The report of the shot created an immense sensation amongst the free and independent electors, and the wonder was how no one else was injured.
The next step taken was the issue of an order for the withdrawal of all long-sentenced prisoners from Pentridge to Melbourne, there to undergo their punishment in the gaol. In October the increasing gold excitement grew so intense that it was thought advisable to discontinue all the road gangs, and have no prisoners at all worked out of the Stockade. Even this place was weeded not only of the men consigned to lengthened servitude, but of all others bearing a bad character. It consequently became, for a while, a refuge for such as were inoffensive and under light sentences, and a sergeant, with a military guard of twelve, was stationed there to maintain order. The salary of the Stockade Superintendent was £250 per annum, with board, residence, and bond servants, and provision was made on the Estimates for 1852 to give him an Assistant at £125, with like et ceteras. The next few years brought those universal changes which swept over the new colony, and disarranged all forecastings of the future; and in no branch of the Public Service was its influence felt more than in that Pentridge of whose infancy I have presented a brief and imperfect sketch. Mr. Samuel Barrow was an able and painstaking officer, but a tragic fate awaited both him and his successor. Barrow reigned only about four years (1850-4), and was accidentally drowned in 1854, on the day Mr. Latrobe, the first Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria, left the colony. There were several boat-loads of friends seeing the Governor off at Sandridge, and one of them had amongst its freight Mr. Barrow and Dean O'Hea, whilom Roman Catholic Pastor at Coburg. This boat capsized; the layman was drowned, but the priest hit out so lustily, and, though overboard, "paddled his own canoe" with such persistent skill as to be saved. Many men have been known to kick themselves out of the world, but it was simply by mere dint of hands and feet that Dean O'Hea barely contrived to keep himself in it. Mr. John Price, another Vandemonian, expert in the art of managing prisoners, was appointed to Pentridge, but his fate, though as sudden, was more terrible than Barrow's, for in March, 1857, he was murdered by a working gang of convicts at Williamstown, several of whom were hanged for the crime.
