Macquarie Harbour . 
363 
It was soon perceived there was something wrong 
amongst the prisoners ; and the Commandant succeeded 
in reaching the boat, and in pushing off just before the 
fellows ran to seize her. The poor Doctor (Garrett) was 
not so fortunate, he was taken prisoner by the gang, who, 
after a kind of council of war, determined to give the 
Doctor, in his own person, an example of the scenes he 
had often witnessed—the application of the cat-o’nine- 
tails. The instrument of torture was in a few minutes 
prepared and ready for action. It was in vain that the 
intended victim attempted to expostulate,—it was in vain 
that argument in arrest of judgment flowed from his 
trembling lips : he was ordered to strip. There appeared 
no remedy ; and he had slowly managed to get oft* his 
coat, when a deliverer appeared in the shape of JBrady, 
who had been a patient in the hospital, and kindly treated 
by Dr. Garrett: he would not allow him to be touched. 
It is easier to conceive than to describe the delight which 
his escape caused to the worthy Doctor. 
The men made good their escape in the open boat, 
though closely pursued by the pilot, Mr. Lucas, a most 
active and determined man, who, during the time he was 
stationed at Macquarie Harbour, became the terror of 
the runaways ; for they scarcely ever entertained hopes of 
escape when they knew lie was pursuing them. 
Several murders were committed at this time; and 
three men who had been sent to Ilobart Town, and there 
convicted of murder, were sent back under charge of the 
Under Sheriff, Mr. C. Abbott, to be executed at the set¬ 
tlement. There was no clergyman to prepare these 
unhappy men to meet their awful fate. They died hard¬ 
ened and impenitent. This event did not make the im¬ 
pression which it was expected to do on the prisoners,_ 
for murders were afterwards often attempted, unfortu¬ 
nately in many instances with too fatal a result. 
