Bleszynski - Bloodlust

Nick Bleszynski was born in Scotland and grew up in central and eastern Africa.

After returning to the UK and graduating from Anglia University, he went into television and for the past 25 years has worked as a writer, producer and director for many of the worlds biggest broadcasters. This is Nicks third book, following on from the success of Shoot Straight You Bastards!: The Truth Behind the Killing of Breaker Morant and Youll Never Take Me Alive: The Life and Death of Bushranger Ben Hall. He is married and lives in Sydney, Australia, with his wife, Jill, and son Stefan.

To contact Nick or to find out more about his books log onto www.blackrosemedia.com.au .

Dedicated to the memory of

Roy Rocky Williamson

(19592006)

Andrew Briscoe

(19612008)

My liege has been slain in battle, but I see not his wounds nor his bloody countenance, the grim messengers of his untimely death. I see him as he was when first we met, young, lion-hearted and with all the world at his feet. We shall mourn his passing thence make ready our hearts for that glorious day, in the realm beyond, when we will be young again.

In the special collections section of the State Library of Tasmania in Hobart I came across an extraordinary but little-known collection of documents. According to the Library records, this material was bequeathed to the library in 1909 by John Bisdee of Battery Point, Hobart. It consists of six items.

ITEM 1

One black leather-bound accounting ledger consisting of 300 bound pages. Cover badly worn and scratched, displays signs of weathering and the binding is loose. Ledger originally intended for accounting purposes and the pages are divided into columns and lined accordingly. Paper spotted, mildewed and watermarked. Ink faded, but legible. Author identified as Alexander Pearce, a convict at Macquarie Harbour from 182223. The document describes his time at Macquarie Harbour, his escape, and the subsequent events leading up to his death by hanging on 19 July 1824 at Hobart gaol.

ITEM 2

Various newspaper clippings from Hobart and Sydney newspapers circa 182432 and a partial transcript from the Select Committee Report on Transportation held in London, 1838 have been glued into the pages following Pearces account to form an addendum.

ITEM 3

One leather-bound daily journal for the year 185051. Owner identified on the inside cover as Mr Daniel Ruth, Druim Moir, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, United States of America. Black leather cover is scratched and marked, but binding is in good condition. Paper is heavy bonded manila 8" = 5" but shows signs of water damage. Ink faded but legible.

ITEM 4

A personal letter and envelope dated Macquarie Harbour 19 June 1851 from Mr Daniel Ruth to Miss Caroline Vandenberg. Address on envelope given as Montichello, Devon St, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. White writing paper 8" = 5" bearing the letterhead of the Customs House Hotel, 1 Murray St, Hobart. Badly weathered and evidence of damp and water damage, Fold marks visible. Ink badly faded, barely legible.

ITEM 5

A letter written by Mr John Bisdee (Jnr) dated 28 October 1909. Address given as 9 Cromwell St, Battery Point, Hobart, Tasmania. The letter is written on two sheets of standard size 8" 10" manila bond paper in the same neat, copperplate handwriting as items 1 & 5. The first sheet has a formal letterhead with authors address. Fold marks visible. Ink faded, paper slightly discoloured with age.

ITEM 6

A collection of correspondence between Mr John Bisdee (Jnr) and various persons in America and the United Kingdom between 190709 attempting to ascertain the particulars and whereabouts of various persons named in Items above.

I have pieced together the following story using these sources. Make of it what you will.

Nick Bleszynski

D ESPITE MISSING ITS BOTTOM jaw, the skull sitting in the palm of Daniel Ruths elegant hand seemed to grin malevolently up at him. The bone had yellowed slightly, but he knew from his medical studies that discolouration wasnt a reliable indication of age. The incisors and some of the rear molars still remained fixed in the rear of the upper jaw. Why had the doctor called him out on a wintry night and wordlessly put a human skull into his hand, he wondered, as he poked at the points of the small, slightly rounded canines and waited to be enlightened by the older, soft-faced man sitting opposite him.