Proceedings in Melbourne.
Meeting of the Exploration Committee.
Tardy Resolutions.
Departure of Mr. Howitt.
Patriotic Effort of Mr. Orkney.
South Australian Expedition under Mr. McKinlay.
News of White Men and Camels having been seen by Natives
in the Interior.
Certain Intelligence of the Fate of the Explorers reaches Melbourne.
IN March, 1861, I began, in the absence of all intelligence, to
feel some apprehension for my son's safety, and the result of the
expedition. On the 8th, Professor Neumayer, in reply to a letter
from me, said: "You have asked me about the Exploring Expedition,
and it is really a difficult matter to give a definite answer to
the question. I think that by this time the party must have reached
the Gulf of Carpentaria, supposing them to have proceeded in that
direction. In fact, I think they may have recrossed already a great
part of the desert country, if everything went on smoothly after
leaving Cooper's Creek. I have a thorough confidence in Mr. Wills's
character and energy, and I am sure they will never fail. I cannot
help regretting that the Committee should not have understood the
force of my arguments, when I advised them to send the expedition
towards the north-west. This would very likely have forwarded the
task considerably. My feeling is not very strong as to the results
we may expect from the present attempt. Indeed, as far as science
and practical advantages are concerned, I look upon the whole as a
mistake. Mr. Wills is entirely alone; he has no one to assist him
in his zeal, and take a part of his onerous duties from him. Had he
been put in a position to make valuable magnetic observations, he
would have earned the thanks of the scientific world. But, under
existing circumstances, he can do nothing at all for the
advancement of this particular branch. However, I hope future
expeditions will afford him an opportunity to fill up that
deficiency, if he should now be successful. The affair with
Landells was nothing more nor less than what I expected and was
quite prepared to hear. The man was not more qualified for the task
he undertook than he would have been for any scientific position in
the expedition. I am confident Mr. Wills is all right, and that Mr.
Burke and he will agree well together."
All this was complimentary and gratifying to a father's feelings.
Still, as time passed on, forebodings came upon me that this great
expedition, starting with so much display from Melbourne, with a
steady, declared, and scientific object, would dwindle down into a
flying light corps, making a sudden dash across the continent and
back again with no permanent results. Discharges and resignations
had taken place, and no efforts were made by the committee to fill
up the vacancies. No assistant surveyor had been sent to my son, no
successor appointed to Dr. Beckler. The last-named gentleman
brought back many of the scientific instruments intrusted to his
charge, alleging that if he had not done so, Mr. Burke, who was
unscientific and impatient of the time lost in making and
registering observations, threatened to throw them into the next
creek. The supineness of the committee was justly, not too severely
commented on in the Report of the Royal Commission: "The
Exploration Committee, in overlooking the importance of the
contents of Mr. Burke's despatch from Torowoto, and in not urging
Mr. Wright's departure from the Darling, committed errors of a
serious nature. A means of knowledge of the delay of the party at
Menindie was in possession of the committee, not indeed by direct
communication to that effect, but through the receipt of letters
from Drs. Becker and Beckler, at various dates up to the end of
November;--without, however, awakening the committee to a sense of
the vital importance of Mr. Burke's request in that despatch that
he should 'be soon followed up;'--or to a consideration of the
disastrous consequences which would be likely to result, and did
unfortunately result, from the fatal inactivity and idling of Mr.
Wright and his party on the Darling."
During the month of March, the Argus newspaper called attention to
the matter, and a letter, signed Lockhart Moreton, expressed itself
thus "What has become of the expedition? Surely the committee are
not alive to the necessity of sending some one up? Burke has by
this time crossed the continent, or is lost. What has become of
Wright? What is he doing?"
Then came a letter from Menindie, expressing strong opinions on the
state of affairs, but flattering to my son. It was evident to me
that these gentlemen knew or thought more than they felt disposed
to state directly in words. I have already mentioned that Mr.
Burke, while within the districts where newspapers could reach him,
had been harassed, from the time of his appointment, by remarks in
the public prints, evidently proceeding from parties and their
friends who thought the honour of leading this grand procession
more properly belonged to themselves. Being a gentleman of
sensitive feelings, these observations touched him to the quick.
When he was no longer within reach, they still continued, but he
found defenders in the all-powerful Argus. I am sorry to say, for
the sake of human nature, that there were some who went so far as
to wish no successful result to his enterprise.
Believing and trusting that these remarks of Mr. Moreton and
others, would stir up the committee to take some steps to ascertain
if Mr. Wright was moving in his duty, I contented myself with
writing to the Magnetic Observatory, to learn from Professor
Neumayer what was going on. He being absent on scientific tours, I
received answers from his locum tenens, to the effect that within a
month certain information was expected. The committee I did not
trouble, as their Honorary Secretary had deigned no reply to
letters I had previously sent.
In the month of June, unable to bear longer suspense, with a small
pack on my shoulders and a stick in my hand, I walked from
Ballaarat to Melbourne, a distance of seventy-five miles, stopping
for a couple of nights on the way at the house of a kind and
hospitable friend, Dugald McPherson, Esquire, J.P., at Bungel-Tap.
This gentleman has built a substantial mansion there, in the
Elizabethan style, likely, from its solidity, to last for
centuries. I arrived at Melbourne on Saturday, the 16th of June. On
Monday, the 18th, I called on the Honourable David Wilkie, honorary
treasurer to the committee. I found him issuing circulars for a
meeting to consider what was to be done. My heart sank within me
when I found that no measures whatever had yet been taken. I called
on those I knew amongst the committee to entreat their attendance.
I hastened to Professor Neumayer, with reference to Mr. Lockhart's
letter, to ask if it had been arranged with Mr. Burke that a vessel
should be despatched round the coast to the Gulf to meet him there.
His answer was that a conversation on that point had taken place
between Mr. Burke, my son, and himself, but that Mr. Burke had
enjoined him (the professor) not to move in it, for that, if so
disposed, he would himself apply to the committee by letter.
A meeting took place on the evening of the 18th. The opinions were
as numerous as the members in attendance. Quot homines tot
sententiae. One talked of financial affairs, another of science, a
third of geography, a fourth of astronomy, and so on. A chapter in
the Circumlocution Office painfully unfolded itself. Mr. Ligar
rather rudely asked me what I was in such alarm about; observed
that "there was plenty of time; no news was good news; and I had
better go home and mind my own business." I felt hurt, naturally
enough, some of my readers may suppose, and replied that had I not
been convinced something was doing, I should scarcely have remained
quiet at Ballaarat for three months. A gentleman, with whom I had
no previous acquaintance, seeing my anxiety, and feeling that the
emergency called for immediate action, appealed to them warmly, and
the result was a decision, nemine contradicente, that it was time
to move, if active and trustworthy agents could be found. I offered
my services for one, but the meeting adjourned without coming to
any decision, and was followed by other indefinite meetings and
adjournments de die in diem.
On the following day, Dr. Macadam, Honorary Secretary, attended
(the press of the morning had incited movement) and announced the
welcome intelligence that Mr. A. Howitt was in Melbourne; that he
had seen him; that he was ready to go on the shortest notice. So
far all was good. But now I saw the full misery and imbecility of
leaving a large body to decide what should have been delegated to a
quorum of three at the most. The meetings took place regularly, but
the same members seldom attended twice. New illusions and conceits
suggested themselves as often as different committee-men found it
convenient to deliver their opinions and vouchsafe their presence.
Let me here specially except Ferdinand Mueller, M.D. and F.R.S., of
London, who though a foreigner, a Dane by birth, I believe, has won
by his talents that honourable distinction. His energy in all he
undertakes is untiring and unsurpassable. On this occasion he was
ever active and unremitting, while his sympathy and kindness to
myself have never varied from the first day of our acquaintance.
The Honourable David Wilkie, at whose private house we met nightly,
deserves the highest credit for expediting the business, which
ended in the despatch of the party under Mr. Howitt. Mr. Heales
also, then Chief Secretary for the Colony, promised assistance in
money, and the use of the Victoria steamer, under Captain Norman,
to be sent round to the Gulf of Carpentaria as soon as she could be
got ready.
The Melbourne Argus, of June 19th, contained the following leading
article:--
The public will be glad to learn that the Exploration Committee
of the Royal Society have at length resolved to set about partly
doing what in April last we urged upon them. A small party is to be
despatched to Cooper's Creek with means to supply necessaries to
the Exploring Expedition, and to make all possible efforts to
ascertain the whereabouts of Mr. Burke. It is well this should be
done, and that quickly, for we some eight months since learned that
Mr. Burke had provisions calculated to last his party for five
months only. But this is not all that should be done. When
referring to this subject two months ago, basing our calculations
on the knowledge we then had--and it has since received no
increase--we reckoned that Mr. Burke, who left Menindie on the 19th
of October last, would reach Cooper's Creek by the beginning of
November, and that if he determined upon making for the Gulf of
Carpentaria, he might be expected to reach the north coast by about
the middle of March last. If his provisions enabled him to do this,
it is unlikely they would suffice him for a return journey
southwards, or an expedition westward. We cannot think, then, that
a party sent to Cooper's Creek should be regarded as sufficient.
Why should not the Victoria be utilized? Were she sent round the
west coast to the point Mr. Burke might be expected to strike--if,
instead of bearing north, after reaching the centre, he has turned
westward, as we anticipated he might do--he would possibly be heard
of there. If not, the Victoria would be still so far on her way to
the Gulf of Carpentaria--the only other goal he is likely to aim at
reaching. Two expeditions, therefore, should at once be
despatched--the party to Cooper's Creek, and the colonial steamer
round the coast. Let it not be said to our disgrace that anything
has been neglected which money or energy could have done to insure
the safety of the men who have devoted themselves to a work in
which the whole civilized world is interested, and of which, if now
carried on with success, this colony will reap all the glory. It is
a work which all men must have at heart, whether as lovers of their
fellow-men, of science, or of their country. Let it not be marred
by aught of niggardliness or supineness. The work must be well and
quickly done. The progress of Mr. Stuart and of Mr. Burke is now
watched with the warmest interest and sympathy by men of science in
Europe. Mr. Stuart is well and generously cared for by the South
Australian Government and people. What will be said if Victoria
alone, by parsimony or apathy, allowed her Exploring Expedition to
fail or her public servants to suffer unnecessary hardships, or
even death?
As to the men to whom the inland expedition is to be intrusted,
some conversation took place at the recent meeting of the
Exploration Committee. Dr. Wills, of Ballaarat, father of Mr.
Wills, second in command with Mr. Burke, was present, and offered
to accompany the party. Professor Neumayer suggested a gentleman
named Walsh, from his own office, as suitable for the enterprise;
and Dr. Embling, it is rumoured, supports Mr. Landells as a fit
person for the post of leader. We have nothing to say for or
against the two former suggestions, but this last demands notice.
We consider that Mr. Landells has already shown himself singularly
unfitted to fill a post of this kind.
. . .
Mr. Howitt's offer did away with the necessity for my pressing
to go. Although I felt tolerably confident in my own physical
powers, I should have much regretted had they failed on experiment,
and thereby retarded rather than aided the object in view. Mr.
Walsh went, but was of no service, as he lost the sight of one eye
in the first observation he attempted to make; but Mr. Howitt
proved equal to the emergency and did the work. [Footnote: A
strange incident connected with Mr. Walsh's misfortune was reported
abroad, but I do not vouch for its truth. When under surgical
treatment for his impaired vision, it was said that the operators
in consultation decided on an experiment to test the powers of the
retina to receive light, and in so doing blinded the other eye. Mr.
Walsh went to England, having had a sum granted to him by the
Victoria government. Whether he has recovered his sight I know not.]
Mr. Howitt being equipped and despatched, I returned to Ballaarat,
somewhat relieved, after my fortnight's anxious labours with the
committee; but on the evening of Friday, the 5th of July, I was
startled by reading the following statement in the Melbourne Weekly
Age:--
THE NEWS FROM THE EXPLORING EXPEDITION.
The unexpected news of Mr. Burke's expedition of discovery, which we
publish this morning, is positively disastrous. The entire company
of explorers has been dissipated out of being, like dewdrops before
the sun. Some are dead, some are on their way back, one has come to
Melbourne, and another has made his way to Adelaide, whilst only
four of the whole party have gone forward from the depot at
Cooper's Creek upon the main journey of the expedition to explore
the remote interior. The four consist of the two chief officers and
two men; namely, Mr. Burke, the leader, and Mr. Wills, the surveyor
and second in command of the party, together with the men King and
Gray. This devoted little band left Cooper's Creek for the far
interior on the 16th of December last, more than six months ago,
taking with them six camels and one horse, and only twelve weeks'
provisions. From Mr. Burke's despatch we learn that he meant to
proceed in the first place to Eyre's Creek; and from that place he
would make an effort to explore the country northward in the
direction of the Gulf of Carpentaria. He states also that he meant
to return to Cooper's Creek within three months at the farthest;
that is, about the middle of March. Before starting on this route
he had already tried a passage northward between Gregory's and
Stuart's tracks; but he found this passage impracticable, from want
of water. He does not state anything that would enable us to form
an opinion of what his intentions might be after leaving Eyre's
Creek, beyond his saying that he meant to push northwards towards
the Gulf. Neither does it appear that he left any instructions or
directions upon the matter with Mr. Brahe. He merely informed the
latter that he meant to run no risks, and that he would be back
within a brief stated period, and that Mr. Brahe was not to wait
for him at the depot beyond three months. Mr. Brahe's statement, in
fact, throws very little light upon the probabilities of Mr.
Burke's future course, after leaving the depot at Cooper's Creek.
He accompanied him one day's journey, some twenty miles or so, on
his way towards the north. But he seems to know very little of what
Mr. Burke's ultimate intentions were. Perhaps, indeed, Mr. Burke
himself had no very definite scheme sketched out in his own mind,
as to any settled purpose for the future, beyond his trying to make
the best of his way in the direction of the Gulf of Carpentaria. He
probably never entertained the idea of its being necessary to plan
out various different alternatives to adopt, in case of the failure
of any one particular course of proceeding. The facility and
despatch with which he had got over the ground to Cooper's Creek
may have produced too confident a state of mind as to the future.
And his having learned that Stuart had, with only two or three
companions, advanced within a couple of days' journey of the
northern coast, would tend greatly to increase that too confident
tone of mind. Both circumstances were likely to produce a feeling,
especially in a sanguine temperament like Burke's, that there was
no need of his arranging beforehand, and leaving behind him, with
Mr. Brahe, plans of intended procedure on his part, the knowledge
of which would subsequently give a clue to his fate, in case of his
continued absence. He seems not to have formed any anticipation of
a vessel being sent round to meet him on the north coast, according
to Mr. Brahe's account.
What then did he propose to do, and what is likely to have become
of him? The fear forces itself upon us, that, acting under the
influence of excessive confidence, arising from the causes already
referred to, Mr. Burke and his little band of three companions went
forth towards the north in a state of mind unprepared to meet
insurmountable obstacles; that difficulties, arising chiefly from
want of water, sprung up in his path, and assumed greater magnitude
than the previous experience of the expedition could have led them
to anticipate; and that if the little party has not succumbed to
these difficulties before now, they are to be sought for either on
the northern coast, by a vessel to be sent there for that purpose,
or in the country towards the Gulf of Carpentaria, by an overland
party despatched in that direction. Indeed, both attempts should be
made simultaneously, and with the least possible delay. The present
period of the year is most propitious for the inland journey, both
on account of the abundance of water and the moderate temperature
incident to the winter season. There should not be a moment lost,
then, in forwarding this portion of the search; and the coasting
portion of it should be commenced as soon after as possible.
The sufferings to which the unhappy men are exposed will be
understood from Mr. Wright's report of what befell the party under
his charge. They were prostrated by scurvy, as well as being
additionally enfeebled by the irregular supply of water. And at
length four of their number, worn out by their sufferings, perished
by a wretched, lingering death in the wilderness. There is
something deeply melancholy in such a fact. Poor Becker! He had
scarcely the physique for encountering the toils of such an
expedition. However, regrets over the past are vain. What is of
importance now is to save the remainder of the party, if possible.
And perhaps the best way of opening up the search inland would be
for the committee to avail themselves of Mr. Howitt's offer to
proceed at once, with an enlarged party, including Mr. Brahe, to
Cooper's Creek, and thence to Eyre's Creek, and northwards towards
the coast, should they not previously have encountered Mr. Burke
and his companions on their return.
It is somewhat disheartening to find that when Mr. Wright returned
for the last time to the Cooper's Creek depot, namely, so recently
as the first week in May--that is, five months after Burke set out
on his final excursion--he did not think it necessary to make any
examination of the country, as far at least as Eyre's Creek. It
might naturally be supposed that on finding, by examining the
concealed stores, that Mr. Burke had not revisited the depot, Mr.
Wright would endeavour to make some search for him, to the extent
of a few days' journey at all events. Before turning their back
finally upon the solitude where their companions were wandering,
one last search might have well been made. But perhaps the disabled
condition of the men, horses, and camels may be taken to account
for this seeming neglect. It may not be too late even now, however,
to make amends for this strange oversight, by hastening on Mr.
Howitt's party. The whole expedition appears to have been one
prolonged blunder throughout; and it is to be hoped that the
rescuing party may not be mismanaged and retarded in the same way
as the unfortunate original expedition was. The savans have made a
sad mess of the whole affair; let them, if possible, retrieve
themselves in this its last sad phase.
. . .
I returned immediately to Melbourne, and found the committee
in earnest at last, the Government aiding them in every possible
way. Mr. Heales offered all the assistance he could give. The
Victoria, which I thought had been made ready, was now put under
immediate repair. Proceedings were reported in the Herald as
follows:--
The adjourned meeting of the Exploration Committee was
held yesterday afternoon, in the Hall of the Royal Society, Victoria
Street. Dr. Mueller occupied the chair, in the unavoidable absence
of Sir William Stawell.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
The Chairman said the honorary treasurer would lay before the
committee the result of the interview the deputation had the honour
to hold with the Chief Secretary that day. Unfortunately they had
not had the advantage of Dr. Macadam's assistance, but he was glad
that gentleman was now present, and that they had one member of the
Government.
The Honourable Dr. Wilkie, M.L.C., said that Dr. Mueller, himself,
and Dr. Wills, father of Mr. Wills, a member of the expedition,
waited on the Chief Secretary and communicated to him the
resolution passed by the Exploration Committee, strongly
recommending the Government to give the Victoria steamer for the
purpose of proceeding to the Gulf of Carpentaria in aid of Mr.
Burke's party. He might state that the deputation entered fully
into the whole question, and that the Chief Secretary very
cordially promised that the Victoria should be given, and that at
the same time he (the Chief Secretary) said it was the desire of
the Government to promote the wishes of the Exploration Committee,
as far as possible, in rendering assistance to Mr. Burke. Further
discussion took place with reference to other matters, which would
immediately come under the consideration of the committee;--as to
the sending a land party from Rockhampton; and the Government had
promised every possible assistance that they could render.
. . .
Mr. Howitt, who returned the next day, was soon despatched
again with increased means, to follow up his work in aid. A
communication was immediately opened with the Queensland Government
on the north-east to get up an expedition under some competent
person, but at the charge of Victoria; and Mr. Walker, who had
already acquired note as a leader of a party of native police, was
proposed for the command. Captain Norman with the Victoria steamer
was to start as soon as possible, coasting round to the Gulf,
taking with him a small tender; whilst Walker, or whoever might be
appointed in Queensland, should proceed north, overland. Nothing
further could be done in Melbourne by the committee or Government;
but I have now to narrate a noble act on the part of a private
individual.
James Orkney, Esquire, M.L.A. for West Melbourne, had a small
steamer of sixteen tons, built by himself from a model of the Great
Eastern, which was quite ready for sea; and having also a captain
willing to embark in her, he undertook to send her round to the
Gulf of Carpentaria at his own charge. The adventurous gentleman
who offered his services was no less a personage than Wyse, the
skipper of Lord Dufferin's yacht on his celebrated voyage to the
North Seas, which his lordship has commemorated in his delightful
little book entitled, Letters from High Latitudes. The Sir Charles
Hotham, for so the little craft was called, was intended to precede
Captain Norman, as the Victoria would take at least a fortnight in
equipping. She was expected, from her light draught of water, to
render much aid in exploring the rivers and steaming against
currents. She left on the 6th of July, towed out of Hudson's Bay by
the Sydney steamer. The weather became stormy, and the steamer was
compelled to cut her adrift during the night. Left to herself and
her gallant captain, with a crew of two men only, she made her way
to Sydney. During this time the coast was visited by severe gales,
and much anxiety was felt for the Sir Charles Hotham. The agents of
the Sydney steamer regretted that they had not heard of the
proposed arrangement a few hours earlier, as they would readily
have taken her on deck. But they did all that was in their power.
Mr. Orkney soon received the pleasing intelligence that his little
craft was safe in Sydney Harbour, but requiring some repairs. These
were completed with as much speed as possible, Mr. Orkney bearing
every expense, including that of the telegrams, which was
considerable. Again the miniature steamer proceeded from Sydney,
northward; but after some progress, Wyse, steering her into shallow
water, near shore, to anchor for the night, ran her on the
peak of the anchor, which made a hole in her bottom, and quite
incapacitated her from further service. Thus Mr. Orkney lost the
hope he entertained and the satisfaction he would have enjoyed, of
being serviceable to the lost explorers; but the credit due to him
is far from being diminished by his want of success, and the
patriotic effort deserves to be recorded to his eternal honour.
Through this incident I made his acquaintance, and ever since we
have been, and I hope shall continue to be, sincere friends.
My anxiety for my son's safety interfered with my attention to
ordinary professional avocations. I accordingly left Ballaarat for
a time, and continued in Melbourne, casting about to see how I
could render myself useful in the great object of my thoughts. At
first I inclined to go round to the Gulf with Captain Norman, and
obtained permission to do so, when an announcement reached
Melbourne by telegram to the effect that the South Australian
Government had decided on sending an Expedition from that quarter,
and asking for the loan of some camels, with the use of the two
that had strayed in that direction, and had been brought down to
Adelaide from Dr. Brown's station. These turned out to be two of
the three that my son had lost when out on an excursion from
Cooper's Creek, the circumstances of which have been already
mentioned. Mr. McKinlay was at that time in Melbourne. He
immediately started by the Havelock steamer to offer his services
as leader of the party. I sent a letter to Sir Richard McDonnel,
the Governor, by him, proposing to accompany them as surgeon, and
to assist as guide. I received a reply by telegram asking if I
would put myself under Mr. McKinlay, and also requesting from the
Government some additional camels. I obtained permission from Mr.
Heales to have those that might be useful, and in three days
started in the Oscar (since lost) with the camels.
On arriving in Adelaide, I found that the South Australian
Expedition was instructed to proceed, in the first instance, to
Cooper's Creek, whither Mr. Howitt had already gone. This I thought
a mistaken direction, as Howitt would be there before us, and the
north and east search being amply provided for, it appeared
profitless. The Government also proposed a surveying tour on their
own account, in conjunction with the search for the missing
explorers. These plans not exactly falling in with my view of the
business, I gave up my intention of forming one of the party. Mr.
McKinlay was a fine fellow, well adapted to the work; his
companions strong and lively, and of a proper age, neither too old
nor too young. Having seen him off, I determined to remain for a
time in Adelaide, a delightful place, where I found some of the
kindest and most agreeable acquaintances I have ever had the good
fortune to meet with.
The South Australian Register, of the 24th of August, 1861, gave
the following summary of the measures in progress:--
Our readers will perhaps be surprised to learn that a new
exploring expedition has just been sent to the northern interior. To
explore is clearly one of the missions of South Australia; but this
time the object is less one of curiosity than humanity. With Mr.
Stuart and his party still engaged in the work of opening a route
to the north-west coast, no one would have thought it desirable,
under ordinary circumstances, to undertake fresh explorations. But
the whole colony has been moved by the dreadful doubt which hangs
over the fate of Mr. Burke, the Victorian explorer, who, with three
men, left Cooper's Creek at the beginning of the year; having only
a few months' provisions with him. They have not been heard of
since, and there is not much hope entertained of their safety. But
all that can be done to assist them or to ascertain their fate is
being done. The three adjacent provinces have sent in search of the
lost explorers, and this colony has also despatched its expedition
for the same good purpose. Mr. McKinlay, an experienced bushman,
has left Adelaide upon this chivalric task, taking with him six
men, twenty-four horses, and four camels. His first duty is to seek
for Burke, and in the next place to obtain a knowledge of
unexplored country in the north.
. . .
After general instructions, Mr. McKinlay's duties were
more specifically defined:--
You will in all matters keep the following objects in full view:--
Firstly. The relief of the expedition under the command of Mr.
Burke, or the acquiring a knowledge of its fate. This is the great
object of the expedition under your command.
When you may have accomplished the foregoing, or may have deemed it
necessary to abandon the search for Mr. Burke, then,
Secondly. The acquiring a knowledge of the country between Eyre's
Creek and Central Mount Stuart.
Thirdly. The acquiring a knowledge of the western shores of Lake
Eyre. A separate letter of instructions is given to you and the
particular matters to which you will direct your attention in this
locality.
. . .
I had been in Adelaide nearly a month when I was startled by
the following note, from Major Egerton Warburton:--
September 19th.
MY DEAR SIR,
Would you kindly call in at my office? I have important news
which must interest you.
Yours very truly,
J. EGERTON WARBURTON.
. . .
I hastened to him, and asked, almost breathlessly, "What
news--good or bad?" He replied, "Not so bad;" and then gave me the
information which was made known in the House of Assembly that
night, and embodied in the Adelaide Advertiser, the next day, to
the following effect:--
On Thursday morning, considerable interest was excited in
Adelaide by a rumour to the effect that intelligence from the
interior had been received of Burke's party. We lost no time in
instituting inquiry, and found that the report was certainly not
unfounded. It was stated that a police trooper in the north had
sent down information, derived through a black, that at a long
distance beyond the settled districts some white men were living,
and that the black had obtained a portion of their hair. The white
men were described as being entirely naked, and as living upon a
raft on a lake, supporting themselves by catching fish: that they
had no firearms nor horses, but some great animals, which, from the
description given by the native, were evidently camels. There
could, therefore, be but little doubt as to this being Burke's
party, or a portion of it; and as soon as it was ascertained that
the rumour had some tangible kind of foundation, public curiosity
for fuller and more authentic details speedily rose very high. On
the assembling of Parliament, the Commissioner of Crown Lands,
desirous of allaying the anxiety of the public, read from his place
the letter brought by the native, of which the following is a copy:
--
Wirrilpa, September 12, 1861,
SIR,
I have the honour to forward the following particulars gathered
from the blacks, seeming to refer to Mr. Burke and party. A black
fellow called Sambo, who has lately come in from Lake Hope, brought
with him the hair of two white men, which he showed to the cook and
stockman at Tooncatchin. He says it was given to him by other
blacks, who told him that there were white men living much farther
out than where he had been. Frank James, one of Mr. Butler's
stockmen, saw Sambo again on the 6th instant, and tried to get the
hair from him. He had unfortunately given it away to other blacks.
James promised him tobacco for it, and he has promised to get it
again. Sambo says that the white men are naked, have no firearms or
horses, but animals which from his description are evidently
camels; that they sleep on a raft, which they build on the water.
They live on fish which they catch with nets made with grass. Sambo
says that the other blacks had told him that the white men arrived
there this winter. According to Sambo, the people are twenty sleeps
from Tooncatchin, by way of Lake Hope Creek. I do not think that
these sleeps on the average exceed ten miles, so it is probable
that they are on or near Cooper's Creek. Sambo is quite willing to
go out all the way with a party of white men. He also says that the
blacks on Lake Hope Creek are afraid of these white men. I received
the above information from Mr. H. Butler, Frank James, and Cleland,
on my arrival at Blanche on the 8th instant. Knowing that Mr.
McKinlay and party were on their way, I accordingly left Blanche on
the 9th, and I met Mr. McKinlay and party to-day on Bandnoota
Plain, 145 miles south of Blanche, when I put that gentleman in
possession of the above particulars.
I have etc.
JAMES HOWE, Police Trooper.
To George Hamilton, Esquire, J.P., Inspector of Police.
The Surveyor-General (Mr. Goyder) says that from the general tenor
of the letter he inclines to the opinion that the white men are on
some of the newly-discovered waters between Cooper's Creek and
Eyre's Creek; and if so, this is precisely in the direction that
Mr. McKinlay would, according to his instructions, have taken. But
the most gratifying portion of the whole statement is that which
assures us of Mr. McKinlay being placed in possession of the whole
of the circumstances of the case; and considering the date when the
information was given him, there is little doubt but that Mr.
McKinlay, as the reader's eye rests on these words, is ON THE SPOT
INDICATED by the black; and should this prove to be correct, and
the party be saved, South Australia will have, in the cause of
humanity, reason to rejoice that the Parliament took such prompt
and vigorous measures to send out the relief expedition. The
Commissioner of Crown Lands telegraphed to Melbourne, without
delay, the substance of the trooper's letter; but it is not likely
that any practical use could be made of it there, though it would
revive the hopes of many of the friends of Burke and his party. If
the white men spoken of in the letter are where Mr. Goyder imagines
them to be, it is not very likely that Mr. Howitt's relief party
would find them; so that it may, after all, be the destiny of South
Australia not only to find men to cross the Australian continent,
but to relieve and restore other explorers who have failed in that
hazardous attempt.
Mr. Burke's party consists of himself as leader, Mr. Wills,
astronomer and surveyor, and who is second in command,--two men,
six camels, and one horse. Dr. Wills, who is now in Adelaide,
having come round from Melbourne with the additional camels, says
that the two camels which a short time since made their way into
this colony overland, and were brought to town from Truro, were two
out of the three that belonged to his son, and that they were
allowed to stray, by a man left in charge of them whilst Mr. Wills
was engaged in some astronomical pursuits. The man left the camels
to make some tea, and, on his return, the animals had disappeared.
Two of them, as already stated, have been recovered, but no tidings
have been received of the third, unless it be the one recently said
to have arrived at Fort Bourke. We hope we shall soon have further
information, not only respecting Burke and his party, but also of
Stuart, the time of whose anticipated return now draws on rapidly.
***We had scarcely written the above lines when we received a
private telegram, informing us that Mr. Stuart was on his way to
Adelaide.
This intelligence raised my sinking hopes to a high pitch. I felt
convinced that this was the missing party. The black fellow had
described the animals, which the natives called "gobble gobble,"
from the noise they made in their throats. Mr. McKinlay put little
faith in the story; and I was vexed to hear by the next report from
him that he was not hastening to the rescue. But it would then have
been too late. The white men alluded to were, unquestionably,
Burke, my son, and King, with exaggeration as to their being
without clothes, and living on a raft.
Shortly after this I returned to Melbourne, and in another week the
sad catastrophe became public beyond all further doubt. The
intelligence had reached Melbourne on a Saturday night. I was
staying at that time at the house of my kind friend Mr. Orkney. He
had gone to the opera with Mrs. Orkney and another lady, and came
home about half-past ten. I was surprised at their early return,
and thought something unpleasant must have happened. A servant came
to say that he wished to speak with me privately, and then I
received the terrible communication which had been announced at the
theatre during an interval between the acts. As soon as I had
sufficiently recovered the shock, we proceeded in a car to the
residence of Dr. Wilkie, the treasurer of the Committee. He had
heard a report, but was rather incredulous, as nothing official had
reached the Committee. At this moment, Dr. Macadam, the Honorary
Secretary, came in. He was perfectly bewildered, believed nothing,
and had received no telegram. "But," said I, "when were you at your
own house last?" "At seven o'clock," was the reply. "Good God!" I
exclaimed, "jump into the car." We proceeded to his house, and
there indeed was the telegram, which had been waiting for him some
hours.
The next morning, Sunday, November the 3rd, Brahe arrived at an
early hour at the Spencer-street Station, having been sent in by
Mr. Howitt with the journals and letters dug up in the cache at
Cooper's Creek. I was anxiously waiting his arrival. Dr. Macadam
was also there, and appeared confused, as if he had been up all
night. He insisted on dragging me on to the Governor's house, four
miles from Melbourne, Heaven only knows with what object. With some
difficulty I obtained from him possession of the bundle of papers,
and deposited them for safety in the hands of Dr. Wilkie. I have
nothing more to say of Dr. Macadam, except that I sincerely trust
it may never be my fortune to come in contact with him again, in
any official business whatever. He is a man of unbounded confidence
in his own powers, ready to undertake many things at the same time;
and would not, I suspect, shrink from including the honorary
governorship of the colony, if the wisdom of superior authority
were to place it at his disposal.