Page:Papers of William Shakespeare Hall, 1861–1895.pdf/148

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The country proved useless for sheep; and he was ordered to shift bag, baggage and stock to Roebourne. The vessel made two trips, on the second of which she was wrecked on what was afterwards called Perseverance Rocks, that being the stock boat's name. She was not damaged greatly so the stock were not drowned; and at ebb tide every animal was walked ashore safely. Finally he was instructed to break up the concern. The men being paid off shipped in the first boat sent, the ill-fated schooner "Emma", which was lost with all hands comprising 40 souls. Mr Hall luckily stayed behind and took up runs for himself; and after getting things well settled down made short exploration trips inland in company with that well-known pioneer, Mr. John Withnell, and others. Shortly before this, having had a difference with the then Colonial Secretary, he resigned his justiceship. The letter containing the resignation went down in the schooner "Emma" before mentioned, so it is hard to say whether he was or was not a justice of the peace at the time of his death. He went south (after the settlement) and when in middle life married Miss H. Boyd Lazenby, of Perth and Cardup, daughter of a well-known colonist, and brought his 19-year-old bride north, who faced the trials and hardships bravely, her one fear being that the natives would murder her husband in his sleep, as he always slept in the open air. Unknown to him she kept many a weary vigil).

To hark back, relinquishing the idea of squatting, he started business as a general storekeeper. Not being success-