Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/202

 the 'Governor Ready', also from Tasmania, April 2, passing within sight, took the shipwrecked people belonging to the 'Mermaid' and 'Swiftsure' on board; but was herself wrecked on May 18, but all the people were saved by taking refuge in the long-boats. The ship 'Comet,' also from Tasmania, soon afterwards took the whole of the collected crews of the lost ships, 'Mermaid,' 'Swiftsure,' and 'Governor Ready' on board, but was herself wrecked; all hands were, however, saved. At last the 'Jupiter,' from Tasmania, came in sight and, taking all on board, steered for Port Raffles, at the entrance to which harbour she ran on shore, and received so much damage that it may be said she was also wrecked."

Alas, that tragedy after a certain point should become merely ludicrous!

Although H. H. did not arrive in Australia until 1864, he was not too late to see something of the gold-fever that possessed men's minds, and he heard many tales of the first rush to the goldfields. As every one knows, gold was discovered in Australia in 1851 by Edward Hargreaves, a resident of New South Wales. In a few days Sydney was in a ferment. Stockmen and shepherds left their charges, workmen their employment, shopkeepers their stores, doctors their patients, and lawyers them clients, and poured along the roads into the hills.