Part 4: Letters from the Goldfields - 2nd July 1896
Mount Rowe
28 Imperial Chambers
Coolgardie, WA
27 July 1896
My dear Billy,
Many thanks for your letter last mail and for “Ludgate” and
“Reynolds” following. I am greatly indebted for your kindness
writing so often and papers too. I don’t hear as often as I should
like to from Sam – who often I have written - and others. Sam is
about the worst correspondent. If they were in this place they
would enjoy a bit of home news. Letters usually get read about a
dozen times. When you feel a bit “off” of a night, close up the
tent, light candle and go through the last lot of letters again. I
was you may be sure jolly glad to hear you are doing so well at the
Palace and sincerely congratulate you. You know my opinion of
“wasters” à la Allen etc. The success of the Gymnasium and Display
was also good news. Bern evidently worked hard and got what he
deserved I reckon. Should like to have been there whether as a
spectator or “artiste”. Bern wrote last mail but one. Was quite
well, has enjoyed himself a treat this summer evidently. When I get
home we’ll all have a little excursion somewhere even if it’s only
Southwater. I’ve been out of hospital over 3 weeks now and man
nearly myself again. Eat like a horse. Hope to start work on a mine
next week. It’s been a great take down both financially and
physically for me but I hope shall be more lucky ere long or else
England won’t see me for a while. I shan’t stay in a country like
this longer than I can help but still I won’t leave it stony broke
if I can help it. The three weeks I have spent in this camp at Mt
Rowe have done me no end of good. Only two of us (me and a Sydney
friend) and we have many a good yarn round the camp fire after tea.
He has been jolly kind to me, no mistake. I had a row with G.J.
Warren and if I hadn’t been ill – this was before I was taken with
the fever – I should certainly have broken his face about and told
him so. I shall have my turn yet and shall make him look very small
I bet.
Three prospectors round the camp
fire, West Australia, c. 1895, courtesy Battye Library, 1884B 33,
photographer E.W. Henderson,
Photo link.
I sent Bern two or three little specimens home by the Orient and I
hope to hear soon that he has received them safely and also a photo
of Warren’s camp at Toorak. We shall soon have the hot weather
again. Now ’tis “Winter: yet.
A note from Arthur accompanying the
attached speck of gold-bearing quartz
Shan’t I enjoy old England when I get home (in fact I always did).
Your “Reynolds”[1] passes through
many hands here. It’s passed around to many a Radical who quietly
digests the “state paid parson” articles with the aid of a pipe and
a good log fire of a night. Will let you know shortly where I am
going and what doing. I dreamt I was in Horsham the other night, a
most realistic dream. I wasn’t playing stool ball or tippling
“Cherry Brandy”. Oh for a drop now! Rash youth.
Reynolds Miscellany
It would be a great bit of luck if I was able to get back in time
to spend Whitsun 1897 at home, but at present don’t think that will
be the case. But one never knows. Shall keep pegging away. I got a
lot of time to make up when I do start. The quarter you are
in[2] evidently agrees with you
altogether and I’m glad to hear you have enjoyed yourself so much
all along and with good mates to work with makes things go along
swimmingly. Tom is still mining at the “De Beers: mine at
Gibraltar. Saw him about a month ago, quite well, wishes to be
remembered to you.
Think I have about run down. No startling news to send you yet. I
hope before another 12 months has passed to be able to give a
better account of myself anyway if trying will do anything. If you
are writing Bern, kindly let him know that am first class again and
give him my very kind regards and accept same yourself and thanks
again for letters and news. Please remember me to your people and
any other old chum you may chance to meet (mates) who may care
about hearing anything about
Your sincere chum
Arthur J. Baker
(Dlo Rekab)[3]
The following note was written on a scrap of paper enclosed with
the letter:
Latest Bulletin
Dr Bill, Just arranged to start work this week on the “Star of the
South” Mine as a full blown miner. I am fixing up my tent
today.
- [1] George Reynolds
founded the Reynolds's Weekly Newspaper in May, 1850. Reynolds was
a strong supporter of Chartism and in its first edition he stated
that his newspaper would be "devoted to the cause of freedom and in
the interests of the enslaved masses". However, Reynolds added it
will "prove not only a staunch, fearless, and uncompromising friend
of popular principles, but likewise a complete and faithful
chronicle of all domestic, foreign, and colonial events of interest
or value." After the death of George Reynolds in 1879, his brother,
Edward Reynolds took over the running of the newspaper. When he
died in 1894, the Liberal M.P., James Henry Dalziel, became the new
proprietor.
- [2] Referring to Billy
Hoad’s employment at Hampton Court Palace.
- [3] Billy’s ‘clique’
sometimes used reverse letter code when identifying themselves and
others, possibly harking back to a schooldays practice.
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