Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-07-23
CHAPTER XIV.
UHE capital sentence on the con-
Wet Erickson having been COM
muted to one of transportation

UNHE capital sentence on the con-
Wet Erickson having been COM
muted to one of transportation
for life, he was transported to
New South Wales where he arrived,
In the official phrase, per seahorse In
The early morning of Tuesday, Dec. 8.
1897.
Some nineteen weeks before, still
earlier in the morning, his draft had
been chained together In gangs Of six
aud marched from A1illbank across the
road and down the stone steps to the
! tug, which conveyed them to the con-
Wet ship then lying at the More.
The voyage was not the worst of
Toms experiences. The first few days
they were all in chains, and his leg
became excoriated through dragging
the cruel harness in and out of his
hammock, but presently the chains
were struck off, and Tom did not earn
a second dose Of them. He distinguish
ed himself in no way on board. In
] the usual attempt to seize the ship he
bore no part nor was it Tom who be-
trayed the ringleaders and saved so
many lives. Yet he was fortunate
enough to win the fancy Of the sur
geon superintendent, who employed
him privately during great part of
the passage. This officer vas In abso-
lutte command Of the conyicts, and to
Tom he was very kind indeed - so
much SO that at the very end of the
voyage Tom asked the other to take
his word between themselves that he
was innocent. He never asked this
Of any man again. And the lovely
harbOr with the yernai shores sail 10
more to his singing soul than to that
OF the most hardened felon In the ship.
The exiles We're landed and marched
to Hyde Park barracks, 200 strong. 1t
was quite early in the forenoon, yet
the heat Of the ground struck through
their shoes, and the hot land smell
scorched their nostrlls, as the ungainly
detachment proceeded along the
streets, all rowing eyes and lurching
sea legs. Suddenly the air filed with
Jingle as of inharmonious bells, and
around corner came a team Of TWEEN.
ty men i'll gray and yellow patchwork
yoked to a wagon filled with stone and
gravel. They had their chains to drag
as well, and these made the mournful
music wherever they went. One of the
soldiers In charge of the newly landed
draft CHANGED to catch Toms eye flash.
ing misery and defiance. Don't you
trouble your head about them" cried
he. It'll be your own fault, young
fellow, If ever you come to that,
There's none on you need"
Tom said nothing, but convict near
him called out: II believe you, general!
We've come out here to enjoy our.
selves, and that's what we mean to
do"
And Will, tool! said the solder.
There's plenty of us chaps would
change shoes with you If we could" he
added below his breath. Assigned
servants is more in demand than ever,
) and good 'un gets wages just the
same as free man. You'll all be snap
ped up before you've been In barracks
81 day. No, this amt them. This IL
the 'orspitar Them's the barracks,
around the corner to the left"
A high wall inclosed the somber pile,
which looked the more sinister against
that sky Of unfathcmable blue. I'm
moderate sunshine and the tantallzlng
proximity of the governors pleasure
grounds put point to the ominous
contrast, and there were misglyings
among those bold spirits that had look
ed forward to New South Wales as q
land Of exclusive cakes and ale.
81 aIf they're going to shut us up in
there said one to another, 1--WE might
as well have stayed where We was in
blessed old Noogitp
n tell you they won't keep you above
day" resumed the soldier. "And
you'll never see the place again unless
you plays the fool aud gets turned into
gov'ment. Them as does that comes
back, of course, and has a bad time Of
1t too. Hear that! Hear that!,'
4 Oyer the wall as the newcomers
marched down one side Of 1t there
came from the other series of shrill
screams, and ere they reached the gate
It was flung open and out marched
four men carrying fifth, screaming
still, shoulder high between them. The
white face was turned to the sky, the
naked trunk writing in agony, and
the blood was running out of the mans
; boots as though he had been wading
ankle deep in it, while his leg irons
hung clanling from his legs.
s'Ahag' said the soldier. That's O
Tom fool who's got turned into gov
ment, you see! They're carrying I'm
across to tho ,orspital, cause the cats
been scratching of 'm.p
s,The cat9 cried Tom. who was
trembling all over.
Ay, my lad; the one with nine
tails. Ills the commonest breed out
herel"
Tom never knew how his legs carried
him through the barrack gates, and
when the draft were drawn up within
and formally addressed there by the
deputy governor he caught but little
of the harangue. He felt daadiy sicki
his heart ached like a tooth, and for
hours to come those piercing screams
pursued his tingling ears. However,
he supposed the punishment must have
been timed expressly as a salutary
warning for the newcomers. Devoutly
he hoped SO. but he soon knew better.
Next morning there were two fog
gings, and one again the morning aft
or. 1t was, In fact, daily detail at
the Hyde Park barracks. which were,
on the other hand, the headquarters Of