet,
reserved, good-natured fellow, VINO
never drank too much. and who hated
nothing in this wor... more than row.
re was man OF immense physical
strength, an expert boxer, and mag
n:ficent swimmer. His placid demean-
or mid an indomitable spirit, and
would as soon have fought steam
roller as Jim OConnell; the one would
have been as uncompromising as the
other.
II was en- one OF our prospecting
trips that Jim told me the particulars
OF his s;rang experience on Copper
island, a brief hint of which L had al
ready Obtained from police court par
asraph some time before in the Bris-
lane Courier.
IL seems that Jim was in Sydney,
cut Of work, when he saw one day an
advertisement in the Sydney Morning
Herald asking for half-dozen miners
&c proceed TO Copper island-an I'M
inhabited island lying between Bris-
tane and Thursday standard there
prospect Cor copper. O'Conncll imme-
diately made application to the adver-
tiser, one Captain D, mining eX-
bert. D. mad control of the busl-
hess On behalf of a well-known Sydney
firm of shipowners, who held con-
cession FOR mining on the island.
OConnell being a practical miner or
wide experience, was made the boss"
Of the gang. and five other men having
Teen engaged and contracts signed for
six months, the little party were ia
ken by CAPTAIN D. TO the scene OF
their operations in a schooner char
tered for tine purpose.
Having duly landed the men on the
Island, whose sole inhabitants they
we're TO be, D. left them, promising
TO return at the beginning of each
month with rations, etc. For time
ali went well. The men were amply
pIovisioned. and. besides, there was
some feathered game to be shot, FISH
10 be caught, and a fair supply of eggs
. of various kinds. The men soon settled
down TO work in earnest. meeting with
considerable success in their search for
copper. But the month expired. and,
contrary &c their expectations. Captain
l@'s schooner came not. There was
still plenty of food on the island. how
ever, and the men kept at their work
and were lot at first uneasy. But when
a second month elapsed and still there
was no sign of the schooner they be-
gan TO se. seriously alarmed.
The stores became exhausted, and
Hitherto plentiful supply of water
rad been obtainable. at a spot where
the islanders fondly imagined a spring
existed, but no rain had fallen since
their landing. and the basin becoming
empty, it was seen that there had been
merely surface supply, and now not
a single irop was 10 be found on the
whole island,
In this awkward difficulty O'Con-
Eells resourcefulress soon showed it
self. Everybody naturally looked to
MIN; even had he not been their boss"
il would have been inst the same.
Digging for water proved barren OF re-
suit. and. as there was evidently no
water on the island. O'Connell deter
mined to look elsewhere Tor il. About
mile 20 the westward lay another
small island, and thither O'Connell de-
termined TO make his way. He sug-
eested that one of his mates should ac-
company him. and that they should
take an empty cask in tow and bring
back supply of water if any were
found. Four Of tAo 10. acknowledged
themselves 20 be swimmers, but not
one volunteered for the mile swim
through The shark-i2fesIed sea
AS il was rlcre than one mans work.
however, to tow 4 laden oask. in the
event of success, lots were ultimately
cast. and 4 man called Gsnge. set forth
with 0'COnnel. The twc reached the
island without any misadyenturs. were
fortunate 10 find an ample supply of
water. and brought back their weilaiici
cask in SAFETY They hal but one cask.
ana. as i held only sCaRty supply for
one week. it became necessary to make
periodical! visits 10 the o.Aer island.
II was. Of course. impossible for them
tn take up their residence there. Not
Cniy was che OF ,leir number a non
swimmer. hut ,ney hSd 70 means of
transferring their firearms and ammu-
nIuon-upon which they now largely
depended for subsigtence-;heir. tent.
cooking utensils. tools. etc Every
saturday, therefore a visit was paid TO
Water island" as it came to be
known. and each time the voyage was
made lots were cast for who should
accompany O'Connell-for the brave
boss" always insisted upon personally
conducting the expedition. There are
probably as many sharks in these wa
tiers as anywhere on the face of the
globe, AMI the first few trips were
made in fear and trembling. But as
time went on and no misciance oc-
CURED the men gained confidence. al
though the sight of the triangular fin
occasionally set their hearts beating
uneasily. II is probable that the pres
ence of the cask Disconnected the