Good reader, I have to relate the story of a shocking murder, a disgrace
to the Christian name.
I am a Catholic, and believe in the life everlasting. On the day of judgment
it will go milder with the Emperor Nicholas, than with the man
whoever he may be, that prompted and counted on the Eureka massacre
on the Sunday morning, December 3rd, 1854.
At four o'clock, the diggers crowded again towards the stockade.
The divisions of Ross and Nealson had returned from their excursions
and were under arms. The scene became soon animated, and the usual drilling
was pushed on with more ardour than ever.
John Basson Humffray, of whom nothing was seen or heard since the previous
Wednesday, now introduced, through a letter in his own handwriting;
addressed 'To the Commander-in-Chief of the armed diggers, Eureka,'
a Doctor Kenworthy, as surgeon, because he (Humffray) feared that a collision
between the diggers and the military would soon take place.
Peters, the spy, was at the same time within the stockade.
The 'surgeon' had his Yankee face under a bell-top (French hat): he entered
into conversation with me in person. I had my sword in hand, and was on watch.
We began to talk about MAZZINI and Captain FORBES: this latter,
a brave American officer, fought in the late struggle at Rome (1848).
I perfectly recollect, that, pointing with a smile to our barricade,
I told this Kenworthy, we had thrown them up for our defence against
licence-hunting. There is a living witness to the above circumstance,
a countryman of mine, whose name I do not remember just now, but he wore
at the time a red shirt, with picks and shovels all over it.
Previous to this, Vern, whose silly vanity would by no means allow him
to put up with his not having been elected Commander-in-Chief, all on a sudden
cried out in his sort of bombast, "Here they are coming, boys: now I will
lead you to death or victory!" - actually a band of men was tramping
full speed towards the stockade.
Chapter L
Narravere Patres Nostri
Et Nos Narravimus Omnes.
Was it then the long, long-looked for German Rifle Brigade? Here is
it's four-horned name - I copy from a slip of paper I wrote in pencil
on that very Saturday, as the name was too long and difficult for me
to remember - 'The Independent Californian Rangers' Revolver Brigade.'
I should say they numbered a couple of hundred, looking Californian enough,
armed with a Colt's revolver of large size, and many had a Mexican knife
at the hip.
Here is the very circumstance when M`Gill made his appearance for the first
time within the stockade; I recollect perfectly well the circumstance
when a Mr. Smith, of the American Adams's Express, was holding the bridle
of the horse, from which said M`Gill dismounted.
