William Estcourt

342

Maureen Withey on 2nd April 2025

LOCAL. The gallant conduct of Mr. Cole in resisting, single handed, and armed only with a knife, four absconders from Port Arthur, was incidentally and in some respects erroneously noticed in our last number. The following are the particulars:- On the 14th instant, four men, named Thomas Hobley, Hugh Yarwood, Thomas Jarvis, and William Eastcourt, under sentence at Port Arthur, absconded from that settlement. They were lost for two days and two nights in the bush, but at length reached Fortescue bay, where they managed to construct a canoe with some tools which they had succeeded in purloining when they absconded. With the aid of the canoe they made Blackman's Bay, where they took a boat belonging to Dr. Imlay, and proceeded towards Maria Island; but being unsuccessful in making it they returned to Blackman's Bay, and then ran round to Bruné. They went to Mr. Mansfield's, and perceiving a whale boat there, they launched it, and proceeded to Snake Island, the residence of Mr. Cole, who they found standing outside his door, he having come out on hearing the dogs barking violently. The men immediately ordered Mr. Cole into his house, and after having ascertained that none of his men were at hand, they demanded provisions, which were refused. They then compelled Mr. Cole's daughter, the only person besides himself in the house, to show them the store-room. Two of the men accompanied Miss Cole, while one guarded the front door, armed with a musket, and another with an axe stood in the verandah. A short time afterwards Mr. Cole said he should go to bed, but he must go out first. The man guarding the door upon this cocked his piece, and swore he would blow out his brains if he attempted to leave the room. At this juncture Mr. Cole remembered that he had left a knife upon the table, and groping about cautiously, and without noise, in the dark, he succeeded in obtaining possession of it. He immediately rushed upon the man at the door, and stabbed him in three or four places. The two men then rushed out of the store-room, and the man with the axe also entered, making an attack upon Cole. In the scuffle which ensued Cole fell, but not before he had severely stabbed one of the two who came out of the store-room; while on the ground ho also kept stabbing, and his daughter came to his aid and pulled off one of the men who was trying to strangle him. The men then left the hut, and made for the boat, in which they managed to get off. Mr. Cole gave early notice of the attack to the constables at Birch's Bay, who went in pursuit, and in consequence of the severity of the wounds received by three of them, they were easily tracked and taken. The fourth man, William Eastcourt, succeeded in making his escape. Of these four men, three of whom are now lying in the Colonial Hospital. Jarvis, who is most dangerously wounded under the ribs on the left side, is not  expected to survive many hours longer. Hugh Yarwood, who is literally cut all over, is not yet out of danger. Thomas Hobley had a severe blow on the head, but is now convalescent. Eastcourt, who escaped unhurt, has since been captured by the police. The Courier, (Tas), 29 Dec 1840. Tasmanian Convict Records: https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON31-1-11/CON31-1-11P129 Convict conduct Record. No 334, William Estcourt, per Elizabeth, tried 13 July 1831, Life at Hertford. Transported for House breaking. Transported before for similar offence, served 6 years in Bermuda. See record for full details of offences, etc. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON34-1-3/CON34-1-3P351 Conduct Record. Conditional Pardon approved, 14 June 1853. See record for full details.