The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-05-06

was quite early in the forenoon, yet
| the heat OF the ground struck through
| their shoes. and the hot land smell
scorched their nostrils. as the ungainiy
| detachment proceeded along the
streets, all rowing eyes and lurching
sea legs. Suddenly the air filed with
Jingle as ofEinharInonious bells. and
! around a corner came team of TWEEN
| ty men in 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 fash
| ing misery and defiance. Don't you
1 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 a convict near
him called out: 81 believe you. general.
We've come out here to enjoy our
selves, and that's what we mean to
do
"And will, too!'' said the soldier.
hGiS y pIcht5 VI hS maps "cdAa
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 a free man. You'll all be snap
ped up before you've been in barracks
a day. No. this amt them. This is
the 'orspital 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 unfathomable blue. I'm
moderate sunshine and the tantalizing
proximity OF the governors pleasure
grounds put a point to the ominous
contrast. and there were misgivings
among those bold spirits that had look
ed forward TO New South Wales as a
land of exclusive cakes and ale.
eff they're going to shut us up in
there" said one to another. I'VE might
as well have stayed where we was in
blesF" old Noogit"'
you they won't keep you above
resumed the soldier. AN
lever see the place again unle
yaa plays the fool and gets turned into
goy'lnent. Them as does that comes
DICK. OF COURSE, anu udS u Ddu tlL1e VI
it too Hear that, Hear thatr'
Over the wall as the newcomers
marched down one side of it there
came from the other a series of shrill
screams, and ere they reached the gate
it was flung open and out marched
four men carrying a fifth, screaming
STILL shoulder high between them. The
white face was turned to the sky, the
naked trunk writing in agony. AM
the blood was running out of the mans
boots as though he had been wading
ankle deep in it, while his leg irons
hung clanking from his legs.
Aha said the soldier That's
Tom fool who's got turned into gov
ment. you see! They're carrying i'm
across to the 'orspital, cause the cats
been scratching of i'm"
1.-The cat?" cried Tom, who was
all over.
'Ay. my lad: the one with nine
tails. 'Tis the commonest breed out
here!''
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 deadly sick;
his heart ached like 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 /
for the newcomers. Devoutly |
he hoped so. but he soon knew better. |
yings, and one again the morning aft |
er. 1t was, In fact, a daily detail at |
on the other hand, the headquarters of /
several hundreds of the most desper-
ate felons in New South Wales. Tom !
and his draft were only to remain
there until assigned into private serv- /
ice, but the rest had all been turned |
into government" as manageable by
their masters and were in barracks for
Their days We're spent
in road gangs or in other organized la
Dor about the town. and not few of
their nights in depredationS winked at
by the barrack officers.
For the corruption of the place was
rs fragrant as the discipline was harsh.
The very first night. when Tom was
driven from his hammock by the fetid
heat of the overcrowded dormitory, he
witnessed an instructive incident from
he window. 1t was the return of such
/ depredator and the division of his
spoil with the officer on duty. Tom
'oon learned that burglaries and high
way robberieS were nightly occur
'ences in Sydney, and as often the
work of convicts under nominal lock
md key as that of the assigned serv-
lntS who infested the streets after
lark.
Meanwhile he was himself assigned
% resident in urgent quest of .'spe-