y separately published work icon The 'FireFlash', Four Oars and a Coxswain : Where They Went, How They Went, and Why They Went, and the Stories They Told Last Christmas Eve selected work   short story  
Issue Details: First known date: 1867... 1867 The 'FireFlash', Four Oars and a Coxswain : Where They Went, How They Went, and Why They Went, and the Stories They Told Last Christmas Eve
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Notes

  • Dedication: This tiny work (being the Author's first effort to walk alone, in the paths of literature,) is dedicated by him as a Christmas gift to His Mother.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

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Works about this Work

The Fireflash 1878 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Mail , 24 August vol. 26 no. 947 1878; (p. 288)
— Review of The 'FireFlash', Four Oars and a Coxswain : Where They Went, How They Went, and Why They Went, and the Stories They Told Last Christmas Eve One of the Crew , 1867 selected work short story 'The work consists of a series of 'yarns' supposed to be told by the crew of a pleasure-boat when camping out on an excursion to Middle Harbour. There is nothing particularly new either in the idea or in the stories, but the work is written in an amusing style, and will serve excellently well to while away an idle hour.'
Untitled 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 11 January vol. 4 no. 93 (New Series) 1868; (p. 40)
— Review of The 'FireFlash', Four Oars and a Coxswain : Where They Went, How They Went, and Why They Went, and the Stories They Told Last Christmas Eve One of the Crew , 1867 selected work short story
Notes by Buggins : No. 3 : General Buggins , 1868 single work prose
— Appears in: The Freeman's Journal , 30 May vol. 19 no. 1312 1868; (p. 9)

Buggins comments on the use of opera glasses before proceeding to review and discuss the Royal Victoria Theatre's production of John Augustin Daly's Under the Gaslight.

Buggins concludes his thoughts on the play thus:

'I believe a Mr. Daly claims to be the author of Under the Gaslight, it should be adapter – not author. In a Christmas work entitled 'Fireflash', (written by Mr. Garnet Walch) at page 34 I read the following: – "Neither poison, the knife, nor the pistol, was this murderous weapon. He had led his half stupefied [sic] victim to within twenty yards of the railway. There was no embankment hereabouts; it was all level ground. In five minutes the remorseless wretch had dragged him over the rough ballast and had placed him with his head across the nearest rail. The down express would pass over that spot in ten minutes, and there would be no such person as Alice Marshall in existence to come between him and his coveted prize." I think the Dramatist has borrowed a good idea from a young and promising colonial author and failed to acknowledge the obligation.'

It should be noted that Daly's play was first produced in New York on 12 August 1867; Walch's 'Fireflash' probably went to press in December 1867.
New Publications 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Illustrated Sydney News , 16 January vol. 4 no. 44 1868; (p. 3000)
— Review of The 'FireFlash', Four Oars and a Coxswain : Where They Went, How They Went, and Why They Went, and the Stories They Told Last Christmas Eve One of the Crew , 1867 selected work short story
The Fireflash 1878 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Mail , 24 August vol. 26 no. 947 1878; (p. 288)
— Review of The 'FireFlash', Four Oars and a Coxswain : Where They Went, How They Went, and Why They Went, and the Stories They Told Last Christmas Eve One of the Crew , 1867 selected work short story 'The work consists of a series of 'yarns' supposed to be told by the crew of a pleasure-boat when camping out on an excursion to Middle Harbour. There is nothing particularly new either in the idea or in the stories, but the work is written in an amusing style, and will serve excellently well to while away an idle hour.'
New Publications 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Illustrated Sydney News , 16 January vol. 4 no. 44 1868; (p. 3000)
— Review of The 'FireFlash', Four Oars and a Coxswain : Where They Went, How They Went, and Why They Went, and the Stories They Told Last Christmas Eve One of the Crew , 1867 selected work short story
Untitled 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 11 January vol. 4 no. 93 (New Series) 1868; (p. 40)
— Review of The 'FireFlash', Four Oars and a Coxswain : Where They Went, How They Went, and Why They Went, and the Stories They Told Last Christmas Eve One of the Crew , 1867 selected work short story
Notes by Buggins : No. 3 : General Buggins , 1868 single work prose
— Appears in: The Freeman's Journal , 30 May vol. 19 no. 1312 1868; (p. 9)

Buggins comments on the use of opera glasses before proceeding to review and discuss the Royal Victoria Theatre's production of John Augustin Daly's Under the Gaslight.

Buggins concludes his thoughts on the play thus:

'I believe a Mr. Daly claims to be the author of Under the Gaslight, it should be adapter – not author. In a Christmas work entitled 'Fireflash', (written by Mr. Garnet Walch) at page 34 I read the following: – "Neither poison, the knife, nor the pistol, was this murderous weapon. He had led his half stupefied [sic] victim to within twenty yards of the railway. There was no embankment hereabouts; it was all level ground. In five minutes the remorseless wretch had dragged him over the rough ballast and had placed him with his head across the nearest rail. The down express would pass over that spot in ten minutes, and there would be no such person as Alice Marshall in existence to come between him and his coveted prize." I think the Dramatist has borrowed a good idea from a young and promising colonial author and failed to acknowledge the obligation.'

It should be noted that Daly's play was first produced in New York on 12 August 1867; Walch's 'Fireflash' probably went to press in December 1867.
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Last amended 11 Jan 2008 14:27:39
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