More meetings
and stupid decisions
Now, what happened next? Ah, yes, that's right.
The authorities, scared of what they had started and were exacerbating, called for reinforcements. On 19 October, more police arrived, followed by a detachment of soldiers. Wow, this is a genuine attempt to calm things down. Not.
Some 4,000 miners now met on Bakery Hill and agreed to campaign for and raise funds for bail for the unlucky men accused of arson. It was agreed a "Diggers' Rights Society" should be established. It doesn't appear to have been. Established, that is. A lot less participants at this meeting than the previous two, interestingly. Unless one accepts the lower figures for the Bentley's pub meeting.
On 23 October, the miners sent a deputation to Rede to ask for a retrial of Gregorius, and the removal of the police responsible for his arrest.
At another miners' meeting on 25 October, the deputation reported their overall lack of success. The miners resolved to petition Hotham for both a retrial, and the removal from Ballarat of Assistant Commissioner Johnston.
Lalor appears to have played no role in these matters. Or, in fact, most of those following.
Two days after the last meeting, on 27 October, the authorities, fearful of attack, developed a detailed plan for the defence of their camp, and, to help (?), more troops arrived.
It seems more than a little surprising that, while clearly fearing violence and calling for reinforcements, the authorities didn't appear to be concerned over the safety of, among others, their wives and families resident in the government camp. The camp was very nearly indefensible and was not surrounded by any form of stockade, yet the women, children, and additional civilians remained resident throughout the miners' revolt. Mind you, considering the authorities' overall incompetence throughout this business, it is perhaps not as surprising as it should be.
The authorities, scared of what they had started and were exacerbating, called for reinforcements. On 19 October, more police arrived, followed by a detachment of soldiers. Wow, this is a genuine attempt to calm things down. Not.
Some 4,000 miners now met on Bakery Hill and agreed to campaign for and raise funds for bail for the unlucky men accused of arson. It was agreed a "Diggers' Rights Society" should be established. It doesn't appear to have been. Established, that is. A lot less participants at this meeting than the previous two, interestingly. Unless one accepts the lower figures for the Bentley's pub meeting.
On 23 October, the miners sent a deputation to Rede to ask for a retrial of Gregorius, and the removal of the police responsible for his arrest.
At another miners' meeting on 25 October, the deputation reported their overall lack of success. The miners resolved to petition Hotham for both a retrial, and the removal from Ballarat of Assistant Commissioner Johnston.
Lalor appears to have played no role in these matters. Or, in fact, most of those following.
Two days after the last meeting, on 27 October, the authorities, fearful of attack, developed a detailed plan for the defence of their camp, and, to help (?), more troops arrived.
It seems more than a little surprising that, while clearly fearing violence and calling for reinforcements, the authorities didn't appear to be concerned over the safety of, among others, their wives and families resident in the government camp. The camp was very nearly indefensible and was not surrounded by any form of stockade, yet the women, children, and additional civilians remained resident throughout the miners' revolt. Mind you, considering the authorities' overall incompetence throughout this business, it is perhaps not as surprising as it should be.