ance of a place about to be besieged. Several of the friends of the storekeeper were secreted on the premises, determined to give a warm reception to the first that endeavoured to force an entrance. The Oriental Bank was the adjoining building, in which a detective police officer and the special correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald were located, and remained all night, keeping a sharp look-out through the chinks of the building at what was going on outside—anything but a comfortable position, as the “Special” was particularly disliked by the rioters in consequence of his pen striking hard blows against actions disloyal to the Government. So much did the rioters dislike anyone who dared to write on the side of law and order that a halt was made in the main street, and after yells and jeers, it was determined to proceed en masse to the Great Eastern Hotel, and then and there bring the “Special” to summary punishment. On they marched and stormed the Great Eastern, calling upon the landlord to bring out the special. After convincing the men that he was not in the house they deliberately fired a volley through the roof of the hotel, and spent the night in a regular carouse, camping in the street, and drinking to excess. The landlord took over £80 in cash during the night for nobblers; several cases of gin, brandy, &c., were thrown to the mob to prevent them sacking the house.
The moral effect of this demonstration was to produce a painful distrust of public peace and safety. People were anxious in the extreme, and scarcely knew how to act for the general good of the country. It must be borne in mind that this lawless mob scarcely represented the true miner. Many of them were doubtless gold diggers, but the majority were men abandoned to all respect of civil rights; many adventurers of the lowest type. It can scarcely be wondered at that, after the demonstration, crime was greatly on the increase. So far the lawless had got a firm hold of the flourishing goldfields. The police were unable to cope with the difficulty, and step by step the evil advanced till the crisis arrived.
In speaking of the leaders of the anti-Chinese movement, especially the three foremost, for whose apprehension the Government offered a reward of £100 each—Messrs. Spicer, Cameron and Stewart—it is only fair to state that the movement which was inaugurated by them had assumed such gigantic proportions that they were unable to wield the weapon they themselves had forged. They were not parties to, nor did they sanction the cruelties that were committed against the unfortunate Celestials. They were for hunting these men off the diggings, and little expected that such an act would end in an open violation of the law. Blackguard Gully appeared to be rightly named, for in this locality crime of the worst type was fostered and brought to a climax in robbery, violence, and cruelty. Soon after the incidents before narrated a regular and systematic mode of procedure was initiated to hunt
