Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-20

Jingle as OF lnnaflnOnlouS bells, ana
around corner came team of TWEEN
ty men III gray and yellow patchwork
yoked TO 4 wagon filled with stone and
gravel. They had their chains 10 drag
| as WELL and these made the mOurnful
music wherever they Went. One of the
soldiers in charge of the newly landed
draft Glanced 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 a convict near
! him called out: Il 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.
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
a day No. this amt them. This is
the 'orspital Them's the barracks.
around the corner to the left"
\ high wall iuclOseI 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 Il point to the OninouS
contrast and there were misGivings
among those bold spirits that had look
ed forward to New South Wales as Il
| land of exclusive cakes and ale.
''lf they're going to shut us up in
there" said one to another. Eve might
as well have stayed where we was in
blessed old NooGit.'
Il 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 and gets turned int
gov'ment. Them as does that comes
back, of course. AMI has a bad time OF
il too Hear that, Hear that"
Over the wall as the newcomers
marched down one side of it there
came from the other i 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 writhing 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 clanking from his legs.
AHA" said the soldier That's Q
Tom fool who's got turned into gov
ment. you see! They're carrying in
across to the 'orspital. cause the cat,
been scratching of i'm"
THE cat:' cried Tom, who wa!
trembling all over.
"Ay, my lad; the one with nine
; tails. IT'S the commOnest breed on
; here!'
Tom never knew how his legs carrie,
=, him through the barrack gates. an(
when the draft were drawn up within
and formally addressed there by tn
deputy governor he caught but littl
of the harangue. He felt deadly sick
his heart ached like a tooth, and 70
, hours to come those piercing scream
pursued his tingliug ears. However
! he supposed the punishment must hay
p been timed expressly as a Salutar
= warning for the newcomers. DevOutl
n he hoped so, but he soon knew better
n Next morning there were two fios
n gings. pnd one again the morning af
o er. 1t was. in fact. Il daily detail q
q the Hyde Park barracks. which were
c on the other hand, the headquarters @
:, several hundreds of the most deSpel
y ate felons in New South Wales ToI
+ and his draft were only to renal
, there until assigned into private SerN
4 ice, but the rest had all been "turne
+ into government as unmanageable b
+ their masters and were in barracks fC
h repuniShment. Their days were speI
II in road gangs or in other organized Ii
Y Dor about the town, and not a few c
o their nights in depredations winked 6
- by the barrack officers.
For the corruption of the place wa
as fragrant as +he discipline was harsl
The very first night, when Tom wa
driven from his hammock by the feti
heat of the OvercrOwded dOrmitOry, b
witnessed an instructive incident frol
: the window. 1t was the return of sue
e a depredator and the division of h
l. spoil with the officer on duty. Tol
soon learned that burglaries and higl
!. way robberies were nightly occu
= rences In Sydney, and as often ii
c work of convicts under nominal loo
= and key as that of the assigned ser
ants who infested the streets aft,
dark.
s. Meanwhile he was himself assigne
&c to a resident in urgent quest of IL ''sp
. cial," or gentleman convict" as SUE
'e as ION were termed. The applical
10 was genial graybeard. with phil
sophie eye, which looked Tom well I
l. and down at their interview.
what 1 want" said he. lis tut
+ for my son. hear you are univers
r ty man. May ask what makes yC
te stare!"
t. 81 tutorw'
Re "WeIlI"
- | s.Nou con't Ipnuy what I waS FRO m