Part 2: Letters from the Goldfields - 9th February 1896
C/ G.J. Warren Esq
32 Imperial Chambers
Coolgardie
9th February 1896
Dear Billy,
Have found time to write you at last. Am getting on all right,
can’t grumble only at the weather etc. It’s exceedingly hot. We
have it 145° in the sun and frequently 120° in the shade so you can
imagine, what with the sand blowing about, it’s “all right”. Would
be better if water was cheaper. Have to pay 5d a gallon for
condensed water so you may be sure we don’t waste much. I have a
good wash when I get back to civilisation. I’ll get in the River
Arun and won’t come out till I’ve had a good soak.
I’ve been in the above office for about a fortnight and am doing
alright - the Hands across the Sea Mining Company. Mr Warren is
local Director and Attorney. I’m his Confidential. Takes me out and
stands treat. By the way, you can get no drinks in an hotel under
1/-. Let’s me use his “safety” bike and he is an alright boss. I
got £3 a week for a start and shall have £4 directly. Bradford has
started at £2.10.0 and all his food found. I have my breakfast and
tea in our camp namely a tent 8 ft by 10 ft. See me boiling my
billy can and making tea and coffee, it’s a funny life I can tell
you up here. Don’t want to wear jackets (or trousers if it comes to
that) for you don’t want them. Our “chums” here are principally
camels (thousands of them) and “blacks” and there is an awful lot
of business done. You can see money fly here. We are not a mile
from the famous Bailey Reward Mine or Londonderry, Tindals and all
those mines.
West Australian, 16 March 1896,
Photo
link.
We are about 300 miles from the nearest sea port situated amongst a
“beautiful” sand plain, hardly any trees worth calling trees, not a
blade of grass. Coming up here on the track across the plains kept
passing skeletons of horses etc. that had corpsed by the way.
Horses are very little good as when we got to the 12 mile soak
expecting to find water it was dried up. A man has to pay just the
same price for drink for his cattle as we pay for our drinking
water.
I often think if I was to get loose in Horsham for a day or two I
would have a good drink XXX (Michels) but it don’t do up here
unless you want to go bankrupt. Kindly let Bern know you have heard
from me as usual and tell him will write to him again soon. I’m
growing a beard, don’t forget it, won’t know my face from a crow
much longer. Shall try and stick to Coolgardie as long as I can
make a go of it. Might go out bye and bye if I have luck unless I
think I can do better where I am. The nights here though as a rule
are very cool, I don’t know what we should do if they weren’t. You
can’t imagine what a peculiar country this is. I can’t compare it
to anything. I know this much, that when I get out of it I won’t
come back again. But I shan’t get out of it until I’m better off
than I am now. Wish some of you could spend the Sundays with us,
they are very dull. There’s a squad of Salvationist here with a
band who inhabit a log hut arrangement like a lot of cannibals.
Talk about Horsham. Oh rats! Well, can’t say would advise anyone to
come here unless they got some brass to start with. Mind, there’s
money to be made here without a doubt if you can only get a start.
I’ve got a start but haven’t made the money yet. Think I’ll shut up
before it gets dark (it does get dark here). Kindly remember me to
your Dad and Mum and any other one in the “click” and hoping you
are in the best of health (I am tho’ I’m a cannibal). Love and best
wishes to the ..anks (?) - I don’t know who they are, you must find
them first, and kind regards to Bern and Nell, Sammy, Chriss and
Company.
Believe me
Your most sincere chum
Arthur J. Baker
Ps Tom sends his kind regards to you all
Pps We shall be home again in time to get you and Sam hitched.
Don’t forget, I’m Best Man. Bring you a nugget!
Arthur's letter page
1
Arthur’s letter, page 2
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