THE REVOLT OF THE DIGGERS 45 



The escape of Peter Lalor has more interest for Victorians 

 because of the important part he played in the colony's affairs 

 when it fully achieved self-government. 



When the last of the police had finally cleared away after 

 removing the dead bodies from the stockade, some miners dis- 

 covered Lalor helpless in his burrow. With great caution they 

 succeeded in smuggling him out into the bush, and there they 

 procured a horse on which they held him, while he made for the 

 hut of a friend in the ranges. The night was spent in wandering 

 at large in the bush. At daybreak next morning, in great pain and 

 faint from loss of blood, he reached the hut of a mining mate, 

 Steve Cummins, where he was given food and rest and an attempt 

 was made to dress his wound. His host, however, saw that the 

 wound was too serious for amateur treatment ; moreover, he knew 

 that the police were aware of his friendship for Lalor, and felt that 

 they would be stimulated by the reward offered to search his place, 

 so he consulted Father Smyth as to the best means of securing 

 surgical assistance and safety for his friend. The generous priest 

 at once assured him of both if he would bring Lalor to the presby- 

 tery under cover of night. This was done, and in that sanctuary 

 Drs. Doyle and Stewart amputated the arm from the shoulder 

 joint, for the long delay in dressing it, and its rough usage, had 

 destroyed all hope of saving the limb. The suspicions of Cummins 

 about the police were fully justified, for at the very time the opera- 

 tion was in progress the troopers were ransacking his dwelling for 

 traces of the man, who was worth 200 to them. As soon as he 

 was able to be moved, Lalor was transferred to the secret custody 

 of a friendly storekeeper at Brown's Hill, with a view to getting a 

 passage to Geelong. Eventually he was safely conveyed to his 

 destination by a carrier, named Michael Carroll and his son, who 

 knew the risk they were running, and, scorning the temptation of the 

 reward which obtruded itself by placards all along the route, were 

 satisfied to have done a friendly turn to a man they admired with- 

 out seeking any pecuniary recompense. Lalor passed the two days' 

 journey lying under a tilt on one of the drays, for his wound was 

 still unhealed and he was very weak. They had some hairbreadth 

 escapes from recognition by the way, meeting many inquisitive 



