47
10. Patrick Curtain, an old digger, well known among us; at the time a storekeeper; husband and father of a beloved family. His caste is that of the Irishman—John-bull; tall, robust, some forty years old; he is no friend to much yabber-yabber; of deep thinking, though very few can guess what he is thinking of. He smiles but never laughs to his heart's content. Curtain was captain, and subsequently lieutenant of the pikeman division, when they chose Hanrahan, for their captain. Said pikemen division was among the first that took up arms on Thursday, November 30th, immediately after the licence-hunt. It was formed on Bakery-hill, and received Lalor on the stump with acclamation. It increased hourly and permanently; was the strongest division in the Eureka Stockade; in comparison to others, it stood the most true to the "Southern Cross," and consequently suffered the greatest loss on the morning of the massacre. Now, to explain how both its gallant leaders escaped unhurt, safe as the Bank, so that a few weeks afterwards, both were working happy and jolly in broad day-light on Gravel-pits, within a rifle shot from the Camp, that would be a job of a quite different kind just at present: sufficient the trouble to mention; that when I came out of gaol, I met them both in a remunerative hole in Gravel-pits, as aforesaid.
11. 12. There were two other individuals of the John-bull caste, perhaps cross-breed, who had taken up arms in the cause of the diggers, because their sly-trade was flagging; but, as a rotten case abides no handling, I will let them pass.
Manning, handed over to Lalor the motion drawn up in my tent. Here it is:—
Proposed by John Manning,
Seconded by Carboni Raffaello,
"I. That Peter Lalor has acted worthy of the miners of Ballaarat, in organising the armed men on Bakery-hill, against the wanton aggression from the Camp this morning.
"II. That he be desired to call in all captains of division now present on the spot, as well as other persons of importance, well-known good-wishers to the cause of the diggers.
"III. That said parties constitute the council-of-war for the defence.
"IV Lalor to be the president pro. tem.
"V. That he proceed at once to the election of the Commander-in-Chief, by the majority of votes."
Lalor tore up immediately the slip of paper containing the above motion, because he did not think it prudent to leave written things about in a public store. I transcribe it from the scrap left among the papers in my tent.
