The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-05-10

sertion Of the poet, but this must
be qualified by the omission Of the
word mo" It is so at any date in
the case Of John Romanes, for his
deed was performed in the silence
and solitude Of the great Austria
Ian bush, without a single specta.
tor who could bear witness to its
oNemplitude Of courage of the
highest quality, devotion seldom
equaled, and a self-sacrifice so
rare that few men unacquainted
with the perils Of the bush can ap-
preciate II,
As the subject Of Romanes' hero
ism 1t shall be my duty TO tell to
a wider circle of readers the events
which earned for a hero no greater
reward than my own undying graft
tude and admiration.
1t seems strange to me that, so
far, few persons outside Of Aus.
tralia have ever heard Of the stu.
pendous efforts the government Of
Western Australia has made to
prevent the incursion Of the rabbit
pest into the farming and pastoral
regions Of that state and, as my
story has to do with that nam.
moth work, feel bound to speak
briefly of it.
For over fifty years the rabbits,
imported to Australia by some mis-
guided immigrant, have been a fear
ful scourge to the eastern states o
the island continent. Net fences hat
proved a success in the east and tht
government at once entered on tht
stupendous task Of running a rabbit
proof fence right across the countr!
TO act as a barrier to the invading
hosts. That fence stands today. I
completed and successful obstacle tC
the inroads Of the pest. 1t is ovel
1900 miles long, and stretches from
Starvation Boat harbor, in the Great
Australian Blight, to Condor, in the
Ninety Mile Beach, away in the
tropic north. It cost the country
over $1,5OO,OOO.
To maintain the barrier in a state
Of effectiveness against the depreda
tions Of the hostile natives, the blind
Of emus and kangaroos and
the ravages Of food, tornado and fire
a whole army OF men are employed
constantly patrolling it.
was associated in the early days
Of the construction Of the fence with
the advanced survey party and, on
the completion of the structure, was
induced by the high pay to accept the
position Of inspector of a length of
fence in the far north.
1t was in April, 1908, that I left Sep
aration Well, the southernmost point
Of my section of the fence, and pro
ceeded north to the De Grey river. a
distance Of 200 miles, where l had my
main depot. There was to meet Ro-
names and his mate Gregory, who had
to patrol the last hundred miles of
my territory. When ! reached the
depot, then in charge Of two men
who were kept there as a relief. |
found Romanes in camp, with his
mate, who was very I'll with malaria
and quite unfit to take the track for
some time, although his condition
was not serious. was particularly
anxious to see the northern section of
ny part Of the fence, because there
lad been a tropical food a week or
.wo before and from some overland
ng stockmen l had heard that the
'ence was in a bad state Of repair.
When | questioned Romanes, whom
did not know very well-in fact, I
lad entertained a suspicion of him
rom the moment the reports as to
he state Of his particular length came
o me-he was rather nettled and
me to come out with him
without delaying for a weeks rest.
Before leaving the depot | asked
10Th Romanes and the man in charge
whether the natives were bad" along
he track
Queensland Charlie. that boy of
Iurnbulls at the De Gray station,
old me that Major and Toby were
oose again and heading this way, but
don't believe it," said Romanes.
They would make back into West
to dodge the police, and
anyway, if they do get down here
Turnbull tells me he had word that
hey are not armed. l don't reckon
ven see anything Of 'em, boss"