Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Wednesday 28 December 1904, page 5


IN THE EARLY DAYS.

MAKERS OF THE STATE.

THE PIONEER EXPLORERS.

. (By the Rev. John Blacket.) '

Again the season of the year has come when the minds of South Australians in' stinctively revert to the past. We go back, in imagination, to pioneer times. We think of the fine body of men who helped to lay the foundations of the State, and of the

peculiar conditions under which they labor-' ed. Amongst those men the three of whom we have to speak occupied a prominent a

place. The first discovered, mapped out, and named the coast of South Australia; the other two dealt more especially with the interior. Last year, in the columns of The Advertiser, we followed Captain Matthew

Flinders on his voyage of discovery to - , Terra Australis, and sailed with him around the south coast. We then saw Captain Charles Sturt in his whaleboat, sailing down the Murrumbidgee, shooting into a noble river that eye of white man had never previously seen, and then sailing on for hundreds of miles into the heart of an absolutely unknown country. In the last chap-ter of our history, which appeared in The Advertiser, we saw the same gallant explorer trying to lift the veil from the centre

of the Australian continent. We also for- 'a

lowed the heroic Edward John Eyre as j ' he fought his way against fearful odds from

Southern to Western Australia. -is " .

These-are some of the men-grand, grow nous men-who not only took a prominent

part in the founding of South Australia, but who also helped to make the Empire. The

reader would like to know something more"respecting them. Who were their parents?

Where were they born? What was their ,.' history before they came to the great Lone Land? Where and how did they end their days? These are questions which we are constrained to ask, and the answers are full of thrilling interest. Verily truth is stranger than fiction.''

Captain Matthew Flinders.

Captain Flinders came from a race of surgeon" It was to this profession that his father belonged. May then was born on March 16, 1774, at Donington, Lincolnshire. How often the career of a man is affected, by what he reads in his youth. It was so-

in the case of young Flinders. He read' , Robinson Crusoe, and this book sent him, to sea. Drugs and the anatomy of the human body had no charm for him they,,

were too prosaic-the height of his lambs-.. tion was to sail over unknown seas. He

gave himself to the study of geometry and nagivation, and then set sail upon the' ocean. Young Flinders Was on board the Bellerophon when Lord Howe won his signal victory over the French on the first of June, 1794. He next sailed with Captain Bligh on a voyage to the South Sea Islands. After this trip we find him on board the Reliance, as midshipman, bound for this young settlement on the eastern coast of New Holland. It was his passion for exploring

new countries that '"led him to em- -x , brace an opportunity of going out upon a

station, which, of all others, presented the

most ample field for his favorite pursuit." . Such is his testimony. It was in September,

! 1795, that the Reliance rode into Port Jack- season

New South Wales. The

surgeon of the vessel was a young

man named George Bass. Like Flinders, he was thirsting for adventure. While the '_

Reliance was anchored at Port Jackson" these two young men secured a boat, only 3 ft. long, which they christened the Tom Thumb. . In this small craft, with only a

lad to assist them, they spent some time ',

in exploring the Australian coast. It was a risky experiment, but full of romance. They fairly revelled in it. for were they not sailing where boat of civilised man had never been? Sometimes they were, in danger of wreck, and at least on one occasion they were at the mercy of the blades. Their supply of water was getting low. The Tom Thumb was anchored, and they proceeded to examine the coast. Soon they; were surrounded by natives, but Flinders created diversion for them in a singular

way. One or two of these blacks Had " been brought into contact with whites before and had had their hair cut. Others now wished to attain the same distinction, so, whilst his powder was drying, Flinders took a large pair of scissors and set' to work upon the eldest of four or five chins presented to him.'" He says: As great nicety was not required the shearing of a dozen of them did not occupy, me

long." Everything being prepared for an retreat, it was not without stratagem that

we succeeded in getting down to the en trance of the stream, where depth of water

placed us out of their reach." On this ?' trip Flinders discovered indications of the coalfields that have made New South Wales famous.

For a time the two young adventurers

were separated. Bass took a whaleboat v and set out on a voyage of exploration. He sailed for about 600 miles along the coast, and from what he saw surmised the existence of a strait separating Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) from the Australian continent. In after years, speaking of this trip, Flinders said "This voyage, expressly

undertaken for discovery in an open a boat, and in which 600 miles of coast, mostly '' ly in a boisterous climate, was explored, *

has not, perhaps, its equal in the annals % of maritime history."

The Governor of New South Wales furnished

Flinders with a sloop of 25 tons to further explore the Australian coast, and to look for the strait, the existence of

which Bass had surmised. In this expe- . dition Bass was associated with Flinders. . They circumnavigated Van Dieman's Land, and the strait separating it from the mainland has ever since been known and mapped as Bass' Strait. After

their return to Port Jackson Bass . sailed for England, and Flinders went on another exploratory tour around the Aus-> tralian coast. Bass had a mysterious end. He returned to England, and then sailed

again for New South Wales in the Venus. The vessel arrived safely, at her destination. On the return voyage both the Venus and

her crew mysteriously disappeared. What-" became of the adventurous Bass no one knows. The Reliance was ordered to England, and Flinders returned in the vessel to his native land.

Hitherto the south coast of Australia was unknown. There was a desire among the authorities in the old land that it should be explored. The Admiralty took

the matter up; a man-of-war was fitted out and Flinders was put in command. With the expedition we dealt last year in The A vertiser. Wc there took leave of Fi : dera at Encounter Bay. Thence be P' ceeded to Port Jackson, New South Wal After spending some time in port, he is said examining the east and north coast

Australia, sailing right round the Australian

continent.

A Shipwrecked Mariner.

Having accomplished, all that be desire Flinders determined to sail for the old land The Investigator was found to be unst Worthy, so the Porpoise was secured.

was the desire of Flinders to sail home England as a passenger. This would get him time to prepare the results of his vc age for the Admiralty. Command of the Porpoise was given to Lieutenant Fowle No doubt his distinguished passenger an old commander, was looking forward to safe, speedy, and pleasant voyage. B; such was not to be. From this time in fortune dogged Flinders' steps. (The a sel struck on a reef. There were two oth ships in the wake of the Porpoise. One these also struck, and three persons we drowned. The valuable collection, of An tralian plants that Flinders was conveyed to England was lost, with other curiosities which he had collected. In the morning the shipwrecked party found shelter ' above high water mark, and water and provisions were secured from the wreck. The cutter was then made ready, and Flinde sailed back to Port Jackson for help. Governor King's surprise can be imagine when he again saw in the flesh one whom I thought to be well on his way to the old land. The Rolla, a vessel bound for Chin and two smaller ships, were sent to reach the wrecked mariners.

Governor King offered Flinders the us of the Cumberland, a vessel of 29 tons but den, with which to get to England if possible without delay. On September 2! 1853, he sailed out of Sydney harbor. O arrival at the scene of the wreck, the whole party were found to be well. Flinder then chose ten officers and men to sail with him in the Cumberland to England. The remainder of the party went on board the Bella, bound for China; or on the other two vessels, which were to return to Port Jack

son.

Imprisoned at Mauritius.

' ' Poor Flinders! One misfortune after an

other overtook him. The Cumberland ' seeded repairs. Flinders was not aware

that there was war between France an England, so he called in at Mauritius. Her ache and his crew were taken prisoners. Bun

ing with anxiety) to reach England, and I make known to the world the results of his explorations, his position was desperate ' He tells how he was conducted to a large

house in the middle of the town, an through a long dark entry, up a dirty stair case into a room. The chamber contained two truckle beds, a small table, and two rush-bottom chairs. He stripped, and go into bed, but not to sleep. Between the mosquitoes above and the bugs below, a well as the novelty of the position, it was nearly daybreak before he fell asleep.

Later on he says-We, who were shut up in the middle of the town, and from having been three months confined to a vessel of 29 tons, were much in need of exercise. The heat and want of fresh 'air were not the worst evils. Our under

fended pallet beds were besieged by swann p£ bugs and mosquitoes, and the bites of these noxious insects upon bodies ready to break out with scurvy produced effect; more than usually painful. Being almost covered, with inflamed spots, some of which had become ulcers in my legs and feet, I wrote to the captain-general requesting the - assistance of a surgeon."

" Mr. Aiken, of the Cumberland, was re pleased. He took with him to England

several dispatches from Flinders. After " about three years of imprisonment Flinders

wrote "The state of incertitude in which I remained after nearly three years of anxiety; brought on a dejection of spirits which might have proved fatal, had I not Bought by constant occupation, to force my mind from a subject so destructive to its repose. I reconstructed some of my charts on a larger scale, and completed for the Admiralty an enlarged copy of the Investii gator's log book. The study of the French language was pursued with increased application.

But what assisted most in disswelling the melancholy was a packet of

letters from England, bringing intelligence of my family and friends, and the satisfactory information that Mr. Akers had safely reached London with all the charts, your friends, letters, and instruments committed to this charge." One after another prisoners

were exchanged and released, but poor . Olinderst remained.

In June,' 1890, through the good offices " of Mr. 'Hope, commissary of prisoners,

Flinders was released on parole, after an imprisonment of nearly seven years. To add to his misfortunes efforts were made

by some of the French to deprive him of | the honor of his discoveries on the South tlAnstrahan coast. When he reached home he spent the remainder of his life in preparing for publication his "Account of a (Voyage to Terra Australis." He died just about the time that it was published on July 14, 1841. The ruling, passion of his life was strong in death. Among his last words were these I know that in future days of exploration my spirit will rise from the dead and follow the exploring ships." 4 Captain Charles Sturt.

- Captain Sturt was a man beloved by the South Australian > pioneers. Long as the province endures his memory will be vene-rated- He was born in India in 1795. His father was a judge. In early life Charles was sent to England. He was educated at Harrow, and was "fag" to the Duke of Dorset. On one occasion this aristocratic youth sent him to the top of a high tree to rob a rook's nest, and then thrashed him because one of the eggs was broken in his descent. Young Sturt replied by throwing a brickbat at his persecutor.

. In 1843 Sturt joined the army as ensign, and saw active service on the Continent and in Canada. For some time he served in .' Ireland. Here he passed through some stir* ring experiences in connection with the Whiteboy organisation, which sprang into being as the result of numerous evictions, and spread rapidly through many counties,

for a time establishing a reign of terror. Sturt was called one night to defend a farmhouse attacked by the White boys, and his experience on this occasion was such as to destroy all sympathy with Irish agitators. He found among the ruins of a farmhouse the dead bodies of a beautiful girl and of other members of the family.

Sturt in Australia.

In 1825 Sturt was gazetted captain, and a

year later he sailed for New South Wales,

in cominarid"5î"à detachment of his regiment. For some time he acted as Governor Darling's private secretary. He then led an exploring party into the interior, and discovered and named the River Darling. Later on he discovered the lower Murray and Lake Alexandrina. He took note of the surrounding country, and helped to prepare the way for the founding of South Australia. Returning to New South Wales he was sent on military service to "Norfolk Island, a convict settlement, where

he had some exciting experiences, and succeeded in stamping out at mutiny. In illhealth, and threatened with blindness, Captain Sturt sailed for England. - Here he published an account of his explorations, and retired from the army. Returning to New South Wales, he began sheepfarming. South Australia had been founded, and Captain Sturt's love for adventure led him to undertake the leadership of an overland expedition with cattle for the new settlement on the banks of the Torrens. At this time South Australia was not four years old. Among those to welcome Sturt was Edward John Eyre.

Captain Sturt went back to New South Wales. The position of Survevor-General of South Australia was offered to him, which he accepted, selling his cattle station, and removing with his wife and family to Adelaide. His next appointment was that of Registrar-General. In 1844 he made an heroic attempt to reach the centre of the Australian continent, and arrived within a short distance of it. About three years later he went on leave of absence to England, and received the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society. Two years afterwards he returned to Adelaide. When the partially elective Council was formed in 1851, Captain Sturt was appointed Colonial

Secretary. A few years later he retired from the Government service on a pension of £600 a year, in recognition of the services rendered to the State. Captain Sturt had a great love for South Australia. Said he Wherever I may go to whatever part of the world my destines may lead me, I

shall yet hope one day to return to my adopted home, and make it my restingplace between this world and the next." It may interest the South Australian reader to know that Captain Sturt's home was at the Grange, near the seashore, a few miles to the west of Adelaide. Speaking of it he said The Grange is a most healthy spot. It has fine, lofty, umbrageous trees, like oaks, the moisture having drawn their limbs horizontal. It is the most English-looking place in the pro-

vince."

In 1853 Captain Sturt again sailed for England, and he died suddenly there on June 16, 1869. Captain Sturt was designated for the honor of knighthood, but died before it was conferred, His widow survived him many years, and bore the title of Lady Sturt. The name of this pioneer will be handed down to future generations by the district of Sturt, south of Adelaide, by Sturt-street, and by the small river that

bears his name.

What has specially impressed the author, as he has followed Captain Sturt from place to place, has been his unwavering confidence in God-his recognition of an over-ruling Providence.

Edward John Eyre.

Edward John Eyre was a man of heroic, determined spirit, who for many years led a most eventful life. Eyre came from an old and honorable English family. He was the son of a clergyman, and was born in Yorkshire in 1835, the year of the battle of Waterloo. It has been said of him that he was a grave, quiet, self-centred, composed boy; remarkable only for the dogged resolution with, which he pursued any amusement, study, or occupation he had once begun." He was sent to the Louth Grammar School, at which Alfred Tenny-son, the poet laureate, had been educated. Young Eyre was a hard worker at school,

and must have had some literary talent, was one of his masters predicted that some day he would be "a blazing star in the literary

horizon." Arithmetic and algebra -seem to have been his favorite studies; he is also acquired some knowledge of chemis- > try and astronomy. In his childhood Eyre was not without adventures, and on

two or three occasions narrowly escaped i drowning.

The Cost of a Banquet.

At the age of 17, with £400 in his pocket, Eyre sailed for the young settlement of New South Wales. Here he. began life as a sheepfarmer in 1883. Five years later we first meet with him in the history of South Australia. He came overland from New South Wales to Adelaide with a herd of cattle. On the way he discovered a lake, and named it Hindmarsh after the Governor. Returning to New South Wales he made a second trip in 1839, bringing with him 1,000 sheep and 600 head of cattle. It was shortly after this journey that we find him in the pioneer court. It was in this way The overland trips in the early days , were difficult and dangerous. For months those engaged

were away from civilisation. There was

no clearly defined route. The pioneer had to travel through unknown country Day by day they had to grope their way through mallee scrub, and gum tree forests In summer the heat was intense, and some times the dust blinding; in winter the cold was biting and the rain drenching. At night they hobbled their horses and out spanned their oxen, A rude shelter was made. The fire was lit, and the pot boil ed. The party then sat down to damper and mutton, The meal over one or two would keep watch while the others unroll ed their bedding and lay down to rest There was very little change of diet, and in summer it was sometimes difficult to find water. They were liable to attacks from hostile blacks, and there was the possibility of the party losing their bearings. When the journey was successfully ended, and they reached the little settlement or the plains of Adelaide, is it any wonder if they sought a little recreation. After this second journey Eyre and some other overlanders had a banquet. Evidently they did not count the cost first. The banquet was over and the bill came in. It amounted to £180. Eyre and his fellow overlanders refused to pay the high price demanded, regarding the charge as extortionate. The case came before the pioneer court, and a verdict was given for the payment of £151. This incident is. indeed a sidelight upon the social life of our pilgrim fathers. It furnishes us with a clue to the prices charged by some of the pier near caterers. There were six hams. £7

17/6; six roast geese, at £1 each two legs mutton, £1; sixteen chickens, 3533 127; twelve pairs fowls, £8 127; eight pairs of pigeons, at 10/ a pair; three dozen tongues, £7 167: twelve dozen eggs, at/ per dozen; thirty-six pounds of butter, at 3/6 per lb.; twenty pounds of jam, £4. Other articles in the same proportion soon brought: the bill up to £180. It was necessary to charge extortionate prices when one of the cooks was paid £1 per "day.

The Educated Bushman.

Of the overlanders Alexander Tolmer, himself an old pioneer, has said: This class of colonists were mostly in the prime of youth, and of good families, but finding no outlet for their enterprise and love of adventure in England, sought it at the antipodes Amongst them, therefore, was found a degree of polish and openness rarely to be looked for in such a mode of life and, in the distant bush one world unexpectedly stumble on a finished gentleman in the bushman's garb of blue shirt, soiled cabbage tree hat, with broad black ribbon, booted and spurred, and with the indispensible stock whip in his hand and last, not least, a short, black clay pipe in his mouth. Yet many of these worthies had been educated at Eton and Cam-bridge."

Not long after the events narrated Eyre and his party set out to explore the interior. He returned in July, 1841, and a banquet was tendered to him. He was then appointed resident magistrate at Murrundi, on the River Murray- The object of the appointment of a magistrate was to try to bring about a better understanding between the blacks and the whites. Eyre was eminently successful, for he obtained the confidence and goodwill of the natives, and had great influence over them. He travelled alone from were to worse, and from tribe to tribe up the Murray and the Darling. Said here have gone almost alone among hordes of fierce and bloodthirsty savages, as they were considered, and have stood singly among them in the remote and trackless wards, when hundreds were congregated around without over receiving the least injury or insult. In my first visits to the more distant tribes 1 found them say, alarmed, and suspicious. But soon learning that I had no wish to injure them they met me with readiness and confidence. My wishes became their law; they conceded points to me that they would not have done to their own people, and on many occasions cheerfully, underwent hunger, thirst and fatigue to serve me."

In 1844 Eyre retired from his position as magistrate at Murrundi. Two years later he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor in New Zealand in association with Sir George Grey. This position he held for six years, giving full satisfaction to the Imperial authorities. Here his love of adventure led him into danger, in company with some Maories he climbed a high snow-capped mountain. In the descent one of the Maories fell a depth of 1,500 ft. Eyre had a narrow escape, but his presence of mind saved him. His foot slipped, but dashing his iron-shod alpenstock into the snow he maintained his position. The whole night was spent on the mountains on the brink of destruction. The descent was safely negotiated the next day. After spending his full term in New Zealand he returned to England, and was appointedLieutenant-Governor of St. Vincent, in the

West Indies. Here he remained for six

years.

Eyre in Jamaica.

One of the most difficult positions in the services of the Crown was the Governor-ship of Jamaica. To this Eyre was appointed Here an insurrection broke out, in which a mulatto named Gordon, an

educated man, and member of the Legislature, seems to have played a prominent part. At Morant Bay hundreds of negroes, armed with muskets, bayonets, cutlasses, fish spears, and long poles, which billhook attached, rose against the whites. The volunteers were overpowered. Several were killed. The remainder, in company with some prominent whites (among whom was the rector and his sons), took refuge in the courthouse. The negroes held a consulta-tion, and then set fire to the courthouse. The inmates succeeded in making their escape to the schoolhouse. This, too, was set on fire. As the burning roof fell in the victims tried to escape. Some were shot by the negroes, some cut down with cut-lasses, and others killed with sticks. The tongue of the rector (the Rev. J. Her-schell) was cut out. Flushed and maddened with their success the rioters then proceeded to stir up all the negroes in the colony, and thus to create a general insurrection. As soon as Governor Eyre heard of

the outbreak he called the Executive together, proclaimed martial law over the disaffected district, gathered a force, and set out for Morant Bay. Paul Bogle, the leader of the Morant Bay massacre, was captured. The rebels were hemmed in, and the insurrection crushed. Gordon was arrested, court-martialled, and hung on the ruins of the courthouse. Many negroes were put to death, some were flogged, and hundreds of their huts were burned. When the news reached England Governor Eyre's action was resented by a section of the community. A Royal Commission was appointed to enquire into his conduct. The finding of the Commission was that whilst the Governor had acted with skill and promptitude, the punishments inflicted were excessive. The Imperial authorities wrote to Governor Eyre that while they appreciated his prompt action in checking the insurrection, they considered that it would be wise if some gentleman who had not been obliged to take sides in the recent trouble should be entrusted with the duty of inaugurating a new constitution for the island. This was the Governor's recall.

The British Government granted Mr. Eyre a pension, and he retired to Devonshire, where he passed away in December, 1901, in his 87th year.