The Riots

A Personal Account of the Lambing Flat Riots...

In July 1861 the Bank of New South Wales posted George Ogilvy Pershaw to its Yass office. The road between Kiandra and Lambing Flat (now the site of Young) was infested with bushrangers but after successfully eluding a band of these robbers Pershaw arrived safely within a few miles of Lambing Flat. Here a young man on horseback intercepted him with the news that ' Lambing Flat was deserted; that there had been a great "Roll Up"; the bankers had fled to Yass with their treasure; the military had been telegraphed for, and had started from Sydney; that the court house had been burnt down by the mob and that the town was in a complete state of uproar.'

Preshaw dismissed this tale but, arrived at his destination, found it only too true. He had arrived in the midst of the most serious outbreak of anti-Chinese rioting on this notorious gold field. He telegraphed to Sydney for instructions and was told to proceed to Yass, which he did, arriving on the same day as the first detachment of military forces from Sydney 'about sixty or seventy marines.' The army subdued the rioters at Lambing Flat and shortly the bankers returned there. Further sporadic ant-Chinese outbreaks occurred. Preshaw therefore did not himself witness everything that he describe in the account below, but he had the benefit of early eye-witness accounts and his version is succinct and dispassionate.
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George Ogilvy Pershaw's account...

It will be well, before entering upon the details connected with the disturbances at Lambing Flat, to enquire what was the avowed cause of these riots. Avowed because I very much doubt weather the facts of the case were consistent with the avowed cause.

It must be borne in mind that for a long period there had been an almost utter stagnation in mining enterprise. The old diggings were not suitable for poor men; new rushes had become things of the past. Hundreds of diggers were scattered over vast tracks of country NSW and the adjoining colony, digging and prospecting but with scanty returns for their labour… [The Lambing Flat Field] held out great inducements to the miner, as in the early history of the field the deepest sinking was from 60 to 80 feet; and in many instances it was simply surface digging. It may, I presume, be considered as essentially a poor man’s field; every man that could and would work was enabled to make fair wages; while in very many instances the yield was above mere wages.

In 1861 the population was very large, numbering, according to the census, over 15,000 souls. It is painful to record that a great number of this vast crowd was composed of the worst class of men, and had it not been that there was in nearly every locality a wholesome leaven of true, noble-hearted men, ready at all times to stand loyal to the best interests of the State, it is impossible to imagine to what extent the lawlessness would have reached…

Every man who could use a pick and shovel was anxious to try his luck, and at last John Chinaman put in his appearance. I am no apologist for the Chinese; I do not advocate their claims as equal to those of our own countrymen; but still they have certain rights which ought not to be trampled upon. As soon as John got a footing on Lambing Flat he communicated with his countrymen, and they came up from all quarters and commenced their digging operations. Europeans, as a rule, are not fond of small earnings on a gold-field. John is perfectly satisfied with fair wages. The Europeans take up a certain localities , work for a short time, are dissatisfied, rush off to a new place, and the abandoned ground is forthwith occupied by the Chinese. Perhaps within a few weeks the same Europeans are again disappointed and return to their old quarters, to find they have really abandoned a good claim, which is being assiduously worked by John Chinaman. It seldom happens that Chinese take up new ground… The consequence of all this was an appeal to the Gold Commissioners with the usual list of complaints about the Chinese, “That they spoil the water; are dirty and filthy in their habits; take up more groundthan they are entitled to.”

The Commissioners can do nothing, so the diggers will, and at it they go to drive John off the field… The water question had, in truth, as little to do with the riots as the writer of tehse lines; it was simply that the Europeans wanted, and would have, the ground occupied by the Chinese.

By what means did they obtain the end sought for? The first step taken was to form a Miner’s League. The manifesto of this body was a strong appeal to the Government to bring about certain reforms, and dictating, in rather strong terms, what was the duty of the Crown to these diggers. The document was… a very extravagant appeal for redress of certain grievances which scarcely existed, and even if in existence, were greatly exaggerated.

After the first Chinese riot the then Goldfields’ Commissioners applied to the Government for more police protection, and the response was a large addition of troopers, foot police and detectives.

Within about three months of the time at which the events transpired which are here narrated, the population on the goldfields at Burrangong (… and extending over a large tract of country) numbered over 15,000 souls… it is questionable whether there were at any time more than 2,000 Chinamen located on this field. These Mongolians were scattered about in small encampments of a few hundreds in each on various parts of the diggings. One of the first decisive demonstrations emanated at Stony Creek, Spring Creek and Wombat, and at last culminated in a processional march of some 6,000 diggers, armed with pick handles, revolvers, bowie knives , etc., and headed by a brass band and banners. The object of the demonstration was to threaten the several storekeepers in the township, and to fire their premises if they… continued to supply the Chinamen with provisions.

A certain large storekeeper in Main-street was particularly obnoxious to these diggers, and it was only by great persuasion that the mob were induced to waive their threats and pass the doomed premises. The inside of the store presented the appearance of a place about to be besieged. Several of the friends of the storekeeper were secreted on the premises, determined to give a warm reception to the first that endeavored to force an entrance.

The Oriental Bank was the adjoining building, in which a detective police officer and the special correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald were located, and remained all night, keeping a sharp look-out through the chinks of the building at what was going on outside- anyting but a comfortable position, as the “Special” was particularly disliked by the rioters in consequence of his pen striking hard blows against actions disloyal to the Government. So much did the rioters dislike anyone who dared to write on the side of the law and order that a halt was made in the main street, and after yells and jeers, it was determined to proceed en masse to the Great Eastern Hotel, and then and there bring the “Special” to summary punishment. On they marched and stormed the Great Eastern, calling upon the landlord to bring out the special. After convincing the men that he was not in the house they deliberately fired a volley through the roof of the hotel, and spent the night in a regular carouse, camping in the street, and drinking to excess. The landlord took over £ 80 in cash during the night for nobblers; several cases of gin, brandy, etc were thrown to the mob to prevent them from sacking the house.

The moral effect of this demonstration was to produce a painful distrust of public peace and safety… This lawless mob scarcely represented the true miner. Many of them were doubtless gold diggers, but the majority were men abandoned to all respect of civil rights; many adventurers of the lowest type… After the demonstration crime was greatly on the increase… and step by step the evil advanced till the crisis arrived.

In speaking of the leaders of the anti-Chinese movement… for whose apprehension the Government offered a reward of £ 100 each- Messrs. Spicer, Cameron and Stewart- it is only fair to state that the movement which was inaugurated by them had assumed such gigantic proportions that they were unable to wield the weapon they themselves forged. They were not parties to, nor did they sanction the cruelties that were committed against the unfortunate Celestials… Blackguard Gully appeared to be rightly named, for in this locality… a regular and systematic mode of procedure was initiated to hunt down and drive off the Celestials, and burn and pillage their encampments.

Sunday being a leisure day with the miners, it was not an uncommon thing to hear the band playing a lively air, such as “Cheer boys, Cheer”, etc., and see a mob of 2,000 or 3,000 men proceeding under their leaders with banners and flags often ornamented with the pigtails of some unfortunate Chinaman, to the nearest Chinese encampment.

It will suffice for the present to give us nearly as possible a sketch of one such Sunday scene. On this occasion the procession arrived in Burrowa-street from Tipperary Gully, collecting stragglers on the way, till the mob numbered about 2,000 men, they turned the corner into Main-street and proceeded… towards Victoria Hill. On this hill were located hill were located about 300 Chinese, a neater little canvas town could not well be found. The Chinese here were making fair wages; they were industriously plying their callings, and interfering with no one.

On marched the mob, and as they neared the encampment made a run for it, and, with yells and hoots, hunted and whipped the Chinamen off, knocking them down with butt ends of their whips, galloping after them, and using the cruelest torture upon the poor defenseless creatures; in many cases pulling their pig-tails out by the roots, and planting their fresh trophies on their banners. Not satisfied with this, their next step was to rifle the tents of all the gold, and then deliberately fire every tent in the encampment. In less than two hours, all that remained of the camp… was a heap of smoldering ruins. The Chinamen were severely handled, one poor fellow was knocked down by a horseman with a loaded whip, and his forehead cut in a most frightful manner. It is questionable whether he recovered.

The procession then reformed, the band struck up “Rule Britannia”, and proceeded to the encampment at Back Creek. They met an old grey-headed man who volunteered to act as a guide; the march was proceeded with, and after a walk of nearly five miles, the larger encampment was reached.

The Back Creek encampment mustered about 500 Chinese; these were treated as badly as (if not worse than) those at Victoria Hill. One poor creature, a Britisher, who was married to a Chinaman, was maltreated by the mob, and her infant, lying at the same time in the cradle, narrowly escaped- the wretches setting fire to the cradle… Scarcely had the encampment been destroyed and the Chinese hunted away when these men jumped their claims. So matters went on until the police force was augmented… A raid was made upon a small Chinese encampment at Blackguard Gully, and information being conveyed to the police, a body of troopers was dispatched to arrest any person or persons found molesting the Chinese.

Three men were arrested and marched to the lock-up… The police were called in from all parts of the diggings, and every available man was placed under arms to protect the police court and lock-up. Soon it became whispered about that an effort was to be made to rescue the prisoners, and that a grand “roll-up” would take place that night. The arrests took place in the afternoon, and no stir was perceptible until nearly dusk, when ominous sounds were heard in the distance, and after a while the strains of music, and the deafening and defiant shouts of a vast mob could be distinctly heard, the mob steadily but surely advancing on the police camp from Stony Creek, Spring Creek, and Wombat. On came the mob, augmenting its numbers until it reached 3,000, and on they marched, yelling defiance at the police.

Directly in front of the police camp there was a stout three-rail fence, and through here the mob halted, and with threats and shouts demanded the instant release of the three prisoners… Captain Zouch, not wishing to go to extremes until every effort had been made to appease the turbulent spirit of the mob, left the steps of the court-house. Having first taken off his sword, and placed it and his revolver in the court-house, he proceeded to harangue the mob, cautioning them of the trouble they were likely to bring on themselves, and declaring most emphatically that as long as he had a man left he would retain possession of the prisoners at all hazards; he told them the prisoners would get a fair trial, and could see their solicitors if they wished. The Riot Act was then read by Commissioner Griffin. This was received with clamour. After vainly endevouring to reason with the rioters, the Captain returned to the court-house, resumed his sword and revolver, and waited events.

Not many minutes elapsed before the suspense was brought to an end by the mob firing several shots at the police, whereupon the foot police (sixteen in number, under Inspector Sanderson) were ordered to fire. Fortunately for the mob the police fired high. The fire only effect on one man killed, and another man, not engaged in the affray, but standing at his tent door in the township, was wounded on the knee with a spent ball. Nothing daunted, the mob fired again and again. The mounted police (twenty-four in number, lead by Sub-Inspector M’Lerie) then charged; the effect was instantaneous, the mob making a most ignominious retreat, helter-skelter down the hill and through the creek, leaving behind them a miscellaneous collection of hats, caps, sticks, guns, etc. Many a foolish fellow will remember that retreat as long as life lasts. Many a scar from the broadswords of the troopers told a sad tale, one man receiving a sword cut across his face, severing his nose, etc.

Four of the police were wounded, Sargeant Brennan on the arm, and several horses, one… receiving eight bullet wounds. Of the mob one was killed, and about sixteen wounded, the latter mostly by saber custs. The small number of casualties may be attributed solely to the darkness of the night.

… No attempt was made to take any fresh prisoners; all the police were anxious to do was to hold their own. The poor fellow (Lupton) who was killed was conveyed to the Empire Hotel, where it was ascertained that he had been shot through the heart… Captain Zouch made inquiries as to what programme was to be promulgated next by the rioters, and it became certain that a more determined and well-matured plan was propounded to rescue the prisoners, and make a terrible example of the police. To this end it was believed by the police authorities that large numbers of guns and other firearms had been put into requisition, and that some thousands of bullets had been moulded to attack the camp… the police force had been under arms with their horses as long as it was prudent, the ammunition was exhausted… There being no chance of obtaining reinforcements from Sydney (300 miles distant) in time to quell the riot, Captain Zouch and the Gold Commissioners consulted together and determined to effect a retreat to Yass, 65 miles distant, and there await reinforcements…

The whole of the police force, together with the Gold Commissioners, beat a retreat, opened the prison doors and released the three prisoners together with others charged with other offences, and thus left the goldfields to the mercy of the mob. The several banking establishments conveyed their specie, etc., away during the night, and then to add to the consternation and alarm, it was discovered early next morning that the court-house had been burnt down to the ground… It was generally believed to be the act of a poor insane man who was liberated from custody and who was to be taken to the mad-house…

Poor Lupton was buried, some 3,000 people following his remains to the cemetery, where an oration was made by one of the leaders. Fifteen thousand souls without a solitary policeman was a nice state of affairs, yet strange to say there was very little crime during the interregnum. Talk of martial law and all the concomitant evils were first indulged in, and at length it was determined to dispatch a detachment of military and men-of-war sailors from Sydney to the Flat. The force sent on this occasion consisted of one detachment of the 12th regiment. One party of artillery with one gun.

Seventy-five marines from the Fawn, under Captain Cator; and 20 police; in all about 200 men, the whole commanded by Colnel Kempt.

The march from Sydney was long and tedious, but at length the force arrived, and inspired the people with renewed confidence… The morning after their arrival a force of 100 men, consisting of sailors, foot police, and a part of the 12th regiment… proceeded to Tipperary Gully… [and arrested four rioters, two robbers, and one deserter from the ship Nile.] No resistance of any kind was offered, the appearance of Inspector Sanderson causing only a feeble attempt to “Joe” the crowd. The ship’s gun, or as it is more affectionately called, the “bull pup”, accompanied the forces.

So ended what was considered by many to be a governmental farce, costing the country at least £ 50,000. Not one of the leaders had yet been arrested, although £ 100 reward for each was offered. At length… two of the leaders gave themselves up to the police by the hands of a friend, thus obtained the reward, and were brought up for trial and aquitted; the last one… by what was considered to be a miscarriage of justice, was convicted and suffered imprisonment in the Berrima gaol.

… I have endeavoured to get particulars as to how this amount [of £ 50,000] was made up, but have been unsuccessful.

The only reliable information I can gather is that–

Amount voted for the first expedition was £9,506

Further amount voted 1,500

Amount voted for second expedition 9,630

Amount for maintainence of military at Lambing Flat 500

Amount voted for rations supplied to Chinamen 2,099

Compensation to Chinese 4,240

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£27,476

This, however, was only about half the actual cost ….From the financial statement of the Hon. Elias Carpenter Weeks, made on the 7th August, 1862, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, the following paragraph appears:- “There is a sum of £2099 for rations supplied to Chinese during the Burrangong Riots. It is well known that the Chinese were off the Burrangong goldfields during these riots. They took refuge at a squattage on the road to Yass, where they were absolutely starving. The owner of the squattage undertook to supply them with sufficient food to keep them from starving. They were kept there in this way for some time, but no longer than was absolutely necessary, and the cost of rations supplied was £2,099. There is next a sum of £4,240 for compensation to Chinese for losses sustained by them during the Burrangong riots. This has been found to be a most tedious and difficult matter to settle. There were no less than 1568 claims made, and of these 706 were admitted. The amount claimed was £40,623 9s 9d., whilst the amount admitted or proved out of this was £4,240.

Reference: History of Australian Gold Rushes, edited by Nancy Keesing