'
Hence the calamity of fire is death.
The handful of ashes lie lifeless until a storm forces them into the living
order of nature, which, when refreshed, has the power to ingraft those
ashes to, and make them prosper with, the grain of mustard seed.
Hence death is life.
Such is the order of Providence. Now, good reader, watch the handful of ashes
of what was once Bentley's Eureka Hotel.
Chapter XVIII.
Pecunia Omnia Vincit.
In the dead of the night after the burning of the Eureka Hotel, three men
had been taken into custody, charged with riot, and subsequently committed
to take their trial in Melbourne.
I think the diggers at this time seriously contemplated to burn down the Camp,
and thus get rid in a blaze of all their grievances.
A committee for the defence of these men, met at the Star Hotel, and sent round
to all the tents on Ballaarat for subscriptions. I contributed my mite,
and then learned that VERN, KENNEDY, and HUMFFRAY were the triumvirate
of said committee.
The following placard was posted throughout the goldfields:-
500 POUNDS REWARD
for the discovery, apprehension and conviction
of the murderer of James Scobie, found dead near
the late Eureka Hotel, etc., etc.
At one and at the same time, also, the following placards were posted
at each prominent gum-tree on the goldfield:-
500 POUNDS REWARD
increased by Government to
1,600 POUNDS!!
for the apprehension and conviction of the robbers
of the Bank of Victoria.
Pages:
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64