John Sadlier
Contents
Background
John Sadlier was born in Ireland.
Goldfields Involvement, 1854
Post 1854 Experiences
In The News
- TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS. - Sir-I think that any person knowing Mr. Oddie would know he would not exaggerate about the Eureka Stockade. I wish to inform Mr. Sadlier I am the person who conveyed the bodies of Gittens and O'Neill to Ballarat Cemetery on that memorable 3rd of December, 1854, and on the body of one of those there were 10 wounds. I will let the public of the present day judge for themselves whether that was butchery or not.
- Yours. &c., . M. BOLGER.[1]
- OLD COLONIAL DAYS. - There is a growing interest in the early annals of Australia, which many writers have sought to gratify, the latest being Mr. John Sadlier, late inspecting superintendent of police in Victoria. Born in Ireland, he sailed as a lad for Melbourne in 1852 and soon afterwards joined the police cadets, a force of about 250 men, recruited from all classes. There was then great need for their services, especially at night, when Melbourne was badly lighted and the streets swarmed with criminals from Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales. After months of hard drilling, our author was drafted with some of his companions to Ballarat. At that time there was no lock-up and prisoners were tethered to a tree, which exposed them to all climatic conditions. Subsequently they were given the protection of a log hut. One of his earliest prisoners was a fellow-passenger, who had been caught stealing potatces. He pleaded want, but the law had small pity on starving men. Another fellow-passenger our author encountered under more tragic circumstances. He was rolling about, covered with blood, in a dry-watercourse. and when asked his name could only articulate "Mossell."' To a question as to his assailant his reply invariably was, "You did; you did, " suggesting that be still thought himself in the company of the criminal, probably a familiar acquaintance:- The marks on the ground all round showed signs of a fierce struggle. The unfortunate fellow's face and hands were covered with congealed blood. Conveyed to Ballarat, he was washed and his wounds examined. He resisted every attempt to remove his trousers. I thought I recognised him as young Maunsell, a fellow-passenger in the Great Britain: but his face and head were so battered and disfigured that his most intimate friend could not make sure of his identity. Maunsell. who was the son of a clergyman, lived but a day or two, and was buried in the clothes in which he was found. A week or so later it transpired that Mannsell. with a man named Sexton, had left for Ballarat, having a considerable sum in notes sewn into his pocket, with the intention of buying gold. The body was disinterred and the notes found in the trousers. Sexton made away to some South American port and was there lost sight of. ... [2]
See also
Further Reading
Blake, Gregory, To Pierce the Tyrant's Heart,Australian Military History Publications, 2009.
References
External links
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Caption, Reference.
