Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/537

 ADKLAIDK AND VICINITY 5" Mr. George Prout BORN at Camborne, Cornwall, on June lo, 1839, Mr. George Proiil has, like so many of his countrymen, for years been a mining man of influence in Australia. The countv m the south-western corner of England is the cradle of successful miners and restless colonists who have scattered themselves over the globe, and, with the " cross-grained friend " called experience, and hereditary instinct, delved in every clime, or become good husbandmen. The comprehensive development of Australian mining fields is largely due to their knowledge and thoroughness and enterprise. Mr. George Prout, better known as Captain Prout, came to South Australia with his parents in the ship Lady Bruce, in September, ICS46. After working for a few months, in 1847, 'f Foster's Brick- field, he became an ore-dresser at Peach's Mine, Glen Osmond, the ruins of which can still be discerned by the curious. At the beginning of 1849 he proceeded to the Burra, where he worked at the great copper mine there until the early part of 1852. He then returned to his home at Kensington Park, then known as " Little Cornwall," whence he went with his father, the late Mr. George Prout, to the Elchunga gold rush. This field did not afford much scope ; and the father, who had previously been to the Victorian diggings, returned thither, taking his son with him. The pair started from Melbourne with a team conveying tools and provisions, and took the P orest Creek track. When passing through Black Poorest, heavy rains caused them to abandon the team, and to tramp to P'orest Creek through mud and slush often up to their knees. They did not recover their posse.ssions until three or four weeks later, when they were brought in by teamsters. Although a mere boy at the time, Mr. Prout entered very thoroughly into the work and spirit of the diggers, and while growing in stature, gained a splendid e.xperience. In the same year (1852), the first Wesleyan Chapel was built on the goldfields — at Forest Creek — and Mr. Prout was one of the first boys to attend the school attached to it. He was Stump & Co., Photo