WOMEN IN THE GOLDFIELDS
For the benefit of ladies in England, Clacy noted the evidence of women on the gold fields:
"In some tents, the soft influence of our sex is pleasingly apparent: the tins are as bright as silver, there are sheets as well as blankets on the beds, and perhaps a clean counterpane, with the addition of a dry sack or piece of carpet on the ground; whilst a pet cockatoo, chained to a perch, makes noise enough to keep the ‘missus’ from feeling lonely when the good man is at work." On the treatment of women on the gold fields, Clacy notes: "Although rough in their manners and not over select in their address, the digger seldom willfully injures a woman; in fact, a regular Vandemonian will, in his way, play the gallant with as great a zest as a fashionable about town – at any rate, with more sincerity of heart ".
FEMALES TO THE RESCUE
On their return journey to Melbourne, Ellens digging party was lured into a trap by bushrangers, pretending to be victims of bushrangers themselves. As the digging party worked to free two men, supposedly tied by bushrangers, Ellen and Jessie, an orphan girl the digging party had taken in, were standing to the side "spell-bound by the incident, and incapable of rendering any assistance". When the men tied to the tree were freed, four well-armed men appeared out of the bushes and overwhelmed the digging party.
"It was a fearful sight, and I can hardly describe my feelings as I witnessed it. My brain seemed on fire, the trees appeared to reel around me, when a cold touch acted as a sudden restorative, and almost forced a scream from my lips. It was Jessie’s hand, cold as marble, touching mine. We spoke together in a low whisper, and both seem inspired by the same thoughts, the same hope." Jessie and Clacy crept from the scene to a small hill that commanded a view of the Black Forest. From the sound of voices they concluded that the bushrangers were leading their men back to the spot they had camped that night. "Jessie seemed listening intently. The time she had spent in the bush and at the diggings had wonderfully refined her sense of hearing. Suddenly she gave a shrill ‘coo-ey’. The moment after a shot was fired in the direction of our late camp. Jessie turned even paler, but recovering herself, ‘coo-ey’ after ‘coo-ey’ made the echoes ring. I joined my feeble efforts to hers but she was evidently well used to this peculiar call. On a fine still day, this cry will reach for full three miles, and we counted upon this fact for obtaining some assistance.
‘Women in danger!’ shouted a manly voice, and several stalwart figures bounded to our side." Clacy writes that she scarcely remembers what happened after that, she was so dizzy with relief, only that shots were fired at retreating bushrangers and her brother and friends were safe and free.
3 WOMEN PANNING FOR GOLD