Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-10-08
THE PARSON OF
JACKMAN'S GULCH.
By A. CONAN DOYLE

an honorary one, extorted by his many
qualities and not borne out by any le-
gal claim which he could adduce. THE
Parson" was another of his sobriquets.
which was sufficiently distinctive In
land where the flock was scattered and
the shepherds few. To do him justice,
he never pretended to have received
any preliminary training for the min
istry, or any orthodox qualifications to
practise 1t.
We were certainly in need OF re-
generator at Jackman's Gulch about
the beginning of '53. Times were flush
then over the whole colony. but no
where flusher than there. Our materi-
al propriety had had a bad effect upon
our morals.
Communication between Jackmans
Gulch and the outside world was diff
cult and uncertain. A portion OF the
bush between it and Ballarat was in
tested by a redoubtable outlaw named
Conky Jim, who, with a small band as
desperate as himself made travelling a
therefore, at the Gulch to store up the
dust and nuggets obtained from the
mines in a special store, each mans
share being placed in a separate bag
on which his name was marked. A
trusty man named Woburn was deput-
ed to watch over this primitive bank.
When the amount deposited became
considerable, a wagon was hired and
the whole treasure was conveyed to
Ballarat, guarded by the police and by
a certain number of miners, who took
it in turn to perform the office. once
in Ballarat, it was forwarded to Mel
bourne by the regular gold wagons.
Comparative order used to reign dur
ing the daytime at Jackman's Gulch,
for the majority Of the inhabitants
were out with crowbar and pick among
the quartz lodges, or washing clay and
sand in their cradles by the banks Oh
the little stream. AS the sun sank
down. however, the claims were gradu-
ally deserted, and their unkempt own
ers. clay bespattered and shaggy, came
lounging into camp, ripe for any form
of mischief. Their first visit was to
Woburn's gold store, where their clean
I'D of the day was duly deposited, the
amount being entered in the storekeep-
er's book, and each miner retaining
enough to cover his evenings expenses.
After that all restraint was at an emo,
and each set to work to get rid OF his
surplus dust with the greatest rapidity
possible. The focus Of dissipation was
the rough bar, formed by a couple Of
hogsheads spanned by planks, which
was dignified by the name of the Brit
ANNA Drinking Saloon" Here Nat
Adams, the burly barkeeper, dispensed
bad whisky at the rate of two shil-
lings a noggin, or a guinea bottle
while his brother Ben acted as crou-
pier in a rude wooden shanty behind,
which had been converted into gamb-
ling hell, and was crowded every night.
There had been a third brother, but an
unfortunate misunderstanding with
customer had shortened his existence
Nat Adams had had roadside shan
ty in the Gulch before the discovery OF
gold, and might, therefore, claim to be
the oldest inhabitant. These keepers
of shanties were a peculiar race, and
at the cost of a digression it may be
interesting to explain how they manag-
ed to amass considerable sums OF mon
ey in land where travellers were rev
and far between. 1t was the custom OF
the "bushmen," /. e., bullock drivers
sheep tenders and the other white
hands who worked on the sheep-runs
up-country, to sign articles by which
they agreed to serve their master for
one, two or three years at so much per
year and certain daily rations. Liquor
was never included in this agreement
and the men remained, per force, total
abstainers during the whole time. The
money was paid in lump sum at the
end of the engagement. When that
day came round, Jimmy, the stock
man, would come slouching into MS
masters office, cabbage-tree hat IN
hand.
Morning. master," Jimmy would
say. my times up. I guess I'll draw
nv check and ride down to town."
How much, Jimmy?" asks his mas
ter, taking up his pen.
There's sixty pound screw Jimmy
answers, thoughtfully; "and you nina
,t,ha
bull broke out O. the paddock. TWO
mound YOU promised me then. And
pound at the dipping. And pound
when Millars sheep got mixed with
ourn." and so he goes on, for BUSH
men can seldom write, but they have
memories which nothing escapes.
His master writes the check and
hands it across the table. Don't get
on the drink, Jimmy" he says.
mo fear of that, master" and the
stockman slips the check into his
leather pouch, and within an hour ne
is ambling off upon his long-limbed
horse on his hundred-mile journey TO
town.
Now Jimmy has to pass some six or
eight of the aforementioned roadside
shanties in his days ride, and expert
ence has taught him that if he once
breaks his accustomed total abstinence
the unwonted stimulant has an over
powering effect upon his brain. JIM
nv shakes his head warily as he de-
termines that no earthly consideration
will induce him to partake of any IL
ouor until his business is over. HIS
only chance is to avoid temptation;
So knowing that there is the first OF
these houses some half-mile ahead, he
plunges into a by-path through the
bush which will lead him out at the
other side.
Jimmy is riding resolutely along TINS
narrow pat, cOngratulating himselt
upon a danger escaped, when he be-
comes aware of a sunburned, black
bearded man who is leaning uncon-
cernedly against a tree beside the
track. This is none other than the
shanty-keeper, who, having observed
Jimmy's manoeuvre in the distance