Difference between revisions of "George Train"
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==Goldfields Involvement, 1854== | ==Goldfields Involvement, 1854== | ||
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| + | In his book ''A Yankee Merchant in Goldrush Australia'' Train described the [[James Scobie]] affair: | ||
| + | :''Last week the diggers rose en masse against a judicial decision which liberated a notorious publican by the name of Bently , who was arrested for murder. That night mob law was supreme! Ten thousand men surrounded the house of Bently, which had been a rendezvous of a desperate gang of Vandiemonians, and, in spite of military, police, special constables, and the whole government power, the hotel and surrounding buildings were burned to the ground. After which , the ringleaders were taken, but the mob demanded them to be given up, which demand was complied with, As soon as the news came to town troops and cannon were immediately sent up, with orders to 'maintain the law, regardless of life or cost,' and 'tis anticipated that blood will be shed. The diggers have felt their power,, and are not likely to fall back for a handful of soldiers.'' <ref>Train, George F. A Yankee Merchant in Goldrush Australia, William Heinemann Australia Pty Ltd, 1970.</ref> | ||
George Train was involved in protecting James McGill after the eureka Stockade. The story was told 50 years later in the pages of the Evening Echo:- | George Train was involved in protecting James McGill after the eureka Stockade. The story was told 50 years later in the pages of the Evening Echo:- | ||
Revision as of 10:35, 17 June 2013
Contents
Background
George Francis Train was born on 24 March 1829 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.[1]
The letters of George Francis Train, written for American newspapers, provide an insight into life on the Victorian goldfields between 1853 and 1855 Train was a Methodist who abstained form alcohol and tobacco all his life. He started as a clerk in his father’s cousin, Enoch’s, firm of Train and Company. [2]
Train married Wilhelmina Wilkinson Davis on 5 October 1851, emigrating to Australia on the Bavaria in 1853. He had a store at 13 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne where they sold a variety of goods, represented the White Star shipping line and acted as insurance agents. Train, along with Caldwell, became active in matters of commerce and members of the Chamber of Commerce. Train visited the goldfields and Geelong. He claimed that a well-known American participant in the Eureka Affair had sought firearms from him in December 1854. [3]
Wilhelmina Train returned to Boston in 1854, and George Train returned to the USA in 1855. Train separated from his wife in 1872. He was an enthusiastic, generous and enterprising man who died in New York on 18 January 1904. Throughout his life he supported causes such as the Fenians, and women’s suffrageresulting in several imprisonments.[4]
Goldfields Involvement, 1854
In his book A Yankee Merchant in Goldrush Australia Train described the James Scobie affair:
- Last week the diggers rose en masse against a judicial decision which liberated a notorious publican by the name of Bently , who was arrested for murder. That night mob law was supreme! Ten thousand men surrounded the house of Bently, which had been a rendezvous of a desperate gang of Vandiemonians, and, in spite of military, police, special constables, and the whole government power, the hotel and surrounding buildings were burned to the ground. After which , the ringleaders were taken, but the mob demanded them to be given up, which demand was complied with, As soon as the news came to town troops and cannon were immediately sent up, with orders to 'maintain the law, regardless of life or cost,' and 'tis anticipated that blood will be shed. The diggers have felt their power,, and are not likely to fall back for a handful of soldiers. [5]
George Train was involved in protecting James McGill after the eureka Stockade. The story was told 50 years later in the pages of the Evening Echo:-
- ... By advice of the notorious G.F. Train, then Melbourne agent for the White Star Company's line of ships, Magill, [sic] disguised afresh in man's attire, went on board the Arabian as an officer of the ship. In the meantime Train and another American citizen interposed on behalf of their compatriot, whose youth - he was then about 21 years old - they pleased in bar of grave punishment.
- Train sent to Magill [sic] one day, got him ashore, took him to Sir Charles Hotham's at Toorak, and after a brief interview the Governor, who expressed surprise at Magill's [sic]youth, bowed them on hopefully. Train next informed his client that the government would not interfere to prevent his escape if he left the colony forthwith. Magill, [sic] however, still be the watchful Train's agency, was passed on the health officer's quarters at Port Phillip Heads, where he remained until the acquittal of the State prisoners proclaimed liberty to all the compromised.[6]
Post 1854 Experiences
In 1872 Train ran for President of the United States as an independent candidate. That year, he was jailed for having defended Victoria Woodhull against obscenity charges for an issue her newspaper had published on an alleged adulterous affair. Despite his many business successes in early life, he was known as an increasingly eccentric figure in American and Australian history.[7]
In the News
- SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.- January 9. - Red Jacket, ship, 1649 tons, Martin Massey Millward, for Liverpool. Passengers - cabin: Mr. and Mrs. John Wilkinson, Messrs. Henry Baker, J. B. Burrell, C. J. Nunn, James Buick, Lewis Hellbrom, Lewis Levy, G. G. B. Cooper, J. M. Turpin, J. W. Creeth, Richard Boyer, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Woods and child, Messrs. John R. Ricards, Charles Wurcherer, Alexander McDonnell, Bradley, Heigh, Jeremiah Peel, Mrs. J. T. Saunders, Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Hooper, and twenty-six second class, and one hundred and ninety eight steerage and intermediate passengers. George F. Train and Co., agents. [8]
See also
Further Reading
Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
Train, G.F, A Yankee Merchant in Goldrush Australia,
References
- ↑ Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
- ↑ Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
- ↑ Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
- ↑ Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
- ↑ Train, George F. A Yankee Merchant in Goldrush Australia, William Heinemann Australia Pty Ltd, 1970.
- ↑ Evening Echo, 1904.
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Francis_Train.
- ↑ The Argus, 10 January 1856.
External links
