Ravenswood Dreaming, page 13
The establishment which had caught his attention turned out to be a neatly constructed rectangular wooden shed. Above the door a professionally painted black and white sign read GENERAL STORE Leake, Samson and McDermot.
The building had obviously been prefabricated and brought to the settlement by ship. The timber was neatly cut and fitted together by artisans. It had proper window frames with shutters and a properly fitted door and door frame.
John could not resist the temptation to enter the store and have a look around.
He pushed open the door and quite slowly entered. A warm and enthusiastic greeting came from the back of the shop. Good day sir, can I be of any help?
John could not see the source of the greeting but he answered anyway. No thank you I have not come in to purchase anything in particular. I was attracted by your fine premises and thought I might come in and see what merchandise you have for sale.
The proprietor came forward and appeared from behind a stack of boxes. He introduced himself and offered John his hand. Lionel Sampson, part owner of this shop. You are most welcome to take a look around.
John reached forward and shook the hand that had been offered to him. Very pleased to make your acquaintance Mr Samson. I am John Thomas, the younger. I have just arrived from Clarence, the Peel Scheme, just south of here.
Ah! yes, I have met your father and brother and the two little ones only about a week ago. Sad business about your mother.
Yes, we are glad to put that place behind us. John shook his head.
I have not heard much that is any good that has come out of that venture, Lionel Sampson agreed. Your father told me that you have been working on the timber mill down there for the best part of a year.
Yes, I have, it was necessary as my father was very ill with the dysentery and couldn’t work and he had my younger brother and sister to take care of.
Tell me John, did you ever have any trouble with the blacks when you were out in the forest?
Not so much trouble, but groups of them paid us a visit on several occasions and practically demanded flour. The foreman at the mill didn’t want any problems so he usually gave them a bag and they left us alone.
There have been a few problems around the settlement. They seem to have got a taste for flour and ask for it or should I say demand it, whenever they get the opportunity. They know that I have a variety of goods in stock. Towards the end of last year, a troublesome old bastard, Midgegooroo, came in here demanding a bag of flour. One of my assistants, James Lacey, gave him some biscuits to get rid of him. He wasn’t happy and became aggressive so I showed him the door. Next thing he picked up a spear that he had left out near the road and threw it at me. It went clean through the open door and stuck in the back wall of the shop. I chased him off with a pickaxe which I threw down but when I turned my back he ran forward and picked it up and made like he was going to throw it at me. I ran inside and slammed the door shut and slid the bolt, so he threw the pickaxe down the well.
Mr Samson, I must tell you it was the same man. Mr Samson looked confused. The Aboriginal man that attacked you here was the same man that came to the timber mill and asked for flour. Had a large lump on his forehead.
Yes, that’s him. The realisation of what John had just said spread over Lionel Sampson’s face. Well he gets around doesn’t he. Who would have thought… Cunning old bugger. He shook his head. I always keep a loaded gun handy now.
Anyway, John please look around. We practically sell anything and everything. Any questions I’ll be over in the corner. I am just weighing up some rice into smaller bags.
John began to move slowly around the shop. There certainly was an impressive variety. Over in the corner where Lionel was working he could see were various bulk lots of food, about eight to ten large bags of rice, bags of flour, oats, sugar and potatoes. Chests of tea, casks of vinegar, small casks of gin, a large barrel of pickled pork, bread, cheese, rum and more that he did not recognize. In another part of the shop were tools and instruments, some of which he was familiar with. Saws, hand saws, cross cut saws, chains and pulleys and wedges. Carpenters’ hammers, sledge hammers, spikes, steel nails, copper nails, a boot last and boxes of shoe tacks. Squares and rules and a jack plane.
And still it went on; pots, pans, knives, forks and spoons. Plates, bowls, cups, saucers.
Stacks of linen as white as snow, towels, cloth, blankets. Underwear, socks trousers, dresses, boots and shoes, ladies and gentlemen’s hats and straw hats.
Finally, behind the counter, guns and powder and shot.
Find anything that takes your fancy? Mr Sampson was aware that John had done a complete circuit of the shop.
Yes sir, there are plenty of things that take my fancy, but first I must find employment and make some money.
Oh, I am sure that a young, strong and healthy lad like yourself will not be out of work for long. Mr Samson was very encouraging
Well thank you for that Mr Sampson. I will be on my way now I still have a bit of exploring to do.
John opened the door and resumed his walk along the road. He hadn’t gone fifty yards when he realised that there was yet another establishment on his left. A rather large hut constructed of timbers sunk vertically into the ground and sealed completely with some kind of mortar or mud. The whole lot had been white washed and, though rough finished, looked quite grand and substantial. It had a large door in the centre of the front wall and windows with shutters on either side. A sign hanging from the face board above the door read WINE and SPIRIT MERCHANT Alexander Francisco proprietor.
Things were certainly on the move and improving he thought. That makes three business premises he had passed. A boatbuilder, a general store and a liquor merchant. These premises were complemented by other enterprises like Dan Mason’s transport business, William Keats’ fishing and river transport and Ben Cook selling tent poles and ridge poles and other timber. Soon there will be a small town and the beginnings of a business district. It was food for thought. He wondered what other services could form the basis for starting a business.
Within minutes he had yet another example of the ingenuity of the settlers. He passed a horse and cart loaded with sawn firewood. The driver introduced himself as Matthew Hawkins, supplier of fine dry firewood. Eight shillings a load. One load a day. Hard work but I make a good honest living. He said his hut was up on the high ground east of where they were. But he was often away in the bush cutting and sawing the wood. Just hail me as I go past, just a few days before you need the wood and I’ll do my best to get it to you.
John thanked him for that information and Matthew said goodbye, flicked the reins and the horse plodded off up the road. It was valuable information as they were now nearly into June and a supply of good dry wood was necessary to get them through the winter.
Over the next two weeks John caught a ride with Dan down to the river front to inquire if any of the boats were short-handed but unfortunately no ships had come in and there was very little cargo to be shifted up the river. Each day, old John and the two children cut across country to the river foreshore south of the landing place to a spot where Old John had been told a lot of paper bark trees grew. Young John joined them and they spent the mornings stripping the bark off the trees and stacking and tying it into bundles to thatch the roof of their lean-to shelter between the two tents. Since it was light weight they then carried the bundles back to the block and John and his father began the job of constructing the roof which would prevent the rain from putting out the fire during the remaining wet season and provide them with shelter for cooking and shade when the hot summer weather came again. This job progressed quickly with the two of them working on it and by the afternoon of the fourth day they had a thick waterproof layer fastened down with ropes and saplings over the whole structure.
Bad weather from the north west had been building up for several days. Both James and John had gone down to the river foreshore and assisted William Keats to haul his boat up well above the flood level and fasten it to stout posts just in case. The river was expected to rise three to four feet above the normal tidal level as the water flowing down the river backed up against the wind and waves at the mouth. Two days after the completion of the shelter the storm broke. They were well prepared, having experienced the severe storm when the Rockingham was wrecked on the beach at Clarence. Extra guy-ropes were attached to the tents and the gutters improved and directed away towards the road. They had not taken any short cuts with the ropes and saplings holding the roof on the shelter and while they expected some damage they felt sure the structure would remain intact. The five members of the Thomas family settled down in the most robust tent to wait out the worst of the storm which lasted for a night and a day. The wind eased towards the twenty-hour mark and they were able to venture outside for the last three hours of daylight. Their thorough preparation had paid off as the camp had only sustained minor damage. The fly sheet on the other tent had torn at two of the corners and it had been flung over the tent and was lying in a muddy mess on the ground. Some bits and pieces had been ripped off the new roof of the shelter. Both could be repaired at no great cost.
By the end of the week things had settled down in the port but the traffic up the river would not resume for a few days. On the Wednesday morning Dan Mason stopped his dray at the corner of the block and hailed them. He had a message from one of the boatmen that he was short one crew member and he was prepared to give Young John a job for a few days on a trial basis. It could be the opportunity that he had been waiting for. Dan waited for a couple of minutes while Young John got his lunch and water bottle together and picked up a warm jacket. He then said good bye to his father and the younger children and climbed up next to Dan and they were off down the road. When they arrived at the landing place on the banks of the river Dan pointed out the boat that was in need of a crew member. Young John jumped down off the dray and made his way across the sand. He could see a man in the boat tending to some of the rigging that was attached to the sail. Excuse me sir, I was told that you were in need of a crew member for your boat. The man raised his head and looked up at John. To his surprise it was William Ward, their neighbour from Clarence. Mr Ward I wasn’t expecting you to be here.
Well I was expecting you, William replied. When I heard about this young strapping fellow, John Thomas, who was looking for work on one of the river boats I thought that chap will do me for a crew member.
Mr Ward I am practically untried as a boatman.
Don’t worry about that John. I know that you worked for over a year at the saw mill. Wielding an axe and using cross-cut and pit-saws is tough work, so I know you’ve got the strength, stamina and will power to make a good boatman. We’ll show you the ropes. You’ll pick it up quickly, it’s not that difficult.
Well thanks for the opportunity. I will give it my best and you can count on me to turn up for work each day and on time, John assured him.
I know I can John. I saw how you stuck to the work at the mill and helped support your father through a most difficult time. That took great courage.
John sat on the gunnel of the boat and continued to talk to Mr Ward while he busied himself splicing some ropes. They caught up on all that had been happening to their families since Mr Ward and his boys had left Clarence.
They talked about what work they had been doing and how the chance to become a boatman had become available and what a good business it was and how the work was slowly picking up as more and more settlers arrived. He had used his last capital to purchase the boat. The boat was making a steady income but it was extremely difficult to manage with the three boys. They were living in a tent down on the front beach and a woman whose husband worked up river was keeping an eye on them during the day. At first, William had just been working the boat in the river, transporting goods and people up and down the river and ferrying people across the river. This had enabled him to learn the ins and outs of operating a boat in relatively safe waters. He now felt that he had enough skills to operate the boat up and down the river between Fremantle and Perth. He had employed a second crew member, James Gregory, whom he had met in the upper reaches of the Swan where his step father had a property. He was about eighteen years of age and like John needed to work to get some cash to help his family. He should be along in a while and the plan was to take the boat out at first in the river and then when they felt confident enough out through the mouth of the river for some sea trials.
James Gregory arrived about half an hour later and they immediately made ready to launch the boat. In all there were five oars on board. Four could be used by two people rowing and the fifth (the sweep oar) used at the stern of the boat. This fifth oar could be used to scull the boat over short distances and to manoeuvre the boat into position alongside jetties and ships. If the wind was favourable the boat could be sailed. This involved making sure that the rope which was used to hoist the sail was through the pulley at the top of the mast before the mast was slotted into position. Then before the sail was hoisted, fastening the forestay and the side stays to the ring bolts at the bow and the starboard and port sides.
The three of the them slid the boat out into the water. William climbed in and slotted the steering oar into the rowlock at the stern. He then instructed the two boys to climb in and as they did so he pushed off and sculled the boat out into deeper water. They practised all afternoon; preparing to row, (placing the oars in the rowlocks and getting ready to start) shipping the oars, (stowing the oars in the boat), tossing the oars (standing the oars up vertically with the blade in the air). They practised rowing forwards, rowing backwards and holding the boat steady. Finally, they each took a turn on the sweep.
Then they went through hoisting the sail and pulling the sail down. Fortunately, James was familiar and skilled at this procedure and John just followed his lead.
Eventually William was satisfied with their performance and they headed for shore. They unloaded the boat of the oars, mast and sail then pulled it up above the high-water mark and ran the bow rope out to a post driven into the sand.
The situation with the boat was that when they did not have cargo to go up to Perth they would go out fishing. The fish would be sold locally if there were any buyers, otherwise they would clean and salt it and either sell it to the store keepers in Fremantle or take it up to Perth for the market. Any fish that William thought was not worth selling they could keep and if it was a good catch he would allow them to take one good sized fish up to four pounds in weight. But that was up to his discretion. If the income from the fishing was enough they would be paid at the rate of one shilling an hour in addition to their fish allowance. Agreed?
They both agreed.
If either of you are not satisfied with that arrangement in the future or you feel it is unfair, speak up. The last thing I want is resentment on your part. We need to be honest and fair with one another. I’m the skipper of the boat and I need a happy crew so we can work together and trust one another. William held out his hand, do we have a deal?
They shook hands all round. Yes, we have a deal, they echoed.
William informed them that they were taking an order of barrels and casks of various products and bags of rice, potatoes and flour up the river to the landing at Perth, the main settlement. Dan Mason would be delivering the goods at eight o’clock the following morning.
He wanted them ready to start at seven-thirty at the property they were now going to walk to and where he kept the mast, sail and oars. He also reminded them that they would need to bring something to eat and water as it would be a long day. The two boys shouldered the mast and sail and picked up an oar each and William tied a rope around the three remaining oars so that he could carry all three on his shoulder. They then made their way slowly up over the sandhills to a quaint little dwelling made out of a horse box with a canvas lean-to on one side. William informed them that the hut belonged to a friend Richard Thorn, who was by trade a baker and cook. He allowed William to leave the oars mast and sail next to his hut for safe keeping. Apparently, Richard was in the process of building an outdoor oven with the idea of baking bread and selling it to other settlers from a wheel barrow. He had managed to obtain some bricks from one of the ships and had gone to Clarence for a day or so to try and make contact with one of Peel’s men who was producing quicklime of sorts by burning limestone. William was also going to make inquiries about obtaining quicklime and clay further up the Swan River. The clay would be useful to render the inside of the oven to protect the mortar from the fire.
It was still dark when Young John woke and quickly got dressed. His father was already up and had the fire going and was cooking some oats. James joined them and they sat around the fire sipping a scalding mug of black, sweet tea while they waited for the oats to be ready.
William and James Gregory were already waiting at the horse box house when John arrived. The three of them picked up the boat gear and proceeded silently down over the sand dunes and after removing their boots and shoes, commenced the tedious task of readying and launching the boat. There was a gentle but cold south westerly wind blowing and William declared that they could probably sail most of the way up the river so they stowed the oars under the seats, hard up against the sides of the boat. The mast was then stepped and the stays hooked onto the gunnels and the bow. Next the boom with sail attached was fastened to the base of the mast and the halyard attached to the top corner of the sail so that the sail could be hoisted to the top of the mast. Finally the control lines attached to the boom were passed through the port and starboard blocks on each gunnel. They were ready.
Right on time Dan Mason’s horse and dray appeared at the top of the rise and executed a large arc to the right and halted adjacent to the boat and parallel to the water line.
