Part 12: Letters from the Goldfields - 12th December 1897
19 Ward, Govt. Hospital
Liverpool
Lovely (?) New South Wales
12 December ’97
Dear Bill,
I took it in my head to do a bit of writing: Bern, Nell, Fred and
yourself, big order, (no female’s) fact [sic]. Have had a month on
my “kcab” now and daresay another fortnight will see me up. I’m
sick and tired of lying here like a bally dog.
Liverpool Hospital, drawing by
Wilson Hardy, 1922, courtesy National Library of Australia,
Photo credit.
Many thanks for your very long letter with description of the
wedding etc. It was the first news. I would have given something,
Bill, to have dropped in on your that day at Lords like Tommy did.
As you were saying in your letter, “dog bite me, Bill”, what a tea
party we would have had. I’m very much afraid, Bill, we would have
got swelled heads. Don’t you go and get spliced just yet or else I
shan’t have a mate. Shall be out in the cold altogether. I give you
my word, I’ll be home in ’98 if all’s well and perhaps not late in
the year either. Won’t let a chance slip by. On the “quiet”, some
of us will want chaining down. One thing I’ve made up my mind on
and that is we will have a holiday on our own and at my bally
expense too and don’t forget it.
I’ve been thinking, Bill, that us two might open a decent little
business in Co. and if we couldn’t knock a living out of it, we are
Dutchmen. We could rely I know on a lot of good customers round
about Horsham. Say, a business something like J.H. Elliott, there
is money in it and no mistake. I’ve had enough of this bally
country and should seriously like to have your opinion on the
subject by return mail, and how much you think we would want for a
start. I would be satisfied if we could manage something that way
and don’t think wither of us would make fools of ourselves. Don’t
want to be always battling away at sea. At the best of times it is
not an easy life.
Of all the Godforsaken miserable holes ever it has been my luck to
fall into this beautiful Liverpool takes the cake. Must be worse
that “Gaol” by long chalks. I intend having my photo taken when I
get out so will post you one home as soon as finished. I’ve been
worried about them for the past two years by a certain party. I
wrote Aunt Pearce by this mail too. Told her I was giving you
friendly advice (to put you on your guard) against the “wily”
females. Am advised from Melbourne that there’s a portion of the
wedding cake lying there so I will have it at Xmas. Am sending Bern
an illustrate Melbourne paper with an account of the great fire so
please ask Bern to let you have it to have a “cook” at it. It was
an enormous fire for here.[
1] The
English cricketers are here now and up to the present have been
giving these one-sided, bigoted, fat-headed colonial prigs a good
hiding. Good luck to them. Don’t think [I] have any more to yarn
about now so must wish you and all your people, a very happy and
prosperous New Year and trust this may find all in good health.
With best wishes and kind regards to yourself again, thanking you
for your kind letters, I remain, ever your sincere friend.
Arthur J. Baker
Remember me to any old pal. By the way, old Sam C. is “right off”.
You wouldn’t think a 2½d stamp [would] keep him from giving me a
line. I wrote him often enough at one time. Married life doesn’t
agree with him. So much for ‘bashful” me, Bill, you know Sam never
had any think to do with girls – what oh! Now we shan’t be long
rats and finish.[sic]
AJB
Latest Telegram, Reuter: If anything should turn up. For instance,
if my ship “lays up” in dock, shall endeavour to ship home as early
as possible as I don’t want to waste any time. In that case, I
write you immediately. Don’t intend letting “London people” know or
anyone else. They might come down to the docks and embrace me and
I’m of a bashful nature. Shall hope to meet you for a start for
“once round the board”. Ruhtra A. Rekab
- [1] In 1897 a great
fire reportedly destroyed the entire block between Swanston and
Elizabeth streets, and Flinders Street and Flinders Lane.
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