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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58799 ***
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration:
+
+ GOVERNOR DAVEY'S
+ PROCLAMATION
+ TO THE ABORIGINES
+ 1816.]
+
+
+
+
+ HISTORY OF ...
+ THE AUSTRALIAN
+ BUSHRANGERS..
+
+ BY
+ GEORGE E. BOXALL
+ _Author of "The Anglo-Saxon,
+ a Study in Evolution," etc., etc._
+
+ LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN
+ ADELPHI TERRACE, MCMVIII
+
+
+
+
+ _FIRST EDITION, September, 1899._
+
+ _SECOND EDITION, May, 1902._
+
+ _THIRD EDITION, May, 1908._
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+In this story of the bushrangers I do not pretend to have included the
+names of all those who have at various times been called bushrangers
+in Australia. That, as will be seen from what I have said in the
+earlier chapters, would be not merely impossible but useless. I
+believe, however, that I have collected some particulars about all
+those who succeeded in winning even a local notoriety, and I have also
+endeavoured to supply such personal characteristics of the leaders
+in the movement as may throw some light on the causes which induced
+them to "take to the bush." My principal object, however, has been to
+make the picture as complete as possible, so that the magnitude of
+the social evil which the Australians set themselves to cure may be
+realised; and it is generally believed in Australia that this cure has
+been so complete that bushranging will never again become epidemic.
+
+The story is a terrible one. Some of the incidents related are no
+doubt revolting, but it is necessary that even these should be told
+to show how civilised man may be degraded by unjust and oppressive
+laws. We are all creatures of the educational influences to which we
+are subjected in our youth, and therefore it is unfair to blame the
+earlier bushrangers; because they were the products of the civilisation
+of their day, and were not themselves responsible. But sensational as
+the story is, its tendency is rather to depress than to exhilarate
+the reader, for the story is a sad one, in that it shows a deplorable
+waste of what under happier conditions might have been useful lives.
+As a rule I have adhered very closely to the newspaper reports of
+the time, but to make the story (which naturally tends to be scrappy
+and disconnected) as homogeneous and continuous as possible, I have
+followed one gang to the close of its career, and then returned to take
+up the history of another gang. I have paid special attention to the
+geography of the country, and the reader who possesses a fairly good
+map of each of the colonies should have no difficulty in following the
+movements of each of the gangs, and may thus obtain an idea of the
+extent of the area over which it operated.
+
+Hitherto the histories of Australia have passed very lightly over
+the bushrangers, but there can be no doubt that they exercised some
+influence, and not always for evil, for to their influence is due some
+of the sturdy Republicanism of the modern Australians. The publication
+of this story may perhaps assist the future historian in tracing the
+growth of public opinion in Australia, and will therefore not be
+without its use. It is in this hope that I submit it to the public.
+
+ G.E.B.
+
+
+
+
+AUTHORITIES QUOTED.
+
+
+  Reports of the Select Committees of the House of Commons on
+  Transportation, Sessions 1837 and 1838: Chapters I., II., III., IV.
+
+  Report of the Special Commission of Enquiry into the state of the
+  Colony of New South Wales. By John Thomas Bigge, 1822 and 1823:
+  Chapters I., II., IV.
+
+  Despatches of Governors Macquarie, Bourke, Sorell, Arthur, Franklin,
+  Denison, Latrobe, &c., to the Colonial Office: Chapters I., II.,
+  III., IV., XII.
+
+  History of Van Diemen's Land, from 1820 to 1835. Anonymous. Chapters
+  I., II.
+
+  History of Bendigo. By George Mackay. Chapter XII.
+
+  The Last of the Tasmanians. By James Bonwick, F.R.G.S. Chapter II.
+
+  _The Spectator._ Chapter IX.
+
+  _Hobart Town Gazette._ Chapters I., II., III.
+
+  _Hobart Town Courier_ and _Murray's Review_. Chapters I., II., VI.,
+  X., XI., XV.
+
+  _Colonial Times._ Chapters X., XI., XV.
+
+  _Cornwall Chronicle._ Chapters I., II., III., VI., IX., X., XI.
+
+  _Launceston Advertiser._ Chapters I., II., VI., IX., X.
+
+  _Launceston Examiner._ Chapters VI., IX., XI.
+
+  _Sydney Gazette._ Chapters I., IV., VI., VII.
+
+  _Sydney Monitor._ Chapters I., IV.
+
+  _Sydney Australian._ Chapters I., IV.
+
+  _Sydney Morning Herald._ Chapters V., VI., VII., VIII., IX., XV.,
+  XVI., XVII., XVIII., XIX., XX., XXI., XXII., XXIII., XXIV., XXVIII.
+
+  _Melbourne Argus._ Chapters IV., XIII., XIV., XV., XXI., XXV.,
+  XXVIII., XXIX., XXX., XXXI.
+
+  _Port Phillip Herald._ Chapters VI., VII., VIII.
+
+  _Geelong Advertiser._ Chapters XII., XIII., XIV., XV.
+
+  _Melbourne Herald._ Chapters XII., XIV., XV.
+
+  _Melbourne Age._ Chapters XXIX., XXX., XXXI.
+
+  _South Australian Register._ Chapters VIII., XXIV.
+
+  _Brisbane Courier._ Chapter XXVII.
+
+  _New Zealand Herald._ Chapter XXVI.
+
+The quotations from numerous provincial papers acknowledged in the
+text have been taken at second hand, principally from the metropolitan
+papers of the colony referred to, and which are included in this list.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+                                                                   PAGE.
+
+  Chapter I.--Characteristics of the Convicts sent to
+  Australia; Bushranging; Origin and Meaning of
+  the Term; The Cat and the Double Cat; Condition
+  of the Prisoners; Some Terrible Revelations; The
+  Desperation of Despair; Some Flogging Stories;
+  The Bushranging Act and its Abuses; Some
+  Opinions of the Magistrates; Savage Treatment of
+  Criminals Continued to the Present Time; Brutality
+  not Cured by Brutal Punishment; When Bushranging
+  First Began                                                         1
+
+  Chapter II.--Van Diemen's Land; The First Bushranger;
+  Mike Howe, the King of the Ranges; The
+  Raid on the Blacks; The Black War; Musquito;
+  Outrages by the Blacks; Brutal Treatment of the
+  Blacks by Bushrangers; A War of Reprisals;
+  Gigantic Scheme to Capture the Blacks; A Cordon
+  Drawn Round the Disaffected District; Details
+  of the Scheme; Its Failure; Only Two Blacks
+  Captured; Estimated Cost; Fate of the Blacks                       17
+
+  Chapter III.--Pierce the Cannibal; A Terrible Journey;
+  A Shocking Confession; Escapes from the Western
+  Hell; The Ruffian Jefferies; Brady the Bushranger;
+  Escapes from Macquarie Harbour; Sticks
+  up the Town of Sorell; The Governor's Proclamation;
+  Brady Laughs at it; The Fight with Captain
+  Balfour; Betrayed by a Comrade; Captured by
+  John Batman; Sympathy at his Trial; End of the
+  Epoch                                                              33
+
+  Chapter IV.--Bushranging in New South Wales; Manufacturing
+  Bushrangers; Employing Bushrangers;
+  The First Bank Robbery in Australia; Major Mudie
+  and his Assigned Servants; Terrible Hollow;
+  Murder of Dr. Wardell; The Story of Jack the
+  Rammer; Hall, Mayne and Others                                     48
+
+  Chapter V.--John Lynch; Murder of Kearns Landregan;
+  Lynch's Trial and Sentence; His Terrible
+  Confession; Murder of the Frazers, Father and
+  Son; Murder and Cremation of the Mulligans;
+  His Appeals to Almighty God                                        60
+
+  Chapter VI.--Jackey Jackey, the Gentleman Bushranger;
+  His Dispute with Paddy Curran; Some
+  Legends About Him; Jackey Jackey Always Well
+  Dressed and Mounted; His Capture at Bungendore;
+  His Escape at Bargo Brush; Jackey Jackey visits
+  Sydney; His Capture by Miss Gray; Paddy
+  Curran's Fight with the Police; Recaptured and
+  Hung; John Wright Threatens to Make a Clean
+  Sweep                                                              71
+
+  Chapter VII.--The Jewboy Gang; "Come and Shoot
+  the Bushrangers;" Constable Refuses to Leave
+  his Work to Hunt Bushrangers; Saved by his
+  Wife; Robberies in Maitland; Bushrangers in
+  High Hats; The Bullock-driver Captures the
+  Bushrangers; An Attempt to Reach the Dutch
+  Settlements; Mr. E.D. Day Captures the Gang;
+  Assigned Servants' Attempt at Bushranging; Some
+  Other Gangs                                                        82
+
+  Chapter VIII.--Bushranging in South Australia; The
+  Robbers Captured in Melbourne; A Remarkable
+  Raid in Port Phillip; Going Out for a Fight with
+  the Bushrangers; A Bloody Battle; Cashan and
+  McIntyre; The Fight with the Mail Passengers;
+  Cashan Escapes from the Lock-up; Is Recaptured;
+  McIntyre Caught at Gammon Plains                                   95
+
+  Chapter IX.--Bushrangers and Pirates; Capture of
+  H.M. Brig _Cyprus_ by Bushrangers; A Piratical
+  Voyage; Stealing the Schooners _Edward_ and
+  _Waterwitch_; Mutiny of Prisoners on H.M. Brig
+  _Governor Phillip_ at Norfolk Island; The Trial of
+  the Mutineers at Sydney; How Captain Boyle
+  Recaptured the Vessel                                             103
+
+  Chapter X.--Van Diemen's Land Again; A Hunt for
+  Bushrangers in the Mountains; Some Brutal
+  Attacks; "Stand!" "No, thanks, I'm very Comfortable
+  Sitting;" A Degrading Exhibition; A
+  Determined Judge; Cash, Kavanagh, and Jones,
+  an Enterprising Firm; The Art of Politeness as
+  Exhibited by Bushrangers; A Bushranger Hunt
+  in the Streets of Hobart Town; The Capture of
+  Cash; Break Up of the Gang; a Doubtful Mercy                      111
+
+  Chapter XI.--Norfolk Island; Its Founding as a Penal
+  Station; The Terrible Discipline in Norfolk Island;
+  An Attempt to Ameliorate it; Its Failure; The
+  Rigorous Treatment Restored; The Consequent
+  Riot; Jackey Jackey's Revenge; An Unparalleled
+  Tale of Ferocity; The Soldiers Overawe the
+  Rioters; Thirteen Condemned to the Gallows;
+  Jackey Jackey's Remarkable Letter; The End of
+  Several Notorious Bushrangers                                     124
+
+  Chapter XII.--The Third Epoch of Bushranging;
+  The Gold Digging Era; Influx of Convicts from
+  Van Diemen's Land; Passing of the Criminals'
+  Influx Prevention Act; Attitude of the Diggers
+  Towards the Bushrangers and other Thieves; The
+  Nelson Gold Robbery; Some Pitiful Stories; A
+  Rapid Raid; Insecurity of the Melbourne Streets                   134
+
+  Chapter XIII.--Captain Melville Takes to the Road;
+  He Ties and Robs Eighteen Men; He Goes to
+  Geelong for a Spree and Boasts of his Exploits; His
+  Sensational Capture; Sent to the Hulks; Murder of
+  Corporal Owens; Melville Removed from the Hulk
+  _Success_ to the Gaol; Murder of Mr. John Price,
+  and Mutiny of the Convicts; Melville Attacks Mr.
+  Wintle; Death of the Noted Bushranger                             148
+
+  Chapter XIV.--Murder of a Bullock-driver; Sticking
+  Up in the Melbourne Streets; Stealing £100,000 in
+  Bank Notes; Want of Efficient Police Protection;
+  Murders and Robberies at Ballarat, Bendigo, Mount
+  Alexander, and other Diggings; The Robbery of
+  the McIvor Gold Escort; A Bushranger Intimidated
+  by a Bottle of Brandy; Robbery of the Bank of
+  Victoria at Ballarat; Capture of Garrett in London;
+  Prevalence of Horse Stealing; The Doctor's
+  "Creamy"                                                          158
+
+  Chapter XV.--An Escape from Norfolk Island; Stealing
+  a Government Boat; The Convicts of New South
+  Wales; A Terrible Indictment; Thomas Willmore;
+  Murder of Philip Alger; Murder of Malachi Daly;
+  Fight Between Two Bushrangers; Hunting Down
+  Willmore; His Capture While Asleep; The Last of
+  the Van Diemen's Land Bushrangers; Wilson and
+  Dido; Some Minor Offenders; An Unfounded
+  Charge; A Change of Name to Rid the Island of
+  Evil Associations                                                 173
+
+  Chapter XVI.--The New Bushranging Era; Fallacy
+  of the Belief that Highwaymen Rob the Rich to
+  Enrich the Poor; The Cattle Duffers and Horse
+  Planters; The Riot at Lambing Flat; Frank
+  Gardiner, the Butcher; Charged with Obtaining
+  Beasts "On the Cross," He Abandons His
+  Butcher's Shop; Efforts to Establish a Reign of
+  Terror in the District; A Letter from Gardiner;
+  The Great Escort Robbery                                          188
+
+  Chapter XVII.--Johnny Gilbert; His First Appearance
+  in Australia; Miscellaneous Bushranging Exploits;
+  Mr. Robert Lowe Makes a Stand; Mr. Inspector
+  Norton Captured by the Bushrangers; A Plucky
+  Black Boy; "Mine Know it, Patsy Daly Like it,
+  Brudder;" A Brave Boy; O'Meally Shoots Mr.
+  Barnes; A Bootless Bushranger; Capture of John
+  Foley; Something about the Foley Family; Ben
+  Hall                                                              205
+
+  Chapter XVIII.--Racers as Mounts for the Bushrangers;
+  The Shooting of Lowry; The Bushrangers
+  Visit Bathurst; They Hold the Town
+  of Canowindra for Three Days; Burke Shot by
+  Mr. Keightley; Female Bushrangers; Death of
+  O'Meally at Goimbla; A Newspaper Man and
+  His Wife Stuck up; Lively Times During the
+  Christmas Holidays                                                218
+
+  Chapter XIX.--A Heavy Sessions at Goulburn; Ben
+  Hall Hard Pushed; An Amateur Mail Robber;
+  Discovery of Frank Gardiner; His Trial and
+  Sentence; The Old Man; A Brush with the Police;
+  The Chinkies Show Fight; Messrs. Hall & Co. Take
+  a Lease of the Main Southern Road; Capture of
+  Mount and Dunleavy; Johnny Dunn; A Desperate
+  Duel and Death of Sergeant Parry; A Country Ball
+  and Its Sequel                                                    232
+
+  Chapter XX.--Meeting the Gold Escort; Murder of
+  Constable Nelson; A Brush with the Police;
+  Attempt to Stick up the Araluen Escort; Death
+  of Constable Kelly, and Pluck of Constable Burns;
+  Sir Frederick Pottinger Resigns; Death of Ben
+  Hall; A Sketch of His Life; Death of Johnny
+  Gilbert; Record of Johnny Dunn and the Gang;
+  Capture and Trial of Dunn; His Execution; Fate
+  of the Chief Members of the Gang                                  246
+
+  Chapter XXI.--Bloodthirsty Morgan; Morgan's
+  Opinion of the Police; Murder of Sergeant
+  McGinnerty; Murder at the Round Hill Station;
+  A Pseudo Morgan; Morgan Threatens to Brand
+  All Hands; He Shoots Sergeant Smyth; Challenged
+  to Visit Victoria; He Accepts the
+  Challenge; His Death at Peechelba                                 258
+
+  Chapter XXII.--The Brothers Clarke; The Raid at
+  Nerigundah; Deaths of William Fletcher and
+  Constable O'Grady; Murder of Four Special
+  Constables at Jinden; Annie Clarke at Goulburn;
+  Capture of Thomas and John Clarke; A Terrible
+  Record; A Plucky Woman; An Attempt to
+  Escape Custody; "Shoot Away I Can't Stop
+  You"; Some Daring Robberies; Murder and
+  Cremation of the Brothers Pohlmann; Blue Cap                      269
+
+  Chapter XXIII.--Bushranging in the Northern District
+  of New South Wales; Captain Thunderbolt Robs
+  the Tollbar; A Chinaman Bushranger; A Long
+  Chase; A Fight with the Police; "Next, Please";
+  The Bushranger Rutherford; Captain Thunderbolt
+  and the German Band; Desperate Duel
+  between Captain Thunderbolt and Constable
+  Walker; Thunderbolt's Death                                       287
+
+  Chapter XXIV.--Bushranging in the Wild Paroo;
+  A Raid into South Australia; A Relic of the
+  Bushranging Era; Agitation for the Release of
+  Gardiner; Official Reports as to Twenty-four
+  Bushrangers Still in Gaol; The Cases of Gardiner
+  and William Brookman; Gardiner and the other
+  Bushrangers Released; Gardiner leaves the
+  Country                                                           304
+
+  Chapter XXV.--Bushranging in Victoria; Robert
+  Bourke; Harry Power; He Escapes from Pentridge
+  Gaol and Sticks up the Mail; An Amateur Bushranger;
+  The Police Hunt Power Down and Capture
+  Him Asleep; A Peacock as "Watch Dog;" The
+  Power Procession at Beechworth; The Trial of
+  Power; His Sentence; Engaged to Lecture on
+  Board the _Success_; His Death                                    315
+
+  Chapter XXVI.--Bushranging in New Zealand; Alleged
+  Fears of the Escort being Robbed; The First Bushranger;
+  Henry Beresford Garrett; The Maungapatau
+  Murders; Arrest of Sullivan, Kelly, Burgess,
+  and Levy in Nelson; Sullivan's Confession; The
+  Discovery of the Bodies; Sullivan's Release                       326
+
+  Chapter XXVII.--Bushranging in Queensland; Some
+  Bushrangers from Over the Southern Border; A
+  Bogus Ben Hall; The Wild Scotchman; Queensland's
+  Only Bushranger; A Man of Many Aliases;
+  He Goes to Fight a Duel with Sir Frederick
+  Pottinger; He Escapes from the Steamer; Recaptured
+  and Tried                                                         335
+
+  Chapter XXVIII.--Captain Moonlite; The "Reverend
+  Gentleman" Robs the Bank and Nearly Makes His
+  Escape; He Breaks Out of Ballarat Gaol; He
+  Becomes a Reformed Character; He Sticks up the
+  Wantabadgery Station; A Desperate Battle with
+  the Police; His Young Companions in Crime;
+  Sentenced to Death; The Wild Horse Hunters
+  Turn Bushrangers; An Abortive Attempt to Rob
+  a Bank                                                            341
+
+  Chapter XXIX.--The Kelly Gang; Horse-Stealing a
+  Great Industry of the District; Faking the Brands;
+  Assault on Constable Fitzpatrick; The Bush
+  Telegraphs; Murder of Sergeant Kennedy and
+  Constables Scanlan and Lonergan; Sticking Up
+  of the Faithfull Creek Station; Robbery of the
+  National Bank at Euroa; A Big Haul                                353
+
+  Chapter XXX.--The Kellys Stick op the Town of
+  Jerilderie; Robbery of the Bank of New South
+  Wales; A Symposium in the Royal Hotel; A Three-days'
+  Spree; "Hurrah for the Good Old Times of
+  Morgan and Ben Hall"; The Robbers take a Rest
+  for a Year; The Kelly Sympathisers Again; The
+  Kellys Reappear; Murder of Aaron Sherritt                         365
+
+  Chapter XXXI.--Fight between the Police and the
+  Bushrangers at Glenrowan; The Railway Torn
+  Up; Attempt to Wreck the Police Train; The
+  Glenrowan Inn Besieged; Ned Kelly in Armour;
+  His Capture; The Burning of the Inn; Death
+  of Dan Kelly, Steve Hart, and Joe Byrnes; Trial
+  and Conviction of Ned Kelly; His Death; The
+  Kelly Show; Decrease of Crime in the Colonies                     377
+
+  Index                                                             386
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+  Introductory; Characteristics of the Convicts Sent to Australia;
+  Bushranging: Origin and Meaning of the Term; The Cat and the Double
+  Cat; Condition of the Prisoners: Some Terrible Revelations; The
+  Desperation of Despair; Some Flogging Stories; The Bushranging Act
+  and Its Abuses; Opinions of the Magistrates; Savage Treatment of
+  Criminals Continued to the Present Time; Brutality not Cured by
+  Brutal Punishment; Where Bushranging First Began.
+
+
+The species of brigandage known in Australia as bushranging was,
+without doubt, evolved, more or less directly, from the convict system
+established as the basis of the earlier settlements in the island
+continent. The first bushrangers were simply men who took to the bush
+to escape work and enjoy freedom of action. Under the harsh laws of the
+Georgian era the greater criminals were hung, and not transported, and
+the convicts sent to "Botany Bay," in the eighteenth and the earlier
+years of the nineteenth centuries, were generally men to whom the
+trammels of the civilisation of their day were irksome. Many of them
+were political agitators, industrial rioters, and machine-breakers.
+The others were poachers and similarly comparatively mild offenders
+against the laws, who, under the present laws of Great Britain, would
+be sufficiently punished with a few months' imprisonment. Many of these
+men, when they were removed to a new land where the social conditions
+did not press so heavily on them, became honest and reputable citizens,
+and, perhaps, but for the harsh treatment they were subjected to,
+numbers of others who were driven to continue their fight against
+authority, might also have lived quiet and useful lives. This subject
+is a very delicate one, and it is not my intention to pursue it
+further here; but if it could be fully treated without giving offence
+to numbers of worthy and, in some cases, justly honoured residents
+of Australia, some very valuable lessons might be learned from the
+histories of some of those families whose founders could not live in
+England without offending against the laws, but who could and did earn
+the respect of their fellow colonists in Australia who were not "sent
+out."
+
+The student of history in Australia is reminded, perhaps more forcibly
+than his fellow in England, that the humanitarian spirit, now so
+distinguishing a trait in the Anglo-Saxon character, is of very recent
+growth. Under the operation of this new force the criminal law of
+England was rapidly softened and ameliorated, and with every advance
+in this direction the character of the convicts sent out to Australia
+steadily deteriorated, if I may so describe the process. With every
+alteration in the law a fresh class of criminal was transported, and
+these with few exceptions would, a few months before, have been hung.
+At first, pickpockets, then sheep and horse-stealers, forgers and
+others, who had previously only escaped the gallows in rare instances,
+when they could find some influential friend to take sufficient
+interest in them to plead their cause, were now transported as a matter
+of course. This process continued until transportation ceased, and as
+the last batch of prisoners sent out was presumably the worst, having
+been guilty of more heinous crimes than their predecessors, we are too
+apt to judge the earlier convicts harshly from our knowledge of the
+later ones. The general effect was that while, with the amelioration
+of the laws, crime steadily decreased in England, it just as steadily
+increased in Australia, and no doubt the worst criminals were
+transported to Van Diemen's Land after transportation had ceased to
+New South Wales in 1842. The laws of England previously to the great
+changes made during the past sixty years seem to me to have operated,
+whether designedly or not, to clear the country of the disaffected and
+the discontented, rather than the criminal. How far the introduction of
+large numbers of this class into the country may have paved the way for
+modern advances in liberal government in Australia, is a question which
+it might be profitable to study; but it only relates to the bushrangers
+so far as it enables us to account for the large number of men who
+"took to the bush."
+
+The earlier bushrangers seem to have been idle and dissolute, rather
+than criminal, characters. They watched for an opportunity to escape
+into a patch of scrub whenever the eye of the sentry in charge of
+them was turned away, and the nature of the country was so favourable
+to this method of evasion that it constituted a continuous challenge
+to them to run away, and, almost incredible as it may appear now,
+numbers of men started northward or westward in hopes of reaching the
+Dutch or English settlements at Batavia, Singapore, Hong Kong, or
+some other place in that direction. It must be remembered that the
+majority of the working classes at the beginning of the century could
+not read and had no knowledge of geography. They had heard sailors
+speak of these settlements and had no idea that hundreds of miles of
+sea flowed between them and Australia. How many of these poor ignorant
+men lost their lives in the attempt to achieve the impossible cannot
+be said, but some terrible stories of cannibalism have been related
+in connection with this phase of bushranging. The majority of the
+"runaways," however, had no such definite ideas as these, erroneous as
+they may have been. They hoped to be able to live in freedom in the
+bush and to subsist on fruits, roots, or other native growths. Some few
+joined a tribe of blacks and stayed longer or shorter times with them;
+others simply wandered about until hunger drove them back; while very
+many remained at large until they were captured, and these lived by
+stealing from farmers and other settlers any articles which could be
+eaten or sold. When one of these early bushrangers grew tired of his
+freedom he gave himself up at the nearest police station and received
+fifty lashes. The penalty for a second offence was twelve months in a
+chain gang.
+
+There was no adequate system of classifying the convicts. It was the
+custom in advertising runaways to give the name of the man and that
+of the ship in which he was transported. Then followed the personal
+description, and that was all. It was admitted to be inconvenient,
+but no attempt appears to have been made to improve it. Besides
+this, for administration purposes, convicts were divided into three
+classes according to their sentences. Thus there were men who had been
+transported for "seven" years, for "fourteen" years, or for "life."
+They were also classified as "young," "middle-aged," and "old," and
+usually the crime for which they had been transported was specified,
+but such a description gave no indication of the character of the man.
+Finally they were divided into "town thieves," "rural labourers," and
+"gentlemen." This was a step in the right direction, but it was too
+vague to be of much use. The educated convicts were all classified as
+"gentlemen" whether they came from the towns or the rural districts.[1]
+It is worthy of note that the proportion of skilled labourers, or
+tradesmen as they are called, was very small. Very few men who had been
+apprenticed to a trade were among the convicts sent to Australia at any
+time.
+
+There were no regulations as to hours of work, and the severe
+taskmaster might work his assigned servants as many hours as he
+pleased. It was generally understood that Sunday was to be a holiday,
+or day of rest, but excuses were readily found for making the convicts
+work on this day, and this was a fruitful source of discontent. Very
+frequently men absconded on Saturday night, remained in the bush on
+Sunday, and returned on Monday to take the customary fifty lashes and
+resume work.
+
+If flogging is efficacious in preventing crime, it should have made
+the convict colonies the most virtuous places on earth, for the
+"cat" was in almost continuous use in New South Wales and in Van
+Diemen's Land. The "cat" generally used was the ordinary military
+or naval cat; but "the cat used at Macquarie Harbour was a larger
+and heavier instrument than that used generally for the punishment
+of soldiers or sailors. It was called the thief's cat, or double
+cat-o'-nine-tails. It had only the usual number of tails, but each of
+these was a double twist of whipcord, and each tail had nine knots.
+It was a very formidable instrument indeed."[2] How far the influence
+of this barbarous instrument of torture tended to make the prisoners
+at Macquarie Harbour the most reckless and ferocious of the convicts
+of Australia it is unnecessary to enquire, but there can be no doubt
+that its influence was for evil and not for good. It is with the
+ordinary "cat," with which England in these barbarous times flogged
+her defenders as ferociously as she did her prisoners, that we have
+to deal; and, frightful as the tortures were which were inflicted on
+the convicts, we have positive evidence that their lot was looked
+upon with envy by the soldiers who guarded them. Several soldiers in
+New South Wales deliberately committed crime so that they might be
+convicted, in the hope that, by good conduct, they might earn some of
+the indulgences open to convicts. The fact is that any prisoner who
+contrived, by obsequiousness or in any other way, to make friends with
+an official, had his way made easy for him, while the independent,
+whether industrious or not, were ruthlessly persecuted until, in many
+cases, they were finally forced to the gallows.
+
+"The prisoners of all classes in Government are fed with the coarsest
+food; governed with the most rigid discipline; subjected to the
+stern, and frequently capricious and tyrannical will of an overseer;
+for the slightest offence (sometimes for none at all--the victim of
+false accusation) brought before a magistrate, whom the Government
+has armed with the tremendous powers of a summary jurisdiction, and
+either flogged, or sentenced to solitary confinement, or retransported
+to an iron gang, where he must work in heavy irons, or to a penal
+settlement, where he will be ruled with a rod of iron. If assigned to
+a private individual he becomes a creature of chance. He may fall into
+the hands of a kind indulgent master, who will reward his fidelity with
+suitable acknowledgments; but, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred,
+he will find his employer suspicious, or whimsical, or a blockhead,
+not knowing good conduct from bad, or a despot, who treats him like a
+slave, cursing and abusing, and getting him flogged for no reasonable
+cause. He may be harassed to the very death--he may be worked like a
+horse, and fed like a chameleon. The master, though not invested by
+law with uncontrolled power, has yet great authority, which may be
+abused in a thousand ways precluding redress. Even his legal power is
+sufficiently formidable. A single act of disobedience is a sufficient
+ground of complaint before the magistrate, and is always severely
+dealt with. But, besides the master's power, the prisoners are in some
+measure under a dominion to the free population at large; any man can
+give him in charge without ceremony. If seen drunk, if seen tippling
+in the public-house, if met after hours in the street, if unable to
+pay his trifling debt, if impertinent--the free man has nothing more
+to do than to send him to the watch-house, and get him punished. The
+poor prisoner is at the mercy of all men."[3] This appears to be a fair
+and unexaggerated statement of the conditions, and therefore it is
+little cause for wonder that the general tone of morality in the colony
+was low. Mr. J.T. Bigge says that "every opportunity was seized for
+cheating. When the convicts attended at the store to draw their weekly
+rations, supplies were frequently drawn for men not at work there.
+False lists of men employed in the various gangs were made out."[4]
+In fact, the Government of the Colony was a military despotism under
+which corruption was rampant, so that the authorities themselves set an
+example of immorality which the convicts were not slow to follow. "The
+police made a considerable revenue by blackmailing convicts who were in
+business."[5] Those who could pay were allowed to continue to enjoy a
+freedom to which they were not legally entitled, while those who would
+not, or could not, be blackmailed, to satisfy the exorbitant demands
+of the so-called custodians of the peace, speedily "got into trouble,"
+and were prosecuted. It was said that if a man could escape from a
+country district and go to Sydney he might, if he could afford to dress
+well, pass as a free man without attracting attention. A blacksmith
+named Brady, assigned to Major James Mudie, of Castle Forbes, eluded
+the police in this way for nearly two years. He was recognised by a
+fellow convict, some time before he was captured, but this man "let
+him go for £5." Such cases, however, were exceptions to the general
+rule. The majority of runaways went into the bush and not into the
+town, and the _Sydney and Hobart Town Gazettes_ in early times contain
+numerous proclamations by the various governors calling upon all well
+disposed persons to assist the military in capturing runaways. Some
+of the issues of these _Gazettes_ contain columns of the names and
+descriptions of persons variously styled "absconders," "absentees,"
+"bolters," or "bushrangers." In these the term "bushranger" appears
+most frequently in New South Wales, while "bolter" was the more popular
+in Van Diemen's Land. The first bushrangers, therefore, were men who
+"took to the bush" to escape work, and therefore it was quite possible
+for a man to be a bushranger without committing any depredations on his
+more prosperous fellows.
+
+But laziness was not the sole cause of bushranging in early times.
+A more powerful impulse perhaps was discontent, love of change.
+"One of the most common indications of the misery of convicts under
+existing circumstances is a passionate desire for change of place;
+and when serving considerate masters they are sometimes indulged in
+this by being transferred (though always as a sort of punishment) to
+their disadvantage. In other cases, however, the desire becomes so
+strong that they will steal, or commit some equal offence, expressly
+to be condemned to a road gang or penal settlement."[6] In fact the
+monotony of their lives became insupportable, even in those cases
+where they were not cruelly treated. Captain Maconochie cites cases
+of men who have so acted within a few months of their being entitled
+to a ticket-of-leave, and who have thus forfeited their chances
+of freedom in the near future. In some cases this was due to the
+"inhuman treatment" of the master. In one case a valuable servant--a
+blacksmith--whose time had nearly expired, was goaded into running
+away so that he might be condemned to a further term of service before
+obtaining his ticket-of-leave, and this was not an isolated case.
+
+"Generally," said Dr. J.D. Lang, "the condition of the assigned
+servant in New South Wales is superior to that of the farm labourer
+of England. He is better clothed, better fed, and as comfortably
+lodged. He is under personal restraint, not being allowed to leave
+his master's property without a pass, but he has many comforts and
+means of amusement which render his situation by no means irksome or
+severe."[7] But it was just this restraint which the persons with
+whom we are now dealing found intolerable. They had not the patience,
+the long-suffering resignation of the English farm labourer. Many of
+them had been English farm labourers and had found the conditions in
+which they lived intolerable, and when they realised that they had not
+very much improved these conditions by being sent to Australia, they
+rebelled again. "The experience furnished by the penal settlements,"
+said Judge Forbes, "has proved that transportation is capable of being
+carried to an extreme of suffering such as to render death desirable,
+and to induce many prisoners to seek it under its most appalling
+aspects.... I have known cases in which it appeared that men had
+committed crimes at Norfolk Island, for the mere purpose of being
+sent to Sydney to be tried, and the cause of their desiring to be so
+sent was to avoid the state of endurance in which they were placed in
+Norfolk Island." ... Several cases occurred in which "men at Norfolk
+Island cut the heads of their fellow-prisoners with the hoe while at
+work, with the certainty of being detected, and the certainty of being
+executed. They did this without malice, and when charged said it was
+better to be hung than to live in such a hell."[8] Sir Richard Bourke
+said: "Capital crimes have been committed in that penal settlement from
+a desperate determination to stake the chance of capital conviction and
+punishment in Sydney against the chances of escape which the passage
+might afford to the accused and to the witnesses summoned to attend the
+trial."[9] The early bushrangers of Australia ranged therefore from
+the comparatively innocent wanderer in the bush, to such desperadoes
+as these, while the crimes they committed varied from petty theft to
+burglary, bank robbery, robbery on the high road, and murder. The
+modern idea of a bushranger is a bold highwayman, and no doubt many of
+the bushrangers come up to this ideal, but the story of the bushrangers
+would not be complete if it took no note of the others.
+
+The settlement on Norfolk Island was established with the view
+of sending all the reconvicted prisoners there. It was the penal
+settlement of a penal settlement. It was abandoned for a time, after
+the founding of a similar settlement on the banks of the Derwent river
+in Van Diemen's Land, but was re-established as a place of punishment
+in connection with that colony, and many of the most notorious of
+the bushrangers ended their days there, as we shall see later. It
+was in the convict settlements in those islands that the greatest
+brutalities were perpetrated on the prisoners, and Norfolk Island,
+Macquarie Harbour, and Port Arthur were each known as "The Hell" among
+the "old hands," as the convicts were called after transportation had
+been abolished. It was in these settlements that the more violent
+and refractory of the convicts were gradually collected, and the
+history of these places tends to prove that brutality cannot be cured
+by brutal means. Flogging which was an every-day occurrence had no
+reformatory effect. The early bushrangers thought nothing of it. It
+certainly did not deter them from absconding whenever they thought
+fit. When an absconder tired of wandering about the bush, he returned
+to the settlement to take his flogging "like a man." In the stories
+told by the old hands, the absconder or offender in some other way was
+represented as walking jauntily up to the triangles, throwing off his
+jumper, placing himself in position for tying, and then, when he had
+been secured, telling the flagellator to do his "d----est," and, if
+the descriptions of the manner in which the floggers performed their
+task which have come down to us are true, the punishment was a terrible
+one. It is said that there were two floggers in Sydney who were
+regarded as artists in their profession. These men performed together,
+the one being right-handed and the other left. They prided themselves
+on being able to flog a man without breaking the skin, and consequently
+there was no blood spilled. But the back of the flogged man is
+described as having been puffed up like "blown veal." The swelling
+"shook like jelly," and the effects were felt for a much longer period
+than when the back was cut and scored as it generally was, for we are
+told that the ground, in the Barrack Square in Sydney, all round where
+the triangles stood, was saturated with human blood, and the flogging
+places elsewhere must have been in the same condition. But to return.
+When the man had received his dose and was cast loose, he would throw
+his jumper across his shoulders and walk away with a grin--or with some
+such remarks as "Well, is that all you can do?---- you!" and afterwards
+boast that "the---- couldn't get a whimper" out of him. I have heard a
+story of a man who was flogged. The flagellator kept hitting him low
+down across the loins. The prisoner turned his head round once and said
+fiercely: "Hit higher, blast you!" The flogger took no notice, and the
+prisoner made no other sign until he was untied. Then he knocked the
+flogger down with his fist, and was immediately seized up for another
+"dose."
+
+"I can assure you, from personal observation, that it is not uncommon
+to see a poor wretch working on the roads, or labouring in the fields,
+with his coarse shirt sticking to the green and tainted flesh of his
+lacerated back, and that, too, for the most venial offence.... I
+have it from unquestionable authority, that it frequently occurs in
+the summer season that the eggs of the blue-fly become inserted and
+hatched in the wounds of the punished offender, from which they are
+occasionally extracted by some humane companion."[10]
+
+The blow-fly in Australia, although frequently called "blue-bottle,"
+is not blue. It deposits its young alive in the form of maggots, and
+great care has always to be taken to prevent sores on man or beast from
+being "blown." It is very common for flannel shirts, which have become
+greasy from perspiration, to be blown on the backs of workmen, and the
+maggots thus deposited will attack and irritate any scratch or sore
+they can find if not removed quickly.
+
+The convict, so far from having been ashamed of being flogged, boasted
+of it. But nothing pleased them better than the relations of stories
+about the flogging of "freemen," as those settlers who had gone to the
+colonies neither as convicts nor officials were called. One story,
+which may or may not be true, has been told as having occurred in every
+convict district in Australia. It was to the effect that a master one
+day gave a letter to an assigned servant and told him to take it to
+the nearest gaol. The servant, surmising that the letter was somewhat
+to the following effect:--"Dear Sir,--Please give the bearer fifty
+for absconding (or what not), and oblige, yours truly, &c.," told a
+plausible tale to the first freeman he met and induced him to deliver
+the letter. The point of the story generally lay in the ingenuity
+with which the convict induced the freeman to deliver the letter for
+him, but the astonishment of the freeman when he was seized up to the
+triangles in spite of his struggles and protestations, and given the
+"fifty," was a perpetual source of joy and hilarity to the convicts who
+heard the story. There is nothing inherently improbable in this story.
+It is quite probable that the incident may have occurred more than
+once. Although freemen were legally exempt from flogging, unless under
+sentence of a qualified Court, many authentic instances of freemen
+having been flogged have been told. Here is one. "A store-keeper in
+Hobart Town had offended his neighbours, and one of them, in revenge,
+posted a written placard libelling the offender. The placard was
+affixed to a big gum stump at the corner of Collins and Elizabeth
+Streets. Just as the complainant was putting this bill on the stump
+the man libelled in it passed and called the attention of the Military
+Commandant, who was near at hand at the time, to it. A sort of informal
+drum-head Court Martial was held on the spot, and the libeller was
+found guilty and sentenced to receive three hundred lashes, which were
+administered at once, in spite of the protests of the victim that he
+was a freeman and was therefore entitled to a judicial trial. When
+two hundred lashes had been administered, a cry of 'Ship ho' was
+raised, and the last hundred was got rid of as quickly as possible, the
+Commandant, the flagellator, the spectators, and others all rushing
+away to the wharf to hear the news from Europe."[11] If the law could
+be thus set at defiance by a military official in the case of a free
+immigrant holding a good position, what chance of justice could there
+be for a convict? A story illustrating the reckless manner in which
+prisoners were flogged is told by the _Launceston Advertiser_. "A
+prisoner was found guilty of absconding, and sentenced to receive fifty
+lashes, when some circumstances were disclosed which proved that the
+prisoner was innocent, but had lost his pass. 'Never mind,' said the
+Launceston magistrate, 'the warrant is signed, let him be punished now;
+I will forgive him the next time he's brought up.'" The tyranny of the
+officials was boundless. One Government rule was that all convicts
+should take off their hats to officers and officials whenever they
+passed. In January, 1839, a party of convicts was building some steps
+at Woolloomooloo Bay, on Sir Maurice O'Connell's estate. Several of
+them were rolling a heavy stone down to be placed in position when an
+officer passed along and the convicts immediately rose up and took
+their hats off. The stone rolled quickly down the steep embankment,
+struck the overseer and knocked him down, almost breaking his leg.
+Captain O'Connell gave orders that the men should not salute anybody
+in future while at work. A few days later Colonel Wilson, Chief
+Police Magistrate of Sydney, passed, accompanied by his daughter. The
+convicts continued at work without noticing him. "Take off your hats,"
+cried the Colonel. Several of the men did so, but Joseph Todd, who
+was carrying a heavy load, took no notice. "Take off your hat, you
+scoundrel," said the Colonel. Todd said he had been ordered not to.
+The Colonel shouted "I'll have your back skinned for you, you rascal,"
+called the sergeant of police who acted as guard, and gave Todd in
+charge. Captain O'Connell appeared to defend his man and said Colonel
+Wilson was trespassing and had no right to interfere with assigned
+servants on their master's estate. Sergeant Goodwin deposed that the
+path was a common one and people frequented it to get to the bathing
+place. Sergeant Mather said that Todd had struggled when arrested.
+The Bench held that Todd being an assigned servant had been guilty of
+disorderly conduct in resisting the police. Had he been a freeman he
+would have been justified in resisting arrest without a warrant; but,
+being a prisoner, his conduct had been highly disorderly, and he was,
+therefore, sentenced to receive fifty lashes. A week later Todd was
+again arrested for being out after hours, and was sentenced to receive
+thirty lashes. The paper in reporting this charged Colonel Wilson with
+tyrannical conduct, and says that he went to see Todd flogged.[12]
+
+I am not relating the worst cases in order to "make out a case" for the
+bushrangers, but simply facts to illustrate the life in the colonies at
+the time, and thus account for the large number of men who "took to the
+bush," and the special Acts passed to prevent this breach of the law
+were as tyrannical as the acts of the officials or the masters which
+went so far to create it. The "Bushranging Act" (11 George IV., No. 10)
+authorised the military or civil police to arrest any person on the
+mere suspicion that he or she was illegally at large, and the onus of
+proof was thrown on the suspected party. This Act was a fruitful source
+of complaint. No one was safe except well known officials, and it is
+said that the Act was extensively used for purposes of extortion and
+black mail. A young woman was arrested by an ex-constable and charged
+with being illegally at large. It was in vain that she protested that
+she was "free" and did not require a pass. He insisted on taking her to
+the lock-up. Fortunately, while walking along the street she met some
+one who knew her and who threatened the ex-policeman with prosecution
+if he did not release her. The fellow did so and was not prosecuted.
+Probably had an enquiry been held it would have been found that he was
+acting in collusion with the police. Even the officials were not always
+safe. Mr. Jacques, the Government auctioneer, had been to a dinner
+party. Being near the Custom House he decided to walk to the wharf from
+whence the steamer, which ran to Balmain, started and go home in her.
+Not having walked to the wharf from that point before, he found it
+necessary to apply to a constable for information as to which turning
+he should take, and was immediately arrested as a convict illegally at
+large. In spite of his protests he was conveyed to the nearest police
+station. The sergeant in charge refused to believe his story, and
+thought that the presence of a well-dressed man in that quarter was
+suspicious. Mr. Jacques was therefore detained till morning, when he
+was recognised by the magistrate and discharged. In 1834 a circular
+letter was addressed by the Governor to the various police-magistrates
+in New South Wales, enquiring whether, in their opinion, the Act
+should be reaffirmed or not, and the replies were by a large majority
+in favour of its being continued, while others merely suggested that
+it might be amended in various ways to prevent the abuses which had
+grown up under its operation. Judge Burton was almost alone in his
+condemnation of the Bushranging Act, which, he said, was repugnant to
+the laws of England. "England and the United States of America," he
+said, "are the only two countries in the world where passports are not
+compulsory," and he deprecated the introduction of the passport system
+into Australia. It was held that the conditions existing in the colony
+made such an act necessary, and it was therefore re-enacted without
+amendment.[13] It is worthy of note, as illustrating Colonial Office
+procedure of that day, that it was the paid officials, and not the
+public, who were consulted in this matter.
+
+The facts being as I have stated, the wonder is not that large numbers
+of prisoners "took to the bush" but that all did not do so, and the
+more we study the early history of the convict settlements the less
+we feel inclined to blame the early bushrangers, however savage or
+atrocious their actions were. But we have not yet quite escaped from
+barbarism. In spite of the positive evidence that flogging brutalises
+and does not reform it is still continued. We also continue to hang
+criminals, although there is no proof that it deters crime or effects
+any good whatever. I do not belong to any society for the abolition of
+capital punishment. I may admit that perhaps there may be men whose
+death is desirable or expedient; but, if it is so, if there are men
+unfit to live or whose death might add to the happiness or security
+of the majority, then I think that we might extend to our fellow
+creatures, however ferocious or abandoned they may be, the mercy which
+we show to savage or superfluous dogs and cease from torturing them
+in their last moments. Hanging has had a sufficiently lengthy trial
+in Australia if it has not in England. Old residents in Sydney or in
+Hobart Town or in any other locality where penal settlements have
+existed can point out numbers of places where the gallows has been
+erected, and in some cases trees are still standing where numbers of
+men have struggled away their last few moments of life. This, however,
+is not the place to enlarge upon this subject, but the story I have
+to tell shows a lamentable waste of life, and many even of the more
+notorious of the bushrangers have exhibited qualities which might under
+happier conditions have fitted them for useful work. This is specially
+true of the earlier bushrangers who were the victims generally of
+unjust laws. Of the later ones, the native-born bushrangers, it is
+impossible to speak in the same terms. They were not driven to crime
+by want or oppression, but they were the vicious products of a vicious
+past. Their crimes were due to vicious environment and education, but
+they are gone now and, if we may draw some lessons of utility for the
+future, even their lives may not have been altogether wasted.
+
+From the evidence I have adduced it will be seen that the early
+bushrangers were very numerous. "In one case it became known," said Mr.
+James Macarthur, "that a gang of about sixty convicts, employed in the
+Government gangs in Liverpool, intended to break out on a certain night
+and take to the bush. It was considered advisable to allow them to
+break out, proper precautions having been made to capture them. It was
+the intention to attack our farming stations at Camden. We armed twelve
+of the best-conducted of our convict servants, but the absconders found
+that their design had been discovered and did not attempt to put it in
+force."[14] Thus the bushrangers did not always go out singly, or in
+twos or threes. Mr. J.T. Bigge says: "At Windsor, and in the adjoining
+districts, the offence termed bushranging, or absconding in the
+woods, and living upon plunder and the robbing of orchards, are most
+prevalent.... At Emu Plains, or the district of Evan, gambling, absence
+from work, insolence to overseers, neglect of work, and stealing, are
+the most common offences.... As the population of New South Wales has,
+until lately, been virtually limited to the occupation of a small
+tract of land that lies between the Blue Mountains and the sea, and as
+few temptations to plunder existed in the tracts contiguous to these
+boundaries, excepting those that are afforded by the wild cattle in
+the cow-pastures, the offence of bushranging, or continued absence in
+the woods, has not of late been common. Instances have occurred of the
+departure of convicts for the purpose of traversing the country with a
+view to escape, of the escape of some from Newcastle, sent thither for
+punishment, and their wandering and temporary existence in the vicinity
+of Windsor; and latterly, a few instances of escape from the road
+parties in the districts of Liverpool and Bathurst; but there has been
+no systematic or continued efforts of desperate convicts to defy the
+attempts of the local Government in New South Wales, or to subsist by
+plunder, such as have existed until a very late period in Van Diemen's
+Land."[15]
+
+It is in Van Diemen's Land, therefore, that our story of the more
+serious phases of bushranging first begins.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: Evidence of Sir Francis Forbes, Chief Justice of New South
+Wales. Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons, July,
+1837.]
+
+[Footnote 2: Despatch from Governor Macquarie to Earl Bathurst, June
+28, 1813.]
+
+[Footnote 3: _Sydney Gazette_, November 20, 1830.]
+
+[Footnote 4: Commission of Enquiry into the state of the colony of New
+South Wales, 1822.]
+
+[Footnote 5: Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on
+Transportation, July, 1837.]
+
+[Footnote 6: Report by Captain Maconochie, forwarded to the Colonial
+Office by Sir John Franklin, October 7th, 1837.]
+
+[Footnote 7: Select Committee of the House of Commons on
+Transportation, August, 1838.]
+
+[Footnote 8: Select Committee of the House of Commons on
+Transportation, August, 1838.]
+
+[Footnote 9: Despatch to Colonial Office, entitled "Administration of
+Justice at Norfolk Island, November, 1838."]
+
+[Footnote 10: Secondary Punishments discussed by an Emigrant of
+1821.--_Launceston Advertiser_.]
+
+[Footnote 11: History of Van Diemen's Land from 1820 to 1835.]
+
+[Footnote 12: _Sydney Gazette._]
+
+[Footnote 13: Dispatch of Governor Bourke to the Colonial Office, 1835.]
+
+[Footnote 14: Select Committee of the House of Commons on
+Transportation, July, 1837.]
+
+[Footnote 15: Commission of Enquiry into the state of the colony of New
+South Wales, 1822.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+  Van Diemen's Land; The First Bushranger; Mike Howe, the King of the
+  Ranges; The Raid on the Blacks; The Black War; Musquito; Outrages
+  by the Blacks; Brutal Treatment of Blacks by Bushrangers; A War of
+  Reprisals; Gigantic Scheme to Capture the Blacks; A Cordon Drawn
+  Round the Disaffected District; Details of the Scheme; Its Failure;
+  Only Two Blacks Captured; Estimated Cost; Fate of the Blacks.
+
+
+The first settlement in Van Diemen's Land was founded in 1803, when
+a penal establishment, to which the more refractory of the prisoners
+in Sydney might be despatched, was founded on the banks of the River
+Derwent. Subsequently other penal stations were opened, and of these
+we shall hear later. The island continued to be the chief penal
+establishment of New South Wales until 1825, when it was erected into
+an independent colony. The first shipment of convicts, direct from
+England to Van Diemen's Land, took place in 1823, and from that date,
+until transportation to the island finally ceased, in 1853, 64,306
+convicts were sent to that colony from the British Isles. The number
+sent previously from New South Wales was not large, nevertheless
+it included the majority of the most turbulent of the convicts and
+relieved the mother colony of their charge and control. The island was
+in fact "nothing but a jail on a large scale."[16] The early conditions
+in the colony appear to have been favourable to bushranging. In 1805
+there was such a dearth of food stuffs, owing to the non-arrival of
+store ships from Sydney, that a famine appeared to be imminent and,
+to relieve the store, the Lieutenant Governor ordered the liberation
+of the convicts and sent them into the woods to catch kangaroo and
+other wild animals for food. When the stores arrived and food became
+plentiful, the attempts to recall the convicts were only partially
+successful. Many had learned how to subsist in the bush and disregarded
+the proclamations issued by the Lieutenant Governor ordering them to
+return to work. At first the bushrangers or bolters were similar to
+those of New South Wales and contented themselves with petty thefts.
+The first proclamation in which reference is made to "a gang of
+bushrangers" was published in the Hobart Town _Gazette_ by Lieutenant
+Governor Davey and dated September 10th, 1810. It offered rewards and
+indulgences to convicts for the capture of any members of a gang which,
+under the leadership of a convict named Whitehead, had been committing
+depredations on the property of settlers and farmers in the vicinity of
+Hobart Town.
+
+Whitehead, therefore, was the first to organise a gang which combined
+highway robbery with burglary and petty larceny. Bushrangers were not
+at that time specialists. From time to time other proclamations were
+issued in which this gang was mentioned, but it was not until May 14th,
+1813, that a special proclamation was published, calling upon the
+"bolters" to surrender. Those who neglected to obey this order were to
+be proclaimed "outlaws" on December 1st.
+
+Very few particulars are published about this gang in the newspapers,
+and the proclamations rarely specify the facts in connection with the
+robberies committed. The newspapers of the time seldom mention the
+names of the bushrangers, and appear to have been quite as averse to
+mentioning the Christian names as the modern English papers are those
+of professional cricketers. Thus Whitehead is referred to as "the
+convict Whitehead," or the "notorious bushranger Whitehead," and so
+on. He is debited, however, with one horrible crime. The gang captured
+a half-crazy fellow named John Hopkins, and accused him of trying to
+betray them. As a punishment for this offence a pair of moccassins,
+roughly made of bullock hide, was fitted on to his feet, and in these
+were placed a number of the great red ants, commonly known in Australia
+as "bull-dog" or "soldier" ants (_myrmecia gulosa_). These ants are
+an inch and a quarter long, and of most ferocious appearance. They are
+the dread of the colonists. They sting quite as severely as a bee or a
+hornet. But a bee stings only once, while a soldier ant will continue
+to sting until removed. It is always ready to fight, and never lets go
+when it has taken hold; hence its popular names. The horrible barbarity
+of such a punishment can be best appreciated, perhaps, by those who
+have inadvertently stood on a "soldier's" bed or nest. The victim is
+said to have died in agony.
+
+Whitehead was shot by a party of soldiers in October, 1814, and Michael
+Howe, commonly called the "First of the Australian Bushrangers,"
+was elected captain of the gang in his stead. Mike Howe, as he was
+usually called, was transported from England for highway robbery, and
+soon after his arrival at Sydney "got into trouble," and was again
+transported to Van Diemen's Land, where his violence caused him to
+be repeatedly flogged and otherwise punished. He made his escape
+and joined Whitehead's gang, and soon, by his superior education,
+gained an ascendency over his comrades. His previous experiences as
+a footpad in England no doubt tended to fit him for the leadership
+of the gang, and he is still regarded as one of the most notable
+of the revolters against law and order in the colonies. One of his
+earlier achievements was to organise a raid on a tribe of blacks for
+the purpose of providing himself and his comrades with wives. This is
+said to have been the first act in the tragedy which closed with the
+complete annihilation of the blacks of the island. The savages, of
+course, resisted, and many of them were shot, and the women were forced
+away to the bushrangers' camp. In revenge, the blacks attacked, not the
+bushrangers' camp, but the houses of settlers who had no connection
+with the bushrangers, and fights between the settlers and the blacks
+became frequent. Some of the black women seem to have become reconciled
+to the change, and Howe's "wife," Black Mary, is associated with him in
+most of the stories told of him. It is said that it was her knowledge
+of the bush which enabled him to escape so frequently from the military
+bands sent out to capture him.
+
+Howe addressed a letter "From the Bushrangers to the Hon. T. Davey,
+Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land," in which he protested
+against the charge, made against himself and his mates in the
+proclamations, of having been guilty of "horrid and detestable
+crimes." He asserted that he had never committed murder and had only
+used violence when it was necessary to avoid capture. The letter was
+conveyed to Hobart Town by an American whaler named Richard Westlick,
+who had an interview with his Excellency, and was sent back with a
+verbal message that the Governor "did not wish to take the life of any
+man," but merely to preserve order. If, therefore, Howe, or any of his
+comrades, would surrender no charges should be made against them for
+their acts while "in the bush." No notice was taken of this generous
+offer, and the depredations continued. Later on Mike Howe addressed a
+letter "From the Governor of the Ranges to the Governor of the Town,"
+and sent it to Lieutenant Governor Sorell, who had succeeded Colonel
+Davey. In this the bushranger offered to give himself up on condition
+that he received a free pardon. He demanded that some recognised
+official should be sent to meet him at an appointed spot, so that they
+might "confer as gentleman to gentleman." The fact that this insolent
+offer was accepted affords incontrovertible evidence of the power of
+the bushrangers, and shows the anxiety of the Governor to put a stop
+to the robberies which harassed the industrious settlers and made the
+roads of the colony unsafe. Captain Nairne, of the 46th Regiment, was
+sent out to meet the bushranger, and the result of their conference
+"as gentlemen" was that Howe accompanied the Captain back to Hobart
+Town. On his arrival there he was informed that the Lieutenant Governor
+had no power to grant pardons, but that he would write to Governor
+Macquarie in Sydney and urge him to grant a pardon without delay. Howe
+agreed to wait in Hobart Town. He was liberated on parole, and soon
+became very popular in the city. Then a rumour began to spread to the
+effect that Howe had committed no less than four murders, not reckoning
+the blacks he had killed, and that, therefore, the Governor declined
+to grant him a pardon. As soon as Howe heard this rumour he, without
+waiting for its confirmation, broke his parole and returned to the
+bush. A proclamation was immediately issued declaring him an outlaw,
+and offering one hundred pounds reward for his capture, dead or alive.
+Smaller rewards were offered for other members of his gang, whose names
+were known.
+
+The estimates of the strength of his gang vary extremely from time to
+time. Sometimes he is said to have a hundred or more followers, while
+frequently he is represented as acting alone or in company with only
+one or two others. The facts appear to be that many men, who merely
+"bolted" into the bush as a relief to the monotony of their lives,
+became bushrangers; and, when hard pressed, or when they tired of that
+pursuit, returned to the town, gave themselves up, and were punished as
+ordinary bolters. One day, not very long after his escape from Hobart
+Town, Howe was surprised while asleep by two ticket-of-leave men named
+Watts and Drew. They captured and tied him. Howe fought like a lion and
+contrived to break the rope with which he was tied. He snatched a knife
+and stabbed Watts. He then seized Watts' gun and shot Drew dead. Watts
+ran away, while Howe was employed in re-loading the gun, and managed
+to secrete himself in the scrub for a time. When the way was clear he
+crawled to a farm and gave information. He was cared for as well as
+circumstances permitted, but he died from loss of blood before a doctor
+could be brought to him. Howe was followed by the military, but escaped.
+
+Several skirmishes took place between Howe and his gang and the
+soldiers, and more than one of his accomplices were shot, but the
+chief always contrived to get away. At length a kangaroo hunter named
+Warburton led William Pugh, a soldier commonly known as "Big Bill," and
+a seaman named John Worrall, to where Howe was camped under a gum tree.
+A terrific fight took place, Howe's brains being beaten out before it
+was over.
+
+In his review of this period, Mr. J.T. Bigge said: "The excesses of
+the bushrangers in the neighbourhood of Port Dalrymple, and likewise
+near Hobart Town, had attained their utmost height and most sanguinary
+character at the latter end of the year 1813. They had been joined
+by two persons who had held subordinate stations in the commisariat
+department, named Peter Mills and George Williams, and continued
+a system of violent depredations upon the homes and property of
+individuals of every description. So great was the intimidation
+produced by their combined efforts, that the inhabitants of several
+districts abandoned their dwellings and removed for safety to the
+towns.... Colonel Davey issued a proclamation offering rewards for the
+apprehension of a party of nine, and with the advice of Mr. Ellis Bent
+another proclamation calling upon them to surrender before December
+1st.... The effect of this was the reverse of what was intended. It
+increased the crimes and audacity of the bushrangers during the six
+months that it allowed for their return; they profited by the pardon
+by making a temporary surrender, and then resumed their habits of
+plunder.... Hector McDonald, the leader, was shot by two convicts sent
+in pursuit of a gang of four. Another was shot by a soldier of the 48th
+regiment, and the other three were captured and on conviction flogged
+and transported."[17]
+
+For the time, bushranging in Van Diemen's Land was said to have been
+put down, but "the Guerilla War" between the whites and the blacks,
+inaugurated by the bushrangers, continued. Mr. Gilbert Robertson was
+appointed conciliator, with a view to arranging terms of peace, but he
+was not very successful. Several proclamations were issued assuring the
+blacks that if they would come in and make peace the Government would
+endeavour to protect them against their enemies the bushrangers; but,
+as was pointed out at the time, issuing proclamations to savages who
+could not read was absurd. Then a pictorial proclamation was issued. In
+one portion the governor was shown shaking hands with a blackfellow;
+in others blacks and whites were exhibited mingling together in
+friendship. In the two bottom compartments a white man was shown being
+hung for having shot a black, while a blackfellow was being hung for
+having speared a white man. Copies of this pictorial proclamation
+were posted on trees and other places where the blacks might see it.
+Lieutenant Governor Arthur in fact, on his arrival in the colony, tried
+by every means in his power to appeal to the blacks and whites alike.
+He endeavoured to restrain the settlers from attacking and driving the
+blacks away from their farms whenever they appeared, as had become the
+custom, but some new outrage by the bushrangers gave a new impulse to
+the feud, and the settlers were compelled to fight in self-defence. In
+one of his despatches to the Colonial Secretary Governor Arthur said:
+"It is not a matter of surprise that the injuries real or supposed,
+inflicted on the blacks, have been avenged upon the whites whenever
+an occasion presents itself; and I regret to say that the natives
+led on by a Sydney black, and by two aborigines of this island, men
+partially civilised (a circumstance which augurs ill for any endeavour
+to instruct these abject beings), have committed many murders upon the
+shepherds and herdsmen in remote settlements.... I have long indulged
+the expectation that kindness and forbearance would have brought about
+something like a reconciliation, but the repeated murders which have
+been committed have so greatly inflamed the passions of the settlers,
+that petitions and complaints have been presented from every part of
+the colony, and the feeling of resentment now runs so high that further
+forbearance would be totally indefensible."[18]
+
+The Sydney black here mentioned was known as Musquito. He was
+transported to Van Diemen's Land for the murder of a black gin
+(presumably his wife, which is no crime according to native law) in
+1823, and having been employed on a cattle station in New South Wales,
+was appointed stock-keeper. Later, he was employed as a tracker, and
+aided the soldiers in capturing some of the bushrangers. For this he
+was so persecuted by his fellow convicts that life became a burden
+to him. He appealed to the authorities for protection; but, as this
+was not accorded to him, he became a bushranger himself. "Perhaps
+taken collectively the sable natives of this colony are the most
+peaceable creatures in the universe. Certainly so taken they have never
+committed any acts of cruelty, or even resisted the whites, unless
+when insufferably goaded by provocation. The only tribe who have done
+any mischief were corrupted by Musquito, a Sydney black, who, with
+much perverted cunning, taught them a portion of his own villainy, and
+incited them after a time to join in his delinquencies."[19]
+
+Knowing, as we do, the general character of the Australian blacks, it
+seems strange that one of them should prove himself so much superior
+to the Van Diemen's Land blacks as Musquito is represented to have
+done. But however that may be, there can be no doubt as to his skill in
+organisation. Some of his attacks on settlers were so skilfully planned
+and carried out, that many persons believed that the blacks had been
+led by a white man. After about two years of bushranging, Musquito and
+Black Jack, the two leaders, were captured. Musquito was charged with
+the murder of William Holyoak, and Mr. Gilbert Robertson appeared in
+his defence. Mr. Robertson urged that the murders committed by Musquito
+were in self defence. Had he been protected by the Government, as he
+should have been after the services he had rendered, he would never
+have taken to the bush. He related many instances to show the skill of
+the black, and among others, said that he had seen him "cut the head
+off a flying pigeon with a crooked stick."[20] This seems to indicate
+that however intimately Mr. Robertson might be acquainted with the Van
+Diemen's Land blacks he had no acquaintance with the boomerang. In
+spite of the conciliator's efforts Musquito was convicted and sentenced
+to death. When the sentence had been pronounced Musquito said, "Hanging
+no---- good for blackfellow." Mr. Bisdee asked him "Why not as good for
+blackfellow as for whitefellow?" "Oh," exclaimed Musquito, "Very good
+for whitefellow. He used to it." Black Jack was convicted of the murder
+of Patrick Macartney. The only English known by Black Jack was of the
+"old hands oaths brand." The two blacks were hung in Hobart Town, but
+"The Black War" continued.
+
+"The deadly antipathy which was excited between the aborigines and
+the bushrangers of Van Diemen's Land provoked a series of outrages
+which would have terminated in the utter extinction of the whole race,
+if the local Government had not interposed to remove the last remnant
+of them from the island; an act of real mercy, though of apparent
+severity."[21] Before proceeding to describe this attempt to save the
+remnant of the race we may perhaps give a list of the "Atrocities
+committed by the blacks." It is not a very long one, taking into
+consideration the time occupied in the war. In March, 1820, forty-nine
+natives attacked Mr. Broadribb's house. They were divided into several
+parties which came up from different points simultaneously. One man was
+speared in the thigh before the blacks were repulsed. They all went
+away together and stripped Mr. Thomson's house of everything portable.
+They then proceeded to Mr. E. Denovan's and robbed his place. On April
+1st John Raynor was speared and dreadfully beaten at Spring Bay. On
+May 18th a party of blacks attacked two men employed by Mr. Lord. One
+was dangerously speared and the other beaten. The hut was stripped.
+On June 1st Mr. Sherwin's hut, at Weasel Plain, was plundered, and on
+the 15th, Den Hut, at Lake River, was stripped bare, and Mary Daniels
+and her two children murdered. On August 7th, S. Stockman's hut, at
+Green Ponds, was plundered. On the 9th, some muskets, powder, and shot
+were stolen from the huts of Mr. Sharland, a Government surveyor. On
+the same day the Government hut, between Borthwick and Blue Ash, was
+robbed, several horses stolen from Mr. Wood and Mr. Pitcairn, and a man
+wounded at Mr. Purvis's. This party consisted of about forty blacks.
+They were met by Mr. Howell's party, and the blacks were driven off
+after a fight. A woman living near was wounded with a spear. On the
+23rd, the huts of Mr. J. Connell and Mr. Robertson were attacked, and
+the latter plundered; Mr. Sutherland's shepherds were robbed of their
+arms and one of them wounded; some arms were taken from Mr. Taylor's
+hut. The next day James Hooper was killed, and his hut plundered. The
+huts of Lieutenants Bell and Watts were attacked, but the blacks were
+repulsed. On September 8th Captain Clark's shepherd was attacked, but
+contrived to escape. On the 13th one man was killed and another wounded
+on the banks of the Tamar River. On the 14th a man working at the
+Government lime kilns at Bothwell was attacked, but escaped. On the
+18th a private of the 63rd Regiment was speared and two other soldiers
+wounded. One of the savages was killed. On the 27th Francis Booker was
+killed with spears, and on the next day three men at Major Gray's hut
+were wounded. On the same day two men were killed at Mr. G. Scott's
+place and their bodies thrown into the river. A third man was wounded,
+but escaped into the bush. The house was stripped of everything. This
+robbery was so systematically carried through that it was believed that
+the blacks had been led by white men. A hut on the opposite side of
+the road was also stripped. On October 16th the settlement at Sorell
+was attacked, one man being killed and another severely wounded. Four
+houses were stripped. On the 18th Captain Stewart's shepherd was killed
+and a settler, Mr. Gilders, was also speared and died. On the 19th,
+Messrs. Gatehouse and Gordon's house was attacked, but the blacks were
+repulsed. They were also driven away from Mr. Gaugel's place, but not
+before he was severely wounded. On November 19th two huts were robbed
+on the Ouse River. Captain Wight's shepherd was killed and dreadfully
+mangled. His body was found later. On the 27th a hut on the Esk River
+was stripped bare. On February 3rd, 1821, an attack was made on Mr.
+Burrell's house on the Tamar River. Mr. Wallace was severely wounded in
+several places, and a child was also wounded by a spear. L. Knight's
+hut was plundered, three horses belonging to Mr. Sutherland were killed
+and three others were wounded. His hut at North Esk was also plundered.
+Mrs. McCaskell was killed near Westbury, and her hut plundered of
+everything. An attack made on Mr. Stewart's house was repulsed. On
+March 8th, two sawyers were wounded, and two huts near New Norfolk were
+plundered. On the 12th, Mrs. Cunningham and her child were severely
+wounded, and her hut at East Arm plundered. Mr. Lawrence's servant
+was wounded, and three men were wounded on Norfolk Plains. On April
+5th, T. Ralton was killed with a spear while splitting wood. On the
+16th, Mr. Fitzgerald was sitting at the door of his hut reading, when
+a blackfellow sneaked up and drove a spear through him, after which
+his cottage was plundered. On the 17th, another attack was made on
+Fitzgerald's house. On May 10th, the Government store at Patrick Plains
+was burned down. Mr. Kemp's establishment at Lake Sorell was attacked
+by a large mob of blacks. Two men were killed, one wounded, the
+buildings were burned down and the firearms carried away. On June 6th,
+several huts were attacked at Hunter's Hill. Mrs. Triffet was speared
+and her house plundered, the huts of Messrs. Marnetti, Bell, and Clark
+were robbed, and Mrs. N. Long was killed. On September 5th, Thomas
+Smith was killed at Tapsley, and his hut plundered; John Higginson
+was killed and his hut robbed, and a sawyer's hut was plundered. On
+the 7th, Mr. B.B. Thomas and his overseer, Mr. Parker, were murdered
+near Port Sorell, while endeavouring to carry out the conciliatory
+policy of the Government. Mr. Stocker's hut was attacked, a man named
+Cupid killed, and a child wounded. On the 27th, Mr. Dawson's hut on
+Bushy Plains was attacked, and a man severely beaten. On the 23rd, Mr.
+Dawson's man Hughes was again beaten with waddies and nearly killed. On
+October 13th, the natives, armed with muskets, attacked and robbed the
+house of Constable Reid, and afterwards that of Mr. Amos Junior.[22]
+
+This report covers only a portion of the time during which the war
+lasted, but it sufficiently indicates the character of the war. When
+the blacks attacked the cottages, or huts as they are called in
+Australia, of shepherds, sawyers, splitters, and other workers, they
+were frequently successful, but were generally repulsed when they
+attacked the residences or houses of the employers. The manner in
+which the blacks fought struck terror into the hearts of the settlers.
+No one was safe. At any time, day or night, a party of blacks might
+sneak up and, with wild yells, spear men, women, and children, old or
+young, without warning. Their patience in tracking was indomitable.
+If they could not effect a surprise they withdrew and waited. No
+doubt, as the advocates of the cause of the blacks said, the number of
+whites killed was much smaller than the number of blacks slaughtered
+by bushrangers in their lust and by settlers and soldiers in defence.
+But it can be readily understood that the position of the settlers was
+intolerable. Every attempt to drive the blacks away from the settled
+districts only provoked fresh reprisals, while every attempt at
+conciliation failed until at length it became evident that the blacks
+must be either captured or killed. It was therefore with a view to
+saving the blacks that Lieutenant Governor Arthur urged the necessity
+of capturing and removing them from Van Diemen's Land to one of the
+Islands in Bass's Straits. In his despatches to Governor Bourke and to
+the Colonial Office, he said that it was utterly impossible to restrain
+the colonists, so great was their rage at the murders of peaceful
+citizens, and especially of women and children, while all his attempts
+at conciliation had failed in consequence of the continual outrages
+committed on the blacks by the bushrangers. Mr. Gilbert Robertson said:
+"One day a settler was riding across his grounds looking for cattle.
+He jumped his horse over a log, and while doing so caught the sparkle
+of a pair of eyes gleaming from the shadow of the log. He pulled
+up, wheeled his horse round and dismounted, thinking he had found a
+kangaroo, but on pulling some brush away saw a poor cowering black
+trying to hide himself, but there was no mercy in the heart of the
+settler. He cocked his gun and shot the black in cold blood."[23] The
+story is a very pathetic one, but perhaps the settler had had reason to
+know that "the poor cowering black" was sneaking up to the settlement
+to murder any unsuspecting man, woman, or child he might come across.
+Hiding behind logs, crawling through brush, was the ordinary method of
+fighting employed by the Van Diemen's Land aborigines, and had he not
+been on the war path he would not have resorted to this secret manner
+of travelling but would have stood out boldly. The blacks are not
+cowards, and are not afraid of showing themselves, as a rule, after
+their first superstitious fear of the white man passes away. This being
+the general experience of bushmen, the settler may have been justified
+in killing the black. He may have been simply treating him according to
+the blackfellow's own rule in war time. But although we may acquit the
+settler of blame by such reasoning, the existence of such conditions
+as to necessitate such a war is not the less deplorable. The whites
+all carried arms when travelling, and even while working about their
+homes. Shepherds and other workmen went in pairs. There was no safety
+anywhere outside the cleared lands round the larger towns. Reviewing
+the whole situation from our present standpoint, it is difficult to say
+what other measures could have been adopted than those tried by the
+Government. The authorities were apparently incapable of controlling
+the bushrangers, nor could they prevent convicts from running away,
+and these outlaws appear to have always considered the blacks as
+fair game. Mr. Robertson tells us that a convict known as "Carrots"
+boasted shortly before his death that, "having killed a native in his
+attempt to carry off the black's wife, he cut off the dead man's head
+and obliged the woman to go with him carrying it suspended round her
+neck."[24] Is it any wonder that even such "passive and inoffensive
+creatures" as the Van Diemen's Land blacks are said to have been,
+should have been aroused to fury by such methods? But although the
+Government had no control over the convicts in the bush, and such
+outrages as this were not known of until long after they had occurred,
+it can scarcely be said that even Governor Arthur, in spite of his
+earnest desire to protect the blacks, was altogether blameless. The
+whole policy of the Government in relation to the blacks was weak and
+vacillating. Governor Arthur promised a native, known as Teague, a boat
+on condition that he should assist in the capture of some bushrangers.
+The black performed his share of the work, but he never got his boat,
+and is said to have fretted himself to death in consequence. The Sydney
+black, Musquito, was forced "into the bush" by the failure of the
+Government to protect him against the persecution due to the manner
+in which he had been employed in the service of that Government. In
+September, 1826, two blacks were hung in Hobart Town "to impress the
+others." Nothing could be more absurd than this, and it was far more
+barbarous a method of reprisal than the shooting of a "poor cowering
+black." But the Government was not even consistent in its savagery.
+At the trial of Eumarrah Mr. Robertson pleaded that the black was
+justified in resisting the invaders of his country in any and every
+way; and, on his undertaking to remove Eumarrah to Flinders Island,
+where he had collected about thirty-eight blacks under the charge of
+missionaries, the plea was accepted and the prisoner was handed over to
+him. By this time, however, the war had become so vindictive that even
+the authorities in London recognised that the blacks must be captured
+or annihilated, and consequently permission was granted to Governor
+Arthur to put in practice the most extraordinary project perhaps ever
+attempted.
+
+In April, 1828, a proclamation was issued which, after describing the
+state of tension which existed between whites and blacks, exhorted
+all well-disposed persons to assist the Government in attempting to
+establish peace and order. The proclamation went on to explain that a
+cordon was to be drawn round the disturbed area and that this was to be
+gradually contracted until the natives were either captured or driven
+across the narrow isthmus which connects Tasman's peninsula with the
+main portion of the island. "But I do, nevertheless, hereby strictly
+order, enjoin, and command, that the actual use of arms be in no case
+resorted to, by firing against any of the natives, or otherwise, if
+they can by other measures be captured."
+
+The force employed in this gigantic scheme is said to have been about
+two thousand two hundred men, of whom five hundred and fifty were
+soldiers belonging to the 63rd, the 57th, and the 17th regiments. The
+whole force was divided into parties of about ten each, and one of
+these was appointed a leader. On October 7th, a chain of posts was
+established from St. Patrick's Head along the rivers St. Paul, South
+Esk, Macquarie, and Meander, under the command of Major Douglas, of
+the 63rd regiment. A similar chain of posts was formed from the Derwent
+River along the River Dee to the Lakes, under Captain Wentworth, of
+the 63rd regiment. A third party, under Captain Donaldson, of the 57th
+regiment, was stationed in the rear to capture any blacks who might
+escape through the front line. Captain Moriarty, R.N., in charge of
+a party, was appointed to scour between the lines and to drive the
+natives forward or capture them. Mr. Gilbert Robertson and other
+friends of the blacks acted with this group of parties with the object
+of persuading such natives as they might meet to surrender quietly.
+For about three weeks the posts were advanced slowly, and frequent
+reports were circulated that the beaters had seen parties of blacks
+and that they were going in the desired direction. On the 25th Mr.
+Walpole reported that he had come on a camp of blacks and saw them
+lighting their fires and cooking as if nothing unusual was going on.
+He watched all night, and just before daybreak crept up slowly and
+found five blacks asleep. He seized one and held him after a desperate
+struggle, during which the black bit him severely on the arm. A boy
+of about fifteen was captured by another settler who was with Mr.
+Walpole, and these two were handed over to the authorities and conveyed
+to the nearest police station to be kept until the remainder were
+captured. On the 26th Lieutenant Ovens saw a black with a firestick
+apparently trying to sneak through the lines. He ran forward and the
+black retreated into the bush. Several other blacks were turned back
+from other points in the line. These also carried firesticks. On the
+27th the cordon had been drawn so close that the escape of the blacks
+within the line was considered impossible, but as no reports had been
+made for some time of any blacks having been seen, some discontent was
+manifested by the hunters. On the 31st an order was issued from the
+camp at Sorrell rivulet to close in, and hopes were expressed that no
+blacks would be permitted to escape in the final rush. The following
+day the lines closed in, and no blacks escaped. There was none there
+to escape. They had slipped through the lines as soon as they became
+aware that they were being hunted, and the man and boy caught by Mr.
+Walpole's party were the only blacks captured. A proclamation was
+published next day, in which the Governor thanked the settlers for
+their services, and regretted that their efforts had not been more
+successful. In a despatch sent to the Colonial Secretary, Governor
+Arthur said, "I regret to report that the measures which I had the
+honour to lay before you terminated without the capture of either
+of the native tribes,"[25] and that was all that was said about it
+officially. It has been estimated that the scheme cost the colony some
+£35,000, but no particulars were published, and therefore all estimates
+of cost are mere guesses.
+
+From a humanitarian point of view it is to be regretted that it did
+not succeed, but the fact that it could be attempted proves how little
+was known of the blacks by the authorities. The fact that the blacks,
+who were said to be endeavouring to escape through the lines, held
+firesticks in their hands proves that they were then unaware of the
+intention of the whites, and they were probably outside the lines very
+shortly after it had been thus intimated to them that they were being
+hunted. But it is doubtful whether the race could have been preserved
+if they had been removed in large numbers from Van Diemen's Land. Mr.
+Gilbert Robertson and his successor, Mr. G.A. Robinson, succeeded in
+removing about 130 blacks to Flinders Island, where, although they were
+under the care of missionaries, they gradually died off. It was not
+recognised in those days that compelling the blacks to wear clothes
+induces skin diseases which soon prove fatal. The only way to preserve
+the Australian blacks is to leave them alone, and the knowledge of this
+fact came too late to save the Tasmanians.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 16: History of Van Diemen's Land from 1820 to 1835.]
+
+[Footnote 17: Commission of Enquiry into the state of the Colony of New
+South Wales, 1822-3.]
+
+[Footnote 18: Despatch dated April 17th, 1828.]
+
+[Footnote 19: _Hobart Town Gazette._]
+
+[Footnote 20: Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons,
+1838.]
+
+[Footnote 21: Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons,
+1838.]
+
+[Footnote 22: Despatch from Governor Arthur to Earl Bathurst, dated
+October 13, 1831.]
+
+[Footnote 23: Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons,
+1838.]
+
+[Footnote 24: Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons,
+1838.]
+
+[Footnote 25: Despatch dated June 27th, 1835.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+  Pierce the Cannibal; A Terrible Journey; A Shocking Confession;
+  Escapes from "the Western Hell"; The Ruffian Jefferies; Brady the
+  Bushranger; Escapes from Macquarie Harbour; Sticks up the Town of
+  Sorell; The Governor's Proclamation; Brady Laughs at it; The Fight
+  with Colonel Balfour; Betrayed by a Comrade; Captured by John Batman;
+  Sympathy at his Trial; End of the Epoch.
+
+
+In a despatch to the Colonial Secretary in 1822, Lieutenant Governor
+Arthur said that bushranging had been "totally suppressed in Van
+Diemen's Land during the past three years," or since the breaking up
+of Howe's gang. But the happy conditions suggested by this report
+were not destined to last. There was still a number of runaways or
+bolters in the bush, but bushranging had by this time come to mean the
+commission of more serious crimes than petty larceny, and it was in
+this sense that the Governor made use of the term. We have, however,
+not yet arrived at the time when others, besides highwaymen, can be
+excluded. The next illustration is, perhaps, the most terrible of all
+the events connected with bushranging, although it concerns only the
+bushrangers themselves. On September 20th, 1822, Alexander Pierce, Bob
+Greenhill, Mathew Travers, Thomas Bodenham, Bill Cornelius or Kenelly,
+James Brown, John Mathers, and Alexander Dalton made their escape from
+the recently-founded penal station at Macquarie Harbour. According to
+Pierce's confession it appears that they "made it up for to take a
+boat" and proceed to Hobart Town. Greenhill being at work at the mines,
+"we had to call for him, he being a good navigator." Greenhill smashed
+up the miners' chests with an axe, and took all their provisions. "We
+then put out all the fires with buckets of water, so that the miners
+could not signal our escape; but, when we were a quarter of a mile
+out we saw fires all along the beach, so we could not have put them
+all out. We thought a boat would be despatched after us, so we went a
+little further and then landed. We knew it was no use trying to go by
+water, so we broke up the boat. We then proceeded to the side of the
+mountain right opposite the settlement. We were afraid that Dr. Spence
+or the Commandant would see us with the spy glass, the settlement being
+so plain to us. So we agreed to lie down until the sun went round. When
+the sun was behind the hill we went to the top, kindled a fire, and
+camped all night. Next morning we started again, and walked all day.
+Little Brown, who came back, and died in the hospital, was the worst
+walker of all. He was always behind, and kept cooeying. So we said we
+would leave him behind if he did not keep up. We kept off Gordon River
+for fear the soldiers might be after us. We travelled from daylight
+till dark night over very rough country for eight days. We were very
+weak for want of provisions. Our tinder got wet and we were very cold
+and hungry. Bill Cornelius said 'I'm so hungry I could eat a piece
+of a man.' The next morning there were four of us for a feast. Bob
+Greenhill said he had 'seen the like done before and it eat much like
+pork.' Mathers spoke out and said it would be murder; and perhaps then
+we could not eat it. 'I'll warrant you,' said Greenhill, 'I'll eat the
+first bit; but, you must all lend a hand, so that we'll all be equal
+in the crime.' We consulted about who should fall, and Greenhill said,
+'Dalton, he volunteered to be a flogger. We will kill him.' We made a
+bit of a breakwind with boughs, and about three in the morning Dalton
+was asleep. Then Greenhill struck him on the head with an axe and he
+never spoke after. Greenhill called Travers, and he cut Dalton's throat
+to bleed him. Then we dragged him away a bit and cut him up. Travers
+and Greenhill put his heart and liver on the fire and ate them before
+they were right warm. The others refused to eat any that night, but the
+next morning it was cut up and divided and we all got our share. We
+started a little after sunrise. One man was appointed each day to walk
+ahead and make a road. He carried nothing but a tomahawk. The others
+carried the things. This morning Cornelius and Brown said they would go
+ahead together and carry the pots. We had not gone far when the leaders
+were missing. We went back to look for them, but could see no signs of
+them. We said, 'They will go back and hang us all,' but we thought they
+would not find the way, so we went on. We walked for four days through
+bad country, till we came to a big river. We thought it was the Gordon.
+We stopped a day and two nights looking for a place to cross. We felled
+trees, but the stream was too strong and carried them away. Travers
+and Bodenham couldn't swim, but at last we got over and cut a pole
+thirty or forty feet long and reached it across, where there was a rock
+jutting out into the river, and pulled them across. We got up the hill
+with great difficulty, it was so steep. The ground was very barren on
+the other side, and covered with scrub. We were very weak and hungry.
+A consultation was held as to who should be the next victim. Bodenham
+did not know anything about it, and it was resolved to kill him. Me and
+Mathers went to gather wood, Travers saying, 'You'll hear it directly.'
+About two minutes after Mathers said, 'He's done; Greenhill hit him
+with the axe and Travers cut his throat.' Greenhill took Bodenham's
+shoes and put them on, for his own were very bad. We ate only the
+heart and liver that night. Next day we camped and dried the meat. We
+travelled on for three days, and saw many emus and kangaroos, but could
+not catch them. Mathers and me went away together, and Mathers said,
+'Let us go on by ourselves. You see what kind of a cove Greenhill is.
+He'd kill his own father before he'd fast for a day.' We travelled on
+for two days more. We boiled a piece of the meat, and it made Mathers
+so sick that he began to vomit. Greenhill started up and hit him on
+the forehead with the axe. Although he was cut, he was still stronger
+than Greenhill. He called out, 'Pierce, will you see me murdered?'
+and rushed at Greenhill. He took the axe from him and threw it to
+me. We walked on till night, and then Travers and Greenhill collared
+Mathers and got him down. They gave him half an hour to pray. When the
+half-hour was up Mathers handed the prayer-book to me and Greenhill
+killed him. When crossing the second tier of mountains Travers got his
+foot stung by an insect and it swelled up. On the other side we got to
+a big river and camped for two nights. Me and Greenhill swam across
+and cut a long wattle, and pulled Travers over as he could not swim.
+Here the country got better and we travelled well for two days. Then
+Travers' foot got black, and he said he couldn't go any further. He
+asked us to leave him to die in peace. When we were a little way away,
+Greenhill said: 'Pierce, it's no use for to be detained any longer;
+let's serve him like the rest.' I replied, 'I'll have no hand in it.'
+When we went back Travers was lying on his back asleep. It was about
+two o'clock in the day. Greenhill lifted the axe and hit him on the
+head, and then cut his throat. We crossed the third tier of mountains
+and got into fine country, the grass being very long. Greenhill began
+to fret, and said he would never reach a post. I watched Greenhill
+for two nights and thought that he eyed me more than usual. He always
+carried the axe and kept it under his head when lying down. At length,
+just before daybreak, Greenhill dozed off to sleep, and I snatched
+the axe and killed him with a blow. I took a thigh and one arm and
+travelled on four more days until the last was eaten. I then walked for
+two days with nothing to eat I took off my belt meaning to hang myself,
+but took another turn and travelled on till I came to a fire with some
+pieces of kangaroo and opossum lying beside it. I ate as much as I
+could and carried the rest away. Some days later I came to a marsh. I
+saw a duck with ten young ones. I jumped into the water and the duck
+flew off, while the little ones dived. Two of them came up close to my
+legs and I caught one in each hand. Next day I saw a large mountain,
+and thought it was Table Mountain. Then I came to a big river and
+travelled down it for two days. I came on a flock of sheep belonging
+to Tom Triffet, at the falls, and caught a lamb. While I was eating it
+the shepherd came up and said he would tell. I threatened to shoot him.
+Then he got friendly and took me to the hut, and fed me for three days.
+Then he told me that the master was coming up and I'd have to go. I
+went to another hut and stayed three weeks. Then I fell in with Davis
+and Cheetham and they said I could join them. They had 126 newly-marked
+sheep and said they were going to select some more. I shepherded the
+mob while they were away. They continued robbing the stations until the
+soldiers came. The soldiers captured the gang except Bill Davis, who
+snatched up his gun and ran away, Corporal Kelly followed and called on
+him to stop. As he kept on Kelly fired and missed, when Davis turned
+round and said, 'I've got you now.' Kelly cried out 'Murder,' and the
+other soldiers ran forward and fired. Davis was wounded in the arm and
+gave in."
+
+The confession may here be very much abridged, as the account he gives
+of his acts is very rambling. About 250 sheep, a gold watch, two
+silver watches, and a number of other articles were found at the camp.
+Several of the gang were hung and the others sentenced to long terms
+of penal servitude. Pierce denied having taken any active share in
+the robberies, and as he was merely found in charge of the stolen, or
+as he euphoniously calls them "the selected," sheep, he was sent back
+to Macquarie Harbour to be dealt with as a bolter. On November 16th,
+1823, Pierce again absconded from Macquarie Harbour in company with
+Thomas Cox. On the 21st, as the schooner _Waterloo_ was sailing down
+the harbour, a man was observed standing on the shore and signalling
+with smoke from a fire. These signals had also been observed from the
+settlement, and a boat was despatched from there. The boat sent by
+Mr. Lucas from the schooner reached the place at the same time that
+the boat from the settlement arrived. On landing it was found that
+Alexander Pierce had made the fire, and he was immediately arrested by
+Lieutenant Cuthertson. Pierce said that he had killed Cox and eaten
+part of the body. He volunteered to show where the remainder was. On
+going to the place it was found that all the fleshy parts had been
+cut away, leaving the bones and viscera. It is impossible that Pierce
+could have committed this murder through want of food. He had only been
+away from the settlement for a few days, and some flour, a piece of
+pork, some bread, and a few fish, which Pierce and Cox had stolen from
+a party of hunters, were found at the camp. Before his trial Pierce
+said that he had been so horror-struck at the crime he had committed
+that, when he signalled, he did not know what he was about. After
+his conviction, however, he said that man's flesh was delicious; far
+better than fish or pork; and his craving for it had led him to induce
+Cox to abscond so that he might kill and eat him. He was wearing the
+clothes of the murdered man when he was captured. Although he made no
+secret of his cannibalism after his conviction, but boasted about it,
+he is believed to have very much toned down his share in the murders
+perpetrated during that terrible journey across the Western Tiers.
+Possibly Greenhill may have been the moving spirit in these atrocities,
+but we have the fact that Pierce was the sole survivor, and he gives
+but a very brief account of the last struggle between himself and
+Greenhill. We can conceive something of it. Pierce was the larger and
+stronger man, but Greenhill was active though small, and moreover he
+carried the axe. The two men probably pretended to be actuated by
+friendly feelings towards each other; each one endeavouring to put the
+other off his guard; but each knew that the other was only watching for
+an opportunity to slay him. For two days they walked side by side at a
+safe distance apart; each afraid to let the other get behind him, or
+near enough to spring upon him; and each was also afraid to allow the
+other to get out of sight because of the certainty that he would merely
+dog him through the scrub until an opportunity to strike occurred. For
+two nights they sat facing each other, a short distance apart, each
+afraid to go to sleep or to allow the other to go out of sight. If
+one rose up the other started to his feet immediately. Every slight
+movement of one caused the other to be on the alert. The tension must
+have been fearful. At length, when the second night was drawing to a
+close, Greenhill could bear up no longer. He dozed, and Pierce sprang
+on him at once. That is something like the tradition handed down among
+the "old hands," who knew nothing of Pierce's confession, but who had
+heard the tale from companions of the cannibal himself. There was a
+time when it was frequently told round the camp fire in rough, coarse
+language, plentifully intermingled with profanity, but the old hands
+have died out and it is heard no longer. Pierce, the cannibal, has
+been almost forgotten, and yet the story has its moral. It affords
+us an example of the terrible depths of degradation to which men can
+be reduced by brutal treatment, and it is not good that the story of
+Alexander Pierce should be forgotten as long as any remains of the old
+prison discipline which produced such men continues to exist, either in
+Australia or in any other civilised country.
+
+The settlement at Macquarie Harbour, "the Western Hell," as the
+convicts called it, was opened as a penal station on January the 3rd,
+1822, and from that time until its removal to Port Arthur in May, 1827,
+one hundred and twelve prisoners ran away. Of these, seventy-four are
+reported to have "perished in the woods." The remains of a number
+of men have been found at various times; but, as a rule, too late
+for identification, and therefore the official records do not assert
+positively that these men did perish, but only that, as nothing had
+been seen or heard of them for long periods, and remains supposed to
+be theirs had been found, it was reasonable to assume that they had
+perished. Two returned, as related by Pierce, namely Bill Cornelius or
+Kenelly and James Brown. On both these men portions of the murdered
+man Dalton were found, and Cornelius was punished as a bolter. Brown,
+however, was too ill, and was admitted to the hospital, where he died.
+Eight of the hundred and twelve runaways from Macquarie Harbour are
+reported to have reached Port Dalrymple or some other settlement, but
+in each case the official report bears the significant note, "wants
+confirmation." Five men were eaten as related. Three were picked up
+in a wretched condition on the beach by the steamer _Waterloo_, three
+others of the same gang being included among those who perished. Two
+were shot; two found dead. This leaves sixteen, and these are known to
+have reached the settled districts. Of these, Pierce was one. Every
+precaution was taken at Macquarie Harbour to prevent bolting. A line
+of posts was established across the neck of land between Pirates' Bay
+and Storm Bay, and fierce dogs were chained at these places to give
+notice when any one passed or approached. This use of dogs gave rise
+to a report in England that bloodhounds were used in Van Diemen's Land
+to track runaway convicts or bushrangers. This, however, was shown
+not to be true. The dogs were used as watch dogs and not as hunting or
+tracking dogs.[26]
+
+Three other men who ran away from Macquarie Harbour were Jefferies,
+Hopkins, and Russell. Like Pierce and his mates they started to cross
+the Western Tiers. They lived fairly well for several days, Jefferies
+having a gun and ammunition which he had stolen, it is supposed, from
+a soldier, but at length their provisions failed and they could find
+no game. They therefore agreed to toss up to decide who should die to
+save the others. Russell lost and was immediately shot by Jefferies.
+The two men lived on the flesh for five days, when they came to a
+sheep station. They immediately threw away about five pounds weight of
+Russell's flesh and killed two sheep. The shepherd ran forward at the
+sound of the shots, when Jefferies told him that if he interfered he
+would "soon be settled." They only wanted "a good feed." Jefferies and
+Hopkins appear to have adopted bushranging as a profession. Of Hopkins
+we hear little, but Jefferies established a character for brutality
+which has been rivalled by few and surpassed by none. When he bailed up
+Mr. Tibbs's house he ordered Mr. and Mrs. Tibbs and their stockman to
+go into the bushes with him. The stockman refused and was immediately
+shot. The other two then went across the cleared paddock towards the
+timbered country, Mrs. Tibbs carrying her baby and Jefferies walking
+behind. When near the edge of the timber Jefferies ordered Mrs. Tibbs
+to walk faster. The poor woman was weeping bitterly. She sobbed out
+that she was walking as fast as she could with the baby in her arms.
+Jefferies immediately snatched the baby from her and dashed its brains
+out against a sapling. Then he asked her "Can you go faster now?" Mr.
+Tibbs turned round and rushed at the bushranger, who shot him, and then
+walked away, leaving Mrs. Tibbs with her dead and dying. At Georgetown
+Jefferies stuck up and robbed Mr. Baker and then compelled him to carry
+his knapsack. They had not, however, walked far along the road when
+Jefferies, who was behind, shot Mr. Baker without warning and for no
+apparent cause. Jefferies was captured by John Batman, a native of
+Parramatta, New South Wales, and afterwards one of the founders of
+the city of Melbourne, Victoria. Batman had taken several Australian
+aborigines to Van Diemen's Land and was engaged by the Government to
+track and capture bushrangers. He caught Hopkins and several others.
+A man named Broughton, who had been captured a short time before,
+was convicted of murder and cannibalism shortly before Jefferies and
+Hopkins were brought to trial.
+
+It is quite a relief to turn from these monsters in human form to
+Mathew Brady, the central figure among the bushrangers of this epoch.
+Brady was a gentleman convict: that is, he was an educated man. He was
+transported to "Botany Bay" for forgery, the capital sentence having
+been commuted. In Sydney he soon "got into trouble" for insubordination
+and was retransported to Van Diemen's Land. He was one of a gang
+of fourteen who effected their escape from Macquarie Harbour. His
+companions in this enterprise were James Bryant, John Burns, James
+Crawford, James McCabe, Patrick Connolly, John Griffiths, George Lacey,
+Charles Rider, Jeremiah Ryan, John Thompson, Isaac Walker, and John
+Downes. They stole a whale boat on June 7th, 1824, and pulled round the
+coast until they came to a favourable place for landing, from whence
+they walked to the settled districts. Here they were joined by James
+Tierney, and for some two years they defied the authorities. In company
+with the "notorious Dunne," Brady stuck up Mr. Robert Bethune's house
+near Hobart Town when the males of the family were away. In the evening
+Mr. Walter Bethune and Captain Bannister returned from the city on
+horseback, and Brady went out to meet them. He told the two gentlemen
+that they were prisoners and that resistance was useless. They were
+taken by surprise, and unarmed, and surrendered at once. Brady called
+one of his men to "take the gentlemen's horses to the stables and see
+that they were cared for," and then conducted the gentlemen into the
+parlour as if he were the host and they merely visitors. The ladies of
+the family and the servants, except the cook, were already gathered
+there, and Brady ordered dinner and invited those present to take their
+seats at the table. He himself sat down, while his companions had food
+taken to them at the stations where he had placed them on guard. When
+the meal was over Brady made a collection of watches, rings, money,
+and other valuables, and then, after profusely thanking Mr. Bethune
+for his hospitable treatment and the kind reception he had given them,
+the whole gang mounted and rode away. On the following evening he rode
+into the little town of Sorell. The soldiers stationed there had been
+out kangarooing, and were cleaning their muskets. Taken completely by
+surprise, they were easily overpowered, and were locked up in the gaol,
+the prisoners being released. Mr. Long, the gaoler, contrived to make
+his escape, and ran to the residence of Dr. Garrett. Here he found
+Lieutenant Green, who was in command of the military stationed at the
+town. The doctor and the lieutenant walked together to the gaol, and
+the doctor was seized by Brady's orders and placed in a cell. Green
+refused to surrender, and was shot in the arm by one of the bushrangers
+and overcome. The bushrangers made a good haul from the houses in the
+town, and then left quietly. The only personal injury inflicted was
+the wound received by Lieutenant Green, who was forced to have his arm
+amputated.
+
+On August 27th, 1824, Governor Arthur issued a proclamation offering
+rewards for the capture of Brady, McCabe, Dunne, Murphy, and other
+bushrangers, and calling upon all Crown servants and respectable
+citizens to aid the soldiers in their capture.
+
+By way of reply, Brady and his gang paid a visit to Mr. Young's house
+at Lake River. It was late at night, but the bushrangers soon roused
+the inmates up. After having secured the men, Brady enquired whether
+there were any ladies inside, and on being told that there were he
+issued an order to them to get up and dress at once, and to go into any
+room they pleased, pledging his word that they should not be interfered
+with. While this was being done Brady sat on the verandah chatting with
+Mr. Young. Among other things he spoke of the Governor's proclamation,
+and asked whether Mr. Young had seen it. He laughed heartily at the
+idea of the soldiers capturing him. While the chief was thus employed
+the other members of the gang searched every room of the house, and
+collected everything they thought worth taking. The ladies had all gone
+into one room, and when the rest of the house had been searched they
+were requested to leave that room and go into another.
+
+One day Brady walked alone into a house close to the town and "made
+a swag" of all that was valuable. He then called two of the convict
+servants and ordered them to take up the bundles and carry them for him
+into the bush. He was obeyed because it was believed that his gang was
+not far off, and the owner of the property saw it carried away without
+making an effort to preserve it. On another occasion Brady ordered an
+assigned servant to leave his master's house and join the band. The man
+refused. Brady walked to the sideboard, filled a glass with rum, and
+asked the man whether he could drink that? The man said he never took
+strong liquor. "Well, you will this time," exclaimed Brady, pointing
+his pistol at the servant's head. "Now choose." The man took the glass
+and swallowed the rum. Brady laughed heartily as he staggered away.
+However, the next morning, the unfortunate man was found lying in the
+bush some distance from the house. His dog was lying beside him licking
+his face. He was still drunk. His employer, who found him, tried to
+rouse him up, and after he had shaken and called for some minutes the
+man opened his eyes, called out "Water, for God's sake, water!" and
+rolled over dead. When Brady was informed some time after of the man's
+death, he said he was very sorry. He had made him drink the rum as a
+joke and without any thought or desire to injure him.
+
+Brady stuck up the Duke of York Inn, and finding Captain Smith
+there, knocked him down, having mistaken him for Colonel Balfour. On
+discovering his mistake the bushranger apologised. He then threatened
+to shoot Captain White, but on Captain Smith saying that White had
+a wife and family Brady told the two officers to go away. He "hated
+soldiers" and did not know what he might do if they stayed.
+
+Colonel Balfour, of the 49th regiment, with a strong party of soldiers,
+had been beating the bush for some time in hopes of capturing Brady
+and his gang. A report spread abroad that the gang intended to break
+open the Launceston gaol and torture and shoot Mr. Jefferies. The
+threat was treated with derision, but about 10 a.m. a man came into the
+town and said that the bushrangers had taken possession of Mr. Dry's
+place, just outside the town. Colonel Balfour, with ten soldiers and
+some volunteers, started out and a fierce fight took place. Ultimately
+the bushrangers were driven off, but not before they had secured
+Mr. Dry's horses. The soldiers followed, and the bushrangers fired
+from behind the trees. Suddenly a report spread that the attack on
+Dry's place was a ruse to draw the soldiers from the town, and that
+a party of bushrangers under Bird and Dunne had gone to attack the
+gaol. Colonel Balfour sent half his force back to protect the town.
+The report was found to be partly true. The bushrangers had entered
+the town and had robbed Mr. Wedge's house, but had not gone to the
+gaol. At Dr. Priest's house some shots were exchanged, and the doctor
+was wounded in the knee, but the soldiers coming up at the time the
+bushrangers made off.
+
+The following day the gang made an attack on the farms of the Messrs.
+Walker. They burned the wheat-stacks and barns belonging to Mr. Abraham
+Walker and also those of Mr. Commissary Walker. They had Mr. Dry's
+two carriage horses, which they had stolen the day before. Brady was
+wearing Colonel Balfour's cap, which had fallen off in the fight at
+Launceston. On the next day they burned down the house of Mr. Massey at
+South Esk, having sent him a letter a day or two before informing him
+of their intention.
+
+Two of the gang called on Thomas Renton, and shouted for him to come
+out. On his doing so, they charged him with having attempted to betray
+them. Renton denied the charge. A wrangle took place, during which
+one of the bushrangers shot Renton dead. It is highly improbable that
+Brady was aware of this outrage. He boasted loudly on every available
+occasion that he never killed a man intentionally, and he is known to
+have quarrelled with members of his gang who were too ready with their
+firearms. Thus he drove McCabe out of the gang on account of his
+brutality, and McCabe was captured and hung shortly afterwards.
+
+The gang held almost complete control over the roads, and resistance
+was very rarely offered when they ordered a man to "bail up."[27] One
+of the customs established by the gang was to order their witnesses
+to remain where they were for half an hour, and the order was rarely
+disobeyed. Any person who declined to promise to remain was simply tied
+to a tree and left for any chance passer-by to unloose. In by-roads,
+or in those cases where the prisoners were marched some distance off
+the high road into the bush before being plundered, being tied up was
+a very serious matter. Cases are known to have occurred in which men
+have remained bound to a tree until they have died of starvation.
+From this time forward tying up the victims was a common practice
+with bushrangers, though some like Brady accepted the promise of the
+victims to remain where they were left for a certain time to allow the
+bushrangers time to get away.
+
+At length about the middle of 1825 a convict named Cowan or Cohen
+was permitted to escape from an iron gang with broken fetters on his
+legs. He was found by some of the gang and was taken to a friendly
+blacksmith who knocked his irons off for him. He joined the gang and
+more than once led them into conflicts with the soldiers out of which
+only the skill and bravery of Brady delivered them. Cowan was no doubt
+a clever man in his way; he completely hoodwinked Brady and his mates;
+he fought bravely in their skirmishes with the troops and was always
+eager in looting houses or other places attacked. He professed to rob
+"on principle." He is said to have murdered the bushrangers Murphy and
+Williams while they slept, but there is no proof of this. He betrayed
+the camp to Lieutenant Williams of the 40th regiment, who was out
+with a party of soldiers in search of bushrangers. A terrific fight
+took place in which several were killed on each side; some of the
+bushrangers were captured while others escaped, but the gang was broken
+up. Cowan is said to have received a free pardon, several hundreds of
+pounds reward, and a free passage home for his services.[28]
+
+Brady made his escape in the bush and was followed by Batman and his
+black trackers. The bushranger had been wounded in the fight and could
+not travel fast. Batman came up to him in the mountains and called on
+him to surrender. "Are you an officer?" asked Brady, coolly cocking
+his gun. "I'm not a soldier," replied Batman, "I'm John Batman. If
+you raise that gun I'll shoot. There's no chance for you." "You're
+right," replied Brady, "my time's come. You're a brave man and I yield;
+but, I'd never give in to a soldier." Brady was taken to the nearest
+lock-up, where, as it happened, Jefferies, the cannibal, had been
+lodged some days before, and much to Brady's disgust the two men were
+conveyed to Hobart Town in the same cart. Brady, however, refused to
+sit on the same side of the cart as Jefferies, and kept as far from him
+as possible during the journey.[29]
+
+The trial of Mathew Brady excited great interest. He and his gang
+had kept the country in a ferment for twenty-two months. Many of his
+companions had been shot or captured, but the leader had escaped.
+One of his mates, James Crawford, who had escaped with him from
+Macquarie Harbour, but who had been shot by the soldiers some time
+before the break up of the gang, was said to have been a lieutenant in
+the army.[30] Numerous stories were told to illustrate his reckless
+bravery, his skill in strategy, or some other trait of his character.
+On the day of his trial a number of ladies were in the court, and when
+the verdict of guilty was returned, and the judge put on the black cap,
+they showed their sympathy by weeping so loudly that the judge had to
+pause until order was restored, and sentence of death was pronounced
+amid signs of sorrow by all present.[31]
+
+At the same sessions Jefferies, Hopkins, Bryant, Tilly, McKenny, Brown,
+Gregory, Hodgetts, and Perry were sentenced to death for bushranging,
+cattle, horse, and sheep stealing, and for murder. Some of these had
+been "in the bush" with Brady. The last of the batch was hung on
+April 29th, 1826, the prisoners being hung two or three at a time at
+intervals of a few days.
+
+The remnant of the gang under the command of Dunne continued for a time
+to commit depredations. In one of their journeys they saw a tribe of
+blacks camped on the other side of the river. Dunne swam across and
+attacked them. He fought them for some time driving them back until he
+seized one of the women, when he turned back forcing her to accompany
+him across the river. He had this black girl with him when an attack
+was made on Mr. Thomson's house, but she escaped. On the following day
+two men were quietly driving in a cart along the road when the blacks
+attacked and speared them, killing one and wounding the other. The
+blacks went on and burned the hut of Mr. Nicholas. They attacked Mr.
+Thomson's place, and speared a man named Scott. The woman who had been
+stolen by Dunne was present urging the blacks on when Scott was killed.
+The troops were sent out to drive the blacks back, and while so engaged
+came across the bushrangers and shot Dunne. One or two were captured
+and hung as related.
+
+The _Hobart Town Gazette_, of the 29th of April, 1826, said that for
+some months the roads had been safe, and with the executions to take
+place that day, the colony might be congratulated on having at length
+stamped out the crime of bushranging. As a fact, it was only the close
+of the first epoch; the first act in the great bushranging tragedy
+which was to close so sensationally more than fifty years later.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 26: Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons,
+1838.]
+
+[Footnote 27: The first supply of horned cattle for Australia was
+obtained from Capetown, South Africa, big-boned, slab-sided animals,
+with enormous horns. These animals are much more active than the
+fine-boned, heavy-bodied, short-horned, or other fine breeds, but they
+can never be properly tamed. It is always unsafe to milk one of these
+cows unless her head is fastened in "a bail," and her leg tied. When
+driving the cows into the bail it was the custom to order them to "bail
+up." It was also usual for bullock drivers when yoking their teams to
+call out "bail up" to the bullocks, although no bail was used for this
+purpose. The words were in constant use all over Australia, and were
+adopted by the early bushrangers in the sense of "stand."]
+
+[Footnote 28: History of Van Diemen's Land in the _Launceston
+Advertiser, 1840_.]
+
+[Footnote 29: _Hobart Town Gazette, 1826._]
+
+[Footnote 30: _Launceston Advertiser, 1840._]
+
+[Footnote 31: _Hobart Town Gazette._]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+  Bushranging in New South Wales; Manufacturing Bushrangers; Employing
+  Bushrangers; The First Bank Robbery in Australia; Major Mudie and his
+  Assigned Servants; Terrible Hollow; Murder of Dr. Wardell; The Story
+  of Jack the Rammer; Hall Mayne and Others.
+
+
+Bushranging of the more serious character with which we are concerned,
+appears to have begun in New South Wales in about 1822. In that year
+thirty-four bushrangers were hung in Sydney. The crimes for which these
+men were executed were generally of a petty description. Robberies of
+articles from the farms had become so prevalent that it was deemed
+expedient to adopt severe measures, but beyond removing so many
+evil-doers and preventing them from continuing their depredations, this
+severity of the judicial authorities does not appear to have had much
+effect. Bushranging not only continued, but the bushrangers became
+bolder and operated over a wider area. On March 16th, 1826, a desperate
+fight took place between a party of mounted troopers and seven
+bushrangers near Bathurst. The Blue Mountains had only been crossed
+thirteen years before, and the settlement was a very small one. The
+leader of the gang, Morris Connell, was shot dead by Corporal Brown,
+and the other bushrangers ran away into the bush.
+
+The _Sydney Monitor_ of September 22nd reports that a shepherd on Mr.
+H. Macarthur's run at Argyle ran away into the bush. He was captured,
+and taken to Goulburn to be tried for absconding. He complained that
+he had not received his proper allowance of rations, and had gone to
+seek for food. He was of course found guilty, and, when sentenced to
+be flogged, he sulkily said, "It's in the power of the likes of me to
+have revenge when lambing time comes round." For this threat he was
+sent to Liverpool for trial. He was convicted, and as a warning to
+other shepherds he was sentenced to receive five hundred lashes and to
+be transported to a penal settlement for life. The _Monitor_ denounced
+this sentence as being "unduly harsh," and spoke of the heavy sentences
+given whenever the Rev. Samuel Marsden, Principal Chaplain of New South
+Wales, took his seat on the Bench. The chaplains were at that time all
+_ex officio_ magistrates, and the Rev. Samuel Marsden was said to be
+very active in the discharge of this portion of his duties. It is of
+Mr. Marsden that Mr. J.T. Bigge says "His sentences are not only more
+severe than those of other magistrates, but the general opinion of
+the colony is that his character, as displayed in the administrations
+of the penal law of New South Wales, is stamped with severity."[32]
+Judging from the sentence under notice, it does not appear that the
+reverend gentleman had become any more merciful since Commissioner
+Bigge compiled his report some years before. The _Monitor_ charged him
+with "helping to manufacture bushrangers." In this connection I may
+mention that the opinion expressed by the "old hands" was that the
+clerical magistrates were generally far more cruel and brutal than the
+lay magistrates, and this opinion was crystallised into a cant phrase
+which was current among the old hands many years later. It was "The
+Lord have mercy on you, for his reverence will have none." This phrase
+was used on all occasions, whether it was appropriate or not to the
+subject under discussion or the circumstances of the time.
+
+In the Windsor Court on February 10th, 1827, Mr. McCarthy was fined
+£14 10s., including costs, for having employed a returned bushranger
+instead of handing him over to the police for punishment. About the
+same time a bushranger was charged in Sydney with having bailed up a
+settler's house and compelled him to hand over some money and a bottle
+of wine. Taking the wine was an aggravation of the offence which was
+more than the worthy magistrate could stand. "What right," he demanded
+of the delinquent, "have you to drink wine? Do you not know, you
+rascal, that when you were convicted you forfeited all rights?" "Yes,
+your honour," replied the culprit, "But, I didn't forfeit my appetite."
+
+The robbery of the Bank of Australia does not properly, perhaps, come
+under the head of bushranging, but as the later bushrangers made
+bank robbery a feature of their depredations the record would not be
+complete if this, the first and in some respects the most remarkable of
+the bank robberies which have taken place in Australia, was omitted.
+The Bank of Australia was established in 1826 and was spoken of as the
+"new bank" to distinguish it from the older Bank of New South Wales.
+It was also sometimes called "the squatters' bank." Its president was
+Mr. John Macarthur, the first of the squatters. It was situated in
+George Street, Sydney. The strong room was constructed under ground,
+and had walls nine feet thick. Near the foundation of the bank was a
+large drain or shore, one of the openings of which was on an unoccupied
+plot of ground on the opposite side of the street to that in which
+the bank stood. The other end of the drain terminated on the shore
+of the harbour. Into this drain the thieves must have entered, and
+judging from the amount of work done and the quantity of the remains of
+provisions found afterwards they must have been at work for a week or
+more. As they were too deep underground for the strokes of their picks
+or hammers to be heard, they may have worked night and day. However
+that may be, they took the bricks out of the side of the drain facing
+the bank and then dug a tunnel until they reached the foundations of
+the bank. How they disposed of the earth dug out is not known, but it
+was surmised that they carried it away in bags. With great labour they
+dislodged a stone at the corner of the foundations, and then gradually
+enlarged the hole until there was sufficient room for a man to get
+through. Having effected an entrance in this way into the strong room,
+they found there forty boxes each containing £100 worth of British
+silver coins; a smaller box containing two thousand sovereigns; a box
+containing one thousand dollars, and another containing five hundred
+dollars. But the robbers took only the two boxes containing dollars
+and seven of the forty boxes containing British silver; leaving
+thirty-three boxes of silver and the box of sovereigns. They took
+also some bundles of bank notes, amounting to between ten and twelve
+thousand pounds worth. The forty boxes of silver weighed a ton, and it
+was believed that the thieves had been disturbed by some noise before
+they had time to remove so great a quantity. The locks on the boxes
+left in the vault were found to have been so rusted by damp as to be
+useless. No arrests were made and no traces of the robbers could be
+found. Notifications were issued denying that the loss, heavy as it
+was, would affect the stability of the bank, but it appears that it
+never recovered. In 1833 it was re-organised. In 1845 the Government
+passed a Lottery Bill to enable the bank to raise money, but to no
+purpose. The bank failed in 1848 and caused a great many other failures
+and much distress. The robbery was discovered on September 15th, 1828,
+and was reported in the _Monitor_ of the 20th.
+
+There has been much speculation in Sydney from time to time as to what
+became of the money stolen, and it has been reported that the thieves
+buried it somewhere on the shores of Snail's, or White Bay, or some
+other place on the opposite side of the Harbour to Sydney, but although
+several persons have searched for the hidden treasure, it has not yet
+been found. There is a somewhat similar legend of buried treasure at
+North Sydney. The story is, that a sum of money variously stated at one
+thousand and two thousand guineas, sent out in early times from England
+to pay the troops, was stolen from the ship while she lay at her anchor
+and was buried either near Mosman's Bay or Great Sirius Cove. This also
+has been searched for at various times but hitherto without success.
+What truth there is in these legends it is now impossible to say.
+
+John Poole, James Ryan, and James Riley, assigned servants of Mr. John
+Larnack, son-in-law of Major James Mudie, of Castle Forbes estate,
+Patrick's Plains, Hunter River district, took to the bush on November
+4th, 1833. Three other assigned servants, Anthony Hitchcock, alias
+Hath, Samuel Parrott or Powell, and David Jones, were sent away the
+following morning, in charge of constable Samuel Cook, to Maitland,
+under sentence of twelve months, in a chain gang for insubordination.
+About half-a-mile from Castle Forbes, Poole, Ryan, and Riley, and
+another man named John Perry, who had been in the bush for some time
+previously, met the constable and called on him to stand or they would
+shoot him. Cook only had a pistol with him and he snapped it at the
+robbers and then surrendered. The robbers took the pistol from him,
+led him some distance off the road and tied him to a tree. Parrott
+refused to go with the bushrangers and was tied to a tree near Cook.
+The robbers went back to Mr. Larnack's house which they reached about
+noon. They called upon Mrs. Larnack to stand, but she and one of the
+female servants jumped through a window and ran. Perry followed them
+and brought them back, threatening to blow Mrs. Larnack's brains out if
+she refused to do as she was told. The robbers took a double-barrelled
+gun which was always kept loaded in Mr. Larnack's room, and some guns
+and fowling pieces from the dining-room. Hitchcock brought the shearers
+from the shed, walking behind them and threatening to shoot any man
+who resisted. The robbers broke open the door of the store and put the
+shearers inside. They emptied a chest of tea into a bag, took bags of
+flour, sugar, and other provisions from the store, and fastened up the
+door leaving Perry on guard. They took a quantity of pork from the
+kitchen, a bucket of milk from the dairy, and the silver-plate and
+other valuables from the house. Then, having made the shearers secure
+in the store and locked Mrs. Larnack and the female servants in the
+kitchen, they went away after having told Mrs. Larnack that they were
+sorry "the old----," the Major, was not at home, as they wanted to
+settle him. One of them also expressed sorrow at the absence of Mr.
+Larnack, and added that when they could catch him they would "stick
+his head on the chimney for an ornament." As soon as the news of the
+robbery became known, a party was organised to follow the bushrangers.
+Mr. Robert Scott, mounted trooper Daniel Craddige, and a party of five
+came up with the robbers at Mr. Reid's station, Lamb's Valley. Some
+shots were exchanged and then Jones and Perry ran away. Constable
+Craddige followed them and called on them to stand, and they did so. He
+took them back and by that time Mr. Scott and the rest of the pursuing
+party had captured Hitchcock, Poole and Riley. The boy Ryan got away
+in the scrub but was discovered and caught next day. Alexander Flood,
+overseer to Messrs. Robert and Helenes Scott, with two constables,
+took charge of the prisoners, and conducted them safely to Maitland
+for trial. Mr. John Larnack then said that on the morning of the 5th
+of November before the attack was made on the house, he was at the
+sheep-wash. The prisoners came up and said to the washers, "Come out of
+the water, every---- one of you, or we'll blow your---- brains out."
+Larnack jumped into the water among the washers. Hitchcock fired at him
+shouting, "You'll never take me to court again, you----." He called
+on the washers to get out of the way and let him shoot the----. Poole
+also said, "I'll take care you never get another man flogged." Larnack
+scrambled out of the wash-pool on the opposite side to where the
+robbers were, and ran to the timber. He went on to Mr. Danger's farm,
+and remained there till next day. He was only ten yards distant when
+Hitchcock fired at him. Shots from the other bushrangers struck the
+water within twelve and eighteen inches of him, but none of them hit
+him. The robbers had four double-barrelled guns, two single-barrelled
+fowling pieces, a musket, and two pistols, when they were captured.
+When asked what they had to say in defence, Hitchcock called Ensign
+Zouch and other gentlemen to speak as to his character. It appears that
+until he was assigned to Major Mudie and Mr. Larnack, he had always
+been well behaved. The prisoners complained that they were given short
+rations, that the flour was mouldy and the meat bad, and that they were
+repeatedly flogged. Some of them had been flogged for refusing to work
+on Sunday. Hitchcock had been sentenced to work in an iron gang, for an
+offence of which he knew nothing. Whatever punishment was threatened by
+the master was sure to be inflicted by the Bench. Jones was acquitted
+of the capital offence, but was sent to Norfolk Island for life. The
+other five prisoners were sentenced to death, Hitchcock and Poole being
+hung at Maitland, and Ryan, Perry and Riley at Sydney. An enquiry was
+held as to the alleged illusage of their assigned servants, by Major
+Mudie and Mr. Larnack, and they were acquitted by Governor Bourke of
+the charges of tyranny and ill-treatment, but Major Mudie's name was
+removed from the Commission of the Peace. On his return to the station
+after the result of the enquiry had become known, he was greeted with
+cries of "No more fifties now, you bloody old tyrant."[33]
+
+The beautiful valley of Burragorang is enclosed on all sides by
+precipitous mountains, there being only one practicable entrance,
+which, in early times, before a government road was cut into it for
+the convenience of the farmers who now occupy the valley, was easily
+blocked with a few saplings, so that sheep, cattle, or horses turned
+into the valley could not escape. Precisely how the entrance to this
+extensive enclosure was first found is not known. It is believed,
+however, that it was discovered by a party of bushrangers, who
+endeavoured to discover a road over the Blue Mountains, in order to
+reach a settlement of white men, which was popularly supposed to lie
+somewhere in that direction. Whether this supposed settlement was a
+Dutch or an English settlement does not appear, but as I have already
+said, there was a wide-spread belief that some of these settlements
+were at no very great distance from Sydney, and could be reached
+overland. The valley is situated only about fifty-four miles from
+Sydney, and for many years was an absolutely secure hiding-place for
+bushrangers and their plunder. Later on the valley came to be known,
+from the horrible tales told of the convicts who made use of it,
+as "Terrible Hollow," and under this name it is introduced by Rolf
+Boldrewood in his "Robbery under Arms." Among the old hands themselves
+it was known as "The Camp," "The Shelter," or "The Pound." Bark huts
+were erected in this valley by the bushrangers, and here they retired
+when hard pressed or when wounded. When the secret of the entrance
+was betrayed to the soldiers, who were out in search of a party of
+bushrangers, it was evident that the valley had been long in use by
+the bushrangers. Cattle and sheep were running wild there, numbers of
+broken shackles, handcuffs, and other relics were found, and, besides
+these, evidences that several murders had been committed there; but
+there are no records of these events, and only the recollections of
+the legends which have been handed down among the old hands remain to
+explain why this beautiful valley should have been called "Terrible
+Hollow." One of these legends may be told somewhat as follows: A
+settler was reported to have received a large sum of money. This
+became known to the bushrangers and they determined to rob him of it.
+They bailed up his place, tied his assigned servants, and searched
+everywhere for the money but could not find it. The settler declared
+that he had not received the money, but was not believed. He was
+threatened with death if he refused to disclose its hiding place. He
+persisted in his assertion that he had no money, and a consultation
+was held by the bushrangers to decide what should be done with him.
+Some were for shooting him there and then; but, this was so evidently
+not the way to extort money, if he had any, that it was resolved to
+take him to "the camp," and there force him to say where the money was
+hidden. When they got him there they tied him to a sapling, built a
+circle of bushwood round him at some distance away, set fire to it, and
+slowly roasted him to death. His screams are said to have been fearful,
+but no one heard them in that solitude except the fiends who were
+torturing him, and they had been rendered too callous, by treatment
+little less fiendish by the authorities, to heed his agonised cries.
+Whether this story is literally true or not it is impossible to say,
+but certainly charred remains of human bones were discovered in the
+valley when it was searched, though whether the bodies had been burned
+before or after death could not, of course, be determined.
+
+It was to this valley that Will Underwood and his gang were said to
+retire when hard pressed or when they required a rest. Underwood
+operated on the roads about Campbelltown, Liverpool, Penrith, and
+Windsor, sometimes sticking-up people, and robbing farms on Liberty
+Plains and other places between Parramatta and Sydney. The gang was a
+large one and continued to operate in the more populous districts for
+some two years. Among the members of this gang were Johnny Donohoe,
+Webber, and Walmsley. Donohoe was shot by a trooper named Maggleton,
+near Raby, in September, 1830. Webber was shot a month later, and
+Walmsley was captured in another skirmish between the troopers and the
+bushrangers. Walmsley was sentenced to death, but was reprieved for
+disclosing the names of "fences," or receivers of stolen property, and
+his revelations caused quite a sensation, a number of hitherto highly
+respected persons being implicated. Underwood was shot in 1832, and
+shortly afterwards a "traitor" is said to have led a party of soldiers
+into Terrible Hollow. There was a fight between the troops and the
+bushrangers found there at the time, and several of the bushrangers
+were captured and the gang was broken up. The evil reputation which the
+valley had acquired, at first prevented settlement there, but when the
+bushrangers and their doings had been forgotten, the Government threw
+the valley open for selection, and a number of farms were taken up or
+purchased. More recently, a line has been surveyed for a railway to the
+valley, but this line has not yet been constructed. In the meantime, a
+good road has been opened into the valley through the one practicable
+entrance, and those who visit the valley now for the first time, can
+scarcely credit the horrible stories which have been told in connection
+with it.
+
+One Sunday in September, 1834, Dr. Robert Wardell, a practising
+barrister in Sydney, and editor of _The Australian_, was riding
+across his park, which stretched from the Parramatta road, where the
+municipality of Petersham now stands, to Cook's river, to look after
+his herd of fallow deer, of which he was very proud. He jumped his
+horse over a log and found himself confronted by three armed men.
+Thinking they were poachers after his deer, he reined his horse in and
+cried, "What are you doing here, you rascals?" The reply was a shot
+from one of the guns, and the doctor fell. His horse galloped to the
+house and alarmed the family. Men were despatched in all directions
+to seek for the doctor, who it was believed had somehow been thrown
+and injured. The search was continued all day and night, but with no
+result. The next day his body was found covered over with boughs,
+apparently to prevent the dingoes from tearing it rather than to hide
+it. John Jenkins, Thomas Tattersdale and Emanuel Brace were arrested on
+suspicion and charged with the murder. Evidence was produced that they
+had been seen in the neighbourhood, and they were committed for trial.
+Brace was a lad who had only recently been sent to the colony, and
+before the day of trial he consented to turn King's evidence. From his
+testimony it appeared that Jenkins was the man who had fired the gun.
+But both he and Tattersdale were hung for the crime, and it was said
+that they had been guilty of various acts of bushranging. After the
+doctor's death the herd of fallow deer was neglected. Some were sold,
+and their descendants may still be seen in the park at Parramatta,
+and elsewhere. A large number, however, escaped, and the late Mr.
+Charles Hearn, for many years landlord of the Stag's Head Inn, on the
+Parramatta road, about five miles from the Sydney Town Hall, used to
+boast that he shot the last of Dr. Warden's deer about where the Callan
+Park Lunatic Asylum now stands.
+
+The story of Jack the Rammer illustrates the relationship which
+sometimes existed between the bushrangers and the assigned servants,
+and indicates the difficulties with which law-abiding citizens had
+to cope. Jack had been living by robbery in the Manaro district for
+some time. One day Mr. Charles Fisher Shepherd, the overseer of the
+Michelago sheep station, said something about all bushrangers being
+cowards. One of the assigned servants on the station, named Bull,
+replied, "They'll be here next." "If they come here," exclaimed
+Shepherd, "I'll give them a benefit." A few nights afterwards Shepherd
+was asleep in his hut. He was awakened by someone calling on him to
+come out. After a time he did so, and saw Jack the Rammer and a man
+named Boyd standing at the door. Jack cried out to him, "Keep your
+hands down." They stood for a second or two regarding him, and then
+Jack said, "What a benefit you're giving us." The two bushrangers
+then walked away. Although he felt convinced that Bull was in league
+with the bushrangers and had reported his speech to them and that
+he probably could not expect any assistance from the other assigned
+servants on the station, Shepherd loaded his gun with No. 4 shot, the
+largest he had, and started off after the bushrangers. It was about
+daybreak on a beautiful December morning in 1834, probably between
+three and four o'clock, and the air was soft and balmy as he made his
+way through the bush in the direction in which the bushrangers had
+gone. After travelling some distance he came on a sort of a camp, and
+saw Boyd through the trees. He kneeled down and fired, but missed. He
+was about to fire the other barrel when Bull stepped from behind a
+tree close by, and said "Don't shoot him, sir." "By G----, I will,"
+exclaimed Shepherd. "If you fire, by G----, I'll shoot you," returned
+Bull. Before Shepherd could reply another bushranger named Keys fired
+at him from behind a tree, and wounded him. Shepherd rushed forward,
+and was about to close with Keys when Boyd ran up and fired, wounding
+Shepherd in the head. Keys seized him, but Shepherd shook himself free,
+and ran back to the station. He went to the house, roused up the owner,
+and said to him, "Good God, Catterall, I'm shot all to pieces, and you
+never help me." "What's the good?" returned Catterall. "What can I do?"
+Just then the bushrangers came up, and Catterall went in and shut the
+door. Shepherd rushed across to his own hut, and tried to shut himself
+in, but Boyd thrust the barrel of his gun in in time to prevent him.
+Shepherd seized the gun and tried to wrench it out of Boyd's hands, but
+Keys pushed the door open and struck Shepherd on the head. Shepherd
+fell, and Boyd put the muzzle of his gun close against his chest and
+pulled the trigger. The bushrangers, including Bull, then went away.
+It was some hours later when Shepherd regained consciousness, and
+yelled out as loud as he could. He continued calling for some minutes,
+and at last Catterall came out of the house and went to the hut.
+"Why," he said, as he looked at Shepherd, "I thought you were dead."
+He went away, but soon returned with several of the station hands,
+and had Shepherd carried into the house and put to bed. He sent for a
+doctor and the police. When the doctor arrived he took fourteen slugs
+and bullets out of various parts of Shepherd's body. He recovered,
+and lived for many years afterwards. In the meantime the police
+followed the bushrangers, and shot Boyd as he was trying to escape by
+swimming across the Snowy River. Keys and Bull were captured, and were
+subsequently hung. Jack the Rammer escaped for a time, but was shot a
+few months later.
+
+On September 24th, 1838, the bushrangers Hall and Mayne stuck up Mr.
+Joseph Roger's station at Currawang, near Yass. As they approached
+the kitchen door the men inside rushed out, and the bushrangers fired
+among them. A lad named Patrick Fitzpatrick was struck in the mouth,
+the bullet coming out at the crown of his head. Three of the men were
+wounded. The bushrangers appear to have regretted their act as soon as
+it was done. They made no attempt to get away, but assisted to carry
+the wounded men into the kitchen. Hall had been captured previously,
+but had succeeded in escaping from the Goulburn Gaol shortly before
+this attack on Mr. Roger's station. When sentenced to death, he said,
+"I've been all over the country in my time without taking the life of
+any one. I've been baited like a bull dog and I'm only sorry now that I
+didn't shoot every---- tyrant in New South Wales." When taken from the
+court-house to the gaol, he said to the crowd assembled there, "I've
+never had anything to say against the prisoners, but I've a grudge
+against every---- swell in the country. I'll go to the gallows and die
+as comfortably as a biddy and be glad of the chance." The trial took
+place on May 15th, 1839, and between then and the date fixed for the
+execution. Hall made a desperate attempt to escape from Darlinghurst
+Gaol. He failed and was hung on June 7th, with Michael Welsh, Donald
+Maynard, and his mate, Mayne.
+
+In January, 1839, Mr. Bailley was returning to his home on the
+Parramatta Road, Sydney, when he was knocked down and beaten by three
+men near his own door. They took a roll of bank notes from his pocket,
+but a vehicle driving rapidly approached and frightened them so that
+they dropped the notes and ran. Mr. Bailley picked them up and went
+indoors.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 32: Commission of Enquiry into the state of New South Wales,
+1822.]
+
+[Footnote 33: Select Committee of the House of Commons on
+Transportation.--July, 1837. Major Mudie's evidence.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+  John Lynch; Murder of Kearns Landregan; Lynch's Trial and Sentence;
+  His Terrible Confession; Murder of the Frazers, Father and Son;
+  Murder and Cremation of the Mulligans; His Appeals to Almighty God.
+
+
+John Lynch is usually regarded as the most callous and brutal of the
+bushrangers of New South Wales. He was transported from Cavan, Ireland,
+in October, 1831. For some months after his arrival in the colony he
+worked in a road gang in the neighbourhood of Sydney and was then
+assigned to Mr. Barton as a farm servant. Soon after his arrival at
+the farm, near Berrima, he appears to have exercised his ingenuity in
+stealing any articles which he could find and of selling them to any
+person who would buy them. In 1835 was arrested and tried at Berrima
+on a charge of having stolen a saddle from his employer but was
+acquitted. He "bolted" into the bush and a few days afterwards a man
+named Thomas Smith, who had been witness in a case of highway robbery,
+was found dead in the scrub. Several bushrangers were arrested. Lynch
+being among them, on suspicion of having decoyed Smith from his hut
+and beaten his brains out with clubs as "a warning to traitors," as
+all those were called who gave evidence against bushrangers. Lynch
+was again acquitted, but two others were hung for the murder. During
+the following two or three years he was sentenced to twelve months'
+imprisonment for having harboured bushrangers, and on February 21st,
+1841, he was arrested at "Mulligan's Farm" and charged with the murder
+of Kearns Landregan. On the 19th, Mr. Hugh Tinney was travelling to
+Sydney with his bullock dray and camped for the night at Ironstone
+Bridge. The next morning his driver walked along the creek bank to
+look for the bullocks. He noticed some freshly cut scrub piled up, and,
+being curious to know what it had been placed there for, he pulled
+some branches away and discovered the newly-murdered body of a man.
+On examining further, he found that the head had been fearfully cut
+and battered. Round the neck was a piece of string, and to this were
+attached an Agnus Dei and a temperance medal. Mr. Tinney sent Sturges,
+the bullock-driver, to Berrima to give information, and he returned
+with Chief Constable Noel, Mr. James Harper, the police magistrate, and
+Dr. McDonald. On search being made, signs of a camp were found not far
+away. A small fire had been lighted as if to boil a quart pot of tea,
+and some remains of hay were found, showing that a horse had been fed
+there. It was noticed that grey hairs were scattered about where the
+horse had rolled, and therefore it was evident that the horse was of
+that colour. During the day investigations were made by the police, and
+the following morning Chief Constable Chapman, Sergeant Freer, and Mr.
+John Chalker, landlord of the Woolpack Inn, Nattai, went to Mulligan's
+Farm, Wombat Brush, and identified John Dunleavy, as John Lynch, a
+prisoner illegally at large. When arrested on the charge of having
+murdered Kearns Landregan, Lynch exclaimed: "I am innocent, I leave it
+to God and man. I don't blame you, Chapman, but Chalker is interfering
+too much in what doesn't concern him."
+
+A grey horse was found at the farm, and Chalker identified this as the
+horse which Lynch had been driving when he stopped at the Woolpack
+for dinner. Lynch had "shouted" for Landregan and the landlord before
+leaving, and Chalker gave him a bundle of hay for the horse. The hay
+was rye grass, similar to that found at the camp.
+
+Lynch was tried at Berrima on March 21st, 1842, before the Chief
+Justice, Sir James Dowling. Mary Landregan said that the body found
+was that of her husband. The temperance medal had been given to him by
+Father Mathew before they left Ireland. They were both teetotallers,
+and had come to Australia as free immigrants. Her husband had about £40
+when he left his last place and started to look for another job. She
+had not seen him since, but he had sent word, by Susan Beale, servant
+at Mr. Chalker's hotel, that he had engaged to put up fencing and do
+other work for Mr. Dunleavy for £15.
+
+A leather belt on which the words "Jewish Harp" had been scratched,
+apparently with the point of a knife, was found at the farm, and was
+identified as the property of Kearns Landregan by his brother, who said
+that Kearns had promised to meet him at a public-house of that name in
+the neighbourhood, and had scratched the name on his belt so that he
+might remember it.
+
+Further evidence showed that Lynch had purchased, at the Post Office
+Stores, Berrima, on the 20th February, a merino dress, some women's
+caps, a pair of child's shoes, and some tobacco. He was served by Mrs.
+Mary Higgins and gave her a £5 note in payment. From the store he went
+to Michael Doyle's, White Horse Hotel, and bought two gallons of rum,
+four gallons of wine, half a chest of tea, and a bag of sugar. He gave
+his name as John Dunleavy, Wombat, and said he had taken Mulligan's
+farm. He gave six £1 notes and a note of hand for £5 2s. in payment.
+The goods were placed in a cart drawn by a grey horse. Some of the Bank
+notes were identified as having been among those carried by Landregan.
+
+There were a number of witnesses, and the case against the prisoner
+with regard to the murder of Landregan was very clear. It was
+also stated that Mr. and Mrs. Mulligan and their two children had
+disappeared suddenly, and that there was a suspicion that they had been
+murdered. Lynch produced a letter dated from Wollongong purporting to
+have been signed by Mulligan, but the writing was said to be unlike
+that of Mulligan. Several other mysterious disappearances were also
+spoken of. When asked what he had to say Lynch replied that he had met
+Landregan on the road, and Landregan asked him to carry his swag for
+him. Landregan said he had been gambling at McMahon's public-house,
+and must have left his money there. Lynch told him to get up and ride
+as far as he was going his way. When they reached Bolland's, Lynch
+asked Landregan to have a drink, but Landregan refused, saying that his
+wife was there, and that he did not want her to see him. When they
+got a little further along the road Landregan got down, took his swag,
+and walked away into the bush, and he had not seen him since. Lynch
+complained that he had been treated very unfairly. He had, he said,
+been sent out for seven years, but had been treated as a "lifer." He
+had served his time fairly, but he could not get his rights. When his
+father died in Ireland he had left him between £600 and £700. That was
+how he bought Mulligan's farm.
+
+Lynch was found guilty, and, in passing sentence, his Honour said:
+"John Lynch, the trade in blood which has so long marked your career
+is at last terminated, not by any sense of remorse, or the sating of
+any appetite for slaughter on your part, but by the energy of a few
+zealous spirits, roused into activity by the frightful picture of
+atrocity which the last tragic passage of your worthless life exhibits.
+It is now credibly believed, if not actually ascertained, that no less
+than nine other individuals have fallen by your hands. How many more
+have been violently ushered into another world remains undiscovered,
+save in the dark pages of your own memory. By your own confession it
+is admitted that as late as 1835 justice was invoked on your head
+for a frightful murder committed in this immediate neighbourhood.
+Your unlucky escape on that occasion has, it would seem, whetted your
+tigrine relish for human gore--but at length you have fallen into toils
+from which you cannot escape." His Honour quoted from the evidence
+at length, and said that the prisoner had "spared neither age nor
+youth in gratifying his sordid lust for gain." The disappearance of
+the Mulligans had not been accounted for, but there could be little
+doubt that the prisoner knew what their fate was. He concluded his
+exordium by saying that too much praise could not be bestowed, "not
+merely on the police, but upon the inhabitants of the neighbourhood,
+in unravelling the dark mystery of Landregan's death, and bringing his
+blood home to your door." He then pronounced sentence in the usual form.
+
+The prisoner listened throughout with an unmoved countenance, and
+when the Judge had finished he said he hoped his Honour would order
+that the small amount due as wages to the Barnetts should be paid.
+They were innocent of any complicity in the offence with which he had
+been charged, and he hoped they would soon be released from gaol.
+There was also £1 due to a boy who had been working on the farm, and
+he hoped this would also be paid. Whatever had happened at the farm
+it had happened before either the Barnetts or the boy went there, and
+they knew nothing about it. For some days after his sentence John
+Lynch continued to assert that he was innocent, but finding, as is
+supposed, that there was no hope of a reprieve, he asked to see the
+Rev. Mr. Sumner on the day before that fixed for his execution, and in
+the presence of the police magistrates and the minister, made a very
+extraordinary confession, of which the following is a brief summary:--
+
+He arrived in the colony in 1832 in the _Dunvegan Castle_. The entry on
+his indent was:--"False pretences; sentence, life." This was wrong. He
+had only been sentenced to seven years' penal servitude. He had applied
+to the authorities at the Hyde Park Barracks for his free papers, but
+had been kept waiting a fortnight without getting any satisfaction. So
+he returned to the Berrima district, where he had been assigned. He
+went to John Mulligan for advice and assistance. Mulligan had a lot of
+goods and valuables, which Lynch is supposed to have stolen and left at
+the farm. He wanted to sell them, but Mulligan refused to give a fair
+price for them. Lynch had made up his mind to live honestly, but this
+treatment disgusted him. He complained bitterly of the dishonesty of
+men who were in a good position and who "ought to have known better."
+He left Mulligan's and went to T.B. Humphrey's farm at Oldbury and
+stole eight bullocks, which he had himself broken in, and started
+with them for Sydney, with the intention of selling them, so that he
+might "start honest." At Mount Razorback he fell in with a man named
+Ireland, who was in charge of a loaded team belonging to Mr. Thomas
+Cowper. The load was a valuable one, consisting of wheat, bacon, and
+other farm produce. Lynch thought it would pay him better to kill
+Ireland and take possession of the dray and its load than to sell Mr.
+Humphrey's bullocks. He therefore camped with Ireland that night, and
+"they were very friendly." In the morning a black boy who accompanied
+Ireland went to look for the bullocks, and Lynch followed and killed
+him. He returned to the camp without his absence having been noticed
+by Ireland, and watched for a chance. Ireland had no suspicion of foul
+play, and Lynch soon got near enough to him to strike him a blow with
+his tomahawk. Lynch hid the bodies in a cleft between two rocks, and
+piled stones over them. He remained at the camp two days. On the second
+day two other teams arrived at the camp in charge of men named Lee and
+Lagge, and they all agreed to travel together for company. When near
+Liverpool Mr. Cowper rode up and was surprised to find a stranger in
+charge of his dray. Lynch told him a plausible story to the effect that
+Ireland had been taken suddenly ill, and had asked him to take the
+team on. The black boy had stayed behind to nurse Ireland, and they
+were to follow as soon as Ireland got well enough. Mr. Cowper believed
+him and was satisfied, and after making enquiries as to where Ireland
+was stopping, arranged with Lynch where they should meet in Sydney.
+The time and place having been agreed on, Mr. Cowper rode away. Lee
+and Lagge were bound for Parramatta, and therefore, when they reached
+the junction of the Dog Trap Road with the Liverpool Road, they parted
+company with Lynch, who kept straight on. Left by himself, Lynch drove
+on night and day, reaching Sydney two days before the time appointed
+for him to meet Mr. Cowper. He hired a man who was half drunk to sell
+the loading, and as soon as he had received the money for the loading
+he started away with the team on the Illawarra Road. When near George's
+river he met Chief Constable McAlister, of Campbelltown, and fearing
+that he might have been recognised, he turned off the road on to a
+cross track leading towards the Berrima road. He knew there would soon
+be a hue and cry after him and feared that McAlister would report
+having met him on the Illawarra road. He travelled on until he came
+back to Razorback, near where the murder had been committed. Here he
+met the Frazers, father and son, driving a horse team owned by Mr.
+Bawten. He kept company with them and they camped together at Bargo
+Brush. Another horse team with which there were two men and their wives
+also camped there. After their supper Lynch was lying under his dray
+when a mounted trooper rode up and asked Frazer some questions about
+a dray which had been stolen, and which belonged to Mr. Cowper. The
+Frazers were unable to give him any information and the trooper rode
+away without noticing Lynch, who was lying under the very dray he was
+enquiring about. This narrow escape gave Lynch a terrible shock. He
+lay awake all night thinking of the danger he was running by keeping
+this dray. He "prayed to Almighty God to assist and enlighten" him
+in this emergency, and feeling much strengthened he resolved to kill
+the Frazers and take their dray. Having arrived at this decision he
+became calmer and thought out the details of his plan carefully. In
+the morning Lynch left the camp under the pretence that he was going
+to look for his bullocks, but in reality to drive them away. On his
+return he reported that he could not find them and spoke of the trouble
+bullocks gave by their wandering habits. He asked the Frazers to help
+him to pull his dray into the bush where he could leave it safely until
+he could return with another team of bullocks and take it home. There
+was nothing surprising in this, as bullocks frequently stray away home
+as soon as they are unyoked and will travel astonishing distances,
+even when hobbled, before morning. The Frazers, therefore, helped
+Lynch to drag the dray away from the road to where there was a clump
+of trees, and then yoked up their horses. Lynch put such few things as
+he had in the dray into Frazer's cart, and they all started together.
+That night they camped at Cordeaux Flat. In the morning young Frazer
+started to find the horses, and Lynch accompanied him. Lynch wore a
+coat because, he said, it was rather cold. As a fact, it was to hide
+his tomahawk. When they were in the bush, out of sight of the camp.
+Lynch found "no difficulty in settling him." He struck one blow, and
+"the young fellow fell like a log of wood." Lynch returned to the camp
+leading one horse, and said the lad was looking for the other. This
+made Frazer very uneasy, not on account of his son, but because he had
+never known the horses to part company before, and feared that some one
+must have stolen the other horse. He "fidgeted about" until Lynch, who
+had been watching for an opportunity, got behind him and "struck him
+one blow and killed him dead." Lynch buried the two bodies a little
+way off the road and remained at the camp all day. The next morning he
+drove through Berrima to Mulligan's farm. He told Mrs. Mulligan that
+the dray and horses belonged to a gentleman in Sydney. He asked her
+for the £30 which he said her husband owed him for the articles which
+he had left at the farm, and which he had obtained by burglary and
+highway robbery. Mrs. Mulligan assured him on oath that all she had in
+the house was £9. Lynch felt sure she was only "putting him off," and
+felt very much discouraged. He walked to Mr. Gray's, Black Horse Inn,
+about three miles down the road, and bought two bottles of rum. On his
+return he gave some to Mr. and Mrs. Mulligan, but "took very little"
+himself. He sat down on a log near the fence, and thought, "This man
+passed me by as if he didn't know me when I was in the iron gang in
+Berrima. He never offered me a shilling though he has made pounds out
+of me, and I risked my life to obtain it. It would be a judgment on
+him to take all he's got for the way he's treated a poor prisoner.
+Oh, Almighty God, assist me and direct me what to do." After praying
+he felt strengthened and returned to the hut. Mrs. Mulligan told him
+that she had dreamed that she had a baby and that he had taken it away
+and killed it. "It was all covered with blood and looked horrible."
+Lynch joked with her about this dream; but, at the same time, he "felt
+very frightened." He believed that "she could foretell things," and
+he knew that "she could toss balls and turn cups." He went away again
+and prayed to God to enlighten him, and at last made up his mind to
+"kill the lot." He returned to the hut and "talked pleasantly." Then
+he asked young Mulligan, who was about sixteen years of age, to "come
+and cut some wood" for the fire. The boy went with him, and as they
+walked along Lynch spoke to the lad of the fine property he would have
+"when the old man died;" adding, "Ah, Johnny, you don't know what's in
+store for you." They chopped up several sticks and then, when the boy
+was stooping, Lynch swung the axe round and "hit him on the head." He
+threw a few branches over the body, and then, picking up an armful of
+the wood they had cut walked back to the house. Mrs. Mulligan asked him
+where her boy was, and Lynch replied that he'd "gone to the paddock
+with the horses." Mrs. Mulligan was very uneasy and asked Lynch to fire
+his gun off, as a signal to the boy to return. Lynch said this might
+bring the police round and he didn't want them "to see that dray."
+Mulligan also objected to the gun being fired. Both Mulligan and his
+wife were greatly excited. The old man paced up and down in front of
+the house, while the old woman, after asking Lynch several times what
+he had done with her boy, started up the path to look for him. Then
+said Lynch, "I knew it was time for something to be done." He got his
+tomahawk without being seen, walked up to the old man and cried "Look!"
+Mulligan turned round and looked up the road where Lynch pointed, Lynch
+struck him "one tap" and he "fell like a log." Lynch then followed Mrs.
+Mulligan, tripped her up and killed her. He walked back to the hut and
+saw the daughter, a girl of fourteen, standing behind the table with
+a large butcher's knife in her hand. She was trembling violently. He
+said to her "Put down that knife," She hesitated to obey him, and he
+cried louder, "Put down that knife." Then she put it down. He walked
+round the table and took her hand. He said he did not wish to hurt
+her, but if he let her live she would "only put him away." He told her
+to "pray for her soul," as she had "only ten minutes to live." She
+sobbed bitterly and he tried to comfort her, talking very seriously,
+and telling her that life was full of trouble, and that she would be
+better dead. Then he took her into the inner room, and after having
+violated her, brought her out again and killed her with the tomahawk.
+He dragged the four bodies together, heaped firewood over them and
+set fire to the heap. "I never seen nothing like it," he said. "They
+burned as if they was bags of fat." He threw the greater part of their
+clothing on to the fire and burned it. He stayed at the farm all next
+day, and then, when he had "made things right," he went to Sydney. Here
+he inserted an advertisement in the _Sydney Gazette_ to the effect that
+Mrs. Mulligan having left her home without his consent he would not be
+responsible for any debts she might contract. This was signed "John
+Mulligan." He returned to the farm and wrote letters to those people to
+whom he knew Mulligan owed money, informing them that he had sold the
+farm to John Dunleavy, who would pay their accounts. These letters he
+also signed "John Mulligan." Lynch then engaged Terence Barnett and his
+wife to work on the farm, and stayed there quietly for six months. The
+stories he told in the neighbourhood induced the belief that Mulligan
+had taken him in with regard to the farm, and that he had paid more
+for it than it was worth. At the end of six months Lynch paid another
+visit to Sydney, and on his return journey met with Kearns Landregan,
+who said he was looking for work. Lynch engaged him to put up some
+fencing. Landregan agreed and got into the cart. Lynch drove on until
+they were passing Crisp's Inn. Here Landregan crouched down as if to
+hide himself. Lynch asked him what he did that for. Landregan replied
+that he had summoned Crisp for stealing a bundle of clothes from him
+and didn't want a row about it then. Lynch felt sorry that he had
+engaged Landregan and determined to get rid of him. He decided to camp
+at Ironstone Bridge and, when Landregan was sitting on a log near the
+camp fire, Lynch crept up behind him and struck him with the tomahawk.
+In his confession Lynch was very particular in pointing out that in
+all his previous murders he had not struck any one of his victims
+more than one blow with the tomahawk or axe. Landregan, however, was
+a big powerful man, who boasted that he had never met his match in
+wrestling, and Lynch felt afraid of him. He therefore departed from his
+rule and struck Landregan twice. He attributed his "ill-luck" in being
+caught and convicted to this breach of the rule he had laid down for
+himself. Lynch seems to have persuaded himself that he was acting under
+Divine inspiration in committing his murders. He was very emphatic
+in his assertions that he never committed a murder, without having
+first prayed to Almighty God to assist and direct him, until he felt
+sufficiently strengthened to carry out his intentions. He appeared to
+believe that he was justified in taking life. Whatever may be thought
+of his confessions, however, there can be no doubt that the main
+facts were correct. After his death a search was made at the places
+where he said he had hidden or buried his victims, and in all cases
+the remains were found as he had stated they would be. With regard to
+the Mulligans, a large heap of ashes was searched and found to contain
+human remains. The confession only included his more serious crimes. He
+said nothing about the numerous robberies he had committed at various
+times, nor of his relations with other bushrangers, with whom it was
+known he was on cordial terms during at least a portion of his career.
+Lynch was hanged at Berrima on April 22nd, 1842. At that time he was
+only twenty-nine years of age. He was about five feet three and a half
+inches in height, of fair complexion, with brown hair and hazel eyes.
+There was nothing ferocious in his appearance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+  Jackey Jackey, the Gentleman Bushranger; His Dispute with Paddy
+  Curran; Some Legends About Him; Jackey Jackey Always Well-dressed and
+  Mounted; His Capture at Bungendore; His Escape at Bargo Brush; Jackey
+  Jackey Visits Sydney; His Capture by Miss Gray; Paddy Curran's Fight
+  with the Police; Recaptured and Hung; John Wright Threatens to Make a
+  Clean Sweep.
+
+
+William Westwood, better known as Jackey Jackey, was the darling of the
+old hands. He was only an errand boy in England, and was transported
+for some small peccadillo when he was sixteen years of age. He landed
+in Sydney in 1837, and was assigned to Mr. Phillip Gidley King, at
+Gidley, in the Goulburn district. He stayed at the station for nearly
+three years, and then, in company with a notorious scoundrel named
+Paddy Curran, stuck up and robbed his employer's house. The partnership
+between Jackey Jackey and Curran, however, did not last very long.
+Curran disgusted Jackey Jackey by his brutality to women. In one of
+their mutual enterprises Curran criminally assaulted a woman, the
+wife of the farmer whose place they had stuck up. Jackey Jackey was
+furious. He declared that even if a man was a bushranger he might be
+a gentleman, and added that he would never see a woman insulted. He
+threatened to shoot Curran unless he left at once, and stripped him of
+his horse, arms and ammunition. This story furnishes the key-note to
+Jackey Jackey's character. To the old hands he was always the gentleman
+bushranger. The stories told by them about the Jewboy and other
+bushrangers, and even about Mathew Brady, were generally coarse and
+sometimes brutal, but Jackey Jackey was always polite and well-behaved.
+More legends have collected round the name of Jackey Jackey than round
+that of any other of the bushrangers, and many of them are obviously
+variants of the stories told of the historical highwaymen of England.
+For instance, Jackey Jackey is said to have bailed up the carriage
+of the Commissary. When he discovered that the Commissary's wife was
+inside he dismounted, opened the door and, sweeping the ground with
+his cabbage tree hat, as he bowed low before her, he invited her to
+favour him with a step on the green. He rode incredible distances in
+incredibly short periods of time. He is represented as bailing up a
+man near Goulburn and telling him to note the time by his watch and
+then racing away and bailing up another man at Braidwood or some other
+place a hundred or a hundred and fifty miles away in a few hours and
+asking that person to note the time. Many of the popular stories told
+about him are so evidently apocryphal that little notice can be taken
+of them. But one thing is certain and that is that he was always well
+mounted. He scorned to steal an inferior horse and would travel miles
+to secure a racer. He stole racehorses from Mr. Murray, Mr. Julian, and
+many other gentlemen in the districts over which he ranged.
+
+Although he appears to have been of humble origin he is credited with
+having been highly educated. This point was especially insisted upon by
+his eulogists among the old hands. By them he was always represented
+as being "able to hold his own," in conversation, with "the best of
+'em." I remember one old fellow telling me that when Jackey Jackey
+met Governor Gipps (of which meeting, however, I can find no record)
+the governor and the bushranger had a long conversation and parted
+mutually pleased with each other. "You and me," said the old chap,
+"couldn't have understood what they said though it was all English;
+but, they talked grammar." What his precise meaning was I had no
+idea, but I have always thought that he intended to suggest that
+their conversation was all carried on in what he might have called
+"dictionary words;" that is, words not used by the uneducated. But
+everything said of Jackey Jackey redounds to his credit from the old
+hand point of view. He was emphatically "a good man." The meaning
+attached to words is purely conventional, and is therefore liable
+to vary with the conventionalities. The point of view of the convict
+being entirely different to that of the law-abiding citizen, the terms
+"good" and "bad" changed places in their vocabulary. Thus the clergy,
+the magistrates, the free men, were generally "bad men," while those
+who resisted authority, who fought against law and order, were "good
+men." Even the cannibal Pierce was a good man from their point of view,
+however strongly they might condemn his methods. But Jackey Jackey,
+although he continued the fight to the bitter end, and ended his life
+on the gallows when he was only twenty-six, never did anything mean
+or brutal or unworthy of a gentleman bushranger, until he was almost
+goaded to madness by the cruel discipline of Norfolk Island.
+
+Paddy Curran was "out in the bush" several months before Jackey Jackey
+joined him, and he was not the only bushranger at work in the district.
+On December 31st, 1839, the station of the Rev. Mr. Cartwright was
+stuck up and robbed. On the same day a skirmish between the police
+and seven mounted bushrangers took place near Yass. One of the police
+horses was killed, and the police were compelled to retreat. On the
+same day, Mr. Heffernan's house, not far from Goulburn, was stuck up
+and robbed of £21 in money, a case of duelling pistols, a valuable
+mare, and other property. Mr. Israel Shepherd also lost a valuable
+horse, besides some money, and Mr. Charles Campbell was reported to
+have been shot dead. This is a heavy record for one day, and as the
+robberies took place so far distant from each other, there must have
+been at least three separate parties concerned in them. About the same
+time it was reported that Scotchy and Whitton were plundering the
+stations on the Lachlan River in all directions, and that Mr. Arthur
+Rankin had left his station and retired to Sydney in consequence of
+the insecurity in the country districts. The robberies continued all
+through the year 1840, and a great part of 1841.
+
+On January 13th of the last-mentioned year a man ran into the township
+of Bungendore, and said that Jackey Jackey had followed and fired at
+him. A few minutes' later Jackey Jackey himself, mounted on a splendid
+mare, which he had stolen from the Messrs. Macarthur, hove in sight
+on the plains. He was dressed in a fine suit of clothes which he had
+obtained when he stuck up and robbed the store at Boro a few days
+before. He stopped to speak to a man near Eccleton's. In the meantime
+Mr. Powell, the resident magistrate, and his brother, Mr. Frank Powell,
+promptly mounted and went towards the bushranger, and were joined
+by Richard Rutledge, who, however, had no arms. As they approached
+Jackey Jackey wheeled round and fired at them, but failed to hit any
+one. Mr. Balcombe and the Rev. Mr. McGrath drove up in a gig, and Mr.
+McGrath jumped down and presented his gun. Jackey Jackey seeing himself
+surrounded, surrendered. He explained that his mare had come a long
+journey and was unfit to travel, and that his musket was out of order
+and would not go off. He was conducted to the inn and placed in a room,
+two ticket-of-leave men being placed there to guard him. Jackey Jackey
+sat very quiet for some time. Then he jumped up suddenly, knocked down
+one of his guards, snatched his musket, jumped through the window, and
+ran across the plain. Frank Powell, who was close at hand, followed
+him, and with the assistance of Dr. Wilson's postman, recaptured him.
+Among other exploits previous to this capture Jackey Jackey had robbed
+the Queanbeyan, Tarago, and other mails, stuck up Mr. Julian, Mr.
+Edinburgh, and a number of other people on the roads at various times
+and places, stolen horses from all the principal owners and breeders in
+the district, fired at the driver of the Bungendore mail, who escaped,
+and had robbed the Boro Creek store of clothing, money, provisions, and
+other articles, on the Tuesday before his capture. For several months
+Lieutenant Christie and the whole of the mounted police of the district
+had been trying to capture him, and he had more than once escaped only
+by the superior fleetness of his horses. As soon as possible after his
+capture he was handed over to Lieutenant Christie, who conducted him
+to Goulburn, where he was lodged in the lock-up. The following day he
+was being taken to Bargo Brush, on the road to Sydney, when he made
+a desperate attempt to escape on foot, running for a mile before he
+was recaptured. He was then tied on the horse and the journey was
+resumed, but at night he broke out of the Bargo lock-up, taking with
+him the watch-house keeper's arms and ammunition. He soon procured a
+horse, and on the following day stuck up Mr. Francis Macarthur on the
+Goulburn Plains. He robbed Mr. Macarthur of his watch, money, and other
+valuables, and took one of his carriage horses because it was better
+than the animal he was riding.
+
+In the meantime the other bushrangers in the district had not been
+idle. In September, 1840, a fight took place between the police and the
+bushrangers near Wellington. One of the bushrangers was shot dead, and
+a mounted trooper was wounded in the shoulder. A few days later another
+encounter occurred, when a constable was shot dead within two miles of
+the township.
+
+On October 3rd, Mr. Robert Smith's station, Newria, was attacked by
+four armed bushrangers and plundered of everything worth carrying away.
+Mr. Aarons had recently arrived from Sydney, with the intention of
+opening a store in Wellington. The bushrangers threatened to throw him
+into the fire unless he handed over his money. They got upwards of £400
+from him. Mr. McPhillamy rode up at the time, and was invited by one
+of the bushrangers to dismount and come in. He dismounted, and then,
+discovering the class of men he had to deal with, quickly jumped on his
+horse again and started. The bushrangers fired at him, and one of the
+bullets so severely injured his hand that it had to be amputated. A
+reward of £200 was offered for the capture of these men.
+
+On Tuesday, May 18th, 1841, a gentleman, mounted on a spirited horse,
+pulled up at the tollbar on the Parramatta Road, Sydney, and asked
+the toll-keeper if he could oblige him with a pipe of tobacco. The
+toll-keeper gave him a piece, and the gentleman dismounted and filled
+his pipe. As he stood at the door of the toll-house he remarked a
+firelock hanging over the mantelpiece, and asked what it was for. "For
+bushrangers," replied the toll man. "But there are none now. I've never
+seen it taken down since I've been here." "Did you ever hear of Jackey
+Jackey?" enquired the gentleman. "Oh, yes," replied the toll man,
+"but he's a long way away. He never comes to Sydney. If he did he'd
+soon be caught." "Not at all," replied the gentleman laughing. "They
+don't know how to catch him, nor to keep him when they do catch him.
+I'm Jackey Jackey." He raised the lappels of his coat as he spoke and
+showed a brace of pistols stuck in his belt on each side. The tollman
+looked very much alarmed, but the bushranger said to him, "Don't be
+frightened, I am not going to hurt you. I've been in Sydney for three
+days and I'm going back to Manaro." He informed the tollman that he
+had taken a horse in Sydney, but that he was too old and stiff, so he
+had taken the liberty of exchanging him for the one he had with him
+at Grose's Farm. "Ain't you afraid of being took?" asked the tollman.
+Jackey laughed. "I'd like to see who'll stop me while I've these little
+bull-dogs about me," he said, tapping his pistols. He stood chatting
+while he smoked regardless of the fact that Grose's Farm, now the
+grounds of the Sydney University, was within a stone's-throw of the
+tollbar. He offered the tollman some money and asked him to go to the
+public-house for some rum. The tollman replied, "I can't leave the
+bar." "All right," returned Jackey, "then I'll get it myself." He went
+away to Toogood's Inn and returned in a few minutes with half-a-pint of
+rum. He gave some to the toll-keeper and took a stiff glass himself.
+Then he shook hands with the tollman, mounted his horse, and rode on
+towards Parramatta.
+
+On the 8th of July a great commotion was caused in George Street,
+Sydney, by a soldier arresting a well-dressed man and asserting that he
+recognised him as Jackey Jackey. A large number of people assembled and
+there were plenty of them quite ready to assist in the capture of the
+noted bushranger. On the prisoner being taken to the police court proof
+was soon forthcoming to show that he was a free man. He was discharged
+and the soldier was censured for being too officious. Since the visit
+of the bushranger in May had become known a constant look-out had been
+kept in case he should repeat his visit.
+
+Jackey Jackey did not long maintain his freedom, however. He one day
+went into Gray's Black Horse Inn on the Berrima road, called for some
+refreshments, went into a sitting room, and threw himself on the sofa.
+He was served by Miss Gray, and while he was drinking she pounced on
+him and screamed. Her father and mother came to her assistance, but
+Jackey Jackey fought with so much determination that he would no doubt
+have got away. A carpenter named Waters was working near, however, and
+hearing the noise he rushed in and struck Jackey Jackey on the head
+with his shingling hammer. Knocked senseless, the noted bushranger
+was easily secured. It will be remembered that Gray's Black Horse Inn
+was about three miles from Mulligan's farm, and was the place where
+Lynch had bought the rum to treat Mr. and Mrs. Mulligan just before
+he murdered them. The capture of Jackey Jackey was effected for the
+purpose of securing the reward of offered for him dead or alive. He
+was tried for the robbery of the Boro store, and was sentenced to
+penal servitude for life. He was first confined in Darlinghurst Gaol,
+Sydney, but being detected in an attempt to escape, he was transferred
+to Cockatoo Island at the mouth of the Parramatta River. While here
+he organised a band of twenty-five prisoners, and made a desperate
+attempt to escape. The gang overcame and tied a warder, and then jumped
+into the harbour with the intention of swimming to Balmain. The water
+police, however, were apprised of the mutiny and captured the whole
+gang. It has been asserted that no prisoner has escaped from Cockatoo
+Island. The distance from the island to the shore is not very great,
+certainly less than half-a-mile to the nearest point, but all who have
+tried to swim it have either been retaken by the police or eaten by
+sharks.
+
+The gang was tried for this attempt at escape and were sentenced to be
+sent to Port Arthur, Van Diemen's Land. Being such a desperate lot of
+scoundrels they were chained down in the hold of the brig, in which
+they were forwarded, for safety; but, in spite of this precaution, they
+contrived to get loose and were only prevented from capturing the brig
+by the hatches being put on and battened down. They reached Port Arthur
+in an almost suffocated condition, and were nearly starved, as they
+had had no food for several days; the captain of the brig not daring
+to remove the hatches, either to let in air, or to pass food to the
+prisoners.
+
+Jackey Jackey succeeded in escaping from Port Arthur and immediately
+resumed his bushranging career. He was captured, however, after a
+very short run and was sent to Glenorchy Probation Station for milder
+treatment. Probably this attempt at reformation came too late, but
+however this may have been, it had little beneficial effect. Jackey
+Jackey made his escape and again began bushranging. He was captured
+in a house in Hobart Town and was sentenced to death. The sentence,
+however, was commuted to penal servitude for life and he was sent to
+Norfolk Island, where we shall hear of him again later on.
+
+In the meantime, Jackey Jackey's old mate, Paddy Curran, continued to
+rob as before. He went to Major Lockyer's station and entered the men's
+hut while they were having their Christmas dinner, in 1840. He had a
+pair of handcuffs hanging at his belt, and was therefore thought to
+be a constable out on the spree. He helped himself freely to the good
+things on the table, and behaved generally so as to induce the idea
+that he had been drinking. One of the men, however, said he did not
+believe that the visitor was "a drunken trap," and Curran immediately
+knocked him down with the butt of his gun. The man jumped up at once
+and rushed at Curran. There was a struggle for a time, and the man
+got Curran down. He was, however, too much exhausted to hold him, and
+Curran got up. The other men, who were all assigned servants on the
+estate, looked on and applauded the wrestlers, but not one of them
+made any motion to assist his mate, otherwise Curran might easily have
+been captured. After his wrestling match Curran walked out of the hut,
+mounted his horse, and rode away. On the following day Curran again
+went to the station, and found Mr. North, son-in-law to Major Lockyer,
+and another man in the store. He called on them to bail up, and both
+men held their hands up. Curran was about to enter the store-door when
+he was pinioned from behind. Mr. North and his store-keeper rushed
+forward, and after a severe struggle, during which the bushranger
+tried hard to get his gun free, he was captured and tied. The man who
+had pinioned him was the man with whom he had had the wrestling match
+the day before. Curran was taken to Goulburn for examination, and was
+remanded to Berrima to take his trial, "where," said the _Port Phillip
+Herald_, "it is to be hoped he will be more securely confined, and not
+allowed to escape, as he did before."
+
+Paddy Curran and James Berry, another bushranger, were sent to Berrima
+for trial in charge of Constables McGuire and Wilsmore. They stopped at
+a hut on the road for a rest and food. After they had finished their
+meal Constable Wilsmore left the hut, and stayed away for some time. At
+length Constable McGuire went to the door of the hut to call him, and
+Berry and Curran, taking advantage of his action, immediately rushed
+upon him. They were handcuffed together, and this no doubt hampered
+their movements. McGuire fought hard. The bushrangers had seized the
+guns, and each held one. McGuire endeavoured to wrest the gun from
+Curran with one hand, while he held Berry's gun off with the other
+hand. He yelled for Wilsmore, but Wilsmore did not come. At length
+Berry got his gun loose and shot McGuire in the back of the head and in
+the shoulder. At this moment Constable Wilsmore returned, and seeing
+his mate dead and the prisoners in possession of the guns, ran away
+again. Curran and Berry beat McGuire about the head until he was dead,
+and a "fearful spectacle to look upon." Then they searched his body,
+and finding the key of the handcuffs, released themselves and made off.
+The two bushrangers continued their depredations for only a few months,
+however, as they were tracked down by the police and captured. Curran
+was tried on September 15th, 1841, for the murder of Mr. Fuller. He
+afterwards confessed to this murder. He said he was in company with
+two other bushrangers on the road near Bungendore when he heard two
+men quarrelling. Curran and his mates went towards the road and hid
+behind trees. Presently two men, riding on one horse, came in sight
+and appeared to be having a dispute about something. They were talking
+loud and swearing at each other. Curran stepped out from behind the
+tree and called on them to stop. Instead of doing so they wheeled the
+horse and began to gallop away. Curran fired and both men fell, while
+the horse bolted along the road and soon got out of sight. One of the
+men jumped up as soon as he fell and ran into the bush and they did not
+see him again. The other man was Mr. Fuller, and he was either dead or
+at point of death. "I turned him over and took about £11 in money and
+a pocket knife out of his pockets," said the bushranger.
+
+Curran was also tried for having committed a rape on Mary Wilsmore.
+He went to the hut occupied by Wilsmore on the 8th of February. It
+was near Bungendore. He ordered Mrs. Wilsmore to get him some tea. A
+bushranger, named White, was with him. Mrs. Wilsmore went outside to
+get some wood to make up the fire and Curran followed her, knocked
+her down, and dragged her away to some scrub where he committed the
+offence. He was found guilty of both crimes and was sentenced to be
+hung. There were another case of rape, several cases of murder, and
+numbers of robberies and burglaries charged against him, but none of
+these were heard.
+
+James Berry was tried for the murder of Constable McGuire, and was
+sentenced to death.
+
+At the same sessions John Wright, another bushranger, was also
+sentenced to death. The case against him was as follows;--On May 17th,
+1840, Mrs. Margaret Foley, living at Long Swamp, about thirty miles
+from Bathurst, was going from her house into the detached kitchen
+at the rear, when three armed men appeared. She shouted "Here's the
+bushrangers" and ran into the kitchen. Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Foley's
+partner in the farm, came out of the house and fired both barrels of
+his gun at the intruders, but failed to hit any of them. The leader of
+the gang followed Mr. Cunningham, who went back into the house; and
+saying, "It'll be a long time before you and Steel (son of Captain
+Steel) hunt us again," shot him dead. Wright then went to the kitchen,
+pushed the door open, and asked where Foley was? On being informed that
+he had gone to Bathurst, he replied "I'm sorry for it. I'd 'a served
+him the same as Cunningham if I'd 'a caught him." He swung his gun
+about in such a reckless manner that one of the assigned servants in
+the kitchen requested him to be careful, adding "Recollect that there
+are women and children here." Wright told him to mind his "own----
+business and be----" to him. He continued to swear about Foley's
+absence and declared that he'd a "good mind to make a clean sweep."
+He became cooler afterwards, and having collected all the jewellery
+and other valuables, went away. In passing sentence the Chief Justice
+commented on the great number of robberies which had been committed by
+Wright and his gang and said there was no hope of mercy. Wright thanked
+his Honour and then coolly asked whether he might have a candle in his
+cell, as it was very dark.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+  The Jewboy Gang; "Come and Shoot the Bushrangers;" Constable Refuses
+  to Leave His Work to Hunt Bushrangers; Saved by his Wife; Robberies
+  in Maitland; Bushrangers in High Hats; The Bullock-driver Captures
+  the Bushrangers; An Attempt to Reach the Dutch Settlements; Mr. E.D.
+  Day Captures the Gang; Assigned Servants' Attempt at Bushranging;
+  Some other Gangs.
+
+
+One of the most notorious of the early bushrangers of Australia was
+Edward Davis, commonly known as The Jewboy. Next to Jackey Jackey and,
+perhaps, Mathew Brady, more yarns have been told about this hero of
+the roads than of any other bushranger in the pre-gold digging era.
+The Jewboy gang varied in numbers from time to time, no doubt from
+the cause already noted in the cases of Mike Howe and Mathew Brady.
+Numbers of runaways joined the gang for a time and then returned to
+what was called civilisation, gave themselves up as ordinary runaways,
+and "took their fifties like men." Others were shot or captured, and
+either hung or sent to a penal settlement to continue their careers
+there. The Jewboy appears to have commenced his depredations in 1839 in
+what were then the northern districts of the colony of New South Wales.
+His range extended from about Maitland to the New England ranges, he
+having taken possession of the Great Northern Road, but he was not
+particular and, therefore, either he or other members of his gang, or,
+perhaps, independent bushrangers who were only supposed to belong to
+the Jewboy gang, travelled considerable distances from the road. On
+January 12th, 1839, Mr. Biddington's servant was stuck up and robbed
+near Mr. Wightman's station on the Namoi River, some distance lower
+down than Tamworth. The servant sent an invitation to Mr. Wightman to
+"come and have a shot at the bushrangers." The _Sydney Gazette_, of
+April 3rd, said: "The country between Patrick's Plains and Maitland
+has lately been the scene of numerous outrages by bushrangers. A party
+of runaway convicts, armed and mounted, have been scouring the roads
+in all directions. In one week they robbed no less than seven teams on
+the Wollombi Road, taking away everything portable. They also went to
+Mr. Nicholas's house, and carried away a great quantity of property
+after destroying a great many articles which they did not want. Mr.
+Macdougall, late Chief Constable of Maitland, and a party of volunteers
+set out in pursuit. The Wollombi district constable is a tailor by
+trade, and he refused to leave his work to accompany the party on the
+plea that it would not pay him." This reminds us that the ordinary
+police force of the present day did not exist in Australia at that
+time. In the larger towns there were paid constables and watchmen who
+devoted their whole time to guarding the citizens and their property;
+but, in country districts, a tradesman was paid a small sum per annum
+for acting as constable. There was, however, a mounted patrol force
+which is frequently spoken of as a police force. The police duties in
+Sydney, Parramatta, and other large towns were discharged by soldiers.
+
+Major Sutton was stopped on the road by armed men, and robbed on his
+return from attending the Maitland police sessions, and a hut belonging
+to Mr. Windeyer, near Stroud, was broken into and robbed. Robberies
+were very frequent about Maitland, and in the Upper Hunter and
+Patterson River districts, and these were all credited to the Jewboy
+gang, which was just coming into notoriety. On June 17th, 1839, four
+bushrangers were captured near Murrurundi. They had a black gin and a
+black boy with them. These were supposed to be part of the gang which
+had bailed up Lieutenant Caswell's place on the 9th. When challenged
+Lieutenant Caswell refused to stand. One of the bushrangers fired at
+him, but his wife rushed forward and struck up the barrel of the gun
+in time to save her husband's life. For doing this another of the gang
+knocked her down. They searched the place and took away about £400
+worth in money, jewellery, and other property. They held the road for
+a day between Green Hills and Maitland, and robbed every person who
+passed. The next day they went to Mr. Simpson's house in West Maitland.
+A man employed there, however, fired at them, and they made off. On
+the following day Mr. Michael Henderson was knocked down and robbed
+near Wallis' Creek, on the road between East and West Maitland. Mr.
+Cotham came up at the time and was seized, thrown down, and robbed.
+As soon as news of these robberies were reported, Lieutenant Christie
+with a party of mounted troopers started in pursuit. From Maitland the
+gang is supposed to have travelled northwards, and on the 15th Mr.
+Fleming received a note requesting him to get up his horses early on
+the following morning. Instead of complying with this insolent order,
+Mr. Fleming sounded his men, and believing that he could trust them
+distributed arms among them and stationed them at various advantageous
+points. When the bushrangers arrived the men fired at them. The robbers
+returned the fire and ran to a hut, which they took possession of. A
+regular siege ensued, and the black gin proved herself to be an expert
+in loading guns. She was said to have acted as guard over men bailed
+up, while the bushrangers were waiting to stop other travellers. The
+bushrangers were dressed as gentlemen in clothes which they had stolen
+from some of their victims. They were well armed and had plenty of
+money. One of them, Thomas Maguire, was said to be a free man.
+
+During the year 1840, the Jewboy gang committed numberless
+depredations. They robbed Mr. Deake's house at Wollombi, stole his
+horses, took horses from several other stations, and held the roads at
+various places for a day at a time, and robbed every one who passed
+along. The head-quarters of the gang were at Doughboy Hollow in the
+Liverpool Ranges, and it was said that any man riding along the road
+near Murrurundi or Quirindi, or between these places and Tamworth,
+was "almost certain to lose his horse and whatever property he might
+have about him, and be compelled to walk to the next stage and perhaps
+further, while the bushrangers were riding his horse to death harrying
+other honest people."
+
+One of the stories told of the Jewboy was that he "rounded up" the
+chief constable of the district with a party of constables and
+volunteers who had gone out to seek for him, and after having "yarded
+them like a mob of cattle," took their horses, arms, and whatever
+money they had, and rode away laughing. However, sometimes the tables
+were turned on the bushranger. A bullock driver named Budge was bailed
+up by two of the gang. Budge had a little boy with him, and one of
+the bushrangers stood over Budge and the child while the other was
+ransacking the dray. Budge kept his eye on the sentry and, noticing him
+look round to see how his mate was getting on, sprang on him, snatched
+the pistol from his hand, and knocked him down. Then he ordered the
+other bushranger to get off his dray, and made the two stand side by
+side. He kept them standing thus for about two hours in hopes that some
+travellers would pass along and assist him to take them to the nearest
+lock-up, but unfortunately no one came, and he was forced at length to
+let them go. He, however, kept their arms and saddles, and these he
+delivered to the Commissary on arriving at his destination. There were
+two guns and four pistols, all loaded. One of the saddles was owned by
+Mr. Joliffe and was returned to him. In connection with this it is said
+that Budge, when he was an assigned servant on Mr. Potter's Marquesas
+Estate, some years before, had bolted with six or seven other servants
+on the estate, and started to walk northward with "the hope of reaching
+the Dutch settlements at Timour." They travelled for three days, during
+the last forty-eight hours of which they had nothing to eat Budge
+therefore left them and returned towards the Hunter River. He was so
+exhausted, however, for want of food, that he fell. He was discovered
+by a stockman who was out rounding up the cattle on the station. Budge
+was taken into the station in a deplorable condition, and for a time
+was not expected to live. He recovered, however, and continued to work
+in the district. Of his companions nothing was heard for some years,
+but later, when the country northward was explored, remains were found
+which were believed to be theirs. From these it was conjectured that,
+after Budge left, one man had been killed "to save the lives of the
+others." There was evidence that one man had been cut up, it was
+supposed for food; but this had not saved the others. That at least is
+what the evidence pointed to. The remains had been so torn about by
+dingoes, crows, and hawks, as to make it impossible to identify them.
+The bodies were scattered over a wide area, some of them being several
+miles away from the others; and it is not even certain whether the
+whole number were ever found.
+
+Nine men were arrested in Sydney and charged with being runaways. Eight
+of them proved that they were free men, and the constable who arrested
+them was censured. The case was cited as an instance of the arbitrary
+character of the Bushranging Act. One of the men, however, proved to
+be James Jackson, who had absconded from the estate of Mr. Turner, of
+Maitland. He was sent back to Maitland and convicted of bushranging,
+and was sent to penal servitude for life. He was said to have taken
+part in some of the robberies committed by the Jewboy gang, having been
+at large since the middle of 1840.
+
+On Sunday, September 26th, some of the gang bailed up the mail man
+between Muswellbrook and Patrick's Plains, and are supposed to have
+taken some £250 from the letters. After this robbery one of them
+bolted from his mates, taking the greater part of the proceeds of
+their industry with him. He made his way to Sydney, where he passed
+himself off for a time as a free immigrant. He was arrested under
+the Bushrangers' Act and charged with being illegally at large. Then
+news of the mail robbery reached Sydney, and the fellow was sent
+to Muswellbrook, where he was identified by the mail man, and was
+sentenced to penal servitude.
+
+The gang afterwards went to Scone and stuck up Mr. Danger's store and
+Mr. Chiver's Inn. The storeman in charge, named Graham, fired at the
+bushrangers and then ran for the soldiers, but one of the bushrangers
+followed him, and before he reached the watch-house, shot him dead.
+They hastily made a bundle of such articles as took their fancy, and
+left the town. They went to Captain Pike's station and seized the
+overseer, taking him with them. When they were far enough in the bush
+they formed themselves into "a court," and tried him "for want of
+feeling." He was found guilty and sentenced to receive three dozen
+lashes, "which he got in good style."
+
+On Sunday, December 21st, 1840, Captain Horsley, of Woodbury, Hexham,
+on the Hunter River, about five miles from Maitland, was awakened
+and alarmed by the violent barking of his dogs. He rose twice during
+the night and went out on to the verandah of the house, but could
+see nothing. As the noise continued he went out for the third time,
+when three men rushed at him. They threatened him with their guns and
+compelled him to surrender. They then took him back to his bedroom,
+made him get into bed, lie down, and cover his face with a pillow.
+The captain and Mrs. Horsley were told that if either of them moved,
+they would both be shot instantly. The robbers demanded the keys, and
+on being told where to find them they opened the drawers, cabinets,
+and cupboards, and made bundles of the clothes, jewellery, plate, and
+money. They collected all the guns and pistols in the house, using the
+most violent and profane language during their search for plunder.
+It is supposed that they were disturbed in their work, as they left
+very suddenly and dropped two gold rings and two silver candlesticks
+in their flight; as these articles were picked up the following day
+outside the house. On hearing of this outrage, Mr. Edward Denny Day
+headed the soldiers and followed the bushrangers. They received tidings
+of them at several points on the Great Northern Road, the robbers
+bailing up people as they went along. They crossed the Page River at
+Murrurundi and came up to the bushrangers near Doughboy Hollow. Here
+the Jewboy made a stand. The fight was a desperate one, but ultimately
+the bushrangers were beaten and Edward Davis (the Jewboy), John
+Everett, John Shea, Robert Chitty, James Bryant, and John Marshall were
+captured. Richard Glanvill, the remaining member of the gang, made his
+escape, but was so closely pursued that he was captured in the scrub on
+the following day, the 24th December. They were tried and convicted and
+were hung on March 16th, 1841.
+
+In January, 1841, a public meeting was held in Maitland, and a vote
+of thanks was passed to Mr. E.D. Day for the service he had rendered
+the district in ridding it of such a desperate lot of villains as
+those which constituted the Jewboy gang. It was also resolved that a
+subscription should be taken up with the object of presenting Mr. Day
+with a handsome testimonial, and this was duly carried out. But the
+capture of the chief members of this formidable gang by no means rid
+the northern district of bushrangers, although no doubt it paved the
+way towards that desirable end. Of those who remained it is impossible
+to say whether they were members of this gang or not. Some of them
+had no doubt acted with it occasionally, while others may have always
+operated independently, though many of their depredations were credited
+to the gang by the public.
+
+Charles Vaut and Henry Steele, two of the assigned servants of Mr.
+George Furber, worked in the field all day on Saturday, April 24th,
+1841, and were seen in the kitchen at eight o'clock at night. On the
+following Sunday evening the Rev. John Hill Garvan, residing at Hull
+Hill, four miles from Maitland, was sitting at tea just after sunset,
+when two men came to the door, presented their guns at him, and said,
+"Don't stir." Mrs. Garvan was so much alarmed that she nearly fainted,
+and Mr. Garvan asked that she might be allowed to retire to the
+bedroom. "Sit still," cried the robber, "or I'll blow your brains out
+and put your wife on the fire." Mr. Garvan then struck the smaller man,
+Vaut, who was nearest to him, and he snapped his gun at the minister,
+but it missed fire. The bigger man then ordered Mrs. Garvan to "go and
+sit on the fire." "Oh, don't, pray don't, make me sit on the fire,"
+cried the poor woman, but the ruffian took her by the shoulders and
+forced her back on to the burning logs. At that moment a dray was heard
+coming along the road, and Steele let her go. She was more frightened
+than hurt, but her stockings were scorched. The two men then ran away,
+and went back to their beds at Mr. Furber's. They were arrested on the
+following day by Chief Constable George Wood, of Maitland. A pistol was
+found under the sheet of bark which served them for a bedstead. When
+brought up for trial, Judge Stephen (afterwards Sir Alfred Stephen),
+said the law of England on burglary made no provision for such an
+outrage as this, committed in a dwelling before nine o'clock. If they
+were convicted they could not be sentenced to more than fifteen years'
+imprisonment. The jury found them guilty, and they were sentenced to
+the term mentioned. They were afterwards charged with shooting at Mr.
+Garvan with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and were found guilty
+and sentenced to transportation to a penal settlement for life. It is
+more than probable that these men, and many others like them, assisted
+the bushrangers whenever an opportunity occurred--that is, when the
+bushrangers operated in the neighbourhood in which they were assigned
+servants, but without actually becoming members of the gang. There was
+a sort of freemasonry among the convicts which impelled them to assist
+each other in their war against society, and even in cases where it
+was obviously to their interests to stand by and assist their masters,
+their sympathies with the bushrangers and their hatred of all forms
+of authority impelled them irresistibly to take the opposite side, to
+their own individual detriment. But the principal gang having been
+broken up in this district, robberies of the kind described gradually
+ceased, and it was some years before this district was again disturbed
+as it had been. In other districts, however, the bushrangers were still
+active.
+
+Mr. Michel, of Kurraducbidgee, was travelling to Port Phillip in
+February, 1840. He went into an inn near Yass for food and refreshment
+and found the place in the hands of the bushrangers. Fourteen men were
+bailed up and Michel was compelled to take his place in line against
+the wall of the bar. The bushrangers handed him a pannikin full of
+tea before they took his money. Knowing what was coming, he held the
+pannikin as if the tea was too hot to drink and, when the bushranger
+in charge was looking away, dropped his roll of bank notes into it. He
+stood very quietly and when the bushranger came to feel his pockets
+there were only a few shillings in them. They appeared to be quite
+satisfied and, on his saying that he had important business to attend
+to, he was allowed to go. He carried the pannikin out with him, took
+the money out and put it in his pocket without being observed, and
+threw the tea away. Then he mounted his horse, rode to the nearest
+police station and gave information. The police started for the hotel
+immediately, but the robbers had decamped and no information could be
+obtained as to the direction in which they had gone.
+
+William Hutchinson, who had run away from the prisoners' barracks at
+Hyde Park, Sydney, in July, 1836, was captured on June 28th, 1840, at
+the corner of Market and George Streets. He had been out with a gang in
+the Windsor district and a reward of £25 had been offered for him.
+
+In January, 1841, six armed men called at the lock-up at Appin, and
+asked Constable Laragy who was in charge to put them on the right road
+for Campbelltown. They said that they had come from Kings Falls. The
+constable stepped back for his gun, when one of them presented his gun
+at Laragy and told him not to be a fool. They didn't want to hurt him.
+As there was no one there to assist him he answered "All right," and
+showed them the road, which they probably knew as well as he did. It
+was said that this was merely a _ruse de guerre_ to let the police know
+that they were out.
+
+On Sunday, October 24th, 1841, a man entered the house of a soldier
+in Parramatta and offered to pay half-a-crown for a night's lodging.
+The offer was accepted, but the host afterwards, noticing that his
+lodger carried pistols, became suspicious and went to the police
+station. A constable accompanied him back and identified the lodger as
+a bushranger who "was wanted." It was said that he had stuck up Mr.
+Frazer and several other persons just outside the town. The constable
+made an attempt to seize him and was promptly knocked down. The
+bushranger ran towards the river, and was followed and caught after a
+severe struggle. He walked quietly back towards the lock-up until he
+came to the corner of Macquarie Street, when suddenly wrenching himself
+free from the two men who were holding his arms, he exclaimed "This is
+my road," and "bolted." He was seen two days later at Longbottom, about
+half-way between Parramatta and Sydney, and was chased, but succeeded
+in eluding capture in the scrub at Five Dock.
+
+In February, 1842, the house of Mr. Gray in Balmain was stuck up. The
+bushrangers collected the watches, rings, money, and other valuables,
+and then compelled Mr. and Mrs. Gray and the servants to drink
+tumblers full of sherry wine to their success. They were very merry,
+and drank Mr. and Mrs. Gray's healths. When they departed they took
+a dozen and a half of sherry and a dozen of bottled ale with them to
+"have a spree in the bush."
+
+In the same month Colonel and Mrs. Gwynne, Major Woore, and Mr.
+Thomas Woore, J.P., with the Chief Constable of Goulburn, and another
+constable, were driving near Bargo Brush. The party was in two
+carriages, with the constable on horseback. They were stopped by a gang
+which it was said had just robbed the Goulburn mail. The constable
+on horseback was the only one of the party who carried a gun, and he
+bolted as soon as the bushrangers appeared, dropping his musket. The
+robbers took £11 14s. and the gun, but after holding a consultation
+among themselves they returned three one-pound notes and the fourteen
+shillings so that "the gentlemen might drink their healths." Then,
+wishing the party good-day, they departed.
+
+In January, William Gunn and John South were arrested as runaways
+from the station at Port Macquarie. It was said that they had been at
+large for more than a year and had been with the Jewboy. They robbed
+the northern mail near Scone and were followed and captured. They wore
+black coats and vests, beaver hats and clean white shirts, "as if they
+had just come from an inn or a gentleman's residence."
+
+In March, 1842, John Wilkinson alias Wilton escaped from Towrang
+stockade, carrying away with him Captain Christy's double-barrelled
+gun and a fowling piece. He was joined by another runaway named John
+Morgan, and on March 10th they took possession of the Sydney Road
+near Berrima and bailed up every person who passed. They plundered
+several drays and stopped the mail-man. They searched the mail bags,
+but finding no money in the letters, they permitted the mail-man to
+gather them up and proceed on his journey. They took seven pounds from
+a passenger named Jones, but on his saying that he would have no money
+to pay for his board and lodging while in Sydney, they returned him
+two pounds. At Red Bank they stole a horse belonging to Mr. Post to
+carry their plunder. Further along the road towards Sydney, they met a
+trooper and a constable, and told them that they were in pursuit of a
+woman who had run away from her husband and had taken his spring cart
+and horse and some of his property. They pretended that they expected
+to overtake her before she reached Liverpool. At Crisp's Inn they had
+some champagne. Not far from there, still going towards Sydney, they
+tried to bail up Dr. McDonald, but he rode away. They fired at him but
+failed to overtake him. They slept that night in the little church
+at Camden. The following day they rode straight into Sydney, put up
+at a first-class hotel and remained there for several days, "living
+like gentlemen." By some means, however, they excited the suspicions
+of the police and became alarmed at the enquiries made about them.
+They therefore left suddenly and returned towards Berrima. Mr. Post,
+who had been away from home when his horse was stolen, started out in
+company with his son-in-law, Tom Howarth, to follow the bushrangers.
+The rapidity of their motions, however, threw him off the scent. On
+their return to the district in which he lived he met them and tried
+to bail them up, but the bushrangers rode away. The following day
+Chief-Constable Hildebrand, of Stone Quarry, and Tom Howarth saw the
+bushrangers near Bargo Brush. Hildebrand pretended to be drunk, and
+rolled about on his horse as if he was going to fall off, and Howarth
+started singing to heighten the illusion. This put the bushrangers off
+their guard and they allowed the constable to come close up. As soon
+as he was near enough Hildebrand pulled out his pistol and called upon
+them to surrender. They were taken by surprise and yielded at once.
+Howarth boasted that these two made eighteen bushrangers whom he had
+helped to capture. The two men were tried at Berrima, and sentenced
+to penal servitude for life. They narrowly escaped being charged with
+murder, as one of the bullock drivers stuck up on the 10th had been
+severely wounded for forcibly resisting the ransacking of his dray. He
+recovered, however.
+
+Mr. Harrison, a jeweller and watchmaker, of Sydney, went to Glen Rock,
+and walked from thence to Berrima, to call on the settlers along the
+road to solicit orders. He was bailed up by three men, who threatened
+to cut his throat with a razor. They tied his handkerchief over his
+eyes, took three £1 notes, a cheque for £1, and an order for £10 from
+his pockets. They returned the order saying it was "no---- good to
+them." A bullock driver and another traveller were bailed up, and then
+the bushrangers went into the road to stop a gig, and Mr. Harrison
+bolted into the bush.
+
+Mr. Campbell was travelling along the Dog Trap Road when he was
+bailed up by three men and robbed. He returned to Parramatta and gave
+information to Chief Constable Ryan, who dressed in private clothes
+and with another constable similarly disguised started to drive along
+the road in Mr. Campbell's gig. Between Anlezack's Inn and Liverpool
+three men came out from behind trees and called on the constables to
+stand. Ryan immediately pulled up, and presenting his pistol at the men
+called on them to surrender in the Queen's name. The other constable
+jumped out of the gig and also presented his pistol, and the robbers
+capitulated. They were identified as John McCann and William Lynch,
+escapees from Norfolk Island, who had landed from a whale boat some
+months previously, and James O'Donnell, alias William McDonald, who
+had absconded from the Hyde Park Barracks a short time before, in
+September, 1842. A considerable amount of property was recovered when
+their camp was searched.
+
+Mr. F.E. Bigge, a settler in the northern district, started to take a
+drove of horses across the country to Moreton Bay. He was assisted by
+Alexander McDonald and two assigned servants. When between Schofield's
+and Brennan's stations, near Tamworth, they were called upon to halt
+by three armed men, known as Wilson, Long Tom or Coxen's Tom, and Long
+Ned. The order was obeyed, and then Mr. Bigge was ordered to strip.
+He refused, and one of the bushrangers called to another of them to
+knock him down with the butt of his gun; but, observing that Mr. Bigge
+was trying to get his pistol out of his belt, he fired. The first shot
+was said to have been fired by Long Tom, but Wilson fired immediately
+afterwards and wounded Bigge in the shoulder. McDonald, having no
+arms, rode away to Schofield's for assistance. In the meantime Bigge
+succeeded in getting his pistol out of his belt and fired at the
+nearest bushranger, who fired in return, the other two also firing.
+Bigge drew his second pistol and fired, and the bushrangers having
+expended their ammunition ran away. Bigge then mounted and rode to
+Brennan's. Finding no one there he went on, and his horse bolted
+and threw him. He then walked to Nillenga, where he found Dr. Jay,
+who dressed his wounds, which were not considered dangerous. In the
+meantime, McDonald, when he started to go to Schofield's, met Mr. Kayes
+and another gentleman, but they refused to go with him to assist Bigge.
+McDonald went on to the station, but not being able to obtain any arms
+or assistance there, he rode back again, and found the bushrangers'
+horses and some baggage, which they had left behind when Mr. Bigge
+put them to flight. McDonald collected the horses, which had been
+scattered, and drove them to Tamworth, where Mr. Allman soon organised
+a large party to go in pursuit of the bushrangers. Wilson had been
+captured by Mr. Robertson only a few weeks before and had been sent to
+the chain gang at Maitland, from whence he had effected his escape.
+They were all three caught and were sent to penal servitude.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+  Bushranging in South Australia; The Robbers Captured in Melbourne;
+  A Remarkable Raid in Port Phillip; Going Out for a Fight with
+  Bushrangers; A Bloody Battle; Cashan and McIntyre; The Fight with
+  the Mail Passengers; Cashan Escapes from the Lock-up; Is Recaptured;
+  McIntyre Caught at Gammon Plains.
+
+
+Three bushrangers named Wilson, Green, and another, robbed the settlers
+in the vicinity of Lyndoch Valley, South Australia, and extorted
+heavy contributions from their victims in the latter part of the year
+1839 and the beginning of 1840. These robberies had been going on for
+some months before news of them reached Adelaide. The colony had been
+only founded a little more than three years before, and communication
+was difficult and very irregular. There were no roads and the police
+provisions were not yet of a character to enable the authorities to
+cope effectually with such an outbreak as this.
+
+The robbers called at Mr. Read's station and knocked at the door of the
+house. The woman opened the door and was immediately knocked down by
+one of the robbers without any notice being given or question asked.
+Another robber fired his musket at her at so close range that the
+wadding of the gun bruised her cheek, but the slugs with which it was
+loaded did not injure her. Immediately on hearing of this outrage,
+Mr. Inman, superintendent of the police, left Adelaide with a party
+of mounted troopers, and as he proceeded on his way, news of other
+robberies were spread about. The movements of the police, however,
+appear to have been known to the bushrangers, as they were fired at
+when passing through some scrub. Not knowing how many men there might
+be in the gang, Mr. Inman intrenched himself, and sent to Adelaide for
+more men, and in a few days parties of mounted police arrived from
+Gawler and Mount Barker. The district was thoroughly searched, but
+without success. About the middle of February, three men on horseback
+arrived in Melbourne, Port Phillip. Their principal place of resort
+was the Royal Highlander Inn, in Queen Street, where they spent money
+freely and drank heavily. One of the men was recognised by the police
+as a convict from Van Diemen's Land, free by service. He was arrested
+on suspicion of having stolen the horse he rode, from Mr. Cox, but
+as Mr. Cox's superintendent could not swear to the animal, although
+he bore the station brand, the man was discharged and immediately
+left Melbourne. On Sunday, February 23rd, Wilson was arrested for
+drunkenness and rowdyism, and was fined 5s. next morning at the police
+court. While there he was seen and recognised by two South Australian
+policemen who had been to Sydney with some prisoners, and were on
+their way home. Wilson and Green were both arrested that evening and
+charged with the robbery at Mr. Read's station, South Australia. They
+were detained until warrants could be obtained from Adelaide, when they
+were sent there and convicted. The robbers had travelled from South
+Australia to Melbourne, _via_ Portland Bay, and had probably stolen
+the horses and perhaps some other property on the road. The third man,
+whose name is not given, was searched for, but was not found, and it
+was supposed he had crossed the Murray into New South Wales.
+
+What is generally said to be the first highway robbery in the Port
+Phillip district took place in April, 1842. A gang, composed of John
+Ellis, _alias_ Yanky Jack, Jack Williams, Young Fogarty, and a "Van
+Demonian" named Jepps, bailed up Mr. Darling and a friend as they were
+riding to an out-station on the Dandenong run to brand cattle. The
+robbers took £2 and a silver watch from Mr. Darling, and one shilling
+and sixpence from his friend. Mr. Darling was riding a thorough-bred
+horse, and Jack Williams remarked that he was a fine beast, and ordered
+Mr. Darling to show off his paces. This was a blunder on the part
+of the bushranger, who should have tried the horse himself, and Mr.
+Darling was not slow in taking advantage of it. He did not wish to lose
+his horse, and therefore jerked the bit, rolled about in the saddle,
+and pretended that he had as much as he could do to keep his seat while
+the horse was cantering. Williams watched as the horse went past him
+a couple of times, and then said, "That'll do. He seems to be a----
+rough 'un." He contented himself with the horse the friend was riding,
+giving him his knocked-up horse in exchange. The bushrangers handed Mr.
+Darling his watch, asked for it again, and returned it a second time
+after passing it round for each to look at. Then as the gang was going
+away Williams turned back, asked Mr. Darling to let him see what the
+time was, and when that gentleman again showed him the watch he took it
+and put it into his pocket. He then produced a bottle of rum, and after
+having taken a swig himself passed it to Mr. Darling and his friend
+with the remark that "a drop of grog was good on a cold day." Then
+he took five shillings from his pocket, gave this also to Darling to
+"drink their healths with at the next public-house," said "good day,"
+and rode on after his mates. The gang went along the main road up the
+Plenty River robbing the stations on either side of the road as they
+came to them. They stuck up Messrs. Serjeantson, Peet, Bond, Langor,
+Marsh, Fleming, Rider, Bear, and Captain Harrison, collecting a goodly
+assortment of watches and chains, mostly silver, and some money. It was
+after dark when they finished at Mr. Bear's house, and they camped by
+the creek within sight of the house for the night.
+
+Early next morning the gang took to the road again and robbed Messrs.
+Sherwin, Roland, and Wills. At about nine o'clock they reached Mr.
+Campbell Hunter's station as the family was sitting down to a breakfast
+of roast duck, kippered herrings, and coffee. Williams walked into the
+room pistol in hand and cried, "Put up your hands." He was immediately
+obeyed. Then looking round he said "Gentlemen, you must make room for
+your betters." Those present were Messrs. Campbell Hunter, Alexander
+Hunter, Streatham, Rumbold, Boswell, and Dr. Grimes. They were made to
+stand up against the wall while the roast ducks and other good things
+were removed to a slab hut used as a store room. The bushrangers had,
+however, only just begun their breakfast when a large party of armed
+men galloped up.
+
+News of the robberies of the previous day had reached Melbourne in the
+evening, and Messrs. P. Snodgrass and H. Fowler, of the Melbourne Club,
+had resolved to "go out for a hunt." They got their arms and horses,
+and started, and were joined by several other gentlemen, among whom
+were Mr. Serjeantson, and others who had been robbed, to the number
+of about thirty. The bushrangers hastily made the Messrs. Hunter and
+their other prisoners promise not to take part in the coming fight,
+and then took up positions behind the fence. Undeterred by this show
+of resistance, Mr. Gourlay jumped his horse over the fence, alighting
+close to Jack Williams, so close, in fact, that the flash from the
+bushranger's pistol, which was fired immediately, singed his whiskers
+and burned his cheek. The bushranger dashed his pistol down on the
+ground with an oath, and drew another, but Mr. Snodgrass, leaning
+over the fence, shot him in the head before he could make use of it.
+Thinking he had killed his man, Snodgrass turned to Yanky Bill, when
+Williams jumped up and fired point blank at Gourlay, who shouted,
+"Tell my friends I died game," and fell. Mr. Chamberlain shot Williams
+through the head and killed him. Much to the surprise of those near,
+Mr. Gourlay jumped up again almost as quickly as he had fallen, and it
+was soon discovered that the pistol bullet had smashed his powder flask
+and glanced off, inflicting only a severe bruise.
+
+On the death of their leader the bushrangers rushed to the hut, and
+took shelter there, pointing their pistols through the openings between
+the slabs, and a fierce fusilade took place, during which Mr. Fowler
+was severely wounded. Then there was a pause. It was believed that
+the ammunition of the robbers had been expended, and a horse dealer
+residing in the neighbourhood, named John Ewart, but usually known as
+Hoppy Jack, volunteered to go in and speak to the bushrangers. At first
+this was objected to as being too dangerous, but Hoppy Jack insisted,
+and said it would be "all right." He advanced towards the hut waving
+a white handkerchief, and after a few words at the door was admitted.
+The result of this embassy was that the bushrangers agreed to surrender
+provided that their captors would sign a petition to the judge to deal
+leniently with them. This was readily agreed to, and the men came out
+and gave themselves up just as a party of mounted police appeared on
+the scene, and the prisoners were handed over to them.
+
+This raid was principally remarkable for the boldness and rapidity with
+which it was executed. The bushrangers travelled directly from one
+station to the next, taking the shortest route, which was generally
+along the main road. The robberies were effected in very short time
+at each station, the bushrangers contenting themselves with money,
+watches, rings, and other property carried on the person. There was
+no time wasted in breaking open boxes or drawers, and there was no
+necessity to spare their horses, as a knocked-up horse could be
+exchanged for a fresh one almost whenever the robbers pleased. Mr.
+Gourlay was little the worse for his bruises and burns, although the
+powder marks on his face remained, but Mr. Fowler died a few days after
+the fight. The prisoners were tried and convicted, and in spite of the
+recommendation to mercy duly signed by their captors and forwarded to
+the judge, were sentenced to death for the murder of Mr. Fowler. Jepps
+confessed that it was he who had fired the fatal shot, but he also said
+that he had refused to join in an attempt to murder Judge Willis, the
+resident judge in Port Phillip. They were all hung in Melbourne, in
+May, 1842.
+
+During the following two years there was little bushranging in any part
+of New South Wales, but in 1844 McIntyre and Cashan, alias Nowlan,
+held the roads between Hartley, Bathurst, and Mudgee for several days,
+robbing all who passed. On December 2, 1845, they stopped the mail at
+Bowenfels, on the main Sydney road at the foot of the Blue Mountains,
+on the western side. They called on the passengers to hand over their
+money and valuables, but two of them resisted and drew their pistols.
+A fight took place, and the bushrangers were worsted, Cashan being
+captured, while McIntyre ran away into the bush. Cashan was taken
+to Bathurst, tried, convicted, and sentenced to be transported for
+life. He was being taken to Sydney, in April, to be sent to Cockatoo
+Island, when the escort stopped at Weatherboard Hut for the night,
+Cashan being lodged in the lock-up. He broke out during the night,
+and could nowhere be found. He travelled to Gundagai, where he stuck
+up Mr. Nicholson's station, taking clothes, provisions, horse, saddle,
+and bridle. Mr. Andrews, who was in charge of the station, and who
+was absent when Cashan called, on hearing of the robbery followed the
+bushranger. He rode to Charles Simpson's station, but was told by
+Messrs. Edwin and Alfred Tompson, who resided there, that no bushranger
+had been seen. While they were talking a man on horseback came in
+sight, and Andrews recognised him as the robber from the description
+that had been given of him and the horse he was riding. Andrews
+retreated into the house out of sight, and Cashan rode up, dismounted,
+and asked for refreshments, but he was immediately seized by the
+Tompsons and told that he was a prisoner. He asked, "How dared they
+insult a gentleman in that manner," and struggled hard to escape; but,
+finding that this was no use, he became quiet, and said he was ready
+to go wherever they wished him to. They took him towards the house,
+which was only a few steps distant, when suddenly he broke away with a
+laugh, ran down the bank, and plunged into the Murrumbidgee River. The
+river was in flood at the time, and was therefore twice its ordinary
+width, and running strongly. Cashan, encumbered with a great coat, and
+perhaps with other stolen property, could make no headway against the
+current. He sank at once, rose some distance lower down, and succeeded
+in grasping the pendulous branches of a swamp oak (_Casuarina_) hanging
+over the water. After a severe struggle he contrived to haul himself
+out of the water, and took a seat in the fork of the tree. He was still
+on the same side of the river as Simpson's station, and at no great
+distance from the bank, although the flood waters prevented Alfred
+and Edwin Tompson from getting close to him. However, Edwin Tompson
+covered him with his pistol, and threatened to shoot him if he moved.
+They talked for some time, and the bushranger, seeing no chance of
+escape, agreed to give himself up. He dropped into the water, swam to
+the bank, and walked quietly to the house, where he was tied and made
+secure for the night. The next day he was taken to Yass by the Tompsons
+and Andrews, and in spite of his frequent attempts to break the
+handcuffs and make his escape, he was safely lodged in the lock-up.
+He was identified as one of the men who had burned Dr. Bell's house at
+Braidwood, and robbed the Braidwood mail. When robbing the Braidwood
+mail in company with McIntyre, he nearly committed murder, one of
+the passengers having been dangerously wounded. He was convicted and
+sentenced to be hung.
+
+In the meantime, his former partner had not been idle. On the 21st
+April, 1846, the two brothers Cutts were travelling towards Sydney with
+a number of horses, when they were stopped at Meadow Flat, less than a
+quarter of a-mile from Howard's Inn. They were compelled to dismount,
+place their money on the ground, and retire. They deposited £3 18s.
+in notes and silver and a watch on the ground, and then stepped back
+several paces as they had been ordered to do. William Cutts begged
+that a seal attached to his watch might be returned to him, as it
+was a present from his dead wife, and he valued it accordingly. The
+bushranger, who was supposed to be McIntyre, told him that "if there
+was any more palaver" he would get his brains blown out. The robber
+took up the money and watch, mounted his horse, and rode away. As soon
+as information of the robbery was received in Bathurst the mounted
+troopers started in pursuit of the bushranger.
+
+On Monday, August 11th, two men went to the Golden Fleece Inn, Gammon
+Plains, and remained drinking till Friday. On that day the landlord,
+Mr. Perfrement, received his copy of the _Maitland Mercury_, and saw
+in it a list of the numbers of the bank notes recently stolen from
+the Singleton mail. He compared the numbers with those of the notes
+he had received from his two guests, and finding that some of them
+corresponded, he went to the police station and gave information. The
+inn was not a large building, but there were several out-houses and
+the bushrangers were in some of these. Perfrement and the police went
+to one of these huts at the rear of the inn and found McIntyre there.
+Perfrement put his hand on the bushranger's shoulder and said "You're
+a prisoner." "Am I," exclaimed McIntyre jumping backwards, "Come on."
+Constable Barker rushed in and a fierce wrestling match begun and
+lasted for some minutes. Then McIntyre got on top and tried to get
+his pistol out from his belt. Mr. Perfrement, who had snatched the
+other pistol from him when the wrestling first began, now threatened
+to shoot him if he did not surrender, but as the bushranger took no
+notice Perfrement endeavoured to twist the other pistol out of his
+hand. While this struggle was going on Barker wriggled from under the
+bushranger, got up, and struck him so heavily with his fist as to
+stun him. McIntyre lay still for several minutes before he regained
+consciousness, and by that time his hands were tied. His companion
+was found fast asleep in another hut and was easily captured. They
+were tried in Maitland, and McIntyre was subsequently hung, while his
+companion was sent to penal servitude.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+  Bushrangers and Pirates; Capture of H.M. Brig _Cyprus_ by
+  Bushrangers; A Piratical Voyage; Stealing the Schooners _Edward_ and
+  _Waterwitch_; Mutiny of Prisoners on H.M. Brig _Governor Phillip_ at
+  Norfolk Island; The Trial of the Mutineers at Sydney; How Captain
+  Boyle Recaptured the Vessel.
+
+
+The connection between bushranging and piracy may not at first seem
+very apparent, but the bushrangers stole more than one vessel, and
+started a career of crime on the high seas instead of on the high
+roads, and our story of the bushrangers would be incomplete were
+no reference made to thefts of vessels and boats, and their use as
+vehicles for robbery. It is not very surprising that so many convicts
+made their escapes from Macquarie Harbour, Port Arthur, and Norfolk
+Island, in whale boats which they stole, long as the voyages made
+were. The whale boat has played a conspicuous part in Australian
+exploration. Lieutenant Bass made his memorable voyage from Sydney,
+when he discovered the straits which bear his name, in a whale boat in
+which he started to explore the coast. Flinders and many others also
+made long voyages and many discoveries in whale boats; for the Pacific,
+the largest of the oceans of the world, however stormy it may be at
+times, fully deserves the name bestowed upon it by early navigators,
+for several months in the year. Hence a voyage in a whale boat from
+Norfolk Island or from Van Diemen's Land is not so dangerous as the
+distance to be travelled might suggest. We know that even now it is
+no very uncommon occurrence for convicts to steal boats and sail or
+row from New Caledonia to some part of the coast of Australia, and
+we know also that the Australians have at times entertained no very
+friendly feelings towards France for persisting in maintaining a
+penal settlement so near their shores. It is not with the capture of
+whale or ships' boats that we now have to deal, but with the seizure
+of larger vessels. In August, 1829, the Government brig _Cyprus_,
+commanded by Captain Harris, left Hobart Town for Macquarie Harbour
+with thirty-three convicts on board, the crew consisting of twelve,
+including the Commander, and there were also some soldiers under the
+command of Lieutenant Carew, and some women and children, numbering
+eleven altogether. The brig put into Research Bay on the south coast of
+the island, and anchored, but a gale arose and the brig was driven from
+her moorings, and lost her anchor and cable. She put back to Hobart
+Town, obtained a fresh anchor, and started again. On reaching Research
+Bay she was again anchored, and the anchor and cable lost a few days
+before were recovered. At about six in the evening, while the men on
+board were having supper, Lieutenant Carew, Dr. Williams, a soldier,
+and Popjoy (the coxswain), with two or three convicts, started in the
+long boat to catch some fish. They had not rowed very far when they
+heard shouting and some shots on board the brig, and Lieutenant Carew
+exclaimed: "Oh, my God! The convicts have taken the ship." They pulled
+back as rapidly as possible, and Carew tried to climb on board, but
+was threatened with a musket by one of the prisoners. When the trigger
+was pulled the gun flashed in the pan and Carew again tried to get on
+board, but was pushed back into the boat. He then asked the convicts
+who were clustered round to give him his wife and children, and these
+were passed into the boat. Mrs. Williams, her servant, and the wives
+of a couple of the soldiers were also put into the boat. It appears
+that when the long boat left there were only Captain Harris and two
+soldiers on deck, the rest of the crew and passengers being below at
+supper. Suddenly five heavily ironed prisoners made a rush, and knocked
+down the captain and two sentinels. Others rushed to the hatchway,
+and began to put the hatches on, when the soldiers and crew, fearing
+that they would be suffocated, agreed to surrender. They gave up their
+arms, and as they came on deck they were conducted to one of the boats,
+in which several prisoners who had had their irons taken off seated
+themselves at the oars. Popjoy was compelled to go on board, as it was
+said his services would be required for navigating the vessel. Then the
+captain, the lieutenant, and doctor, with the women, the soldiers, and
+the crew, were rowed to an island in the bay and landed. Seventeen of
+the prisoners were also landed, the mutineers only numbering sixteen
+of those on board. The boats were hoisted in, the sails lowered, and
+the ship got under way. But as she started Popjoy jumped overboard and
+swam ashore. As the brig went down the bay the men on board shouted
+"Hooray! the ship's our own, hooray!" The captain and others landed on
+the little island in the bay, with no means of reaching the mainland,
+suffered great hardships. For several days they had nothing but a few
+mussels and other shellfish which they picked up on the beach to eat.
+Popjoy, however, came to the rescue. He made a sort of canoe of bark
+and sticks, and sailed out into the open sea. Here he saw the barque
+_Zebra_, and made signals. He was taken on board, and a couple of boats
+with provisions were sent in to feed and bring off the fugitives.
+For these services Popjoy, who was a convict with a ticket-of-leave,
+received a free pardon. What became of the brig and its crew of
+mutineers was for some time a matter of conjecture. It was reported
+in Australia that she had been seen at Valparaiso. Then it was said
+that she had foundered at sea owing to the ignorance of navigation
+of the men on board. However, in the beginning of March, 1830, the
+Committee of Supercargoes at Canton were informed that four persons
+with a ship's boat had landed. They represented themselves as part of
+the crew of an English merchant vessel which had been wrecked on the
+China coast. The story was not believed, as no such wreck had been
+reported, but enquiries were made and a man calling himself William
+Waldon, of Sunderland, was examined. He represented himself as having
+been the commander of the brig _Edward_, which left the London Docks in
+December, 1828, bound for Rio de Janeiro. On his return voyage he had
+called at Valparaiso and the Sandwich Islands. At Japan his ship had
+been fired at from a battery and much damaged. He sailed for Manilla,
+but had to abandon the brig near Formosa, as she leaked heavily. He
+and the fifteen men of the crew had taken to the boats and all had
+been lost except himself and the three men with him. The boat bore
+the name:--"_The Edward_, of London--William Waldon." Although some
+doubt was still entertained the Committee arranged for the four men
+to be taken to England in the _Charles Grant_. A few days after their
+departure another boat with three men on board arrived at Whampoa. The
+leader, Huntley, represented himself as having been wrecked in the
+brig _Edward_, but said the captain's name was James Wilson and that
+she had left London in June, 1828, and gone straight to the Cape. When
+near the Ladrones he had quarrelled with Wilson and run away. As the
+two accounts differed so materially the former suspicions were revived
+and Huntley was sent home under arrest in the _Killie Castle_, and on
+the arrival of the _Charles Grant_ in London the three men on board,
+John Anderson, Alexander Telford, and Charles Williams, were arrested.
+Waldon had landed at Margate, and thus escaped for the time, but was
+arrested in London a week or two later. The four men were brought up
+at the Thames Police Court on September 22nd, 1830, for examination,
+and were charged with piracy. The principal witness was Popjoy, who
+had returned to England on receiving his pardon. He identified Huntley
+as George James Davis, a convict who had been sentenced to death at
+Hobart Town for highway robbery, but whose sentence had been commuted
+to penal servitude at Macquarie Harbour. Davis was one of the leaders
+of the mutiny when the brig _Cyprus_ had been seized. Alexander
+Stevenson, sometimes called Stevie, who now appeared as Telford,
+had been convicted in Glasgow in 1824, and had been reconvicted for
+bushranging in Australia. John Beveridge, alias Anderson, was sentenced
+in Perth in 1821, and was further sentenced in Hobart Town to seven
+years' penal servitude for having robbed Mr. Peachey. William Watts,
+alias George Williams, was known in Van Diemen's Land as Wattle. He ran
+away from a chain gang and took to the bush. He had stabbed one man
+and had attempted to shoot another. Of Swallow, Popjoy knew nothing,
+but had seen him on board the _Cyprus_ before the mutiny. The boat
+which had been sent from China to England was identified by Popjoy as
+one belonging to the _Cyprus_, the names _Edward_ and _Waldon_, having
+been painted on it since the mutiny. The prisoners were tried at the
+Admiralty Court, on November 4th. Popjoy, under cross-examination,
+admitted that he had been transported to New South Wales for
+horse-stealing. He had been assigned to a master, and had run away.
+He had received two hundred lashes at Botany Bay, but this was "only
+a few." He had been sent to Van Diemen's Land, and had been charged
+with highway robbery near Hobart Town, but had "proved his innocence."
+He had "buried in oblivion all the charges" made against him in the
+colony. He went to Macquarie Harbour in the _Cyprus_ as a volunteer.
+Dr. Williams, surgeon, said that he was on board the _Cyprus_ when she
+was seized by convicts in Research Bay, in August, 1829. He had gone
+in the long boat with Lieutenant Carew to fish, and when the boat was
+some distance from the brig they had heard a clashing of arms. They put
+back, and Lieutenant Carew tried to get on board but was repulsed, and
+a pistol was snapped at him. He then asked for his sword, but a convict
+named Ferguson, who had it, refused to give it up. When Mrs. Carew and
+Mrs. Williams were put into the boat, Swallow came to the side of the
+vessel and said, "Gentlemen, you see I'm a pressed man. I am unarmed,
+and surrounded by armed men." In consequence of this testimony,
+Swallow, alias Waldon, was acquitted, but was subsequently sent to
+the colony to serve his original sentence. Davis, alias Huntley,
+Watts, alias Williams, Stevenson, alias Telford, and Beveridge, alias
+Anderson, were sentenced to death.
+
+On January 13, 1840, six bushrangers were captured at Woolnorth, near
+Circular Head, and were charged with having attempted to seize the
+schooner _Edward_, the property of the Circular Head Shipping Company
+of Launceston, Van Diemen's Land. The object with which this vessel was
+seized was to enable the bushrangers to escape to one of the South Sea
+Islands, where they intended to settle.
+
+The schooner _Waterwitch_ was seized at the Forth River by three
+bushrangers on January 27th. The robbers told the captain that they
+did not wish to do him or his vessel any harm, but that they were
+determined to go to Sealers' Cove. If he liked to take them, well and
+good; if not, they would take the vessel there themselves and turn
+her adrift. The captain agreed. He took the bushrangers to where they
+wished to go, and parted with them very amicably.
+
+From time to time several small vessels disappeared, and it was
+supposed that their captors had succeeded in navigating them to some
+of the Islands, but as nothing further was ever heard of them, it is
+supposed that they either foundered at sea, or that if the bushrangers
+reached the islands, their predatory habits or brutal violence
+embroiled them with the natives, and they were killed in the fights
+which took place, but it is impossible to do more than conjecture their
+fate, and to speculate as to whether their acts of aggression were the
+cause of some of the apparently unprovoked attacks of the savages on
+the crews or passengers of other vessels. This subject has never been
+adequately investigated, and there is too little evidence available to
+enable us at present to do more than refer to the subject as one worthy
+of enquiry.
+
+The case which attracted the most notice in Australia, perhaps, was
+the capture of H.M. Brig, the _Governor Phillip_. On October 15th,
+1842, John Jones, Thomas Whelan, George Beavors, Henry Sears, Nicholas
+Lewis, and James Woolf, alias Mordecai, were charged in the Criminal
+Court, Sydney, with that they did on the 21st June, 1842, on board
+the brig _Governor Phillip_, the property of Our Sovereign Lady the
+Queen, assault one Charles Whitehead, with intent to murder. There was
+a second count charging the prisoners with piracy. The brig was lying
+out in the roads, at Norfolk Island, discharging cargo and taking in
+ballast. The prisoners were sent from the shore with a boat load of
+ballast and slept on board the vessel. Two of them were called up at
+about four a.m. to bale the boat out, and Jones asked William Harper,
+one of the sailors, if he could navigate? Harper replied "Yes, if I
+had a slate and pencil." No notice was taken of this incident at the
+time, but afterwards it was deemed to have been an indication that a
+conspiracy to seize the vessel had been formed among the prisoners. At
+seven o'clock the remainder of the boat's crew was called up to begin
+work, when Bartley Kelly rushed at one of the sentries and knocked him
+down with a belaying pin, while Lewis knocked down another. Then there
+were cries of "Jump overboard, you----" and "Throw the---- overboard
+and they'll tell no tales." Charles Whitehead was sergeant of the guard
+in charge at the time. Henry Sears struck him. It was not known whether
+the soldiers jumped or were thrown overboard, but one sentry who was
+missing had been thrown over by two of the mutineers. The noise roused
+the soldiers who were below and they attempted to gain the deck, but
+were driven back by the prisoners, who shouted "Keep down, you----,
+or we'll kill you." They also called for "Hot water to scald the----
+soldiers." Captain Boyle, who was in command of the vessel, was in
+his cabin at the time when the mutiny occurred; Christopher Lucas,
+the second mate, being in charge of the deck. Lucas had been knocked
+down in the first charge, but he contrived to slip away and went to
+the captain's cabin and reported the mutiny. He also went to the
+soldiers' quarters and roused them up, but by that time the prisoners
+had control of the deck and prevented the soldiers from ascending the
+hatch gangway. Lucas had received several very severe blows on the head
+with belaying pins and had been left for dead. The captain also tried
+to mount the gangway but did not succeed. He then went to the men's
+quarters and ordered the carpenter to cut away the fore and aft piece
+of the hatchway which the mutineers had closed. By this means he was
+enabled to raise the hatch slightly and shot a prisoner named Moore.
+Bartley Kelly had also been severely wounded by one of the sentries and
+was unable to rise. Another prisoner named McLean came to the hatchway
+and told Captain Boyle that if he would consent to leave the brig with
+the soldiers they would all be put on shore. The captain refused.
+McLean then told him to give up his arms. The captain fired at him by
+way of reply and McLean fell dead. The death of the leaders seemed to
+have a depressing effect on the other mutineers. Beavors asked the
+captain "for God's sake" not to fire any more. Encouraged by this
+appeal for mercy, Captain Boyle forced the hatchway open and went on
+deck, followed by the soldiers, and the mutineers, having lost their
+leaders, surrendered. The vessel was under the control of the mutineers
+for about a quarter of an hour. Beavors, alias Berry, and Jones, alias
+Jack the Lagger, were the least active of the mutineers. It was Sears
+who had struck Whitehead, the sergeant of the guard, immediately after
+Whitehead had shot Kelly. Kelly died from his wound the following day,
+but Whitehead recovered, although, at one time, his life was despaired
+of. The brig was 180 tons burden, and there were on board eighteen men,
+including an officer and eleven men of the 96th regiment. The Chief
+Justice, Sir James Dowling, before whom the case was tried, said that
+had Sergeant Whitehead died he could have held out no hopes for the
+prisoners. The jury which had found them guilty had recommended them to
+mercy, and he agreed in that recommendation for all except Henry Sears.
+It was his duty to pronounce the death sentence, but with the exception
+named he would not deprive them of hope. As a result Sears was hung,
+while the sentences on the other prisoners were commuted to penal
+servitude for life.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+  Van Diemen's Land Again; A Hunt for Bushrangers in the Mountains;
+  Some Brutal Attacks; "Stand!" "No, thanks, I'm very Comfortable
+  Sitting;" A Degrading Exhibition; A Determined Judge; Cash, Kavanagh,
+  and Jones, an Enterprising Firm; The Art of Politeness as Exhibited
+  by Bushrangers; A Bushranger Hunt in the Streets of Hobart Town; The
+  Capture of Cash; Break Up of the Gang; A Doubtful Mercy.
+
+
+For some years the roads in Van Diemen's Land had been comparatively
+safe, very few highway robberies being recorded, and the newspapers
+generally asserted that bushranging, in its worst form, had been
+stamped out. This assertion, however, is not altogether borne out by
+the evidence, and the most that can be said is that bushranging was not
+nearly so prevalent as in former times, and no bushranger had exercised
+his calling for a sufficiently long time to earn notoriety, but even
+this comparatively happy condition did not last very long.
+
+The bushrangers James Regan, William Davis, James Atterill, alias
+Thompson, and Anthony Bankes having committed a number of depredations
+on the settlers, the Government resolved to make a decisive effort to
+capture them. Consequently, on February 21st, 1838, Captain Mackenzie,
+with three privates of the 21st Fusiliers, two constables of the Field
+Police, and two prisoner volunteers, went to Jerusalem, where he was
+informed by the Police Magistrate of Richmond that another house had
+been robbed by the bushrangers, who had retired to the Brown Mountain.
+A guide, well acquainted with the Tiers, was found, and the party
+started the following morning. They struck into the bush a short
+distance beyond Mr. Tomley's, and at two o'clock came to a hut where
+the stockman, an intelligent lad, informed them that the bushrangers
+had robbed his master's house on the previous night at ten o'clock,
+taking a horse to carry the robber Bankes, who had been wounded. The
+lad was taken as a guide, and led them up a ravine, which soon became
+too steep for the horses. They reached the summit of the Brown Mountain
+about dusk, but without seeing any fire or other indication of a camp.
+They reached Mr. Ree's house, on the Richmond side, about midnight, and
+returned to Jerusalem at six on Friday morning, having been marching
+for twenty-three hours over very rough country. After six hours'
+rest Captain Mackenzie took Wesley, one of Mr. Johnson's shepherds,
+as guide, and resumed the search. They reached Mr. Stokell's house
+at dusk, and approached it with great caution. Finding no one there,
+Captain Mackenzie left two sentries, and pushed on to Romney's, where
+they arrived at about half-past one. The moon was shining brightly. The
+hut was surrounded, and Captain Mackenzie called for three volunteers,
+telling the men that it was a forlorn hope, as the robbers would
+probably shoot two out of the three, the moonlight being so bright. The
+captain called on Regan by name to surrender, but received no answer.
+He then walked up to the window, and said to the occupant of the hut,
+"Tucker, you old blockhead! why don't you open the door?" There was a
+rattle of musketry, and the captain stepped back into the shadow of
+the hut. Captain Mackenzie called out to his men not to fire unless
+the bushrangers did, or unless they rushed out and tried to escape.
+Then Constable Peacock advanced to the window and looked in. Captain
+Mackenzie said if the door was not opened he would fire, and after
+waiting a minute or so told Private Cockburn to shoot, but not too low.
+Cockburn fired into the window when the door was opened, and a man came
+out. The captain cried "Lie down, or you die." "I'm Tucker," said the
+man, "don't shoot," and threw himself on his face. The captain went
+to the door and looked in, when Private Cockburn cried, "Take care,
+captain, the fellow is going to fire. They are all armed." This raised
+a cheer among the soldiers, who now knew that their men were there.
+Regan it appears had tried to bring his musket to bear on the captain,
+but could not do so without exposing himself. The captain gave the
+word to fire, and a volley was poured into the hut. Then the captain
+asked Regan to surrender, promising not to hurt him. Regan endeavoured
+to induce the captain to promise not to prosecute them, but he refused,
+saying it was more than he could do. Finally, they consented to
+surrender, and Atterill crawled out naked. He was tied. Regan was then
+called, and he refused to come out on his hands and knees, saying that
+he would sooner be shot than be treated like a dog. The captain told
+him he might walk out if he came without arms and held his hands up.
+He did so, and the police then went in and brought out the other two.
+The prisoners were handcuffed and placed in a cart. About £14, found
+in their clothes, and their guns and pistols, were carried in another
+cart. Tucker was employed by Mr. Romney and was considered the best
+guide in the district. The robbers had taken possession of his hut and
+intended to make him show them the way across the mountains on the
+following day. The party reached Richmond on Saturday night, and early
+next day the bushrangers were lodged in the gaol at Hobart Town. The
+prisoners were tried and convicted of several acts of bushranging,
+ranging from highway robbery to burglary. They were all sentenced to
+death, but only Regan was hung.[34] _The Cornwall Chronicle_ said "His
+inquisitors were conscious that, had he been permitted to give his
+dying attestation to the treatment he had received from his master, it
+would have been so appalling and horrible as to leave the guilt of his
+crimes, in the estimation of an impartial public, not on his own head,
+but on theirs." "The Government," said the paper, "is afraid to hear
+the dying statements of the condemned."
+
+On September 8th, 1840, two armed men entered the Post Office at Ross,
+and bailed up the post-mistress, who was also a store-keeper. They took
+from her about £16 in cash and a quantity of wearing apparel. A large
+sum of money which was enclosed in a letter ready for despatch was
+missed by the robbers. The police were informed and at once followed
+on the track of the bushrangers, but failed to arrest them. On the
+following evening the bushrangers went to a hut on the station of Mr.
+Joseph Penny, of Ashby Cottage, and tied the shepherd, telling him that
+if he was quiet and did as he was ordered they would not hurt him;
+but that if he refused to obey they would shoot him. They went to the
+gardener's lodge and compelled the gardener to give them some food.
+While they were engaged in eating a man who had previously agreed to go
+out opossum hunting with the shepherd called at the hut and shouted. He
+received no answer, the shepherd believing that the bushrangers were
+"trying" him. The friend knocked again and shouted, but receiving no
+reply went in. He was surprised to see the shepherd lying down tied and
+quickly untied him. The two men then went to the house and informed
+Mr. Penny of what was going on. Quickly arming himself and the two men
+Mr. Penny went to the gardener's lodge and surprised the bushrangers
+before they could get their pistols and guns ready. They were tied and
+conducted into the town, and were subsequently convicted and sent to
+penal servitude.
+
+James Leverett, while driving a cart belonging to Mr. James Cox,
+of Clarendon, was attacked by a bushranger and brutally beaten.
+The bushranger struck him on the head from behind and stunned him.
+He stopped the horse and battered Leverett about the head. Then he
+searched his pockets and decamped. The constable stationed at Morven
+happened to pass along the road, and seeing the horse and cart standing
+went over to ascertain what was the matter. Finding Leverett lying
+in the cart insensible the constable took him to the police station
+and sent for a doctor. He then followed the tracks of the bushranger,
+but failed to find him. Another man, a servant of Mr. Stephenson, of
+Curramore, was beaten and robbed in a similar manner. It was said that
+these assaults were committed by ticket-of-leave men, who were thrown
+out of employment by the arrival of a large number of free immigrants.
+
+On the 15th April, 1841, James Broomfield and Jonas Hopkins bailed up
+and robbed Henry Atkins, Bonney, taking seven five pound notes from
+him. In company with James McCallum the same two bushrangers went to
+the house of Thomas Bates, at Norfolk Plains, about midnight, and woke
+him up, demanding something to drink. Bates told them that there was
+plenty of water in the cask. This, however, did not satisfy them, and
+they broke into the kitchen. They took some flour and grain from the
+cask and made a damper. While this was baking they took a watch, some
+money, and a quantity of clothes out of the bedroom. When they had had
+a meal, they left with their plunder, but were followed and captured.
+They were convicted of robbery with firearms and were sentenced to
+death; their sentences were, however, commuted to imprisonment for life.
+
+John Gunn, George Griffiths, William Lambeth, Samuel Harrison, and
+Thomas Hurn stuck up and robbed Daniel Downie on the 5th September,
+1842, of clothing and money. They were followed by Constables Patrick
+Flynn and George Marsden, and a volunteer named Joseph Masson. The
+bushrangers were armed with a fowling-piece and a musket. They went
+next morning to the hut of James Thompson, and told him not to be
+frightened as they did not intend to hurt him. They took his money
+and were walking away, when the constables came up and called on them
+to stand. They surrendered and were taken to gaol. When they were
+convicted, sentence of death was recorded against each of them, but
+they were not hung.
+
+On May 4th, 1843, Mr. Thomas Massey, of Ellerslie, South Esk River,
+was sitting on his verandah when John Conway came up, presented a gun
+at his head, and cried "Stand." "No, thank you," replied Mr. Massey,
+"I'm very comfortable sitting down. What do you want?" Conway then
+asked where the man was. Mr. Massey replied, "Out in the kitchen." A
+man named Riley Jeffs was standing a short distance away with Henry
+Blunt and a man named Pockett, both of whom had their hands tied behind
+them. Jeffs left the two tied men and went round to the kitchen, while
+Conway demanded money and firearms. Jeffs returned with the manservant
+and tied his hands. The robbers then took two double-barrelled guns, a
+single-barrelled fowling-piece, with a shot belt and powder flask, some
+tea, sugar, flour, and a gallon of rum. After they had gone Constable
+Thomas Connell, of Campbelltown, with Joseph Masson, Matthew Perry,
+Edward Quin, Aaron Dunn, and Stephen Wright followed the bushrangers
+to Blunt's hut, when two men ran away. One of them was lame and was
+soon caught. It was Jeffs, who said he had accidentally wounded himself
+the day before, after he left Mr. Massey's. The other man, Conway, was
+captured after a brisk run. At their trial, Mary Bryan, servant at Mr.
+Massey's, said she recognised Conway by his big nose. "How many inches?
+Did you measure it?" asked Jeffs, but the question was ruled out of
+order by Judge Montagu. The prisoners were then tried for the murder
+of Constable William Ward. They went to Mr. James Gilligan's house,
+Clifton Lodge, Break-o'-day Road, and asked Sarah Vasco, the servant,
+whether any one was at home. She replied, "Only master and mistress
+and a gentleman." They had four men with their hands tied behind them.
+Jeffs stopped with these at the kitchen door, while Conway walked into
+the passage. When he reached the parlour door he presented his gun
+and cried, "Stand, or I'll blow the contents of this through you."
+Ward, who was sitting near the door, jumped up and grappled with the
+bushranger. They struggled together into the passage. Mrs. Gilligan
+pushed her husband to prevent him from going out, and slammed the
+parlour door. Mr. Gilligan heard the struggle along the passage, and
+then a gun went off. He got the door open at last and went out. He saw
+Ward lying on the floor of the kitchen. Jeffs and Conway and the four
+men whose hands were tied were looking at him. Conway said to Gilligan,
+"You go back into your room, old man, or I'll mark you." In the fight
+in the passage both of the men had endeavoured to obtain possession
+of the gun, but between them they let it fall and it exploded without
+injuring any one. Conway then broke away and ran into the kitchen.
+Ward followed him and was grappled by Jeffs. While they were wrestling
+Conway drew a pistol and watched for a chance, and when Ward was on top
+holding Jeffs down Conway deliberately put the pistol to his shoulder
+and fired. Ward rolled over dead, and Jeffs got up. The robbers then
+demanded money, and Mrs. Gilligan went to the bedroom upstairs to fetch
+some. Conway accompanied her. Mrs. Gilligan said, "It's a great pity,
+Mr. Ward had a large family." "Well," replied Conway, "why didn't he
+keep out of our road? We tried to shoot him before." The prisoners were
+convicted of wilful murder. In his summing up the Judge said that the
+four men who were present appeared to be accomplices, although they
+were tied. They had prevaricated so much in their evidence that it
+was worthless or worse. He would consider whether it was advisable to
+prosecute them for perjury. Conway was very violent while in gaol. He
+threw a loaf of bread at the gaoler, and threatened that if he got out
+he'd "do for him." Jeffs and Conway were hung at Launceston in July.
+The census of the town had been taken a short time before, and showed
+that the population was 4458 souls. _The Launceston Advertiser_ said
+that there were more than a thousand men, women, and boys present to
+see Jeffs and Conway hung. Numbers of people took their blankets with
+them and slept in the square all night. They were singing songs and
+making a great noise. The paper says the scene was a disgraceful one,
+and doubts whether such exhibitions can have any beneficial effect.
+
+John Price and Thomas Roberts were tried for highway robbery. Judge
+Montagu said that if the robbery had been committed at night, or if any
+undue violence had been used, he would have cast them for death without
+hope of mercy. It appeared, however, that they had been followed and
+captured at once, and therefore, although the death sentence would be
+recorded against them, they would be sent to a penal settlement, and he
+hoped they would reform.
+
+John Fletcher and Henry Lee stuck up and robbed Daniel Griffin at
+Cocked Hat Hill, on November 6th, 1844. In passing sentence of death,
+Judge Montagu said that he was determined to put down robbery on the
+high road between Hobart Town and Launceston, and especially about
+Cocked Hat Hill. It was a horrid place. No man was safe there. The
+residents were fortunate in having so active and energetic an officer
+stationed there as Constable Harvey. He would sentence the prisoners to
+transportation for life. When they were being removed from court, Lee
+said, as he was passing Constable Harvey: "I'll rip your---- guts out,
+you----, if ever I get out."
+
+On the 10th July, 1841, Hogan and Armytage visited the Travellers'
+Rest Inn, within four miles of Launceston. There were eight men in
+the bar and they took all the money they could get, some grog, and
+provisions. Hogan said he was tired of the bush, and wished "it was
+all over." Armytage looked ill and miserable. The police followed them
+as soon as news of the robbery was conveyed to Launceston, but without
+success, as the bushrangers were too well acquainted with the country
+round there.
+
+On January 8, 1841, a bushranger went to a shepherd's hut on Mr.
+Frank's station, Lake Crescent, and tied the shepherd, telling him
+that he would shoot him if he got loose. The robber only got a few
+shillings. The robber went away, but soon returned, and seeing the
+shepherd still tied, cautioned him again and went away. The man
+remained tied for several hours before he attempted to untie the rope.
+It was said that this was the man who had robbed Mr. McCrae's station,
+and murdered a shepherd on Mr. Brodribb's station.
+
+On the following day, Hogan the bushranger walked into a public-house
+kept by Mrs. Bonny at Deloraine, and asked for two case bottles of rum.
+On these being given to him, he took a ham and a pudding and walked
+away, saying that he wanted them for his mate, who was ill. Although
+there were five or six men in the bar at the time, no attempt was made
+to detain him. Nothing further is known about Armytage, who is supposed
+to have died in the bush; but Hogan was captured and sentenced to penal
+servitude on Norfolk Island.
+
+On April 2, 1842, it was reported that Martin Cash, the notorious
+bushranger who had for so long a time defied the police, had been
+captured in a house in Harrington Street, Hobart Town, by Constables
+Kirby and Williams. He was lodged in the lock-up, but during the night
+succeeded in making his escape.
+
+On March 25, 1843, the bushrangers Martin Cash, Lawrence Kavanagh, and
+Thomas Jones, armed to the teeth, bailed up Mr. Panton at Broad Marsh,
+and fired at Dr. Macdonald. The police started in pursuit. On April
+18th, the gang visited Mr. Hay, who was in his barn overlooking five
+shearers who were at work. They were ordered to stand up and put down
+their shears. Then the men were forced to tie each other. While the
+bushrangers were plundering the house, Mr. Ward came up. He was ordered
+to stand, but instead of obeying he ran away. Cash followed and fired
+his pistol, the shot grazing Ward's ear. Ward, however, kept on and got
+behind a tree, and the bushrangers decamped, taking very little plunder
+with them. On the 19th they captured Mr. John Clarke and his overseer,
+Mr. Denholme, and compelled them to accompany the bushrangers to the
+late Mr. Allardyce's house on the Clyde River. They went into the
+parlour, and after arranging the chairs, invited the gentlemen to sit
+down. Then they called for brandy and glasses. The servant brought in a
+bottle of brandy and a tin pannikin. Cash was in a great rage. He swore
+at the servant, and asked him in an indignant tone, "Is that a proper
+thing for gentlemen to drink out of? Take it away and bring glasses."
+When they had had some refreshments, Cash sat talking to Messrs. Clarke
+and Denholme, while Kavanagh and Jones collected the plunder. The
+bushrangers were said to be very haggard in appearance and not well
+dressed.
+
+On May the 18th they invited themselves to visit Captain McKay, on
+the Dee River, and dined with him in the most amicable manner. After
+dinner they loaded two horses with clothing, provisions, and other
+articles from the store. Then, taking Captain McKay with them, they
+went to Mr. Gellibrand's, where they loaded a third horse. With this
+the bushrangers appear to have been satisfied, as they went away.
+
+"Messrs. Cash & Co.," as some of the Van Diemen's Land papers called
+the gang, visited Mr. Christopher Gatenby, of the Isis, on July 1st,
+and politely apologised for their intrusion. They as politely asked for
+a supply of provisions, which they said were necessary owing to the
+police having recently captured their camp and taken away all that they
+could find there. Mr. Gatenby opened the store and gave them what they
+required, and then Cash said he should feel extremely obliged if Mr.
+Gatenby and four of his servants would carry the provisions to their
+new camp. He politely explained that this was necessary, as the police
+had taken their horses. The invitation was so pressing that Mr. Gatenby
+could not refuse. He therefore took up a portion of the swag, while
+his servants shouldered the rest, and escorted by the three bushrangers
+they started into the bush. After walking for about two miles Cash said
+he would not trouble Mr. Gatenby to go any further, as he thought that
+they could manage without him. The load he was carrying was distributed
+among the bushrangers, and Mr. Gatenby returned home, after having been
+profusely thanked for his generosity in giving them the provisions and
+his kindness in carrying them so far. The servants were taken two or
+three miles further into the bush, and were then allowed to deposit
+their loads under a gum tree and return home. Cash denied that the gang
+had had an encounter with the Campbelltown constables. He said that the
+constables found their hiding place when he and his mates were absent.
+
+On August 22nd two men dressed as sailors were seen by the constables
+in Hobart Town enquiring for the residence of a well-known suspicious
+character. One of the constables stepped forward, and gave them the
+address they required. Then one of the sailors walked away, while the
+other remained standing near the constables as if in bravado. The
+constables held a consultation, and decided to arrest the sailor as a
+suspicious character. Two of them went towards him, when the sailor
+drew a pistol, fired, and then ran. The shot took no effect, and the
+constables gave chase. Charles Cunliffe, a carpenter, was standing at
+the door of his house as the sailor passed, and hearing the constables
+chasing him and crying "Stop, thief!" he joined in the chase. As
+they went down Brisbane Street Constable Winstanley came out of the
+Commodore Inn on hearing the hullabaloo, and attempted to seize the
+sailor, but the sailor drew a pistol from his belt and fired. The
+ball passed through Constable Winstanley's chest, but nevertheless he
+grappled with the sailor and held him until Cunliffe came up, when
+Winstanley fell. Cunliffe and the sailor had a terrific struggle for
+a few minutes, Cunliffe being much bruised, but he held on until the
+other constables arrived and secured their man. The sailor was taken
+to the Penitentiary, where he was identified as Martin Cash. It was
+believed that the other sailor was Lawrence Kavanagh, but although
+search was made for him, he could not be found. Constable Winstanley
+died from the effects of his wound two days later.
+
+Martin Cash was tried for the murder of Peter Winstanley on September
+15th, and was found guilty. He said he had been standing quietly in
+the street when a constable came up and cried out, "It's Cash, blow
+his brains out." He had then fired and run. The constables were all
+cowards. They thronged round him when he was down, but they would
+never have caught him if it had not been for Cunliffe. Judge Montagu
+said in reply that he could see no proof of cowardice in the action of
+the police. They were not such fast runners as the prisoner. Charles
+Cunliffe was the more active, and consequently he had caught the
+prisoner first. For this he deserved credit, but the police had arrived
+at the spot without delay and were also to be complimented for their
+share in the capture of so dangerous a character as the prisoner. He
+then sentenced the prisoner to be hung on Monday, the 18th instant.
+
+Cash, however, was not hung, but was sent to Norfolk Island for life.
+Rewards of one hundred acres of land or one hundred sovereigns, in
+addition to the rewards previously offered of fifty sovereigns, with
+a free pardon for convicts and a free passage to any post in Her
+Majesty's dominions, were offered for the capture of Kavanagh and
+Jones, dead or alive.
+
+Thomas Jones, in company with John Liddell and James Dalton, stuck up
+Catherine Smith's house on December 6th, at Effingham Banks. They tied
+the servants and went into Mrs. Smith's bedroom. The lady requested
+them to go out while she dressed, and they complied. When Mrs. Smith
+got up the bushrangers ordered the servants to get them some supper,
+telling them that they need not be afraid, as nobody would hurt them.
+They made the servants sit down while they ate. After their meal they
+opened the drawers and took out clothes and other articles which suited
+them, and went away. On December 11th they stuck up a hawker named John
+McCall. They drove his cart half a mile into the bush off the road, and
+tied McCall to a tree. Then they made a bundle of the articles they
+wanted in the cart, and went away. On December 30th Thomas Jones,
+"late with Messrs. Cash & Co.," with another man named Moore, dressed
+as sporting gentlemen, went to Mr. William Field's, and enquired if
+he was in? They were answered in the negative, and they then went to
+the men's hut and bailed up the two men there. As the others came
+in they were compelled to stand in a row against the wall. When Mr.
+Shanklin, the overseer, came in, Moore told him to kneel down and say
+his prayers, as he intended to shoot him. The men interceded for the
+overseer, saying that he always had treated them well. Moore asserted
+that Shanklin had "got him an extension of time," and he meant to have
+revenge. He was very violent in his language. Jones had been looking on
+very quietly, but he now said, "Oh, let the---- go, and let him beware
+how he behaves in future." Moore at first objected, but gave way, and
+Shanklin was made to stand up with the assigned servants. The robbers
+broke open Mr. Field's escritoire, and took £50 out of it. They also
+took tea, sugar, flour, and other things from the store.
+
+In the meantime the police had not been idle. They had had several
+brushes with the bushrangers, and had captured Kavanagh, Liddell,
+and Dalton. After this last robbery Jones and Moore were followed,
+and Jones was captured. They were all convicted and sentenced to
+death, but were told that probably their sentences would be commuted
+to penal servitude. On hearing this Liddell exclaimed, "I don't want
+mercy from you or any one else. I've been eleven years at Port Arthur
+and I don't want to go there again. I'd rather die than live." Judge
+Montagu said that this statement showed a deplorable frame of mind and
+exhorted Liddell to think of the future. Dalton complained that he had
+been knocked down by Thompson, the gaoler. Mr. Thompson said that the
+prisoner was a very desperate man. "But you'd no right to put irons on
+my neck," cried Dalton. The Judge said it was the duty of the gaoler
+to prevent escape. If he deemed it necessary he had a perfect right to
+put irons on the neck of a prisoner as well as on his hands and feet.
+He should report the behaviour of the prisoners in the proper quarter
+and he could not recommend either Liddell or Dalton to mercy. "I don't
+care a---- what you do," exclaimed Dalton. George Cumsden, who had also
+been associated with Jones in some of his robberies since the capture
+of Cash and Kavanagh, was also sentenced to death, "without the hope
+of mercy." He had threatened to "blow a hole through" any witness who
+appeared against him.
+
+There was again a lull in bushranging in Van Diemen's Land, and again
+the papers asserted that the crime had been stamped out. The majority
+of those convicted had been sent to Norfolk Island, and this, it was
+said, would act as a deterrent to other evil doers. Norfolk Island was
+feared more than death.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 34: _The Colonial Times._]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+  Norfolk Island: Its Founding as a Penal Station; The Terrible
+  Discipline in Norfolk Island; An Attempt to Ameliorate it; Its
+  Failure; The Rigorous Treatment Restored; The Consequent Riot; Jackey
+  Jackey's Revenge; An Unparalleled Tale of Ferocity; The Soldiers
+  Overawe the Rioters; Thirteen Condemned to the Gallows; Jackey
+  Jackey's Remarkable Letter; The End of Several Notorious Bushrangers.
+
+
+Norfolk Island, lying some seven hundred miles from the coast of New
+South Wales, was first utilised as a penal settlement in 1788, when
+it was decided that convicts who committed crimes in New South Wales
+should be transported there for more severe treatment. Early in the
+nineteenth century a rumour spread in Australia that Napoleon the First
+intended to fit out a fleet to search for Admiral La Perouse, and to
+found colonies in the south seas. The truth of this rumour seemed to
+be affirmed by the activity of the naval authorities in New South
+Wales. Settlements were made at Port Essington in the north, King
+George's Sound in the west, and the Derwent River in Van Diemen's Land.
+Shortly afterwards, in 1805, the prisoners were removed from Norfolk
+Island to Hobart Town, apparently for the purpose of strengthening
+the settlement in Van Diemen's Land. When Van Diemen's Land was made
+independent of New South Wales, in 1825, Norfolk Island was again made
+a penal settlement of the mother colony, and it so continued until
+transportation to New South Wales ceased in 1842, when Norfolk Island
+was transferred from the jurisdiction of the Governor of New South
+Wales to that of the Governor of Van Diemen's Land. The treatment of
+the prisoners in the island was rigorous in the extreme, and may aptly
+be described as savage. When the enquiry of the House of Commons, by
+Select Committee, was made in 1837 and 1838, as to the condition of
+the convicts in the penal settlements, the few particulars published
+about the evidence in the English newspapers had some effect on public
+opinion, and in 1841, Captain Maconochie, one of the witnesses examined
+who said that the prisoners might be governed with less harshness, was
+appointed Commandant of Norfolk Island, with instructions to try the
+mild reformatory treatment he advocated. Captain Maconochie and his
+supporters in England do not seem to have realised that human beings
+who have been under demoralising influences until they have reached
+the adult age, and their characters have become set, are not amenable
+to civilising influences. These should have been applied during the
+impressionable years, and the younger they are applied the more
+successful they are likely to be. This fact, however, does not yet seem
+to be known sufficiently in England, and therefore small blame attaches
+to Captain Maconochie, if he was not aware of it sixty years ago. The
+new Commandant abolished Sunday labour as a punishment, shortened the
+hours of labour on week-days, and granted holidays for good behaviour.
+He allowed the men to build huts and to cultivate small patches of
+ground, and thus to provide themselves with vegetables. He also gave
+them tins to cook in, and served out rations individually, instead of
+giving the rations out in messes. It does not appear that the prisoners
+became unduly riotous under this treatment, and no such murders as
+were mentioned by Judge Forbes and other witnesses before the Select
+Committee, in which men had killed their mates for the purpose of being
+hung "out of their misery," took place. One of these murders which
+occurred only a short time before Captain Maconochie took charge may be
+mentioned here. Stephen Brennan was sent to the island for bushranging.
+He was tried there and found guilty of the murder of another convict.
+There had been no quarrel between the two men, who were as friendly
+as circumstances permitted under the rigid discipline, nevertheless
+Brennan suddenly struck Patrick Lynch a blow with a stone-breaker's
+hammer, and then stabbed him with a knife. The murder was committed
+avowedly so that the perpetrator might be hung, and thus escape the
+harsh treatment he was subjected to, and it is not improbable that
+it was committed with the consent of the victim, for although there
+is no evidence of this in this case, it is well known that men had
+actually drawn lots in Norfolk Island, to decide which should murder
+the other and get hung for the crime. In place of crimes like this,
+there were quarrels and some rowdyism, but this was sufficient for
+the opponents of the new experiment. Paragraphs appeared in the Van
+Diemen's Land papers jeering at the "plum pudding policy" of Captain
+Maconochie, and asserting that Queen's birthday rejoicings only led
+to increased disturbances in Norfolk Island. Whether these paragraphs
+were inspired by the prison officials, who feared that if Captain
+Maconochie was successful there would be an end of "the system" which
+they had organised, it is impossible to say, but after a three years'
+trial, the mild treatment was pronounced a failure, and Major Joseph
+Childs was appointed to supersede Captain Maconochie, as Commandant of
+Norfolk Island, and reached the island on February 8th, 1844. Major
+Childs landed with orders to revert to the old rigid discipline, and
+he appears to have endeavoured to carry these orders out to the best
+of his ability. The hours of work were increased, holidays abolished,
+and all the old punishments re-established. These alterations were
+made very gradually. As I have already said, the prisoners had been
+supplied with rations individually, and were allowed their own pots
+and pans to cook them with. In July, 1846, new regulations were issued
+that rations were to be issued in bulk and to be cooked in the general
+mess house. The rations on the island had always been notoriously bad,
+and consisted generally of salt beef and maize. Captain Maconochie had
+allowed them to grow potatoes. The privilege was abolished on January
+1st, 1846, when the garden plots were taken from the prisoners and
+laid waste. The prisoners refused in a body to go to work unless some
+equivalent was given them for their potatoes, and half a pint of peas
+daily was promised them. After three days the peas in stock gave out,
+and another mutiny took place. Numbers of the prisoners were flogged,
+but this did not quieten them, and Commandant Childs promised them
+that eight ounces of flour should be served out in place of the peas.
+In a few days, however, the stock of flour was exhausted, and then,
+"incredible as it may appear, an old order, issued in May, 1846, after
+the gardens were taken away from the prisoners, stating that two
+pounds of sweet potatoes should form part of the daily rations, was
+posted up; although it must have been known to the superintendent that
+it would be utterly impossible to serve out a single ounce of sweet
+potatoes a man daily for a week."[35] The sweet potatoes in the island
+had been grown by the men, and had been most unjustly taken away from
+them when their gardens were laid waste. It was well-known that there
+were no sweet potatoes in the island, and the reposting of this old
+and obsolete regulation was an outrage on truth. The prisoners were
+not slow in showing their indignation, nor very particular as to the
+words they used in expressing it. And it was during the dissatisfaction
+consequent on the posting of this old order, that the new regulation
+calling in the kettles on July the 1st was posted. When the order
+was first posted, the majority of the prisoners were in their cells.
+A few were attending school, and among these was Jackey Jackey, who
+was doing a sum when the soldiers came round to collect the kettles.
+Hearing the rattling of the tins, he raised himself up, pencil in
+hand, and listened intently. Then he pushed the slate away, folded his
+arms, and sat as if in deep thought. The other prisoners present were
+whispering together, trying to conjecture what was being done with
+their tins. On the following morning, July 2nd, the prisoners were all
+mustered for prayers, a practice only recently introduced along with
+the repressive measures of the new superintendent. During the service
+the men kept whispering and paid but little attention. Several times
+order was called for, but this only produced a lull for a time. When
+the prayers were over the men marched to the Lumber Yard and read
+the new regulation. Then they found that their tins had already been
+removed. There was silence for a moment, followed by fierce and eager
+whisperings, then the whole body marched to the Barrack Yard, broke
+open the store, and took out all the tins they could find. They marched
+back to the Lumber Yard, and then Jackey Jackey made the following
+speech:--"Now, men, I've made up my mind to bear this oppression no
+longer; but, remember, I'm going to the gallows. If any man funks let
+him stand out. Those who wish to follow me, come on."
+
+A policeman named Morris was standing in the archway or entrance to
+the yard, Jackey Jackey rushed forward, struck him a fearful blow
+with an enormous bludgeon, and knocked him down. A large mob of the
+prisoners snatched up such weapons as came to their hands and followed
+him. Many of the prisoners only had sticks, some large, some small.
+One had a reaping hook and another a pitchfork. As soon as the sentry
+fell under the blow from Jackey Jackey, the other prisoners were
+upon him, beating, stabbing, and cutting until the man was a fearful
+sight to look upon. Jackey Jackey then led the way to the cook-house,
+where Stephen Smith, the police overseer, was in charge. Smith was
+something of a favourite among the prisoners, but this good feeling
+availed him nothing at this time. When Jackey Jackey came rushing
+towards him, Smith cried out in a piteous tone, "For God's sake don't
+hurt me, Jackey? Remember my wife and children!" "Damn your wife and
+children," shrieked Jackey Jackey, as he crashed in one side of Smith's
+head with his bludgeon. Jackey Jackey passed on, leaving those who
+followed him to finish his bloody work if necessary. Near the gate of
+the Barrack-yard John Price, overseer of work, and a man named Ingram
+were standing together. Jackey Jackey rushed towards them and aimed a
+blow at Price, but he dodged back and the club struck Ingram, nearly
+killing him. Jackey Jackey raised his club for another blow at Price,
+when the surging crowd behind pushed him forward, and Price escaped and
+ran for the soldiers. The prisoners behind Jackey Jackey now raised
+the cry of "Barrow! Barrow!" and from this it is conjectured that
+their main object was the murder of the Stipendiary Magistrate of the
+Island, Mr. Barrow, who was believed by the prisoners to be the cause
+of much of their misery. Jackey Jackey turned from the Barrack-yard
+and led the way towards Government House. On their road they came to
+the limekilns, and Jackey Jackey, who had by this time exchanged his
+club for an axe, opened the door of the hut there. Two policemen were
+stationed there and they had not yet risen from their beds. One named
+Dixon was still asleep, and Jackey Jackey smashed the axe through
+his skull as he lay. The other, Simon, sprang from his bed on to the
+floor, but was immediately knocked down by a ferocious blow aimed at
+him by the bushranger, his brains and blood spattering the walls of the
+hut. Jackey Jackey immediately left the hut, and while his followers
+crowded in to strike at, or jeer at, their dead enemies as their humour
+prompted them, he coolly stood aside and lighted his pipe. After
+drawing a few whiffs he said in a loud calm voice, "Now, boys, for the
+Christ killer," and the crowd responded with shouts of "Hooray! Now
+for Barrow's." "To Barrow's." "To Barrow's." They started off, but had
+not gone far when the soldiers with muskets loaded and bayonets fixed
+barred the road.
+
+At this time there were about eighteen hundred prisoners on the island,
+and of these, sixteen hundred were among the rioters. The soldiers
+numbered only about three hundred, but their discipline enabled them
+to overawe the vastly superior force, numerically, opposed to them.
+Perhaps the habits of obedience and submission, so long enforced on
+the prisoners, may have had some influence. Perhaps, even among this
+herd of desperate and reckless men, the sight of the soldiers standing
+firmly with their guns presented ready to fire may have instilled
+some fear. However this may have been, there was no fight. The rebels
+retired slowly and unwillingly to the Lumber Yard, where they permitted
+the soldiers to arrest them one after the other without making any show
+of defence until one thousand one hundred and ten of them were placed
+"on the chain." Perhaps Jackey Jackey and the more violent of his
+followers may have thought that they had done sufficient to ensure them
+that death on the gallows which was the avowed object of their rising,
+while the majority had been so demoralised by official brutality as to
+be utterly indifferent as to what might become of them.
+
+Among those arrested were Jackey Jackey, the bushranger with a
+continental notoriety, and Lawrence Kavanagh, the Van Diemen's Land
+highwayman. John Gardner, John Jackson, William Duncan, Abraham
+Farrer, and John Booth, some of them convicted bushrangers, were
+also conspicuous for their support of Jackey Jackey in the murder of
+officials. Another New South Wales bushranger engaged in this riot was
+Michael Houlihan, who had been captured by Commissioner Brigham on
+September 10, 1842, in the Lachlan district, and transported to Van
+Diemen's Land for highway robbery and horse-stealing, and had been
+sent from thence to Norfolk Island for similar offences committed near
+Hobart Town. Besides these there were John Price, and many others named
+in Chapter X., who were among the insurgents and who more or less
+actively supported the leaders. On the other hand, Martin Cash, the
+companion of Kavanagh, refused to take part in the rising. He retired
+from the Lumber Yard when Jackey Jackey announced his intention,
+and remained in his cell during the whole time of the riot. Some
+speculation has been indulged in as to his reason for so acting. It is
+certain that he was not deterred by fear. Possibly, having been for so
+long the leader of a gang of bushrangers, he objected to serve under
+another and a younger man. He, however, was almost the only well-known
+bushranger confined in the island at the time who did not follow Jackey
+Jackey.
+
+As soon as news of the riot and its suppression reached Van
+Diemen's Land, Judge Brown was sent to Norfolk Island by the
+Lieutenant-Governor, Sir W.T. Denison, to try the prisoners, and Jackey
+Jackey, Henry Whiting, William Pickthorne, William Scrimshaw, Kavanagh,
+Gardner, Jackson, Duncan, Farrer, Booth, and three others, making
+thirteen in all, were arraigned on the charge of murdering John Morris.
+They were convicted and sentenced to death. They were all executed on
+October 13, 1846.
+
+The following letter was written by Jackey Jackey to a former chaplain
+at Port Arthur, and was published in the _Cornwall Chronicle_. "The
+spelling of many of the words has been corrected, but the style has not
+been interfered with":--
+
+ H.M. Gaol, Norfolk Island.
+ Condemned Cells, 1846, October the 8th.
+
+  Reverend Sir,--As in duty bound to you for the kindness you have
+  shown to me, and the interest I have always seen you take in those
+  that have ever been under your spiritual care, whatever may be
+  their fate, I have been induced to write to you, hoping this may
+  find you in good health, and in the enjoyment of all God's choicest
+  blessings. I have to inform you, that long before this letter reaches
+  your hands, the hand that wrote this will be cold in death. I do not
+  grieve that the hour is fast approaching that is to end my earthly
+  career. I welcome death as a friend;--the world, or what I have seen
+  of it, has no allurements in it for me. 'Tis not for me to boast;
+  but yet, Sir, allow a dying man to speak a few words to one who
+  has always shown a sympathy for the wretched outcasts of society,
+  and ever, with a Christian charity, strove to recall the wretched
+  wanderer to a sense of his lost condition. I started in life with a
+  good feeling for my fellowman. Before I well knew the responsibility
+  of my station in life, I had forfeited my birth-right. I became a
+  slave, and was sent far from my dear native country, my parents, my
+  brother, and sisters--torn from all that was dear to me, and that
+  for a trifling offence. Since then I have been treated more like
+  a beast than a man, until nature could bear no more. I was, like
+  many others, driven to despair by the oppressive and tyrannical
+  conduct of whose whose duty it was to prevent us from being treated
+  in this way. Yet these men are courted by society; and the British
+  Government, deceived by the interested representations of these
+  men, continues to carry on a system that has and still continues to
+  ruin the prospects of the souls and bodies of thousands of British
+  subjects. I have not the ability to represent what I feel on this
+  subject, yet I know from my own feelings that it will never carry
+  out the wishes of the British people! The spirit of the British
+  law is reformation. Now, years of sad experience should have told
+  them, that instead of reforming--the wretched man, under the present
+  system, led by example on the one hand, and driven by despair and
+  tyranny on the other, goes on from bad to worse, till at length he
+  is ruined body and soul. Experience, dear bought experience, has
+  taught me this. In all my career, I never was cruel--I always felt
+  keenly for the miseries of my fellow-creatures, and was ever ready
+  to do all in my power to assist them to the utmost, yet my name will
+  be handed down to posterity[36] branded with the most opprobrious
+  epithet that man can bestow. But 'tis little matter now. I have
+  thus given vent to my feelings, knowing that you will bear with me,
+  and I know that you have and will exert yourself for the welfare of
+  wretched men. It is on this account that I have strove, though in but
+  a feeble manner, to express my feelings. The crime for which I am
+  to suffer is murder. Reverend Sir, you will shudder at my cruelty,
+  but I only took life--those that I deprived of life, though they did
+  not in a moment send a man to his last account, inflicted on many a
+  lingering death--for years they have tortured men's minds as well
+  as their bodies, and after years of mental and bodily torture, sent
+  them to a premature grave. This is what I call refined cruelty, and
+  it is carried on, and I blush to own it, by Englishmen, and under
+  the enlightened English Government. Will it be believed hereafter,
+  that this was allowed to be carried on in the nineteenth century?
+  I will now proceed to inform you what has happened since I left
+  Port Arthur. I was sent to Glenorchy Probation Station. I was then
+  determined, if possible, to regain my freedom, and visit my dear
+  native country, and see my parents and friends again. I took to the
+  bush, with two men; one of them said that he knew the bush well, but
+  he deceived me and himself too. Our intention was to take a craft
+  from Brown's River; we were disappointed--there was no craft there.
+  We then turned to go to Launceston, thinking to get one there, and
+  to cross to the Sydney main. But after leaving New Norfolk, I lost
+  one of my mates, and the same night the other left me at the Green
+  Ponds. I was soon after taken and sent to Hobart Town. I was tried
+  and sent to Norfolk Island, and this place is now worse than I can
+  describe. Every species of petty tyranny that long experience has
+  taught some of these tyrants is put in force by the authorities. The
+  men are half-starved, hard worked, and cruelly flogged. These things
+  brought on the affair of the first of July, of which you have, no
+  doubt, heard. I would send you the whole account, but that I know you
+  will have it from better hands than mine. I am sorry that this will
+  give you great pain, as there are several of the men that have been
+  under your charge at Port Arthur concerned in this affair. Sir, on
+  the 21st of September, 1846, Mr. Brown arrived in the Island with a
+  commission to form a Court, and try the men. On the 23rd of September
+  he opened the Court. Fourteen men were then arraigned for the murder
+  of John Morris, that was formerly gate-keeper at Port Arthur. This
+  trial occupied the Court nine days. The Jury retired, and returned
+  a verdict, and found twelve out of fourteen guilty of murder. On
+  the 5th of October the sentence of death was then passed on us, and
+  to be carried into effect on the 13th of October, 1846. Sir, the
+  strong ties of earth will soon be wrenched, and the burning fever
+  of this life will soon be quenched, and my grave will be a haven--a
+  resting-place for me, William Westwood. Sir, out of the bitter cup of
+  misery I have drunk from my sixteenth year--ten long years--and the
+  sweetest draught is that which takes away the misery of living death;
+  it is the friend that deceives no man; all will then be quiet--no
+  tyrant will there disturb my repose, I hope, William Westwood.
+
+  Sir, I now bid the world adieu, and all it contains.
+
+ William Westwood, his writing.
+
+Beneath the letter is printed as follows:--
+
+  _The Dying Declaration of William Westwood, alias "Jackey Jackey."_
+
+  "I, William Westwood, wish to die in the Communion of Christ's Holy
+  Church, seeking mercy of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and
+  Saviour.--Amen.
+
+  I wish to say, as a dying man, that I believe four men now
+  going to suffer are innocent of the crime laid to their charge,
+  viz.:--Lawrence Kavanagh, Henry Whiting, William Pickthorne, and
+  William Scrimshaw. I declare that I never spoke to Kavanagh on the
+  morning of the riots; and these other three men had no part in the
+  killing of John Morris as far as I know of. I have never spoke a
+  disrespectful word of any man since my confinement. I die in charity
+  with all men, and now I ask your prayers for my soul!"
+
+ William Westwood, aged twenty-six years.
+
+Jackey Jackey, at the time of his death, was twenty-six years of age.
+He was 5 feet 9 inches in height, with fair hair, blue eyes, and a
+ruddy complexion.
+
+Shortly after the death of these men, Mr. John Price, superintendent of
+Port Arthur, was sent to Norfolk Island with instructions to break up
+the settlement and remove the prisoners to Van Diemen's Land, and this
+was gradually effected. Two or three years later the Government of the
+Island was again transferred to the Governor of New South Wales, and
+in 1857, about two hundred of the Pitcairn Islanders--the descendants
+of the Mutineers of the _Bounty_ were landed there and have remained
+unmolested to the present time, and the later history of this beautiful
+island may be summed up in the one word "peace."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 35: _Launceston Chronicle._]
+
+[Footnote 36: "Posperity" in the paper is so obviously a typographical
+error that I have taken the liberty of correcting it.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+  The Third Epoch of Bushranging; the Gold Digging Era; Influx of
+  Convicts from Van Diemen's Land; Passing of the Criminals' Influx
+  Prevention Act; Attitude of the Diggers Towards the Bushrangers, and
+  Other Thieves; The Nelson Gold Robbery; Some Pitiful Stories; A Rapid
+  Raid; Insecurity of the Melbourne Streets.
+
+
+Before entering upon the next stage in the story of the bushrangers,
+it may be advisable to say something of the vast change which suddenly
+took place in the conditions in Australia about this time. In 1842-3
+the colony of New South Wales was plunged into a financial crisis,
+about which it is unnecessary to say much here, but from which the
+colony was only beginning to recover in 1851. Wages were still very
+low, and numbers of men were out of work. In April, 1851, the news that
+gold had been discovered at Summerhill Creek, in the Bathurst district,
+roused something like a ferment in the colony. Men employed in Sydney
+threw down their tools to "go to the diggings." There was a general
+exodus from the coast cities and towns to the ranges, then considered
+far away in the interior. Wages jumped from about one shilling per day
+for labour to ten or more, meat rose from one penny per pound, for the
+best cuts, to sixpence. The roads leading to Orange, the Turon, and
+other early goldfields in New South Wales, were thronged by men, either
+going to the diggings to seek their fortune, or returning disappointed.
+In July, 1851, the Port Phillip district of New South Wales was erected
+into the independent colony of Victoria, and in August the news that
+gold had been struck in the Ballarat district of the newly-established
+colony turned the tide of gold-seekers in that direction. The police
+establishment, with which the new colony started, was merely that
+of an outlying district of a huge sparsely-populated colony, and was
+wholly inadequate to the requirements.
+
+There were two gaols in the colony; one at Melbourne, the other at
+Geelong; neither of them very large. The Geelong gaol, in fact, was
+little more than a lock-up, and it was only within the past two years
+that the gaol had been enclosed within a high wall. In 1850 it stood
+out on the hill, a short distance from the banks of the Barwon River,
+an ordinary-looking brick building, with the Governor's House and
+other offices grouped near it, and all opening out directly on the
+level flat which stretched from the top of the banks of the Barwon
+River to the hill on which the main portion of the town of Geelong was
+situated. On the top of this hill, the last building in that direction,
+in "old Geelong"--as it was called, although it had only been founded
+about twelve years before--was the court house, and there was no other
+building along Yarra Street, on the southern side of the hill and
+across the little flat (a distance altogether of about half-a-mile)
+until the gaol was reached. The Melbourne gaol stood on what was
+then the boundary of the city of Melbourne. It was a larger and more
+imposing building than the Geelong gaol, but still wholly inadequate
+for the requirements; and therefore one of the first duties of the
+Legislative Council of the new colony was to provide accommodation
+for evil doers, who could no longer be sent to the gaols of Sydney to
+serve out their terms of punishment. This was done by the establishment
+of "stockades" at Collingwood and Pentridge, both near Melbourne,
+and the purchase of two old trading vessels, the _President_ and the
+_Success_, in September, 1852, to be converted into convict hulks for
+the safe keeping of the more desperate of the malefactors. Subsequently
+three other hulks were added to the list, and these were in use for
+many years after large prisons had been erected at Melbourne, Geelong,
+Ballarat, Bendigo, and other centres of population.
+
+Looking back from the present time it appears to me that the Colonial
+Office was guilty of a serious tactical blunder in appointing Mr.
+Charles Joseph Latrobe, as the first Governor of Victoria. He had been
+appointed Resident Magistrate, or Superintendent, of the Port Phillip
+District in 1839; and, during the agitation for the separation of that
+district from the huge colony of which it was a part, Mr. Latrobe, very
+naturally perhaps, did all that he could to prevent the inhabitants
+from gaining their end. As a consequence, he was perhaps the best
+hated man that has ever lived in Australia. He was usually called "the
+Governor's poodle," and was denounced in no measured terms by the
+advocates of separation. When that was carried, and Mr. Latrobe became
+Lieutenant Governor, his harsh treatment of the diggers nearly drove
+them into rebellion. This is not the place to give the history of the
+Ballarat riot, but some reference to it is necessary. A most exorbitant
+licence fee was imposed on all residents on proclaimed goldfields,
+and this tax was collected in a most arbitrary and brutal manner.
+There were no gaols nor lock-ups on the diggings at the time, and men
+arrested for all sorts of offences--murder, bushranging, stealing, or
+the non-payment of licence fees--were simply fastened with handcuffs
+to a bullock chain attached to a tree stump by a huge staple. Later
+some boxes, made of corrugated iron, were put up as cells and these
+were known as "the Dutch ovens," or "the sardine boxes," and prisoners
+confined in them on hot summer nights suffered tortures, and begged
+to be put "on the chain" as a relief. Mr. Latrobe, therefore, soon
+came to be as cordially hated by the new comers as he had been by the
+older inhabitants of the district. But whatever may be said as to the
+harshness of his treatment of the gold diggers, the efforts he made
+to check the lawlessness rampant in the colony cannot be too highly
+commended. He and the Legislative Council organised a fine body of
+police in a very short time. The horse police were as well-disciplined
+and mounted as any similar body in any part of the world, but allowing
+for their efficiency, it would have been impossible for them to repress
+lawlessness so rapidly and completely as they did, had they not been
+assisted by the attitude of the general public. I may be wrong perhaps,
+but it has always appeared to me that the antagonism between the free
+and the convict elements in the population of which I have already
+spoken was continued long after the abolition of the convict system,
+and even passed on to those who landed in the country during the rush
+to the diggings. There was a general tendency at the time to credit
+all sorts of misdeeds to the convicts. No doubt, among the enormous
+crowds which landed in Victoria in the early years of the rush to the
+diggings, there was a fair admixture of rough and reckless characters
+who were not convicts, but it was the custom to assume that all crimes
+were committed by the "old hands," and that any man arrested for any
+criminal offence had been "sent out." Thus, when Mr. Lachlan M'Lachlan
+was appointed police magistrate of Bendigo, he merely expressed openly
+the opinion held by other magistrates, and the public generally, when
+he declared that nearly all thefts were perpetrated by "old hands."
+He asserted that he could distinguish a convict from a free man at
+a glance. He would order the police to make the prisoner walk down
+the court, and would exclaim: "Turn him round again, sergeant. Ah!
+I thought so! I can see the marks of the irons on his legs."[37] By
+which he meant that the man had acquired a sort of limp through wearing
+irons, and that he could detect it. All such men were sent to gaol for
+six or twelve months, not so much for the crime or offence with which
+they stood charged, as because they were ex-convicts. And generally
+the public endorsed this apparent injustice. "It's a pity we ain't got
+more magistrates like Bendigo Mac," was an expression frequently heard
+in all parts of the colony. It is not impossible that the fashion of
+crediting all crimes and offences to convicts, however unjust it may
+have been, tended to prevent others from committing crimes. Whether
+this was so or not, it is certain that the diggers, rough and careless
+as the majority of them were, steadily set their faces, as a class,
+against crime, and never hesitated, even during the height of their
+dispute with the authorities, to hand over to the police any person
+detected in stealing. Probably they were forced into this attitude in
+self-defence. The diggings were merely huge camps, everybody living
+in tents or "houses" made of wooden rafters and uprights, covered
+with calico or canvas. Even the big hotels and theatres were calico
+structures. It was so easy for an evil-disposed person to rip open a
+tent and thrust his hand under the pillow or into any other place where
+he thought gold might be concealed. But such thefts, although numerous,
+constituted only a minority of the crimes committed on the goldfields.
+All round were holes twenty or thirty feet deep, and the paths from one
+part of the field to another wound in and out between these holes, so
+that it was dangerous for a stranger in the locality to travel about
+after dark. In such a place it was so easy to stab a man and throw
+his body down a hole that the very facilities offered operated as a
+temptation to murder. Scarcely a day passed without a body being found
+murdered and rifled, and thus a peculiar sort of morality was developed
+on the diggings, and the diggers, while resisting the police, jeering
+at them and showing their hatred of them in every possible way, still
+assisted them in capturing thieves and other criminals. It was the
+custom to call public meetings for political and other purposes, by
+sending men to all the various camps each carrying a tin dish. These
+heralds would beat their tin dishes and yell, "Roll up! roll up!"
+Frequently a "roll up" was called for the purpose of organising a party
+to hunt down thieves or other evil-doers, and very soon the "roll up"
+carried terror through the ranks of tent thieves and other robbers.
+Sometimes the delinquent when caught was cuffed and beaten and ordered
+off the diggings on pain of death, but, as a rule, he was marched to
+the police camp, popularly known as "The Camp," and handed over for
+trial. It was perhaps because of this attitude of the diggers, that
+"Lynch law" did not become an institution in Victoria, as it had in
+California. On more than one occasion, it was proposed that thieves,
+robbers, and murderers should be summarily dealt with by their captors,
+but such resolutions were not endorsed at the "rolls up"; although, on
+more than one occasion, it was said that if the Government could not
+protect the diggers from bushrangers, the diggers would have to protect
+themselves. Some of the old names, now rapidly disappearing, record
+the character which the neighbourhood once bore. Thus "Murderer's
+Flat," the old name of a portion of the Mount Alexander Goldfield,
+is almost forgotten. The flat is now a portion of the pretty little
+mining and agricultural town of Castlemaine. It was the custom here
+in the "roaring fifties," for the diggers to fire off their guns and
+pistols every night after sundown, and ostentatiously reload them, as
+a caution that any person seen prowling round the tents during the
+night would be shot without further notice. In many of the outlying
+gullies on the Bendigo and Ballarat Goldfields the same ceremony was
+performed nightly. Beyond the limits of the goldfields the roads were
+infested by footpads and bushrangers, who hated the diggers for their
+antagonism to their class. To these the digger was fair game. It was
+popularly supposed that these bushrangers were all convicts from "Van
+Diemen's Land," hence they were known as "Van Demonians," "Derwenters"
+from the River Derwent, and "Tother siders." The newspapers were full
+of references to their doings. The _Geelong Advertiser_ of June 2nd,
+1851, warned the public that "large numbers of men--half bushranger,
+half gold-seeker--are travelling along the roads, especially the Sydney
+road, robbing all who are unprotected." These were said to be Van
+Demonians who had landed in Geelong or Melbourne, and who were making
+their way to the goldfields of New South Wales. In the same month the
+_Melbourne Herald_ published several articles calling the attention of
+the authorities to the large "influx of Van Diemen's Land expirees who
+are thronging into Port Phillip." These "villains," it was said, were
+travelling along all the roads which led to the diggings on the Sydney
+side, and lived by plundering honest travellers. On June 23rd the mail
+coach was bailed up at Bruce's Creek, between Portland and Geelong. The
+coach, with three passengers on board, was going down the hill to the
+crossing-place, when two men stepped from behind gum trees, presented
+their pistols, and cried "Bail up." The driver, William Freere, instead
+of complying, began to flog his horses, but before they could respond
+their heads were seized by one of the bushrangers, while the other put
+his pistol to Freere's head, and threatened to blow his brains out.
+The coach was taken some distance off the road, and its occupants were
+tied to trees. The robbers went very leisurely through the letters, and
+when all that was of value had been abstracted one of the bushrangers
+took a saddle and bridle belonging to one of the passengers (Mr. Thomas
+Gibson) and set it aside with the remark, "Ah, this is just what I
+wanted." This bushranger was dressed "in a black suit of fashionable
+cut, and wore black kid gloves." He was afterwards identified as Owen
+Suffolk, while his companion was Christopher Farrell. Suffolk took one
+of the coach-horses, put the saddle and bridle on, and mounted. Farrell
+jumped on the other horse barebacked. The tied men begged hard to be
+let loose, offering to swear that they would not give information to
+the police, or move from the spot until their captors were away, but
+their supplications were only laughed at. The road was at that time but
+little frequented, and the next mail, which might possibly be the first
+vehicle to pass, would not come for a week. Moreover, they were out of
+sight of the road. The struggle to get free was therefore a struggle
+for life, and it was a severe one. Mr. Gibson was the first to get one
+hand loose. After this the rest was comparatively easy. In less than an
+hour they were all free, and they walked straight to the township at
+Bruce's Creek to tell the police. The robbers were caught in Geelong a
+day or two later. Suffolk was strolling along the beach near the wharf,
+and Farrell was found in a boarding-house not far away. They were
+sentenced to ten years' penal servitude, the first three in irons.
+
+James Mason and John Browne, two diggers, were sitting at their camp
+at Bendigo having supper, when a man named William Scott passed along,
+going towards the "township." They invited him to "sit down and have a
+feed," as he looked tired, and he did so. But while eating he slipped
+his hand under the edge of the tent and took out a bag containing 110
+ounces of gold. The gold was missed before he was out of sight, and he
+was followed immediately and captured. He was taken to "the camp," and
+subsequently sent to gaol for five years.
+
+On January 28, 1852, the _Melbourne Herald_ reported that "a gang of
+Vandemonians have kept the road between Bendigo and Eaglehawk Gully for
+three days, robbing all who passed." The police were sent out and the
+gang was broken up. One was shot and three others traced to Halliday's
+Inn at Kyneton, where they were captured. They had thirty-three pounds
+weight of gold in their possession, and were taken on to Melbourne for
+trial.
+
+Such reports were so frequent that the Legislative Council was
+compelled to take action, and as a consequence the Act known as the
+Criminals' Influx Prevention Act (18 Vic., No. 3) was passed in
+November. This Act was specially designed to keep ex-convicts out
+of the colony. It was impossible to prevent those from New South
+Wales from crossing the Murray River, but it no doubt checked the
+influx of the more desperate criminals from Van Diemen's Land, where
+transportation was continued for many years after it had ceased to New
+South Wales. But although the Act prevented ex-convicts from landing
+at Victorian ports it could not prevent them landing at Sydney or
+Adelaide and walking overland to the Victorian diggings. In spite of
+this, however, the Act was undoubtedly very efficacious in checking
+the landing of criminally-minded persons. There were, however, so many
+in the colony previously to the passing of the Act that the police had
+plenty of employment in hunting them down.
+
+On February 6th, Corporal Harvey, of the mounted police, was searching
+some boxes at the Police Barracks, Buninyong, to ascertain whether
+they contained gold. A man named Goldman threatened to shoot him if he
+touched his box. The trooper simply replied "I must do my duty," and
+opened the box. Goldman shot him at once. This crime was a purposeless
+one. The trooper had been ordered to remove gold from all boxes left
+at the station so that it might be sent down to Geelong by escort. The
+only excuse which can be made for Goldman is that the diggers were very
+sensitive where their gold was concerned and were also very ready to
+protect it even at the risk of murder. But the boxes were left there
+in charge of the police, and any man who objected to his box being
+searched had no right to take it there. However, Goldman was convicted
+of murder and hung.
+
+On February 23rd, Elliott Aitchison, a squatter, was robbed near
+Buninyong. The robber took horse, saddle, bridle, saddle-bags, watch, a
+bill of exchange for £30, and some money. The bushranger was identified
+as a man named Edward Melville, who had been working for a neighbouring
+squatter, Mr. Winter, of Winter's Flat, and was well known in the
+district. A reward of £30 was offered for his apprehension.
+
+The ship _Nelson_ arrived at Geelong from London in March, 1852, where
+she landed her passengers and cargo and took on board some cargo for
+her return voyage. She was then taken round to Hobson's Bay to fill
+up. On the night of April 1st she was lying off Liardet's Beach, near
+where the South Melbourne pier now stands. There were on board Mr.
+Draper, the mate in charge, Mr. Davis, second officer of the _Royal
+George_ lying at anchor near, three seamen, three passengers, and the
+cook. At about two a.m. they were roused by loud calls, and as each one
+came out of his cabin to ascertain what the row was about he was seized
+and lashed to the bulwarks. When all had been secured the robber who
+appeared to be leader untied Mr. Draper and ordered him to show where
+the gold was. The mate refused. The robber fired and wounded him in
+the side. He then threatened to shoot him dead next time he refused.
+Another of the gang prodded Mr. Draper behind with a sword, and,
+realising that resistance was useless, he led the way to the lazarette.
+The door was soon broken down, and twenty-three boxes containing 8183
+oz. of gold, valued at about £25,000, were taken out and carried on
+deck. "I say, mates," exclaimed the leader, "this is the best----
+diggings we've seen yet." The boxes were lowered over the vessel's side
+into boats, and then the men tied to the bulwarks were unloosed, their
+hands tied behind them, and they were marched into the lazarette. The
+entrance was closed up with the broken boards nailed across. When the
+stevedore and his men arrived some hours later to go on with their work
+the prisoners in the lazarette were released, and information was given
+to the police. The robbers were said to have numbered about twenty. A
+search proved that two of Mr. Liardet's boats had been removed from
+their moorings. They were found far away along the beach, and it was
+conjectured that these boats had been used by the robbers. A reward was
+offered by the Government of £250 for the capture and conviction of the
+robbers, and this was supplemented by a further reward of £500 offered
+by Messrs. Jackson, Rae & Co., the consigners of the gold. Within a few
+days John James, alias Johnston, was arrested in Melbourne, and shortly
+afterwards James Morgan and James Duncan were found at the Ocean Child
+Inn, Williamstown. They were in bed, and when the police entered the
+room Morgan exclaimed: "If we'd known you was---- traps we'd a' blown
+your ---- brains out." When taken to the lock-up he said: "We may be
+sentenced, but we'll live to dance on your ---- grave, and have 2000
+a nob to ride in our carriages." At the trial it was said that they
+had been concerned in several highway robberies on the Keilor Plains
+and in the Black Forest, but these cases were not gone into. They were
+convicted of having stolen the gold from the _Nelson_, and sentenced to
+fifteen years' hard labour, the first three in irons.
+
+The winter of 1852 was an exceptionally severe one, and snow fell
+heavily in the ranges. A bullock driver who was looking for his
+bullocks near Buninyong was bailed up by three armed men. Although it
+was snowing at the time they stripped him and tied him to a tree while
+they searched his clothes. Finding only about five shillings in his
+pockets they cast him loose, gave him his clothes and money, with the
+remark that they thought he "was a---- digger from Ballarat." A few
+miles further along the road they met a party of real diggers and took
+from them 8 oz. of gold and an escort receipt for 84 oz. more.
+
+Such robberies as these were reported daily on the roads round
+Ballarat, Bendigo, and Mount Alexander. Perhaps the worst places were
+the Stoney Rises, on the road from Geelong to Ballarat, and the Black
+Forest, between Melbourne and Mount Alexander. But the conditions even
+in Melbourne were not much better than elsewhere. On August 6, 1852, a
+digger who had just returned from Bendigo was knocked down in Little
+Collins Street, Melbourne, and the pocket of his trousers cut out.
+He, however, lost only a few shillings, while the robbers missed 3lb.
+weight of gold which he held clutched in his hand.
+
+Judge Barry and Mr. Wrixon, the barrister, left the Supreme Court House
+together on August 11, at about half-past eight p.m. When they were
+near St Francis' R.C. Church, Lonsdale Street, they heard a shout for
+help. Ploughing through the deep mud they stampeded three robbers who
+had got a man down in the gutter. At that time the streets of Melbourne
+were not paved as they are now and the judge and the barrister nearly
+got bogged while pulling the digger out of the mud hole in which he was
+nearly smothered. The robbers escaped, but the digger found his gold
+safe.
+
+Mr. John Scraggs was going home to his house in Richmond one evening.
+When passing a corner near his own residence he received a blow on
+the head and fell stunned. When he recovered consciousness his watch,
+chain, ring, and purse had disappeared. The next day he purchased a
+revolver, loaded it carefully, and carried it in his hand ready for
+use as he went home. He was specially vigilant when he approached the
+corner where he had been knocked down before. Probably he was rather
+too vigilant on one side. However that may be, he received a blow on
+the other side which "stretched" him again. That time the robbers only
+got a revolver, and Mr. Scraggs swore that they should get no more
+firearms from him.
+
+It was about this time that the _Melbourne Herald_ reported a case of
+a captain of a vessel lying in Hobson's Bay. The captain had been to
+the theatre and was walking to Liardet's Beach to get a boat to take
+him on board his ship, when he was knocked down in Flinders Street and
+dragged into a right-of-way. Here he was stripped stark naked and left
+insensible. It was early morning when he regained his senses. After
+some hesitation he walked towards an hotel, hoping to be able to borrow
+some clothes there, but he was pounced on by a vigilant policeman and
+taken off to the lock-up. His story was not believed and he was taken
+into court and charged with "indecent behaviour," which was adding
+insult to injury, and the magistrate remanded him till next morning,
+to allow enquiries to be made, bail being refused. Later on, when it
+was ascertained that he really was the captain of a vessel, he was
+discharged. The _Herald_ cited this as an instance of the vagaries of
+police magistrates, and charged the police with being unable to protect
+the public against robbers.
+
+But to return to the knights of the road. A pitiful story was told of
+an old man and his son who had left their work in Melbourne, and gone
+to the diggings to "make their pile." They were unsuccessful, like
+a good many more, and started to walk back to Melbourne, to return
+to their ordinary work. They were bailed up on the edge of the Black
+Forest. The bushrangers refused to believe that they had no gold. It
+was a stale trick, they said, to throw a bag of gold behind a log and
+swear they hadn't got any, and then go back and pick it up, when the
+bushrangers had gone away. It was in vain that the old man swore that
+he had had no gold to throw away. One of the bushrangers compelled
+him to hold out his hand and fired a bullet through the palm. As he
+continued to declare he had no gold the bushranger was about to shoot
+through the palm of the other hand, when the boy made a rush at him and
+was shot dead by the other bushranger. The old man was then allowed
+to go on his sorrowful way. Bushranging was the common subject of
+conversation. Little else was talked of, and even the children played
+bushranger. Two young lads, who were old enough to know better, thought
+it would be good fun to "stick up" their father. He was a farmer living
+on the Barrabool Hills, about eight or nine miles from Geelong. He went
+into town with some produce and was returning at nightfall when, at
+about half a-mile from his own gateway, he was ordered to "bail up" by
+two persons on horseback. Without hesitation he snatched up a gun from
+the bottom of the dray and fired. One of the bushrangers fell and the
+other cried out "Oh, father, you've shot Johnny! We were only in fun."
+It was too late. The father's aim had been too sure and the boy was
+taken home to his mother dead.
+
+On October 24th, 1852, Henry Johnston, John Finegan, John Donovan,
+Charles Bowe, and John Baylie, known as the Eureka gang, were tried
+for highway robbery in Melbourne. William Cook said he was riding from
+Melbourne to Bendigo, on August 4th, when near Aitken's Gap he was
+bailed up by Finegan and Donovan. Three other men sat on their horses
+some distance away along the road, but did not interfere. One of the
+bushrangers held a pistol to his head, while the other stripped him
+naked and searched his clothes. He also felt him all over, under the
+armpits and elsewhere. They took £2 14S. and a pistol from him. Finegan
+wanted to take everything, but Donovan would not agree to that, but
+gave him back his clothes. Then he returned one of the £1 notes and
+the fourteen shillings in silver. Wesley Anderson identified Baylie
+and Donovan as the two men who had robbed him on a Sunday in August,
+near Buninyong. The proceedings were very similar to those in the first
+case. All the other prisoners were identified in a similar way by other
+witnesses. The robberies were effected over a wide range of country,
+and were all of a similar character. When asked what they had to say
+in defence, one of the prisoners asked the Judge whether he thought
+they were crows? "Here's one man," he continued, "says we stuck him up
+at Aitken's Gap, another at the Porcupine, another near Mount Egerton,
+and others at other places, and the police says they caught us in the
+Crown Hotel, Buninyong. Why, your Honour, horses couldn't get over the
+ground in the time." The jury, however, seemed to have formed a better
+opinion of the power of the bushrangers' horses than the bushranger
+himself. Perhaps this was due to the fact that some of them at least
+had exchanged horses with their victims. However that may be, they were
+all found guilty. Finegan and Donovan, who appeared to have been the
+leaders, and to have taken part in the majority of the robberies, were
+sent to gaol for twelve years, and the others for six years each.
+
+The Geelong mail was stuck up in December, 1852, between the old Burial
+Ground and the Flagstaff Hill, now in the very heart of Melbourne. The
+robbers took watches, rings, and money from the passengers, but did not
+dismount from their horses nor interfere with the mail bags. Probably
+it was too close to the city.
+
+On December 26th two diggers returning to Melbourne were robbed near
+Keilor by three armed men on horseback, who took a large parcel of gold
+dust and an escort receipt for more. On the same day a man was brutally
+beaten on the Sydney road, about fifteen miles from Melbourne, and
+robbed of his watch, some gold specimens and nuggets, and his money.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 37: "Mr. Lachlan McLachlan, or 'Bendigo Mac,' as he was more
+familiarly styled, administered the law with a vigour and severity
+which brought upon him censure from many quarters ... but 'desperate
+evils require desperate remedies.' ... When an old hand happened to be
+among the prisoners, he would be terrified by the fierce reprobation
+of 'Bendigo Mac,' or by the glare which shot from that inevitable
+eyeglass.... At other times he would say to a prisoner, 'This district
+is not big enough for both you and me. One of us must leave--which
+shall it be?' The prisoner would feel, of course, that there was very
+little doubt about the matter, and would promise to make himself
+scarce, requesting probably a couple of days' grace to wash up a bit of
+washdirt." "History of Bendigo," by George Mackay, chap. III.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+  Captain Melville Takes to the Road; He Ties and Robs Eighteen Men;
+  He Goes to Geelong for a Spree, and Boasts of His Exploits; His
+  Sensational Capture; Sent to the Hulks; Murder of Corporal Owens;
+  Melville Removed from the Hulk _Success_ to the Gaol; Murder of Mr.
+  John Price and Mutiny of the Convicts; Melville Attacks Mr. Wintle;
+  Death of the Noted Bushranger.
+
+
+Of all the bushrangers of the "roaring fifties" none was more talked
+of than Frank McCallum, alias Captain Melville. Every now and then,
+during the latter half of the year 1852, stories were told of daring
+robberies committed by Captain Melville, and rewards were offered for
+the capture of the captain, dead or alive, or any person who aided and
+abetted him. On December 18th, 1852, he rode up to a sheep station near
+Wardy Yallock and asked Mr. Wilson, the overseer, who was the owner?
+"Mr. Aitcheson," was the reply. "Is he at home?" asked Melville; and
+on being answered in the affirmative he expressed a wish to see him.
+Mr. Wilson having no suspicion as to who the civilly spoken visitor
+was went into the house and returned with Mr. Aitcheson. Melville drew
+out a pistol, pointed it towards them, and ordered them to "put up"
+their hands. The two gentlemen complied at once and were marched to
+the woolshed. Here they found the sixteen shearers and other workmen
+sitting in a row down the middle of the shearing floor and William
+Roberts, Melville's mate, standing sentry over them pistol in hand.
+Aitcheson and Wilson were conducted to the head of the row and ordered
+to seat themselves, which they did. Melville then searched about until
+he found a rope. This he cut into lengths and then mounted guard while
+Roberts called the prisoners out one by one and tied them to the
+fence. Mr. Aitcheson asked Melville what he wanted? and the bushranger
+replied, "Gold and horses, and we're going to get them." When all the
+men were securely tied the bushrangers cautioned them not to attempt
+to get loose until permission was given, and then walked to the house.
+Melville told Mrs. Aitcheson not to be afraid, as he never interfered
+with ladies any more than was necessary. He told all the women and
+girls to go into one room. One of the women was told to get some food
+ready, and part of this was taken, with two bottles of brandy, to the
+men at the shed. Melville and Roberts both ate heartily. They searched
+the house thoroughly, and took all the money and jewellery they could
+find. They picked out two fine horses with saddles and bridles, and
+when mounted they stopped at the woolshed to bid good-bye to Mr.
+Aitcheson and their "other friends," and to inform them that Mrs.
+Aitcheson would come and untie them as soon as he and his mate were out
+of sight along the road.
+
+The boldness with which this robbery was conceived and carried out
+caused quite an excitement throughout the colony. The idea of eighteen
+men permitting two to tie and rob them without a struggle caused
+as much amusement perhaps as wonder. People talked of little else
+for days, and everywhere the question was asked, "What next?" This,
+however, was not all. After leaving the station the bushrangers only
+travelled a few miles and camped in the bush. The following morning
+they stuck up two diggers, Thomas Wearne and William Madden, on the
+Ballarat Road, and robbed them of £33. After taking the money, Melville
+asked them where they were going. "To Geelong to see our friends, and
+spend Christmas. But now we shall have to go back to the diggings," was
+the reply. Melville drew Roberts apart, and after a brief conversation
+he came back, handed the diggers a £10 note, and hoped that would be
+sufficient to enable them to enjoy their holidays. During the next few
+days the bushrangers stuck up and robbed a large number of travellers
+on the Ballarat Road, travelling themselves towards Geelong at the
+time. On the morning of the 24th, they stuck up and robbed a man near
+Fyan's Ford, about five miles from the town, and then rode straight
+into Geelong. They put up at an hotel in Corio Street, where they
+had dinner and saw that their horses were fed. Then they went to a
+house of ill-fame, a little off the street, and not far from the
+Corio Street lock-up. One of the women was sent to a public-house in
+Moorabool Street for some bottles of brandy, and the spree began. The
+liquor opened Melville's mouth, and he informed one of the women who
+he was, and boasted of his exploits. This woman told the others, and
+as there was a hundred pounds reward offered for "such information as
+would lead to his apprehension," the chance of making money was too
+good to be missed. One of the women put her arms round his neck and
+talked to him, while another slipped out by the back door and went to
+the police station to inform the police as to the character of their
+visitors. Somehow Melville became suspicious. He suddenly pushed the
+woman away, and called to Roberts to go and fetch the horses, swearing
+that he would leave the town at once. Roberts, however, was too drunk
+to heed him. He was asleep with his head resting on the table. Melville
+jumped up and shook him, but finding that he could not rouse him,
+resolved to go alone. He opened the front door and saw a woman with
+two policemen just entering the gate. Slamming the door to hurriedly,
+he rushed across the room, and seizing a chair, dashed it through the
+back window. Then, jumping clear through the opening thus made, he
+raced down the yard to the back fence and climbed over in time to meet
+another constable, who was hurrying up towards the back of the house.
+Without a moment's hesitation Melville knocked the policeman down, and
+ran across a piece of vacant land. His first intention had, of course,
+been to go for his horse, but on reaching Corio Street after this
+enforced détour, he knew he would have to pass the lock-up to reach the
+stable where his horse was. This was too dangerous, and he took the
+opposite direction.
+
+On its western side Geelong proper--that is, the older part of the
+town--is separated from its western portion by a deep gulley, which in
+early times was closed up by a dam. The water thus penned back spread
+over a flat, and served to supply the first settlers with water. In
+1852 the dam was still there, and formed the roadway which connected
+Geelong with Ashby, Kildare, and other suburbs. It was across this
+dam that all the traffic on that side of the town passed. At short
+distances away the Melbourne and Ballarat roads branched off, the one
+along the banks of the bay, and the other towards the Bellpost Hill.
+A few years later the dam was cut away, and a handsome iron bridge
+erected across the deep gulley, while the space formerly covered with
+water was converted into a park or garden.
+
+The dam was in a line with Malop Street, and Melville raced away across
+the vacant lots to that street, followed by several policemen. It was
+near sundown, and as Melville came to the dam Mr. Guy was returning
+from his afternoon ride. Mr. Guy was a young gentleman who had not
+been long in the colony. He was lodging at the Black Bull Inn, Malop
+Street, where the most extensive stables in the district were. The
+Black Bull was a great sporting house and there were always some race
+horses there, either in training or waiting for engagements; and, as
+Mr. Guy was an excellent horseman, he frequently took one or other of
+these horses out for an airing. On this occasion he had been for a
+gallop across the plains to Cowey's Creek, and was walking his horse
+quietly back to allow him to get cool. When crossing the dam a man
+suddenly rushed up and seized him by the leg. He was lifted out of the
+saddle, and half fell, half jumped to the ground. He landed on his feet
+and rushed round the horse in time to collar the man who was trying to
+mount. The horse was a spirited animal and objected strongly to this
+summary change of riders, otherwise, perhaps, the bushranger would
+have got away. He reared and plunged and prevented the bushranger from
+mounting. Guy seized the bushranger, and received a heavy blow for his
+trouble, but he held on gamely, and in the struggle the horse broke
+away and galloped off to his stable. A moment later the police came
+up, and Melville was captured. Mr. Guy was highly complimented for his
+plucky fight with so redoubtable an opponent, but he usually replied
+that he wasn't going "to lose a horse in that manner if he could help
+it." Of course, he was intensely surprised when he was informed that
+he had captured the notorious bushranger, Captain Melville. Melville
+and Roberts were lodged in the "old gaol" in "South Geelong," and I
+remember going to see "the bushrangers" conveyed across the flat and
+up the hill to the court-house to stand their trial. They were seated
+in a dray, heavily ironed--there was no "black Maria" in Geelong in
+those days--and drawn by two horses. There were several armed policemen
+on the dray, and others marched before and behind. The court-house, of
+course, was crowded, and, as boys were not admitted, I was not present.
+
+It may perhaps be of interest to notice that at that time there were
+stocks outside the Geelong Court-house. They were converted into
+firewood about two years later when the foundations for the new and
+larger court-house were laid. I believe these were the last stocks seen
+in Victoria, the Melbourne ones having been destroyed some time before,
+when the court-house there was enlarged.
+
+Melville was convicted on three charges of highway robbery, and was
+sentenced to twelve years' penal servitude on one and to ten years
+each on two other charges, making in all thirty-two years. A number of
+other charges were withdrawn. Similar sentences were passed on Roberts,
+but they were made concurrent. Melville was taken by boat from Geelong
+to the hulk _President_ in Hobson's Bay, "until the devilish spirit
+he had for so long a time exhibited appeared to be broken," to quote
+the _Melbourne Herald_. Rather more than a year later he was removed
+to the hulk _Success_ "for milder treatment," and was permitted to go
+ashore to work in the Government stone quarry at Point Gellibrand.
+At that time Melville was engaged in translating the Bible into the
+language of the Australian aborigines, "in which he could converse
+fluently." For more than two years the public heard nothing of Captain
+Melville. On October 22nd, 1856, a launch with fifty or sixty convicts
+on board was being towed from the hulks _Success_ and _Lysander_ to
+the landing-place near the quarry, when Mr. Jackson, the officer in
+charge, observed that the prisoners were crowding towards the bow of
+the launch. He shouted to them to go back and trim the launch. Some
+obeyed, but those nearest the bow seized the tow-rope and rapidly
+pulled the launch up to the stem of the boat which was towing it. Then
+the prisoners began jumping into the boat. Mr. Jackson was hurled into
+the water. Corporal Owen Owens' head was smashed, and he and John
+Turner, one of the rowers, were thrown overboard. The other rowers
+jumped, some on to the wharf, the others into the water. The convicts
+seized the oars and pulled rapidly down the bay, Captain Melville
+standing up in the boat, waving the hammer with which it was said Owens
+had been killed, and shouting "Adieu to Victoria!" The desperadoes,
+however, were not to be allowed to escape so easily as they imagined.
+The guard on the hulk _Lysander_ fired at them as they passed, and the
+water-police from Williamstown soon followed and overtook them. Being
+threatened with muskets at close range, and having no arms themselves,
+they surrendered and were towed back quietly to the _Success_. Nine
+of the conspirators were tried for mutiny, Melville at his own
+request being placed first at the bar alone. In the charge sheet he
+was described as Thomas Smith, alias Frank McCallum, alias Captain
+Melville, and was said to have been transported to Van Diemen's Land in
+1838. This contradicts the many rumours which gained currency about him
+during his bushranging career. That most generally received was that
+he had come to the colony in charge of an emigrant ship from England,
+and that he and his crew had deserted her and gone to the diggings,
+where, being unlucky, he had taken to bushranging. This report was
+frequently denied, but still it was extensively believed, especially in
+the Geelong district. After hearing the evidence, the jury were unable
+to agree on a verdict of murder in the first degree, as there was a
+doubt as to who struck the blow which killed Corporal Owens. The Judge
+ruled, however, that if, in an attempt to escape from lawful custody,
+any person is killed, all of those attempting to escape are guilty of
+murder. In consequence of this ruling Melville was found guilty and was
+sentenced to death. The other prisoners were acquitted. The sentence
+was afterwards commuted to imprisonment for life, and when Melville was
+informed of the "mercy" which had been extended to him, he remarked
+quietly, "Well, you'll be sorry for it."
+
+On March 26, 1857, Mr. John Price, Inspector General of Convicts in
+the Colony of Victoria, attended at the quarry near Williamstown to
+hear any petitions or complaints which the convicts might have to
+present. Convict James Kelly was the first called and he asked for a
+ticket-of-leave. Mr. Price replied that he was unable to accede to
+this request. As he walked away Kelly was heard by Captain Blatchford
+to mutter "Bloody tyrant, your race is nearly run." He appeared to
+be in a furious passion, but very little notice was taken of him at
+the time. Several of the prisoners pressed forward and began to crowd
+round Mr. Price, loudly complaining that they had not received the due
+amount of rations. Some exclaimed that they were being cheated. Mr.
+Price stepped back and said in a loud voice, so as to be heard above
+the din, that these complaints must be given in proper form, when full
+enquiries should be made. If the charges were true the abuses should
+be rectified, but if they were false or unfounded, those making them
+would be punished. Suddenly a rush was made. Kelly threw a heavy stone,
+shouting at the time, "Down with the bloody tyrant." The stone struck
+Mr. Price and he reeled. The convicts pressed forward shouting "Give
+it him, give it him," and a volley of stones was sent flying through
+the air. Captain Blatchford was struck several times and rushed off to
+summon the guard, which was stationed on the other side of the quarry
+tramway, behind a large heap of stones. A convict named Bryant was
+said to have struck Price with a heavy navvy's shovel. He then shouted
+"Come on. He's cooked. He wants no more." When Captain Blatchford
+returned with the guard the convicts had placed Price's body on a hand
+barrow, which they held up in their hands. The remainder stood round
+as if waiting for orders. The face of the murdered man was calm, even
+pleasant to look at, but the back of his head was terribly battered,
+and the heap of stones was covered with his blood and brains. The
+guards surrounded the convicts, who offered no resistance, and they
+were marched away to the wharf and taken on board the _Success_. Soon
+afterwards shouts of "The bloody tyrant's done for, hooray," and much
+cheering were heard on board of this vessel and on the _Lysander_.
+Fearing that a general mutiny of convicts might take place, the
+harbour defence vessel _Victoria_, with her guns shotted and the crew
+at their quarters, was laid alongside the _Success_ ready to sink her
+if necessary. The convicts, however, were very quiet and allowed
+themselves to be conducted to their cells without opposition. Fifteen
+convicts were placed on trial for this murder, but each one exercised
+his full right of challenge, so that the panel was exhausted without
+a jury being secured. On the next day the Crown Prosecutor withdrew
+three prisoners and the jurors to whom they had objected were recalled.
+This manoeuvre was repeated until at length a jury was obtained to try
+three prisoners, Thomas Malony, Thomas Williams, and Henry Smith. They
+were found guilty and sentenced to death. On the day following Richard
+Jones, William Jones, John Williams, and James Kelly were placed at
+the bar, and after a lengthy consultation the jury returned a verdict
+of "Not guilty." This verdict was condemned in the strongest terms by
+the judge, the press, and the general public. The acquittal of Kelly,
+who was said to have led the assault and struck the first blow, caused
+general indignation. The remainder of the prisoners were charged in
+two batches, and they were all found guilty and sentenced to death.
+Their names were Francis Brannagan, Richard Bryant, William Brown, John
+Young, alias Lowe, James Anderson, Henry Smith, alias Brennan, Daniel
+Donovan, and John Chesley. The majority of them had been condemned to
+penal servitude for bushranging and robbery, and the last on the list
+was Chesley, who was executed on April 30th, 1857.
+
+Melville had been removed from the hulks to the Melbourne gaol a
+short time before because it was believed that he had been planning
+a general mutiny, and now it was said that the murder of Mr. Price
+had been included in his scheme. During the first two or three months
+of his residence at "Wintle's Hotel," as the Melbourne gaol was
+facetiously called, Melville behaved very quietly, and was treated
+as an ordinary prisoner. On July 28th, 1857, he made a savage attack
+on Mr. Wintle, the Governor of the gaol, and was afterwards confined
+to his cell. Later it was reported that for weeks he would behave in
+the most exemplary manner, but would suddenly and unexpectedly break
+out into a paroxysm of fury, during which he would destroy everything
+destructible. At these times the warders and officers were ordered
+to keep away from his cell, and leave him to himself. He was placed
+under medical surveillance, with a view to ascertain whether he was
+sane or not, great care being taken, it was said, not to excite him.
+On August 10th he was locked up as usual, and appeared to be in his
+normal condition as regards health and spirits, but, on his cell
+being opened next morning, he was found lying dead on the ground. A
+blue handkerchief with red spots, which he had brought with him from
+the hulks, was tied round his neck with a slip knot and twisted up
+tightly. Dr. McCrae was called in immediately, and said that death was
+due to strangulation. Life had been extinct some three or four hours.
+He was of the opinion that the prisoner had tied the knot himself. A
+verdict of _felo de se_ was returned by the coroner's jury which heard
+the case. A variety of opinions were expressed as to this verdict. So
+far as is known, there is no evidence to prove that Melville came to
+his death in any other way than that stated at the inquest, but there
+were numbers of people who asserted their belief that the bushranger
+was strangled by the gaolers. As a rule these people did not blame
+the gaolers for this act. The opinion generally expressed was that
+Melville was little better than a wild beast, and was better dead than
+alive. They also asserted that it would have been more satisfactory
+if the bushranger had been hung openly instead of being murdered
+secretly, and they blamed the Governor and the Judge for having been
+so "soft-hearted" as to commute his sentence when he was condemned to
+the gallows. There appears, however, to be no evidence in support of
+this view. The records of the inquest are brief, but they seem clearly
+enough to prove that the most noted bushranger of the gold-digging
+era took his own life in one of the paroxysms to which he was liable.
+Whether these paroxysms were due to his harsh treatment on the hulks
+is another matter, but we are not in the "Fifties" now. The hulks have
+been destroyed or sold, and the prisoners are treated as humanely now
+in Australia as they are in any other civilised country. The treatment
+of the bushrangers all through the later developments of that crime
+tend to prove that the Australians considered bushranging as a sort of
+exotic introduced into the country with the convicts sent from England,
+and only to be wiped out by the suppression of the convict element
+in the population. We see the influence of this view in New South
+Wales, Van Diemen's Land, and elsewhere, as well as in Victoria. In
+this colony the appointment of Mr. John Price as Inspector General of
+convicts was an expression of the popular belief. Mr. Price had had a
+long experience among convicts, and the very fact that his treatment
+of them was harsh was a recommendation in his favour. He had been
+superintendent of the convict station of Port Arthur, where he was
+known to the convicts placed under his charge as "Bloody Tyrant Price."
+When that establishment, of the character of which the late Marcus
+Clarke gives us an idea, but an idea only, in his story, "For the Term
+of his Natural Life," was broken up, in consequence of the cessation of
+transportations to Van Diemen's Land, in 1853, Mr. Price was specially
+chosen for the position he held in Victoria because of his knowledge,
+not merely of convict character, but of the personal appearance of a
+large number of the criminals who were disturbing the peace of the
+colony, because the majority of them had already been under his charge
+in Van Diemen's Land. The Victorians desired above all things to keep
+the convicts out of their colony, and as a means to this end they
+endeavoured to make their prisons a "holy terror" to this class of
+immigrant. When that object had been achieved, or the convict element
+in the population had died out by the effluxion of time, they modified
+their prison discipline in accordance with the growth of humanitarian
+ideas. Whether they have done all that is possible in this direction
+may be doubted, but this is not the place to discuss this question.
+The evidence so far as it has been collected and considered tends to
+show that the chief remedy for crime is education. It is impossible to
+believe that even the worst of the bushrangers would have grown up to
+be such scourges to society had they been properly cared for during
+the impressionable period of their lives, and many of them amid all
+their savagery show traces of qualities which might, under happier
+circumstances, have fitted them for useful positions in the world. It
+may be added here that Mr. John Price is popularly supposed to have
+been the prototype of "Maurice Freere" in Marcus Clarke's novel, which
+should be read by every student of Australian history.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+  Murder of a Bullock-driver; Sticking Up in the Melbourne Streets;
+  Stealing £100,000 in Bank Notes; Want of Efficient Police Protection;
+  Murders and Robberies at Ballarat, Bendigo, Mount Alexander, and
+  other Diggings; The Robbery of the McIvor Gold Escort; A Bushranger
+  Intimidated by a Bottle of Brandy; Robbery of the Bank of Victoria at
+  Ballarat; Capture of Garrett in London; Prevalence of Horse-stealing;
+  The Doctor's Creamy.
+
+
+The arrest of Captain Melville, although it removed the central figure
+in this the third bushranging epoch in Australia, by no means put a
+stop to the crime. Melville had been a specialist, a true highwayman,
+while the others were merely general practitioners who were not very
+particular what crimes they committed so long as they secured booty. On
+January 24th, 1853, the driver of the mail coach from Colac to Geelong
+was ordered to bail up near Mr. Dennie's station. The driver kept on.
+One of the bushrangers reached out to grasp the reins, while the other
+fired at the driver. The report frightened the horse of the man who
+was trying to seize the reins, and it bolted, throwing the rider. The
+mail-man whipped his horses into a gallop and got safely away.
+
+Richard Bryant and William Mack walked into Mr. J. Jackson's store at
+Fryer's Creek, Mount Alexander, and ordered the storeman to bail up.
+They took all the money that was in the till, a quantity of gold dust,
+and a bundle of the most valuable articles they could find. They were
+arrested by Constable Bloomfield in a house in Melbourne and sentenced
+to twelve years' imprisonment.
+
+On May 7th, a carrier named William Morgan left Melbourne with several
+passengers, each of whom had agreed to pay him £14 to carry his "swag"
+to the Mount Alexander diggings. Besides these swags Morgan had some
+goods for the conveyance of which to the diggings he was to receive
+£29. The first day's journey was a short one, the party camping near
+the Lady of the Lake Inn. The passengers, who, it may be as well to
+explain, had to walk, had a tent with them which they took off the
+dray. They were erecting this when Morgan and the driver of another
+dray camped there, named Pilcock, walked to a blacksmith's shop near
+the hotel to get some small jobs done. Pilcock returned alone and
+informed the company that Morgan had walked on to "Tulip" Wright's to
+try and purchase an extra pair of bullocks to strengthen his team. The
+following morning Pilcock yoked up Morgan's team as well as his own,
+and asked one of the passengers to drive it, adding that Morgan would
+join them somewhere along the road. They were about to start when a
+little boy, travelling with his parents by another dray, ran up crying
+out that there was "a man's head sticking out of the ground." A rush
+to the place was made and the child's statement proved to be true. The
+body was dug up and identified as Morgan's. From the appearance of the
+ground about half-way between the camp and the blacksmith's shop it
+was apparent that a fierce struggle had taken place. The ground was
+trampled and torn up as if with a wrestling match. A pool of blood was
+discovered with a track leading from it to where the body was found,
+showing that it had been dragged there. Some wonder was expressed that
+so severe a contest should have taken place without any sound having
+been heard at the camp, which was not more than a quarter of a mile
+away. But there were some fifty or sixty people at the camp, and some
+of these had been amusing themselves by singing, while others had been
+playing concertinas and other musical instruments. The noise thus
+made had no doubt drowned the noise of the deadly contest which was
+taking place so close at hand. Pilcock was arrested at once, and was
+subsequently convicted and hung. Had his project succeeded, he would
+have made quite a nice little haul with the money for the loading on
+the two drays.
+
+So prevalent was crime at this time, that even the streets of Melbourne
+were not safe. One afternoon, David Clegg and Henry Jones were driving
+home in a spring cart from Melbourne, to the huge encampment on Emerald
+Hill, known as Canvas Town. They had just crossed Prince's Bridge,
+over the Yarra Yarra, when they were ordered to bail up. Clegg caught
+up a double-barrelled gun from the bottom of the cart, but before he
+could make any use of it, it was snatched from his hands by one of the
+robbers, who cried out: "Stand aside till I blow his---- brains out."
+A second robber said: "Oh, let him go." While these two were disputing
+as to whether Clegg should be shot or not, a third robber struck the
+horse and started him off. During the next few days the Canvas Town
+mob, as it was called, committed several robberies in the neighbourhood
+of Prince's Bridge, and at length the police made an effort to protect
+travellers between Melbourne and Canvas Town (now known as South
+Melbourne). One day, Chief Constable Bloomfield and Mr. Farrell were
+walking together near the bridge, when Bloomfield exclaimed: "Hulloa!
+there's a man I want for uttering a £5 note." He crossed the street
+and said: "Well Hammond." "What the---- do you want?" asked Hammond.
+"Oh, you needn't be afraid, I won't hurt you," replied Bloomfield. "I
+don't care whether you do or not," cried Hammond, walking beside the
+policeman in bravado. Bloomfield delayed making the arrest in hopes
+that another constable would appear, until Hammond turned away, when he
+grabbed him. Farrell shouted, "Look out, Bloomfield," and the constable
+turned, but not quickly enough to avoid a blow aimed at him by another
+man. Bloomfield fell, but did not relax his grip on Hammond, and two
+other constables appearing at the time, both Hammond and Edwards were
+secured. James Hammond and William Edwards were identified as the men
+who wished to shoot Clegg, and were sent to gaol for ten years, the
+first three in irons. Another man, named Smith, who had prevented
+Hammond from firing at Clegg, was let off with six years.
+
+Another batch of this gang of scoundrels which infested the river
+side at Melbourne was secured in connection with the stealing of a
+consignment of bank notes with the face value of £100,000. These notes
+were brought to Melbourne in the ship _Strathedon_, consigned to
+Messrs. Willis, Merry & Co. as agents for the Union Bank of Australia.
+The notes were for £15, £10, £5 and £1. They were unsigned and were
+therefore non-negotiable. They appear to have been taken from the ship
+and dumped down on the wharf, pending the arrival of a dray to take
+the case to the warehouse of Messrs. Willis, Merry & Co. When the dray
+arrived, however, the box could not be found. The loss caused great
+excitement and the police were notified of the robbery. Some days
+later an unsigned £10 note was passed on Messrs. Brasch & Sommerfeld,
+Collins Street, in exchange for clothing, and this led to the arrest
+of William Young. During the following week William Layworth, William
+Simpson, William Rogers, and Thomas Stroud were detected in attempts
+to pass unsigned notes on various hotel and boarding-house keepers,
+store-keepers, and others, and were arrested. Stroud's residence was
+searched and a number of the unsigned notes were found there. His wife
+was arrested, but was acquitted. Layworth turned Queen's evidence
+and escaped punishment, but Young, Simpson, Rogers, and Stroud were
+sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. The jury commented on the
+carelessness shown by the bank and its agents in leaving the box
+unwatched on the wharf. The manager of the bank expressed his regrets
+and promised that more care should be taken in future.
+
+John Atkins went into the Cross Keys Hotel in Melbourne and called for
+a drink. George Ellison, who was in the bar, asked him what he had done
+with the gold he had brought from the diggings. Atkins replied that
+he had none. Ellison called him a liar, and said that if he had not
+come from the diggings his trousers would not be the colour they were.
+Everybody knew a digger, because his moleskin trousers were always
+coloured by the clay he worked in. A row started, and the landlord
+interfered and told Atkins to leave. He did so, but was followed by
+Ellison and another man, who knocked him down and robbed him of his
+gold. Ellison was arrested next day and was sent to gaol.
+
+The _Geelong Advertiser_ of March 5th says:--"The shameful want of
+adequate protection along the main roads leading to the diggings has
+repeatedly been exemplified in the robberies, assaults, and murders
+committed by bushrangers upon a number of luckless wayfarers, with the
+grossest and most notorious impunity. These unavenged offences against
+society and the public peace have been excused by some, on account of
+the difficulty of keeping afoot such an extended line of patrol as
+would effectually intimidate marauders.... When we are in possession
+of the fact that the Sydney Executive could and did accomplish such
+protective arrangements over a hundred and fifty miles of country,
+we may be allowed to doubt the alleged inability of the Victorian
+Government to render equally efficient aid out of a revenue probably
+ten times as great as that derived by the sister colony from the same
+source; at least we might reasonably suppose that townships between
+Melbourne and Mount Alexander, Geelong and Ballarat, would be supplied
+with police, mounted or otherwise, to act in a radius of ten miles or
+so when called upon.... A gentleman well known to the public, from
+his long connection with the newspaper press, has been the victim of
+a murderous assault. His story is that while at Ballan, a township
+about twenty miles this side of Ballarat, on the Melbourne road, a
+man attacked him with an iron poker. The gentleman raised his arm to
+protect his head and it was broken. But for this the blow might have
+fallen on his head and proved fatal.... Two days were wasted at Ballan
+and four at Bacchus Marsh waiting to find a magistrate to issue a writ
+for the arrest of his assailant.... The gentleman having been robbed of
+his money had to make his way to town for medical aid by the charity of
+persons along the road. Fortunately some kind friends supplied him with
+means to obtain food and carriage."
+
+At the time the police were too busy harrying the diggers for the
+exorbitant licence to attend to the roads, but later in the year,
+when the Melbourne papers backed up the demand for better police
+protection, police stations were established at the larger camping
+places where villages or, as they are called in Australia, townships
+had grown up. In the meantime numbers of murders were committed without
+the perpetrators of the crimes being discovered. Thus Mr. and Mrs.
+Skinner were travelling from Bendigo to the new rush at McIvor and
+camped for the night on the banks of Eve Creek. In the morning Skinner
+went to look for his horse while his wife prepared breakfast. When
+she went to the lagoon to fill the billy to make the tea, she saw the
+half-immersed body of a man. When her husband returned he drew the body
+out of the water, and saw that the head had been fearfully battered.
+A pocket-knife, pipe, tobacco, and a silk handkerchief were found in
+the pockets, but no gold or money. An enquiry was held in this case,
+and a verdict of murder was pronounced against some person or persons
+unknown, and that was all; but there were hundreds of such cases in
+which no enquiry was held.
+
+John Shannon was travelling from Ballarat to Geelong, and stopped for
+the night at an inn at Batesford. He called on Mr. White, a butcher,
+and had tea and was about to return to his inn, when three men stopped
+him at the door. One of these men asked, "Is this the butcher's shop?"
+"Yes," replied Shannon. "Ah! you're just the bloke we want," exclaimed
+the man. The three men then hustled Shannon back into the shop and
+compelled him to stand with his back to the wall and his arms stretched
+out. White was placed in a similar position, and made to stand while
+the robbers emptied the till. They then searched Shannon's pockets,
+and took out a parcel of gold and some money. He objected, and one of
+the men who had been standing on guard at the door drew a pistol, put
+the muzzle close to Shannon's breast, and pulled the trigger. Shannon
+fell. The man who had been searching him turned the body over, and then
+said, "Barry, it's finished; we'll be off." The three men then left, no
+attempt being made to detain them. An inquest was held on the body, and
+a verdict of wilful murder was returned against three men whose names
+were unknown. The jury added: "We cannot separate without expressing a
+strong feeling with regard to the unprotected state of the road between
+Geelong and Ballarat, which is overrun with bad characters. We would
+respectfully but firmly urge on the Executive the immediate necessity
+of erecting intermediate police stations between the two places, with
+patrols to traverse the road from station to station, and we would also
+point out the necessity for strenuously enforcing the Vagrant Act."
+Three men were arrested and charged with this cold-blooded murder, but
+were acquitted.
+
+The great bushranging event of the year was the sticking up and
+robbing of the Gold Escort from the McIvor Goldfield. The escort was
+a private one travelling from McIvor to Kyneton, where it met the
+Government Escort which conveyed gold from Bendigo and Mount Alexander
+to Melbourne. It started, as usual, on July 28th. At about fifteen
+miles from McIvor and three miles from the Mia-Mia Hotel, there was a
+sharp bend in the road round a point of rocks which jutted out from
+the range. At the bend a mia-mia, or shelter such as is made of boughs
+by the blacks, had been constructed, and opposite to it a big log was
+drawn across the track. This compelled the driver of the escort cart to
+pull his horses off the track and drive very close past the mia-mia.
+The road was very rough, and the cart swayed about badly. Just as it
+was passing the mia-mia a volley was fired from it, and the three
+troopers on the cart as well as the driver fell. The horses on which
+Mr. Warner, in charge of the escort, and Sergeant Duins were mounted
+were both wounded. Although they were wounded, the troopers returned
+the fire as speedily as possible, but could see nothing to shoot at
+except the bushes. The bushrangers fired again, and the troopers were
+compelled to fall back, when about a dozen men rushed from behind the
+mia-mia, seized the two boxes which contained the gold, and rushed back
+into the scrub. Mr. Warner sent Sergeant Duins to the nearest police
+camp for assistance, and then followed the bushrangers, who fired at
+him. He replied with the three shots remaining in his revolver, and
+then retired. Then Mr. Warner galloped as fast as his wounded horse
+could go to Patterson's station for help. On his return with some of
+the station hands he found a man putting the wounded troopers into the
+cart, and arrested him on suspicion of being one of the robbers. The
+driver, T. Flooks, was the most seriously hurt, and he died a few days
+later. He and the troopers, S.B. Davis, J. Morton, and R. Boeswetter,
+were taken to the hospital at the police camp on the McIvor goldfield
+as quickly as possible, and the man who had been arrested, having
+proved that he had no connection with the bushrangers, but had been
+acting from purely humanitarian motives, was discharged. A party was
+organised to pursue the robbers, and on going to the place where the
+attack had been made three horses with packsaddles were found tied
+to the trees. It was conjectured that the robbers had been disturbed
+before they could pack the gold on the horses by the approach of the
+pursuing party, and had made off on foot into the ranges. Some time
+passed away, and then a man named John Murphy was arrested on board the
+ship _Madagascar_, lying in Hobson's Bay. He had taken a passage in her
+on the eve of her departure for England. When charged he admitted that
+he had been one of the party, and promised to turn approver. He gave
+some information, which led to the arrest of others of the gang, but he
+then seems to have repented of his decision, as he committed suicide.
+His brother, Jeremiah Murphy, however, was arrested in Queensland, and
+gave the desired information, thereby escaping punishment. The gold
+stolen was valued at about £5000, and very little of it was recovered.
+George Wilson, George Melville, and William Atkins were charged with
+the murder of Thomas Flooks, and were found guilty. They were hung in
+Melbourne, on October 4th. Atkins died as soon as the bolt was drawn,
+but Wilson and Melville struggled for several minutes. The hangman was
+compelled to "draw the legs of Melville down with considerable force"
+before life was extinct.
+
+Alfred Stallard and Christopher Goodison went to a tent at Bendigo
+Creek, and entered into conversation with Mrs. Roberts, who lived
+there. They offered her a glass of rum which she drank. It is supposed
+that the liquor was drugged, as she became insensible, and the two
+men "made a pack" of everything valuable in the tent, including five
+ounces of gold, and walked away. On his return to his tent, William
+Roberts was informed of what had taken place and gave information to
+the police. The robbers were followed and were captured near the Loddon
+River. When they were asked at their trial whether they had anything to
+urge as a reason for mitigating their punishment, Goodison complained
+that they had been chained to a tree for three days at the Loddon. They
+were forced to walk to Mount Alexander, and were then chained to a log
+in the Camp Reserve for ten days. They were marched to Kyneton, where
+they were kept in the lock-up for five days on bread and water. From
+thence they were conveyed to Melbourne by coach. They received little
+sympathy, however, because it was well known that diggers whose only
+crime was inability to pay a heavy licence fee were treated no better.
+
+Occasionally the tragic events of the year were lightened by a touch
+of comedy, as when a resident of Ashby was returning home from his
+business place in Geelong. It was dark when he was crossing the
+dam, when a man presented a pistol at him and called "Bail up." The
+suburbanite was taking home with him a bottle of brandy, which, in
+accordance with the custom of that time, was not wrapped in paper.
+Paper was too dear in Australia to be used for wrapping articles
+which would keep together without. When challenged, the suburbanite
+brought the bottle from under his coat, presented it at the head of
+the bushranger, and cried, "You bail up." The would-be robber, taken
+by surprise, dropped his pistol and turned to run, but the suburbanite
+cried "Stop, or I'll fire," and the fellow stopped. The suburbanite
+thought for a moment whether he should take the "bushranger" to the
+lock-up or not, and decided that it would only entail a "lot of
+trouble," so he punched his head and let him go. He kept the pistol
+as a trophy, and carried home his bottle intact. About the same time
+Edmund Taylor was found in the bush dead. His body was terribly
+mutilated. He had left Eureka, Ballarat, to travel to Burnt Bridge, and
+was known to have taken with him a bank receipt for £200 and a £10 note.
+
+Arthur Burrow and William Garroway called at the hut of William Henry
+Mitchell, at Pennyweight Flat, Ballarat, and asked the way to the
+township. Mitchell told them and was then asked to "shout." Mitchell
+refused, when Garroway struck him with a pick handle, while Burrow drew
+out a pistol and presented it. They took what gold they could find and
+walked on. They were joined by two other men, and stuck up and robbed
+Alexander McLean. They were followed and arrested.
+
+William Bryan and John Douglass were also convicted of highway robbery
+at Muddy Creek and other places between Geelong and Ballarat, and sent
+to gaol for five years. James Nugent and four others stopped Benjamin
+Napton on the road near Modewarre. They pretended they were policemen
+in search of bushrangers. Nugent was anxious to take care of Napton's
+gold for him, but Napton refused to entrust it to him. They walked
+together to Kildare, where they went into the Sportsman's Arms and had
+drinks. When they came out, Napton missed his gold, and Nugent was
+arrested. A knife was found on him, and this had some soil sticking
+to it. At the police-court investigation the magistrate recommended
+the police to dig in the yard of the hotel near where Nugent had been
+standing. They did so, and found a bag containing 9 oz. of gold. Two
+nuggets, which Napton said were also in it, could not be found.
+
+Roberts, who had been convicted of complicity in the robbery of gold
+from the ship _Nelson_, but who had been pardoned on a question of
+identity having been subsequently raised, was captured, and charged
+at Buninyong with highway robbery. He, with ten other men, was
+being conveyed to Geelong to serve the ten years to which he had
+been sentenced, and were halted at Ray's Hotel, on the road, for
+refreshments. Roberts begged to be allowed to write a letter to a
+magistrate in the neighbourhood, and his request being granted, his
+right hand was freed from the handcuffs. The other prisoner to whom
+he was chained managed to slip his hand out of the handcuff, and
+Roberts being thus free, jumped through the window and bolted for the
+bush. Only one constable had been left in the room in charge of the
+prisoners, and he could only shout out an alarm. However, Roberts ran
+almost into the arms of the foot policeman, who had recently been
+stationed at this point, and he held the bushranger until the other
+constables came up.
+
+On December 14th, 1854, Thomas Quinn, a stonemason, started from his
+home in Geelong and rode to Ballarat. He left his pony at Mrs. Smith's,
+about three miles from the diggings, and walked in. He stopped at the
+tent of John Boulton, and played cards with Boulton and his mate,
+Henry Marriott. Later on the three men went to the tent owned by Henry
+Beresford Garrett at the Big Gravel Pits. They took their revolvers,
+but no powder and shot, and walked across Main Street to the Bank
+of Victoria on Bakery Hill. They had formulated a plan to rob the
+bank, and Quinn had been induced to join on the understanding that
+no violence was to be used. Hence the unloaded pistols. They put new
+caps on to the revolvers and some paper in the muzzles to "make them
+look as if they were loaded." Garrett and Boulton entered the bank,
+Marriott stopped at the door inside, while Quinn remained outside on
+watch in the street. They ordered the cashier and teller, Messrs.
+Buckley and Marshall, to "bail up." Then they tied the hands of the
+two bank officials, and collected the spoil. As soon as they were
+outside they separated, one going down Bakery Hill, another along the
+Melbourne Road, and the others by different routes across the Eureka
+Plateau, having previously agreed to meet at Garrett's tent. They
+had taken with them notes, sovereigns, and silver to the amount of
+£14,300, besides about 350 ounces of gold. When they had divided the
+loot Marriott returned to his lodgings in "the township," now known as
+the City of Ballarat. He lodged at a boarding-house in Lydiard Street.
+Garrett disposed of his tent and tools, and went by coach to Melbourne,
+from whence he shipped direct for London. Quinn and Boulton went to
+Geelong. They stayed one night at Quinn's house in Chilwell, and went
+by boat next day to Melbourne, where they sold their share of the gold
+at the London Chartered Bank in Collins Street. They returned next day
+to Geelong, and again stopped at Quinn's house for a night, and then
+went back to Boulton's tent on the diggings. They took good care not
+to mention the robbery before Mrs. Boulton, because "she was a good
+woman." On the following day Boulton went to the bank from which the
+money had been stolen and asked for a draft on London for £1450. With
+an infatuation difficult to account for he tendered in payment for
+this draft some of the stolen bank notes, among those which he had
+received for the gold in Melbourne. This was almost like asking plainly
+to be arrested. Of course the notes were recognised at once. He was
+kept waiting on some frivolous pretext while the police were sent for,
+and was then arrested. One of the stolen £10 notes was produced at
+the trial and identified as part of the money advanced by Boulton in
+payment of the draft. Quinn and Marriott were speedily arrested, and
+Quinn turned approver. The other two were sentenced to ten years' penal
+servitude. Detective Webb followed Garrett to London and found him in
+fashionable lodgings near Oxford Street. The detective watched him for
+some days before he made up his mind that the fashionably-dressed man
+was the bank robber he was after. One day he saw Garrett come out of
+his lodgings and followed him into Oxford Street. Suddenly Webb shouted
+"Garrett," and Garrett, taken by surprise, stopped and half-turned
+round. That was enough to convince the detective that he was right. He
+walked up to the robber, slapped him on the shoulder, and said "How do
+you do, Mr. Garrett?" "I don't know you," replied Garrett. "Perhaps
+not," returned the detective, "but I know you. You've just arrived
+from Melbourne in the _Dawstone_. I've a warrant here to arrest you
+for robbing the Bank of Victoria at Ballarat. Will you come quietly?"
+Garrett saw that the game was up and surrendered. He reached Melbourne
+in August, 1855, and was speedily sentenced to keep his former mates
+company for ten years.
+
+Sufficient has, I think, been said to indicate the state of the
+country and the character of the crimes committed during this epoch.
+How many men were shot while prowling about the tents on Ballarat,
+Bendigo, Mount Alexander, and other diggings it is impossible to say.
+Many of the bushrangers, after having made a haul on the roads or on
+the diggings, went to Melbourne or Geelong and spent their ill-gotten
+gains in riot and debauchery, and then committed crimes in these towns
+for which they were captured and punished. Others returned to New
+South Wales or to Van Diemen's Land and ended their careers there.
+It was rarely known how many crimes even those who were captured had
+committed. They were placed on trial for their last offence. In some
+cases it was said that the prisoner had been guilty of other crimes,
+but the difficulty of finding witnesses in a population which was
+continuously shifting from one end of the country to the other, as new
+goldfields were opened, made it impossible to prosecute for crimes
+committed a few months before. It was the custom therefore to inflict
+long terms of imprisonment to keep the evil-disposed out of mischief
+for a time. When a prisoner was tried and convicted for more than one
+crime the sentences were usually made concurrent, so that there was no
+encouragement for the police to pile up a record of crimes against a
+prisoner. Captain Melville was the one exception to this rule.
+
+The sole motive for the robberies of this epoch was a sordid lust
+for gold, which seems to have seized many men who but for the gold
+discoveries might have lived out honourable lives. The case of George
+Hanslip may be cited as an instance of this. He was a confidential
+clerk employed by Mr. Spence, draper, of Collins Street, Melbourne.
+He was sent by his employer to pay some accounts and purchase goods
+in Sydney, at that time the emporium of Australia. For convenience of
+carriage, in days when communication was difficult and bank drafts
+rare, he was entrusted with 1400 ounces of gold and some jewellery,
+and was instructed to offer the gold to Messrs. C. Newton & Co., of
+Pitt Street, on his arrival at Sydney. He reached Sydney by boat at
+nine a.m., but did not call at Messrs. Newton's store until three
+p.m., when he reported that he had been robbed of the gold. He seemed
+very excited, saying to Mr. Newton "Oh, what shall I do?" He asked
+Mr. Newton to go with him to Malcolm's Adelphi Hotel, and Mr. McKeon,
+one of the partners in the firm, did so, and saw a carpet bag which
+had been ripped open. Hanslip said he felt certain that the gold had
+been taken to Hobart Town, and asked Mr. Newton for the loan of £50
+to enable him to go there to seek for it, but whether Hanslip overdid
+his part or not, Mr. Newton began to be suspicious of him, and refused
+to lend the money. One thing that tended to make him doubt that the
+money had been stolen as Hanslip said, was that Hanslip was spending
+money very freely. Enquiries were made, and it transpired that Hanslip
+had called on a Mr. Marks and offered to sell him the gold before he
+called on Mr. Newton. Marks had agreed, and sent a man with Hanslip to
+the Adelphi to fetch the gold, so that it might be weighed. On their
+arrival Hanslip had fumbled about with his key for several minutes
+and could not open the door of his room. He said he believed the
+door must have been nailed up. He got it open at last, and when they
+went in the first thing they saw was the ripped bag and a few grains
+of gold scattered about on the hearthrug. Another carpet bag had been
+turned out, and the clothes scattered about the room. It was after this
+that Hanslip went to Mr. Newton's, who advised him to give notice to
+Mr. McLerie, the Police Superintendent. Hanslip went to Mr. McLerie's
+office, and afterwards had a handbill printed offering £1000 reward for
+the recovery of the gold. Information was to be addressed to "George
+Hanslip, Esq." The result of the police enquiries was that Hanslip
+was himself arrested and charged with having stolen the gold. On
+enquiries being made, it was discovered that he had left the jewellery
+entrusted to him at his lodgings in Melbourne. He was convicted, but
+in consequence of his previous good character he was let off with a
+comparatively light sentence.
+
+But for the unfortunate dispute between the Government and the diggers
+over the licence fee, it is probable that the bushrangers might have
+been disposed of in less time than they were. That dispute culminated
+at the end of 1854, in a fight between the more violent section of the
+diggers and the military. Although the military won in the conflict
+on the Eureka, the diggers were the actual victors, and during the
+year 1855 they were granted all that the moderate party had previously
+asked for. With the settlement of this vexed question the police were
+relieved from their task of harrying the diggers, and devoted their
+time to the suppression of bushranging so successfully, that in the
+latter half of 1855 the Government proposed to make a considerable
+reduction in the police force. The _Ballarat Times_, the _Bendigo
+Advertiser_, and the various newspapers in Melbourne and Geelong
+protested strongly against this proposed reduction. The gold digging
+organs predicted an immediate increase in bushranging and other
+forms of lawlessness, but when the reduction was made in 1856, these
+predictions were not fulfilled. No doubt many of the bushrangers were
+captured and punished as horse-stealers. The two crimes have always
+been intimately related in Australia. Horses were a necessity to
+bushrangers, and a man who would steal a horse would not be likely
+to hesitate to stick up an unarmed man if money or gold might be
+obtained by that means, and they were quite as liable to be arrested
+while stealing a horse as when robbing a man. For two or three years
+it was almost impossible for any honest man to keep a horse. Perhaps
+one of the most daring and impudent of this class of offence, was the
+stealing of Dr. Bailey's "Creamy," in 1855. Dr. Bailey was perhaps
+the best known man in Geelong. He was elected the first mayor of the
+town when it was incorporated in 1849, and was re-elected for several
+consecutive years. He was very wealthy, rather pompous, and highly
+respected. He had given up general practice, but had an office, where
+he received a few patients and friends, at the rear of Mr. Poulton's
+chemist's shop in the Market Square. One morning he rode to his office
+as usual, hitched Creamy, which was as well known in Geelong as his
+master, to a post in Moorabool Street, the busiest portion of the town,
+and went into his office. Almost as soon as the doctor disappeared,
+a man in shirt sleeves unhitched the horse, threw himself carelessly
+into the saddle and rode slowly away. He nodded familiarly to the
+policeman at the corner, who, like the numerous persons about at the
+time, thought the fellow was the doctor's groom sent to take Creamy
+back to the stable. The man rode very slowly up Moorabool Street until
+he turned into Ryrie Street, but once out of sight of those who saw
+him mount he must have travelled much faster. He had barely turned the
+corner when the real groom rode up, and he was much surprised to find
+that Creamy was already gone. Of course, the excitement was intense.
+The idea that anybody would dare to steal the doctor's horse had never
+entered the head of the most imaginative person in Geelong. Why, even
+a burglary at Buckingham Palace would not have been more astonishing.
+Crowds collected to stare at the hitching post on the kerb opposite
+the doctor's office. Parties of mounted police and civilians started
+to hunt for the robber in all directions, but no traces of the missing
+Creamy could be discovered, and it was not until some months later
+that he was discovered in Ballarat. The daring scoundrel had ridden
+him straight to the diggings, and had sold him in Mr. O'Farrell's
+newly-opened "Horse Bazaar."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+  An Escape from Norfolk Island; Stealing a Government Boat; The
+  Convicts of New South Wales; A Terrible Indictment; Thomas Willmore;
+  Murder of Philip Alger; Murder of Malachi Daly; Fight between two
+  Bushrangers; Hunting down Willmore; His Capture while Asleep; The
+  Last of the Van Diemen's Land Bushrangers; Wilson and Dido; Some
+  Minor Offenders; An Unfounded Charge; Change of Name to Rid the
+  Island of Evil Associations.
+
+
+The rush of men of all sorts from all parts of the world to the great
+goldfields of Victoria, although it no doubt attracted the majority
+of the desperate characters from the neighbouring colonies, did not
+entirely free them from bushrangers. It is necessary, therefore, to
+devote our attention to these, and Norfolk Island claims first place.
+On March 15th, 1853, a few months before the penal settlement on the
+island was finally broken up, a number of convicts were employed
+in loading the store ship _Lord Auckland_. The ship lay off in the
+roads, and the goods were taken out to her in boats rowed by convicts,
+under the charge of soldiers. One boat, manned by the convicts Dennis
+Griffiths, James Clegg, Thomas Clayton, Robert Mitchell, Joseph Davis,
+Patrick Cooper, Jeremiah O'Sullivan, John Naisk, and "Ginger," was on
+its way to the ship with a load. When it was at about a quarter of a
+mile from the shore the convicts suddenly rose up, rushed the soldiers,
+and threw them overboard. No other boat was near, and this gave the
+convicts the opportunity they had been looking for. One constable was
+left on board, and Bordmore, the coxswain, seized the gunwale of the
+boat and held on. The convicts resumed their oars and pulled as hard
+as they could, but as Bordmore refused to let go, and stopped the way
+of the boat, he was taken on board again and set to his old work of
+steering. He was, however, ordered on pain of death to steer for the
+main land. On April 11th they reached Stradbroke Island, off Moreton
+Bay, but in taking the boat through the surf she stranded. The men on
+board, however, all got safely on shore. The constable and coxswain,
+with convict Mitchell, were left near the landing-place while the other
+eight walked along the coast to seek for food, of which they were much
+in need. They found the hut of Ferdinand Gonzales, a fisherman, and
+tried to induce him to lend them his boat to take them to the mainland.
+They represented themselves as having been shipwrecked, but Gonzales
+did not believe them, and refused to trust them with his boat. They
+went away, and Gonzales walked to where they had said their boat had
+been capsized to ascertain whether their story was true or not, and
+during his absence they returned, stripped his hut of all that was
+eatable or of value, and stole his boat. They pulled round the coast
+out of sight, and then sent Clegg and Griffiths to fetch the constable
+and the others, but the two officers had in the meantime secured
+Mitchell, and now arrested Clegg and Griffiths. The other six runaways
+waited for a time, and then started for the mainland. On the Monday
+following a fisherman named Thomas Duffy went from the mainland to the
+island, and he consented to land the constable, the coxswain, and their
+three prisoners at Moreton Bay, from whence they marched to Brisbane,
+where the prisoners were lodged in gaol. In a few days complaints of
+robberies having been committed along the coast were received, and
+the Customs boat, with six armed constables on board, was despatched
+to capture the runaways. They were told to call at Cleveland Point to
+pick up the Chief Constable, who had gone to the coast by land. When
+near the mouth of the Brisbane River, on passing a patch of scrub,
+the constables suddenly became aware that another boat was alongside,
+and that they were threatened by six men armed with pistols. This
+completely turned the tables. The constables were compelled to hold
+up their hands, and were towed into the scrub, where they were forced
+to land and strip. The convicts took the constables' clothes and gave
+them their own rags in exchange, and then, having made them get into
+Gonzales' old boat, ordered them to "be off." There was nothing else
+to be done, and the would-be captors returned to Brisbane as rapidly
+as they could, only to be arrested as the runaways. However, they soon
+established their identity, and were released. In the meantime the
+runaways, being decently dressed and having a first-class boat, pulled
+to the barque _Acacia_, which was lying at the mouth of the river
+waiting for the mails, before beginning her voyage to Sydney. They told
+their old story about being shipwrecked mariners, and were believed and
+invited on board, where they were hospitably feasted. The constables
+were blamed for not having given notice to the vessels lying at the
+mouth of the river, of the fact that these convicts were at large,
+but they had not yet reached that part of the river when they were
+captured themselves, and if they had gone to these vessels in Gonzales'
+battered boat and in the tattered raiment of the runaways, they would
+not only not have been believed, but might have been detained or sent
+to Brisbane as the runaways they resembled. It was a very trying and
+difficult position in which they were placed. When the convicts left
+the _Acacia_ where they had been so well entertained, they pulled to
+the house of Mr. Watson, the chief pilot, and robbed him of provisions,
+a gold watch and chain, and about £40 in money. They stove in his boat
+to prevent him from going to the mainland to report, but left him a
+bottle of rum out of his store to "keep his spirits up a bit." Mr.
+Watson, however, managed, when they had gone away, to patch up his
+boat so as to enable him to cross the narrow strait which separated
+Pilot Island from the mainland, and very soon several boats, manned by
+constables and volunteers, were searching the scrubs and islands near
+the mouth of the river in hopes of being able to capture the runaways.
+On May 12th, Eugene Lucette was rowing near the mouth of the river,
+when he discovered the stolen Customs Officer's boat among the mangrove
+bushes. He towed the boat up the river and restored it to its proper
+owners. Mr. W.A. Duncan, J.P., Mr. Shendon (the customs officer), Mr.
+Sneyd (the chief constable), and a party of the water police-constables
+started in pursuit. They had some black trackers with them, and these
+soon found a camp among the mangroves where the convicts had recently
+been staying. The tracks were patiently followed by the blacks for
+some distance, and at length the party was found near the Cleveland
+Road, about eight miles from Brisbane. They were in a very weak
+condition, having had no food, they said, for four days, and were
+easily captured. They had tried to make a living by bushranging along
+the coast, having landed at several points and robbed the few settlers
+there were there then. At Wide Bay they had come on a large camp of
+natives who appeared so hostile that the convicts had been afraid to
+land, and had therefore worked their way back to Moreton Bay with the
+intention of going up the country to look for work, as they were tired
+of living by robbery. They had a number of watches and other articles
+of value, two guns and two pistols, all loaded. They were tried on two
+charges, viz:--stealing the Customs Officer's boat, the property of
+Her Majesty, &c., and stealing a boat belonging to Ferdinand Gonzales,
+fisherman, and were convicted. They were sentenced to fifteen years'
+penal servitude.
+
+These men had been sent to Norfolk Island for bushranging and other
+crimes committed in Van Diemen's Land, and therefore had nothing to
+do with New South Wales until they landed at Moreton Bay as escapees.
+Griffiths, Clegg, and Mitchell were sent back to the island in
+charge of the constable and coxswain who had captured them, and who
+were officials under Mr. John Price, Commandant of the island. The
+six convicted of stealing the Government boat at Brisbane were not
+retransported to the island, but were accommodated in the gaol at
+Moreton Bay.
+
+It may be as well to state here that transportation to New South
+Wales ceased in 1841, and only two vessels conveying convicts reached
+that colony afterwards. These conveyed some prisoners who were
+supposed to be reformed characters, and were known in Australia as
+"Pentonvillains," from the name of the Reformatory in London through
+which they had passed. They were sent out in consequence of an
+agitation on the part of the wealthier settlers for the revival of
+transportation, but so much indignation was aroused among the mass of
+the colonists that no further attempts of that kind were made. The
+agitation was supported by the Governor, Sir Charles A. Fitzroy, who
+said in his despatch to Earl Grey, that "out of about 60,000 persons
+transported hither, 38,000 are reformed and respectable members of the
+community. Of the residue, deaths and departures from the colony will
+account for the greater part; and I am enabled to state that only 372
+out of the whole are now undergoing punishment of any kind." At the
+date of this despatch, January 6, 1850, the colony of New South Wales
+included the whole of the eastern side of Australia, Victoria being
+then the Port Phillip District, and Queensland the Moreton Bay District
+of this colony. The southern portion, or Port Phillip District, was
+erected into an independent colony about a year later, and I have dealt
+with the bushranging there during the gold digging era. In New South
+Wales robberies were also very frequent, although the condition of the
+colony was never so desperate as that of Victoria. In August, 1853,
+the _Bathurst Free Press_ said:--"For some time past the neighbourhood
+of King's Plains has been adding to a murderous notoriety.... There
+bloodshed in its most awful shape, murder, appears to be reduced to
+a science, and the stereotyped phrase 'Murder will out' has lost its
+meaning. An unfortunate old man, remarkable for nothing so much as
+his hospitality, is slaughtered like a sheep and deposited under a
+heap of stones.... Some fifteen years have rolled over his grave,
+his death is still enveloped in mystery. A woman in the prime of
+life is shot dead in her house; the walls being bespattered with her
+blood. A helpless old shepherd ... who had excited the cupidity or
+revenge of some miscreant, is discovered in the bush, so cut, bruised,
+mangled, and disfigured that words are wanting to describe the tigrish
+bloodthirstiness of the murderer.... A resident of Bathurst ... starts
+for that bloodstained region one day in perfect health, ... and the
+only evidence of him, living or dead, are the merest fragments of
+calcined bones ... and a few hairs which have been pronounced to be
+those of a human being."
+
+The indictment was a terrible one and was no doubt true, and the
+paper was perfectly justified in urging the Government to make
+more strenuous efforts to stamp out bushranging. Nevertheless the
+murders spoken of here belong to a bygone age, the perpetrators
+having probably been attracted, like the majority of their class,
+to the Victorian goldfields. That was the focus to which all such
+enterprising scoundrels were drawn, and there the majority met the
+fate they so richly deserved. A few robberies were committed on the
+roads in the Bathurst district and in other parts of the colony, but
+the greatest number of such crimes took place in the Manaro district
+and along the road leading to Victoria. The only bushranger in New
+South Wales who became notorious at this time was Thomas Willmore. He
+had been under butler to a gentleman in England, and at the age of
+fourteen was transported to "Botany Bay," for having stolen a number of
+silver spoons and other plate from his employer. He was first sent to
+Pentonville and was then sent to the colony as a reformed character,
+being among the last of the English convicts sent to New South Wales,
+where he and his companions were known as "Earl Grey's pets." He was
+granted a ticket-of-leave soon after landing and was assigned as
+servant to a settler in the Wellington district. Soon after reaching
+the place he quarrelled with a fellow servant and fired a pistol at
+him. The bullet struck a button and glanced off, and the man escaped,
+while Willmore, to avoid a trial, took to the bush. He gained a living
+by highway robbery for some months. One day he met Philip Alger, near
+Tomandra, on the Big River. Alger was riding a very fine horse and
+Willmore claimed it as one which had been stolen from him, and for
+which he said he had offered a reward. He demanded that the horse
+should be given to him at once. Alger swore he had purchased the horse
+honestly, and from a man whom he knew, and declined to part with it.
+Willmore ended the dispute summarily by drawing a pistol and shooting
+Alger in the stomach. Willmore was aware that Alger had a considerable
+quantity of gold on him, as the man had foolishly shown it in a hut
+where both had lodged during the previous night; but Willmore did not
+search the body and the gold was found on it when it was discovered.
+He seems to have been satisfied with the horse. He mounted it and rode
+towards Wellington. At Montefiore he bargained with Malachi Daly for a
+cart, offering for it a quantity of gold dust, which he had no doubt
+stolen from some other victim, in exchange. They could not come to an
+agreement, but continued their journey towards Wellington together the
+next day. At about nine miles from Wellington on the road to the Big
+River the road goes down a very steep hill, and both men dismounted to
+lead their horses down. Daly was just starting when Willmore stepped
+before him, pistol in hand, and demanded his money and gold. Daly
+protested that he had left it at his hut, and Willmore called him a
+"liar." They disputed for a few minutes, and then Willmore shot Daly
+through the head. On searching the body Willmore found only thirty
+shillings and a deposit receipt for £11, which was of no value to any
+one except the depositor. Later on Willmore boasted that he got £40
+from Daly; but, in his last confession, he said he had only asserted
+that he had found £40 on Daly's body because he did not wish it to be
+known that he had "killed a man for thirty bob." Willmore was only just
+riding away from where Daly's body was lying when he was ordered to
+bail up by another bushranger. Instead of complying with this request
+Willmore drew his pistol and fired, both men shooting at the same time.
+Willmore's horse bolted, and ran for some considerable distance before
+he could pull him up. When he had once more brought him under control
+Willmore wheeled his horse round, and galloped back to the scene of
+the encounter. He tracked his late opponent for a mile or more. He
+felt certain that he had not missed, and expected to find the body
+lying somewhere in the bush. Gradually he became convinced that he had
+been mistaken, and that the bushranger had escaped, and gave up the
+search, feeling "very sorry" that he had not fired straighter. During
+the following three or four weeks he stuck up and robbed a number of
+people on the roads between Wellington and Mudgee, until at length
+it was resolved at a public meeting to hunt him down. A large party
+assembled by appointment, and this was divided into several smaller
+bands, each of which was to travel through the district by a specified
+route, and all were to meet again at a certain time and place and
+report. One party, under the leadership of Mr. Cornish, got on his
+track and followed it for two days. On the third day they discovered
+him asleep on Ponto Island in the Macquarie River, where he had made a
+camp among the scrub. He was conveyed to Bathurst, tried and convicted
+of murder and hung. Great satisfaction was expressed at his capture
+having been effected without further loss of life, and Mr. Cornish and
+the men under him were highly complimented for the skill they had shown
+in tracking him to his lair and their caution in effecting his capture
+without waking him, as it was highly improbable that he would have
+surrendered without a fight, and his skill and coolness were such as to
+make it almost certain that one man at least would have been shot. In
+reporting his trial the _Sydney Morning Herald_ compared him with "that
+monster Lynch," and congratulated the colony on having got rid of "such
+a savage."
+
+In Van Diemen's Land the interregnum between the two bushranging eras
+was shorter than in New South Wales. In fact, in spite of the assertion
+that bushranging had been suppressed with the breaking up of the Cash
+and Kavanagh gang, robberies took place occasionally with only short
+intervals between them. As a rule, however, there was nothing very
+remarkable in them, and only a few seem worthy of notice here. On
+February 19th, 1846, Henry Ford and Henry Smart stuck up and robbed a
+small farmer named Robert Stonehouse, on the Tamar River. They then
+compelled Stonehouse, under threats, to accompany them to the next
+farm and call out his neighbour, John Joynes. When Joynes opened the
+door the bushrangers rushed in. They tied Joynes and Stonehouse and
+ransacked the house, taking everything of value. When they left they
+walked along the road and robbed every one they met. On March 5th they
+went to Mr. Philip Oakden's house and rang the bell. Mr. Oakden went
+to the door and was immediately confronted with a gun and ordered to
+stand. Mr. Oakden informed the robbers that Mrs. Oakden was very ill
+and requested them not to make a noise. He said he would give them all
+he had in the house if they would go quietly and not alarm his sick
+wife. He gave them three £1 notes and some silver. The robbers insisted
+on going in and searching the drawers for jewellery, but took nothing.
+They then asked Mr. Oakden for his gold watch. He gave it to them and
+they left, taking Mr. Oakden with them. They stopped at the Rev. Dr.
+Browne's house and made Mr. Oakden enquire whether his friend was at
+home. On Dr. Browne coming to the door he was bailed up, and Ford
+asked him "How much money have you got?" "None," replied Dr. Browne.
+"Take care I don't find you out in a lie," cried Ford; "where's your
+money?" They went in and began searching the drawers and cupboards, and
+while they were thus employed Chief District Constable Midgeley, who
+had heard that the bushrangers were in the town, came in with another
+constable, and taking the bushrangers unawares captured them, though
+not without trouble. When called on to surrender Ford tried to get out
+his pistol, but Midgeley said, "If you stir you'll be settled quick."
+Ford and Smart were convicted of highway robbery and death was recorded
+against them, but the sentences were commuted to imprisonment for life.
+
+A carrier was stopped on the Brighton Road by two armed bushrangers
+on Sunday, December 6th, 1846. A carpet bag, containing some dress
+clothes belonging to Lieutenant Lloyd, of the 96th Regiment, which were
+being sent to Hobart Town for safety, was stolen. The coat and vest
+buttons were faced with gold. Several other articles were taken from
+the carrier's cart. For this robbery Richard Gordon was apprehended
+by District Constable Goldsmith and Constable Daley. On the following
+day Henry Jenkins, alias "Billy from the Den," was also captured by
+the police. Billy had broken out of Oatland's Gaol about three months
+previously, and had been living by highway and other robberies since.
+The clothes were offered to Mr. Roberts, a pawnbroker in Hobart Town,
+and he, suspecting that they were stolen, communicated with the
+police, who also arrested Michael Cogan, a marine store dealer, as an
+accomplice.
+
+On December 31st, a party of constables out seeking for bushrangers
+found a boat containing provisions, wearing apparel, &c., on the
+east bank of the River Tamar, about eight miles from George Town.
+Another boat was reported to have been stolen from Mr. Coulson. The
+police watched by the boat all day and night. On the next morning,
+Sunday, they saw two men pulling another boat towards the spot and hid
+themselves in the scrub. When the men landed, the constables appeared
+and the men ran away. The constables followed, and ran down one man
+named Jones. The other bushranger, George Jamieson, was captured by Mr.
+Hinton and his crew at the Marine Station, near the Heads. Jamieson was
+seen in the scrub, near the station, and one of the men, in accordance
+with Australian custom, invited him into the hut to have some food.
+Jamieson accepted the invitation and, while he was eating, Mr. Hinton
+came in and recognised him. When Mr. Hinton said that he should arrest
+him Jamieson replied, "I'll be---- if you do," and took a tomahawk from
+under his jumper. He was immediately seized from behind by one of Mr.
+Hinton's men and was handed over to the police.
+
+The bushrangers Wilson and Dido were the most notorious about this
+time. They were watching Mr. James Clifford's house, at Piper's
+River, on September 16th, 1846, and when Mr. Clifford came out they
+rushed upon him, took him inside, tied him, and took wearing apparel,
+ammunition, and other articles out of the drawers and boxes. In
+January, Mr. Rees and Mr. Stevenson started from Campbelltown in a
+gig for St. Patrick's Head. On reaching the fourth gate on the road,
+known as Davidson's gate, they saw two men with guns. At first they
+took these men for constables. Stevenson got down to open the gate,
+and while he was doing so Rees became aware of the character of the
+two armed men who were approaching, and called out to Stevenson, "Make
+haste! Here's the bushrangers!" Stevenson tried to jump into the gig,
+but before he could do so the men were upon him. They presented their
+guns and called upon the travellers to surrender. They then ordered
+Rees to drive the gig off the road into the timber. Mr. Rees objected,
+and the bushrangers told him he need not fear, as they intended to
+act honourably. "But what do you want?" asked Rees. "We want to rob
+you; we want your money," was the reply. "Then," said Mr. Rees, "why
+not take it here and let us go on?" The bushrangers made no reply,
+but took the horse by the head and led him away. When the gig was in
+among the timber the robbers took £18, a gold watch and chain, and a
+gold pencil case, from Mr. Stevenson; and £8 and a silver watch from
+Mr. Rees. They also took two dress suits and two top coats from the
+gig, and then ordered the gentlemen to take off their boots. "What
+for?" asked Mr. Rees. "Because we want them," was the reply. "But,"
+cried Mr. Rees, "how are we to get home?" "Oh, you're all right. You
+can ride while we have to walk," said the bushranger. "But----" began
+Mr. Rees, when he was interrupted with, "Oh, no more nonsense. If you
+don't make haste we'll strip you." Stevenson took off his boots, and
+Rees thought it prudent to follow his example. They returned to their
+homes in Campbelltown two and a-half hours after they had left, and
+deferred their visit to the Heads to another day. On the 27th the
+police were informed that Dido, the bushranger, had been seen in a hut
+in Prosser's Forest. A party of constables started immediately, and
+reached the place at one a.m. Everything was quiet, and the constables
+walked very cautiously, fearing that if they stepped on a stick and
+broke it the noise would waken the bushranger should he be there. The
+constables took up positions round the hut to prevent escape, and
+then District Constable Davis, who was in command, suddenly burst in
+the door. Dido sprang out of the bed and fell on his knees on the
+floor begging for mercy. He was secured without resistance. In the
+hut were a double-barrelled gun and a pistol, both loaded ready for
+use. Mr. Rees's watch and some of Mr. Stevenson's clothes were found
+in the hut. When brought up at the police court Dido said he had been
+transported in the name of William Driscoll, but his proper name was
+Timothy. Mr. Tarleton, the magistrate, made some remarks on the folly
+of men taking to the bush. Dido replied that he should have been happy
+enough if he had not been betrayed. He might have lived in luxury for
+life. The man who betrayed him had been his best friend, but he became
+jealous and gave him up. He had been sixteen times in Launceston. He
+had been drinking about town all day on Christmas Day. He had been
+hocussed and had not been well since. Wilson and he had quarrelled and
+they had parted. Wilson was all right. He had a nice little patch of
+cultivation, with plenty of flour and some sheep. He was not likely to
+be taken. In spite of this assertion, however, Wilson was captured a
+few days later while drinking at Pitcher's Inn on the Westbury Road.
+He showed a pistol and this excited suspicion, so Mr. Pitcher sent a
+servant to inform the police. Constable Leake came and found the man
+asleep in a hut at the rear of the public-house. He handcuffed him and
+took him to Launceston in a cart. He was identified as Dido's mate and
+was committed for trial at the same time.
+
+Robberies of a similar character to these took place from time to time,
+but after the discovery of gold in Australia in 1851 the great object
+of the disaffected in Van Diemen's Land was to get to the mainland. No
+doubt many of these men made their way across the Straits in stolen
+boats, but the majority paid their passages out of the proceeds of
+their robberies. Probably it was in consequence of this exodus that
+no bushrangers became notorious in Van Diemen's Land at this time,
+and a few examples of the crimes committed during the later days
+of the epoch will suffice. About the beginning of 1853 a desperate
+attempt was made by nine bushrangers, who had been convicted and were
+being taken from Launceston to Hobart Town, to escape from the two
+constables who had them in charge. The prisoners had been very rowdy
+since leaving Launceston, and when the party was near Bagdad, Convict
+John Jones suddenly snatched the musket from Constable Doran and felled
+the constable with a blow. Jones then shouted "Now well fight for
+it." Constable Mulrooney rushed at Jones and endeavoured to wrest the
+musket from him, but the other prisoners forced him back. The prisoners
+were handcuffed together in threes, and this no doubt hampered their
+movements, but they contrived to get Mulrooney down and beat him with
+their handcuffs. Convict McCarthy presented the musket at Mulrooney and
+pulled the trigger, but finding that the gun was not loaded he, in a
+rage snapped the stock across his knee. In doing this the bayonet fell
+off and both sides struggled to obtain possession of it. At this moment
+two men appeared along the road, and hearing the noise they hastened
+forward. One of them was an assigned shepherd of Captain Chalmers and
+was armed with a double-barrelled gun. Constable Mulrooney was shouting
+"murder," and the shepherd came to his assistance. The convicts then
+gave up the struggle and fell into rank. They were taken to Bagdad,
+and from thence a stronger guard was sent with them until they were
+safely confined in the Pentonville gaol.
+
+The bushrangers Dalton and Kelly stuck up and robbed the Halfway House
+near Campbelltown in January, 1853. On the following day they went
+to Mr. Simeon Lord's house, Bona Vista, near the river, and bailed
+up about thirty people, including the District Constable of Avoca,
+the watch-house keeper, and another constable. The watch-house keeper
+was shot dead. There were several ladies in the house, and these were
+ordered to go into one room and stay there. The robbers ransacked the
+house in their search for jewellery and other portable property. They
+collected between £100 and £200, besides several gold and a number of
+silver watches, rings, &c. When they had obtained all that they could
+they compelled Mr. Frank Lord to accompany them to the stables, where
+they selected two of the finest horses, with saddles, bridles, and
+spurs. Mounting these horses, the robbers rode away to Mr. Duxbury's
+Inn at Stoney Creek, where they bailed up twelve men, including two
+mounted constables. They collected about £50 more and Mr. Duxbury's
+gold watch. On leaving the inn they went along the road, and met Mr.
+Sykes, recently returned from Melbourne. They robbed him of about £75,
+returning the odd six shillings to enable him to continue his journey.
+They told Mr. Sykes that they intended to rob Captain Creer's and
+other houses along the Esk Valley, and, when they had collected all
+they could, to go to the diggings in Victoria. On the following day
+they visited Vaucluse, but Mr. and Mrs. Bayles were away from home
+and they got no money. They, however, took some jewellery from the
+drawers and some provisions from the kitchen. During the following
+week they continued their depredations and then went to the coal mines
+on the river Mersey, and stole a whale boat. They impressed four men
+at work there into their service and put to sea, but the wind was so
+tempestuous that they were driven back and landed on the coast near
+Port Sorell, where they were captured.
+
+In February, 1853, a man named Robinson, who had recently returned
+from the Victorian diggings, shot a shoemaker named William Moonan,
+while he was waxing a thread. The murderer dragged the body from the
+hut to the Swan River and threw it in, and then returned to steal
+what little money there was in the place. The bushrangers Maberley,
+Hickson, and Poulston committed a number of daylight burglaries in
+the neighbourhood of Sandy Bay, robbing the houses of Messrs. Stacey,
+Frodsham, Power, and Dunkley. From Dunkley's they took more than twenty
+pounds' worth of goods. They had supper at Mr. Winter's and then went
+to camp in the bush not far away.
+
+Moses Birkett and Peter Perry were captured in a cave about this time.
+The cave was on the shores of Lake Crescent, and a large quantity of
+stolen property was found hidden there. Besides the guns and pistols,
+a couple of sheep shear blades, mounted on long wooden handles were
+found, and it was supposed that these had been used in the murder of
+George Kelsey, at Lemon Springs.
+
+Thanks to the activity of the police and the assistance they received
+from the civilians, such malefactors were gradually captured and
+dealt with. Some of the Victorian papers charged the Government of
+Van Diemen's Land with conniving at the escape of expirees from the
+island to Victoria, but there does not appear to be any foundation for
+this charge. It is quite possible that neither the authorities nor
+the public were sorry to be relieved from their company, but we have
+merely to read the accounts published at the time, to realise that all
+was done that was possible to suppress bushranging in Van Diemen's
+Land at this time, and that the escapes of these criminals across the
+Bass's Straits could not very well be prevented. It was in 1853 that
+transportation to the island ceased. A few years later, responsible
+government was established, and the name of the island was changed
+from Van Diemen's Land to Tasmania, with the object of getting rid as
+much as possible of old associations. Very shortly afterwards, the
+papers once more said that bushranging had been stamped out in the
+island, and this time they were justified in the assertion. No doubt
+the larger settlements on the mainland offered better chances to the
+enterprising Tasmanians, whether they were "old hands" or not. Tasmania
+has, perhaps in consequence of this custom of young men going to seek
+their fortunes in Melbourne or Sydney, progressed less rapidly than
+some of the other colonies, but it has progressed, and this progression
+has been as peaceful and as innocent as possible under present social
+conditions, and the island which was once infamous has for many years
+been remarkably clear from criminal offences.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+  The New Bushranging Era; Fallacy of the Belief that Highwaymen Rob
+  the Rich to Enrich the Poor; The Cattle Duffers and Horse Planters;
+  The Riot at the Lambing Flat; Frank Gardiner, the Butcher; Charged
+  with Obtaining Beasts "on the cross," he Abandons his Butcher's Shop;
+  Efforts to Establish a Reign of Terror in the District; A Letter from
+  Gardiner; The Great Escort Robbery.
+
+
+Hitherto the bushrangers of Australia had been, as the records prove,
+drawn almost exclusively from the ranks of those who "left their
+country for their country's good." Those who took the most prominent
+share in the next outbreak of the "epidemic" were generally native-born
+Australians. The _sequelæ_ of the old disease were not yet worked
+out. As I have already said, there were numbers of the "old hands"
+scattered about the bush, some of them with farms or small cattle or
+sheep stations of their own who lived fairly honest and useful lives,
+but even among these, whatever may have been their station in life,
+there was the old antagonism to "law and order," and their sympathies
+were all with those who waged war against society. Their children
+imbibed these ideas, and wherever there was a neighbourhood where
+this class had collected together, morality was at a low ebb. But
+besides these settlers there were numbers of nomads, men who worked
+as shepherds, bullock-drivers, splitters and fencers, shearers, and
+so on, and as long as the old hands formed a majority, or even a
+considerable minority of the bush-workers, it was the custom for men to
+work from shearing to shearing, or from harvest to harvest, and then
+"draw their cheques," make for the nearest public-house, and indulge
+in a wild spree, until they were informed by the landlord that the
+money which their cheques represented had been expended. There were
+some respectable inns in the back country where they got fair value
+for their money perhaps, but in too many of these "bush pubs," as
+they were called, the object of the landlord was to "lamb them down"
+in the shortest possible space of time. Perhaps when the character
+of the liquor sold in these places is taken into consideration, this
+method of cheating was not altogether an evil. It prevented the bushmen
+from swallowing such large quantities of the deleterious stuff as
+they might have done if they had received full value for their money.
+During the time when they were working their principal mode of amusing
+themselves was telling or listening to tales of the convict days.
+Some of these stories told by the old hands were of too revolting a
+character for repetition, but no doubt they were founded on fact.
+Nothing is too horrible or obscene to have been true of the convict
+times. The stories, however, which appear to have had the greatest
+influence over the minds of a certain class of Australian youth were
+those told of the bushrangers. In these stories there was of course
+much that was apocryphal, to put it mildly. Many of the exploits of the
+historic highwaymen of old were told as actual facts in the careers of
+some Australian bushrangers, with just sufficient variation to adapt
+them to local purposes. One of the ancient superstitions introduced
+into Australia by these story-tellers was that the highwaymen robbed
+the rich to give to the poor. I have no desire to raise any doubts as
+to the generosity and benevolence of Robin Hood, but I can find no
+evidence of any such beneficence on the part of any of the Australian
+bushrangers. No doubt they got their money easily, and spent it
+recklessly. But they did not pause to enquire whether the person they
+robbed was rich or poor. There was no such class distinction in the
+colonies as there is and always has been in England; no very poor
+class not worth robbing and ready to bless anyone who gave them a
+penny, and no hereditary wealthy class. Every one had to work somehow
+for his living, though some were more successful in piling up wealth
+than others. But the poor had opportunities which have never existed
+in England, and if they neglected them it was more or less their own
+fault if they were poor. The tendency in Australia, as elsewhere, is
+to build up a wealthy class, but this class did not exist in convict
+times, and is only just beginning to appear now. The Australian
+bushranger in fact had to obtain money or go under. He was compelled to
+share his ill-gotten gains with those who supplied him with food and
+information. He was a mark for the blackmailer, and he was compelled to
+find money to bribe those who were in a position to lead the troops or
+the police to his hiding place. But the convict bushranger was not so
+well off as the native-born bushranger. There was a strong feeling of
+camaraderie, an _esprit de corps_, among the convicts, which tended to
+prevent numbers of men from betraying him, even though they received no
+bribes. But the new bushranger was more fortunate than the old one. He
+had his parents, his brothers and sisters, his cousins and his aunts
+and uncles, who sympathised with him for family and other reasons,
+and who were bound to help him. It was from among these relatives and
+friends that the "bush telegraphs," who informed the bushranger of the
+whereabouts of the police, were drawn, and it soon became apparent
+that if bushranging was to be abolished these sympathisers and "bush
+telegraphs" must be dealt with.
+
+There were several localities in New South Wales where the conditions
+were favourable for bushranging; places where the morality was low and
+where the police, as representatives of authority, were hated with
+all the hatred of the "old hand." One of these localities was in the
+spurs of the Great Dividing Range, in the neighbourhood of Burrowa.
+All round this district were a number of small squatters, principally
+cattle breeders, and among these no man's beast was safe. These small
+squatters were the terror of the big sheep and cattle breeders in
+the plains, and their principal industry was "duffing." Duffing was
+not stealing. If a moralist had remonstrated with a Burrowa man whom
+he found branding his neighbour's beast, the Burrowa man would have
+replied "I'm only trying to get back my own. He's duffed many a head
+of my cattle." Sheep could be duffed as well as cattle, but the ranges
+were generally too steep for sheep. One sheep breeder of the district,
+however, adopted, as his distinguishing mark, the plan of cutting off
+both ears, and he was a most successful duffer, because his recognised
+ear-mark enabled him to remove the ear-marks in his neighbours' sheep.
+It was no uncommon occurrence for a man to find that a calf sucking
+his cow had been branded by one of his neighbours, so that it might be
+claimed as soon as it was weaned. In such a case, if he had complained,
+his neighbour would probably have accused him of having "mothered" the
+neighbour's calf on his cow for the purpose of cheating him out of it.
+
+In such a neighbourhood it was impossible for any stranger to travel
+with horses with any degree of safety. Horses bred in the district
+could be duffed like sheep or cattle, and horses travelling through
+could be "planted." If a man, who knew anything of the characteristics
+of the settlers in this district, camped for the night there, and
+failed to find his horses next morning, he did not waste time in
+looking for them himself. He realised at once that one of "the boys"
+had driven them off into some inaccessible ravine in the ranges, and
+"planted" or hidden them there until a reward should be offered for
+their recovery. He would therefore go to the nearest station and
+enquire whether his horses had been seen. The answer would be "No."
+Then the traveller would say that he was willing to pay "a note"
+for their recovery. The reply of the native would probably be that
+horses always went astray about there. There was such a get-away for
+them, and the warrigals came down and enticed them off. The story of
+the warrigals, or wild horses, tempting working horses away was a
+common fiction. Hobbled horses could not keep up with the warrigals
+across the ridges. But it was sufficiently plausible to serve. If the
+working horses broke their hobbles they might perhaps go with the wild
+horses, but even then it is uncertain. However, after a few minutes'
+conversation, the native would probably say that if any one could
+find the horses it was "Jack the Kid," or some other local character,
+as he knew every gully in the ridges. The wideawake traveller could
+understand that "Jack the Kid" was the man who had planted his horses,
+and would not return them for less than "a note," that is £1, and on
+this reward for villainy being promised the traveller might go to
+his camp with the certainty that the horses would be brought to him
+in about an hour. It would be useless to look for them, because the
+planter would be on the watch, and if the owner was seen approaching
+the gully where they were the horses would be driven over the ridge
+into the next gully. Cases have happened where a traveller has
+persisted in refusing to be blackmailed and has lost his horses. It
+would be only necessary to cut the hobbles. Then the traveller, if he
+wanted his horses, would have to engage two or three expert stockmen to
+run them in. It was useless to complain to the police. The horses had
+not been stolen. They were there. Let the owner come and fetch them.
+Nobody would prevent him and some kind settler would even offer the use
+of his stockyard if the owner could drive them into it.
+
+This was the state of the district when the rush to the
+newly-discovered Lambing Flat goldfield took place in 1860. Early in
+the following year there was a great "roll up" of the diggers to drive
+the Chinese off the field, and the military were sent up from Sydney to
+restore order. In this riot the peculiar morality of the diggers, of
+which I have already spoken, was illustrated in a remarkable degree.
+The leaders of the riots strictly forbade robbery, and any person found
+stealing gold or any other property from the Chinese was to be handed
+over to the police; but burning the humpies, tents, and other property
+of the unfortunate Chinkies, cutting off their pigtails, beating or
+otherwise ill-treating them, as an inducement for them to leave the
+field, were justifiable if not meritorious acts. In after years many of
+the "flash diggers" wore sashes made of Chinamen's pigtails, sometimes
+with just as much of the scalp attached as would prevent the hairs
+from scattering. However, the riots did not last long and the leader,
+William Spicer, was sent to gaol.
+
+There were, of course, many of the young men of the district in the
+goldfields and, as far as is known, these conformed to the rules
+laid down by the diggers with regard to property. But this did not
+affect their own peculiar notions as to the ownership of cattle,
+sheep, or horses, and the attention of the police was early drawn to
+the district. Warrants were soon issued for numbers of the youths on
+charges of horse or cattle stealing, and several were arrested. Later
+it was said that many young fellows, who might have remained at home,
+were "driven on to the roads" by the police. That is to say that,
+because they were interfered with in their favourite amusements of
+duffing and planting, they turned bushrangers.
+
+Among the residents on the diggings was Frank Gardiner, who opened
+a butcher's shop on Wombat Flat. Gardiner was born at Boro Creek,
+near Tarago, in the heart of the district in which Jackey Jackey
+had first won his notoriety as a bushranger, and the morals of that
+district were very similar to those I have described as prevalent in
+the Burrowa district. Gardiner went to the diggings in Victoria in
+the "Fifties," was arrested near Ballarat, and tried at Geelong for
+horse-stealing. He was sent to gaol for five years. He escaped from
+the Pentridge stockade and returned home. Shortly afterwards he was
+convicted of horse-stealing at Goulburn and sentenced to seven years'
+imprisonment on two charges, the sentences being made concurrent. He
+served half the term and was granted a ticket-of-leave. His butcher's
+shop at Burrangong, to give the diggings its proper name, was said
+to be the resort of all the worst characters among the young natives
+of the district, and the majority of the beasts he slaughtered and
+sold were said to be obtained "on the cross." Becoming aware that a
+warrant had been issued for his arrest he abandoned his shop and took
+to the mountains. Here he organised a band of bushrangers, and shortly
+afterwards reports of people being stuck up and robbed on the roads
+round the diggings became frequent.
+
+In 1861 the young Australian had not taken to cricket and football
+so enthusiastically as he did later, and perhaps there were few
+opportunities for him to get rid of his superfluous energy. Whether
+this is so or not, it is certain that Gardiner's example had an
+enormous influence. Not only were those against whom warrants had
+been issued for cattle and horse-stealing ready to join the gang,
+but numbers of young men and lads who had hitherto led blameless
+lives became so excited that they turned out and tried their hands at
+bushranging.
+
+The first robberies were in the immediate neighbourhood of Burrangong,
+but very soon the area over which the bushrangers operated was
+enlarged, and finally embraced the whole colony, and even overflowed
+into the neighbouring colonies. At first, however, Gardiner and his
+gang claim our attention, but there were many young men who began as
+independent bushrangers who made their way to the Burrangong district
+to join the gang, and others who intended to do so who were captured
+on the road. It is a difficult matter to decide who did and who did
+not belong to this gang, as the _personnel_ changed so rapidly. Some
+actual members of the gang acted independently of it for a time, and
+made raids into other districts, while others, after having a flutter
+with Gardiner, left the gang to start elsewhere. The bushrangers did
+not confine their attentions to travellers on the roads. They robbed
+whenever and wherever an opportunity occurred. Thus on August 19th,
+1861, Henry Keene, Michael Lawler, and William Watson went to Mr.
+Brennan's station, on the Billabong, and called out "All hands in, or
+we'll blow your brains out." Mr. and Mrs. Brennan and a number of men
+who were working at the station were gathered about the verandah of the
+house smoking and talking. Mrs. Brennan cried out in alarm, "They're
+going to shoot." James Laurie, one of the men, replied, "Let them shoot
+away." However, the men went inside, as they were told, and Lawler
+dismounted and followed them. Keene took his place as sentry at the
+door, and Watson remained on horseback outside. Laurie said to Lawler,
+"You're the man that was looking for a gray mare." "What if I was?
+What is it to you?" returned Lawler. Laurie picked up a big stick from
+the fire and made a blow at Lawler, when a shot was fired, presumably
+either by Keene or Watson, and Laurie fell. He cried out for water, and
+Mrs. Brennan told her little daughter to go out and fetch a glassful,
+but Lawler would not permit her to leave the room. Lawler was very
+violent. He threatened to shoot any one who opposed him, and to "put
+a firestick to the house" if Mrs. Brennan did not give him her money.
+One of the bushrangers went to a hawker named Isaac Lavendale, camped
+close by, and made him go into the house. Lavendale gave the wounded
+man some milk and spilt some on his face. He said, "I'm dying--don't
+let them--don't let----" and then he died. Keene fired a ball through
+the roof of the house and said: "I---- quick took the flashness out
+of that man. He won't be so flash again." The robbers collected all
+the money they could, and took clothes and other articles from the
+hawker's cart. The robbers were subsequently captured by the police,
+and on March 23rd, 1862, were convicted at Goulburn and sentenced to
+death. Sir Alfred Stephen told them to prepare to meet their God, when
+Keene and Lawler both said that they were ready. They were innocent.
+Watson said: "I don't care if it's to-morrow; I hope you won't keep me
+like you did Johnson." When taken from court, Watson shouted, "Well,
+good-bye."
+
+Charles Ross, William Mackie, and John McMahon, alias McManus, robbed
+the mail at the Chain of Ponds, on the Great North Road, on October
+17th. They searched the letters, took a gold and a silver watch,
+two gold chains, and £55 in notes and coin from Mr. Jonathan Snell,
+£23 from Mr. Thomas Lumley, and smaller sums and valuables from the
+other two passengers. On the 30th, Constable Leonard saw Mackie in a
+public house at Lochinvar, near Maitland, and challenged him. Mackie
+attempted to run, but was followed and captured. He threw away a gold
+watch, which was picked up and identified as one stolen from Mr. Snell.
+Ross and McMahon were discovered not far away and were arrested.
+When tried they were convicted, but Ross was recommended to mercy on
+account of his previous good character. He was sentenced to five years'
+imprisonment, his companions being sent to gaol for seven years.
+
+Michael Henry Davis, Aaron von Ehrstein, and Robert Smith, stopped
+the mail coach on January 6th, 1862, about six miles from Burrangong.
+Ensign Campbell Morris and Sergeant O'Grady, of the 12th regiment,
+which had been engaged in suppressing the riot, were passengers going
+to Cowra. Another passenger, a Frenchman, refused to surrender, and
+Davis fired at him. After this no further resistance was made, and
+Ehrstein, who searched the passengers, took £9 13s. from the Ensign and
+other sums from the others. The police started in pursuit immediately
+on receiving information of the robbery, and the prisoners were
+captured without much trouble. They were convicted and sent to gaol for
+ten years.
+
+Benjamin Allerton and another man walked one day into the bar of
+the Wakool Hotel on the lower Billabong and called for nobblers like
+ordinary travellers. They were served by Mr. Talbot, the landlord. They
+then went into the dining room and had supper. As soon as the meal was
+over the two men rose, and one of them drew a pistol and said, "Excuse
+us, gentlemen, this is our business." David Elliott, who was employed
+at the hotel, was sitting next the bushranger, and made a snatch at the
+pistol. The bushranger, however, was on the alert, and jumped aside.
+Then he fired and Elliott fell wounded. Mr. Talbot rushed in from the
+bar and said that he didn't want any more damage done. "Take the money
+in the till," he cried, "and go." The bushrangers took some seven or
+eight pounds from the till, a saddle and bridle, a canister of powder,
+and some clothing, but they took nothing from the other persons who
+had been at supper with them. They said that they were going to join
+Gardiner and "make it hot for the traps." Information was at once given
+to the police, and they were followed, but only Allerton was found and
+captured. He was tried at Goulburn on March 27th and found guilty, the
+jury pronouncing the verdict without leaving the box, and the judge
+sentenced him to death. Benjamin Allerton and Henry Keene were hung
+at Goulburn on May 5th. Another bushranger named Regan was hung there
+in June. The sentences on Lawler and Watson were commuted to fifteen
+years' imprisonment.
+
+These were outsiders who intended to join the gang, but in the meantime
+the gang itself had not been idle. John Peisley was a well-known
+settler in the district, and his house was said to be the resort of
+the bushrangers, and was closely watched by the police. On December
+27th, 1861, Peisley and James Wilson were drinking at Benyon's Inn,
+about a mile from Bigga, when Peisley challenged William Benyon to
+run, jump, or fight for £10. Benyon declined, and Peisley struck him
+several light blows on the chest and called him a coward, until at
+length Benyon said he would wrestle. They went into the yard, leaving
+Wilson, who was drunk, on the seat in the bar. Stephen Benyon, who
+was at work in the barn, and several others, collected in the yard to
+see the wrestling match. The men stripped, and grappled, and Peisley
+threw the publican and then struck him in the face. Stephen Benyon
+called Peisley a coward, rushed forward and threw Peisley. On getting
+up Peisley rushed into the house swearing he would "do for Bill." He
+seized a knife, when Mrs. Benyon cried out "My God! are you going to
+kill my husband?" and grappled with him. Stephen Benyon picked up a
+spade and struck Peisley on the arm. Peisley then threw away the knife
+and said it was all right. The row seemed to be all over and Peisley
+walked into the bar and asked Wilson where his vest was. He had taken
+it off when he went out to wrestle and left it beside Wilson. Wilson
+said he had not seen it. Then Mrs. Benyon announced that she had hidden
+it because she found two revolvers rolled up in it. She offered to tell
+Peisley where it was if he would promise to go away quietly. Peisley
+said all right, and Mrs. Benyon showed him where she had hidden the
+vest in the garden. Peisley walked out, picked the vest up from under
+a bush, and went back again. He began to examine the revolvers, when
+William Benyon said, "Surely you don't mean to shoot us?" "You never
+knew me do a mean action in my life," replied Peisley, "and I'm not
+going to begin now. Shake hands. We're all friends." They shook hands
+all round and Peisley put on his vest and went away. As soon as he was
+out of sight, William Benyon loaded his gun and took it to the barn,
+where his brother Stephen had returned to his work. William gave the
+gun to his brother and told him to take care of it, as Peisley was not
+to be trusted. About half-an-hour later, when William Benyon was in
+the bar, Peisley came galloping back, hitched his horse to the fence,
+and went into the barn. Stephen Benyon picked up the gun and Peisley
+said, laughing, "Why, you're not going to shoot me, are you?" "I was
+told you were going to shoot me," returned Stephen. "Nonsense," cried
+Peisley, "I never did a cowardly action in my life, and I'm not going
+to now. Shake hands." Stephen put the gun down and shook hands, and
+Peisley immediately seized the gun and fired, wounding Stephen in the
+arm. Stephen ran out of the barn and towards the house, and Peisley,
+taking careful aim, again pulled the trigger, but the cap missed fire.
+Peisley ran to the corner of the house, and asked William Benyon's son
+which way his uncle went. The child pointed in the wrong direction,
+and Peisley ran to the other corner of the house. Not seeing Stephen
+anywhere he returned. He was in a great rage, and struck a man named
+George Hammond with the gun, which exploded without doing any damage.
+Peisley threw the gun away, and drew a revolver. He ordered William
+Benyon, Wilson, Hammond, and the servant girl into the barn. Then he
+said to William, "I've got a bullet here for you. You've had your
+game, now it's my turn." The servant went between Benyon and Peisley,
+and begged the bushranger not to hurt her master. Peisley told her to
+go away unless she was tired of her life. Suddenly Benyon rushed at
+Peisley, who fired and wounded him in the neck, and as he fell Peisley
+rushed out to his horse, mounted, and galloped away. William Benyon
+died a week later, and a warrant was issued for the apprehension of
+Peisley, who left his house and joined the gang. On January 15th
+Constables Morris, Murphy, and Simpson were searching for bushrangers
+in the Abercrombie Mountains, when they saw Peisley near Bigga. The
+bushranger was splendidly mounted. He rode up, and coolly informed
+the police that he was the man they were looking for. He added, "I'd
+like to have a turn up with Morris if he will get down, and put his
+gun aside." Morris replied, "All right," and immediately dismounted,
+and placed his gun against a tree, expecting his challenger to do the
+same. But Peisley laughed, turned his horse round, and cantered away.
+Morris drew a revolver from his belt and fired. The bullet passed just
+under the neck of the bushranger's horse. He turned in his saddle
+and said "That was a good one. Try again." The police gave chase,
+but the superiority of the bushranger's horse enabled him to escape
+easily. About a week later Peisley was captured by Messrs. Mackenzie
+and Burridge after a severe struggle. He was tried at Bathurst, and
+sentenced to death for the murder of William Benyon, and was hung on
+April 25th, 1862. When on the scaffold he said that he had never used
+violence during his bushranging career until he had had that row with
+Benyon. He had never taken a shilling from or done violence to a woman.
+He denied that he had had anything to do with the attempt to bribe
+Constable Hosie to let Gardiner escape. He was aware that the money
+offered was £50. He also knew that there was a cheque for £2 10s. in
+the collection, and that made the amount up to £50 10s. He had spent
+five or six pounds in the spree at Benyon's. Wilson wanted him to sing
+and Benyon to dance, but he refused. Benyon then asked him to put on
+the gloves, but he declined because he knew it would lead to a row.
+At this point, said the _Bathurst Free Press_, one of the clergymen
+on the scaffold whispered to Peisley, and he immediately said that
+he would say no more on that subject. He concluded with "Good-bye,
+gentlemen. God bless you." Peisley did not appear to suffer much, but a
+blackfellow, known as Jacky Bullfrog, who was hanged at the same time
+for the murder of William Clarke, suffered terribly, his body being
+frightfully convulsed for several minutes. Peisley was twenty-eight
+years of age, five feet ten inches in height. He is described as a
+fine-looking man at a distance, but when examined closely there was a
+shifty, disagreeable look about his eyes.
+
+In April Gardiner, with three companions, stuck up Pring's Crowther
+station and then went on to Crooke's, and bailed up all hands there.
+At Pring's, one of the bushrangers played the piano while the others
+danced. At Crooke's one played the concertina and another sang "Ever of
+thee."
+
+On March 10th, Mr. Horsington, a store-keeper on the Wombat, was
+driving with his wife in a spring cart to Lambing Flat, and Mr. Robert
+Hewitt, store-keeper at Little Wombat, riding beside them. Suddenly,
+James Downey, with three other bushrangers, barred the road and ordered
+the travellers into the bush. The two store-keepers had a large
+quantity of gold with them which they had purchased in the course of
+business, and were taking to the bank at Lambing Flat, the main centre
+of the Burrangong Goldfield. Mr. Horsington had a parcel containing
+forty ounces in his pockets, and another of two hundred ounces in the
+cart. The robbers took some £1100 worth from Mr. Horsington in gold
+and money, and about £700 worth from Mr. Hewitt. When pocketing the
+plunder, Downey said: "You're the best gentlemen I've met this month,
+and I've stuck up twenty already."
+
+Sergeant Sanderson, with detectives Lyons and Kennedy, left the Lachlan
+Goldfield (Forbes), on April 11th, in charge of three bushrangers who
+had been arrested, and who were being taken to Burrangong for the
+police court examinations. Near Brewers' Shanty, three horsemen, with
+two led horses, were observed, and on seeing the coach these horsemen
+turned into the bush. The two detectives followed them on foot, when
+the horsemen turned round and fired. The police returned the fire,
+and the horses of two of the bushrangers bolted. The third bushranger
+remained and fired again. The police replied and the bushranger fell.
+He was identified as a man named Davis. He had received four wounds,
+none of which was very serious. He was placed in the coach with the
+other prisoners, and was subsequently sentenced to death. This sentence
+was, however, commuted to imprisonment for life.
+
+It was at this time that the Burrangong and other papers in the
+disturbed area accused the Government of neglect in consequence of the
+non-arrival in the district of Captain Battye with his troop of black
+trackers. It was said that without this aid the police might ride round
+for months, but could not penetrate the ranges. No doubt this outcry
+had the effect of stirring up the authorities, because the blacks
+speedily arrived and were set to work without delay.
+
+The _Lachlan Miner_ of April 19th, 1862, inserted the following
+paragraph:--
+
+  "We have received the following letter, purporting to be from the
+  hand of Frank Gardner (_sic_), the notorious highwayman, of Lachlan
+  and Lambing Flat roads. The circumstances under which we became
+  possessed of the documents can be known, and the original copies,
+  with the envelopes and seals, seen by the curious, on application
+  at this office, and they can then use what judgment they choose
+  as to the genuineness of them. We give it to our readers as we
+  received it:--'To the Editor of the _Burrangong Miner_, Lambing
+  Flat. Sir,--Having seen a paragraph in one of the papers, wherein
+  it is said that I took the boots off a man's feet, and that I also
+  took the last few shillings that another man had, I wish it to be
+  made known that I did not do anything of the kind. The man who took
+  the boots was in my company, and for so doing I discharged him the
+  following day. Silver I never took from a man yet, and the shot that
+  was fired at the sticking-up of Messrs. Horsington and Hewitt was by
+  accident, and the man who did it I also discharged. As for a mean,
+  low, or petty action, I never committed it in my life. The letter
+  that I last sent to the press, there had not half of what I said put
+  in it. In all that has been said there never was any mention made
+  of my taking the sergeant's horse and trying him, and that when I
+  found he was no good I went back and got my own. As for Mr. Torpy, he
+  is a perfect coward. After I spared his life as he fell out of the
+  window, he fired at me as I rode away; but I hope that Mr. Torpy and
+  I have not done just yet, until we balance our accounts properly. Mr.
+  Greig has accused me of robbing his teams, but it is false, for I
+  know nothing about the robbery whatever. In fact I would not rob Mr.
+  Greig or any one belonging to him, on account of his taking things
+  so easy at Bogolong. Mr. Torpy was too bounceable or he would not
+  have been robbed. A word to Sir W.F. Pottinger. He wanted to know
+  how it was the man who led my horse up to me at the Pinnacle, did
+  not cut my horse's reins, as he gave me the horse. I should like to
+  know if Mr. Pottinger would do so? I shall answer by saying no. It
+  has been said that it would be advisable to place a trap at each
+  shanty on the road, to put a stop to the depredations done on the
+  road. I certainly think it would be a great acquisition to me, for I
+  should then have increase of revolvers and carbines. When seven or
+  eight men could do nothing with me at the Pinnacle, one would look
+  well at a shanty. Three of your troopers were at a house the other
+  night and got drinking and gambling till all hours. I came there
+  towards morning when all was silent. The first room that I went into
+  I found revolvers and carbines to any amount, but seeing none as good
+  as my own, I left them. I then went out, and in the verandah found
+  the troopers sound asleep, satisfying myself that neither Battye
+  nor Pottinger were there, I left them as I found them, in the arms
+  of Morpheus. Fearing nothing, I remain, Prince of Tobymen, Francis
+  Gardner (_sic_), the Highwayman. Insert the foregoing, and rest
+  satisfied you shall be paid."
+
+The spelling of the name appears to be a typographical blunder. Mr.
+Torpy was a well-known resident of the district. This letter throws
+some light on the methods pursued by the bushrangers, and tends to
+prove that although Gardiner might not be present on some occasions,
+the robberies were committed under his directions. And some fresh
+outrage was reported almost every day, until in June, the report that
+the Government gold escort from the Lachlan diggings had been stuck
+up and robbed, caused a commotion throughout the colony. The escort
+started from Forbes on June 15th with 2067 oz. 18 dwt. gold and £700,
+owned by the Oriental Bank; 521 oz. 13 dwt. 6 grs., owned by the
+Bank of New South Wales, and 129 oz. and £3000 in cash, owned by the
+Commercial Banking Company, making about fourteen thousand pounds worth
+in all.
+
+The report of this robbery caused intense excitement throughout the
+colony. Nothing like it had been heard of since the old gold digging
+days in Victoria. Large bodies of police were sent out to scour the
+country near the scene of the outrage. One of these parties of police
+under Sergeant Saunderson, when in the ranges near Wheogo, saw a man on
+horseback who rode away as they approached. The police followed him up
+the steep gully, and when he was near the top four other men joined him
+from behind the trees and made off too. The police followed so rapidly
+that a packhorse which one of the men was leading broke away and they
+had not time to recover him. The police seized the packhorse, but the
+men got away. On the captured horse were found about 1500 oz. of gold,
+a policeman's cloak, and two carbines which were identified as having
+been among those with which the troopers of the escort had been armed.
+It may be remarked _en passant_ that no more of the property stolen in
+this robbery was ever recovered.
+
+Some weeks later the police succeeded in apprehending Alexander
+Fordyce, John Bow, Henry Manns, John McGuire, and Daniel Charters, and
+these were committed for trial for having been concerned in the escort
+robbery. Charters turned approver, and his evidence given at the trial
+may be taken as a substantially true account of the method by which the
+robbery was effected; although, of course, due allowance must be made
+for the apparent efforts of the witness to minimise his own share in
+the crime.
+
+Charters lived with his parents at Humbug Creek and knew the country
+well. One day Frank Gardiner met him near the Pinnacle and compelled
+him to lead the way across the ranges to Eugowra. Johnny Gilbert and
+Alick Fordyce were driving several spare horses which the gang had
+collected. They camped near the Lachlan River and Gilbert went into
+the town of Forbes, the centre of the Lachlan River diggings. It was
+Sunday, and on his return to the camp Gilbert reported that he had had
+great difficulty in purchasing guns and an axe. There was only one
+store in the town in which guns were sold, and that was shut. He had
+knocked the store-keeper up, however, and persuaded him to supply him
+with what he wanted. On the next morning the gang rode as straight as
+possible across the ranges, Gilbert going ahead with Charters to cut
+the fences on Mr. Roberts' sheep run to enable them to pass through.
+They camped for the night between the Eugowra Rocks and Campbell's
+station. On the morning of June 15th, 1862, they tied their horses to
+saplings near the camp and walked down to the rocks. Manns was sent
+to McGuire's shanty at the crossing place for a bottle of Old Tom, a
+loaf of bread, and some cooked meat. Fordyce took too much gin and
+went to sleep, and Gardiner shook him roughly and told him that if he
+didn't wake up he'd "cut his---- rations short." Later Gardiner sent
+Charters to see if the horses were all right, and told him to stop
+at the camp and mind them, adding "You're no---- good here. You're
+too---- frightened of your skin." Soon afterwards he heard firing and
+about an hour later the bushrangers came up leading the coach horses.
+They had packed the gold on these horses. They wiped out and reloaded
+their guns, and in doing so it was found that Fordyce's gun had not
+been discharged. Gardiner turned on the young man fiercely and said,
+"You---- coward, you were too much afraid to fire,---- you. I'll cut
+your---- rations short for this." They saddled up their horses and
+started across the ranges.
+
+The escort was under the command of Sergeant Condell. It left Forbes
+about noon, Constable John Fagan driving. The other constables were
+Henry Moran and William Haviland. When they came to the Eugowra Rocks,
+near the crossing over Mandagery Creek, they found two bullock teams
+so placed across the road, which bends sharply as it approaches the
+ford, that the escort cart had to be driven close to the rocks. The
+teams belonged to two bullock drivers who had been made prisoners, and
+had evidently been there for some time, as the bullocks were lying
+down chewing the cud. To pass these teams the coach had to approach
+the rocks at an angle, and as it was passing a volley was fired and
+Constable Moran fell. The horses, frightened at the noise and flash
+of the guns, bolted, but the cart was overturned through the wheels
+colliding with a spur of the rocks. This threw the other constables
+out and prevented them from making any effective resistance. As the
+cart capsized, seven armed men, dressed in red shirts and with their
+faces blackened, sprang from behind the rocks shouting, "Shoot the----
+wretches." The police fired their carbines and then surrendered. The
+robbers having re-packed their plunder were led by Charters to the
+place from whence they had started, near the Pinnacle, where the gold
+and money was roughly divided, and the party separated.
+
+Constable Moran had sufficiently recovered from his wound to be present
+at the trial and to give his evidence. The first jury disagreed and was
+discharged, but at the second trial on February 23rd, 1863, Fordyce,
+Bow, and Manns were convicted and sentenced to death. Charters was
+acquitted according to promise, and McGuire was also acquitted on the
+charge of being concerned in the robbery, but was afterwards convicted
+of aiding and abetting the bushrangers, and was sentenced to a term of
+imprisonment. Subsequently the capital sentences on Fordyce and Bow
+were commuted to imprisonment for life, and only Manns was hung. The
+execution was terribly bungled. The rope was too short for a tall,
+slim youth like Manns, and he struggled violently. Seeing no prospect
+of death within a reasonable time. Dr. West instructed the hangman to
+raise the body and let it drop again, and this proved effectual. The
+prolonged sufferings of the criminal must, however, have been very
+severe.
+
+From the date of this daring robbery the "Gardiner gang of bushrangers"
+was the principal topic of conversation in New South Wales. After a
+lull of several years a new era of bushranging had started, and it
+lasted altogether for about ten years before it was finally suppressed.
+For some time the robberies which were reported almost every day were
+all attributed to Frank Gardiner, but, as was subsequently proved,
+unjustly. Gardiner had made his _coup_ and retired, but it was some
+time before either the police or the public became aware of this fact.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+  Johnny Gilbert; His First Appearance in Australia; Miscellaneous
+  Bushranging Exploits; Mr. Robert Lowe Makes a Stand; Mr. Inspector
+  Norton Captured by the Bushrangers; A Plucky Black Boy; "Mine know
+  it, Patsy Daly like it, Brudder;" A Brave Boy; O'Meally Shoots Mr.
+  Barnes; A Bootless Bushranger; Capture of John Foley; Something about
+  the Foley Family; Ben Hall.
+
+
+Next to Frank Gardiner, the man most frequently spoken of in connection
+with bushranging at this time was Johnny Gilbert, alias Roberts. He
+was one of the gang charged with assisting in the robbery of the gold
+escort at Eugowra Rocks, but who had not been captured. He was born in
+Canada, and emigrated with his uncle, John Davis, to Victoria, shortly
+after the discovery of gold there. Davis, it appears, soon became
+tired of gold digging, and went to Sydney, where he opened an hotel at
+Waverley. On April 6th, 1854, he was found dead in his private room,
+and his nephew, then known as Roberts, about seventeen years of age,
+was arrested and charged with the murder. He was acquitted and left
+Sydney. He was arrested in the Goulburn district, some time later,
+charged with horse-stealing, and sent to gaol. He is supposed to have
+made acquaintance with Gardiner during their imprisonment on Cockatoo
+Island. Roberts made an attempt to escape from the island, but was
+recaptured and was punished by Captain McLerie, the visiting justice.
+When liberated, after having served his sentence, he disappeared for
+a time, and was next heard of in connection with the escort robbery.
+It soon became evident to all thinking persons, that there were more
+bushrangers abroad than those connected with "the Gardiner gang."
+Robberies were reported almost every day, and over a wider range
+of country than it was possible for one gang to travel over. These
+robberies were of the most varied character.
+
+One day Henry Stephens, innkeeper, near Caloola, was in his bar when
+three men walked in and called for brandy. He served them. When they
+had drunk their liquors they went into the breakfast room and sat
+down. There were present at the table Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, Mr.
+Young, and the three strangers. While the meal was progressing one
+of the strangers went out. He returned almost immediately, pistol
+in hand, driving the man servant in before him. Mr. Stephens jumped
+up, exclaiming "Hullo, what's up now?" when the bushranger fired
+and shot him in the mouth. The other two visitors rose, and ordered
+Mrs. Stephens to "hand out the cash." As she refused they searched
+everywhere, breaking open boxes, smashing the furniture, and even
+refusing to allow the poor woman to lift her baby from its overturned
+cradle, under which it was in danger of being smothered. They took
+away about £20 in cash, and a few small articles. As soon as they left
+Mr. Stephens was conveyed to the hospital at Bathurst for surgical
+treatment. Of course this outrage was attributed to "Gardiner's gang,"
+but it was subsequently proved that the robbers had no connection with
+the ex-butcher.
+
+On December 10th, 1862, Charles Foley and John Brownlow robbed Daniel
+O'Brien's inn at Laggan. Another man stood on guard at the door. They
+tied Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien, and put a bag over O'Brien's head to prevent
+him from calling out. Foley searched the place, but only succeeded
+in finding "ten bob." Mrs. O'Brien, hoping to induce them to leave
+quietly, offered to give them £4 10s. which she had in her pocket, but
+Foley said "We want more than that." They ransacked the place, and at
+last found a roll of about fifty £1 notes which Mr. O'Brien had thrown
+among some empty casks in a back room on seeing them approaching the
+place. As they were well-known in the district they were soon arrested,
+and on February 9th, 1863, were sentenced to seven years' penal
+servitude.
+
+At the same Sessions, Alexander and Charles Ross and William O'Connor
+were convicted of the attack on Mr. Stephens. They had also robbed Mr.
+William Webb's store at Fish River, and committed some other outrages.
+They were condemned to death and were hung in March, 1863.
+
+George Willison and Frederick Britton stuck up the Hartley mail near
+the Woodside Inn, about five miles from Bathurst, on November 16th,
+1862. The driver, Owen Malone, and a passenger, Arundell Everett, were
+taken off the road, their hands tied behind them, and they were laid on
+the ground on their faces while the robbers searched the letters. While
+thus lying side by side, Everett whispered to his companion, "Let's
+make a rush." Malone however prudently declined, saying, "What could we
+do with our hands tied behind us? We'd only get shot." The robbers took
+about £1500 in notes from the letters and immediately mounted and rode
+into Bathurst to exchange them. They were too late, however. News of
+the robbery had reached the town, and they were arrested in the Union
+Bank while cashing the notes. They were sentenced to sixteen years'
+penal servitude, the first three years in irons. A companion who had
+kept watch while the mail was being robbed escaped.
+
+The mail coach was stuck up near Mount Victoria by Charles and James
+Mackay and George Williams. There was nothing remarkable about the
+robbery, but the bushrangers were closely followed and were captured in
+a few days. The two brothers Mackay were sentenced to fifteen years'
+and Williams to ten years' imprisonment.
+
+On January 7th, 1863, the _Yass Courier_ announced that during the week
+the Binalong mail had been again robbed, and Woodward, the driver, left
+bound to a tree. He begged hard not to be left to perish miserably
+through thirst, but the robbers laughed and rode away. He was released
+by a shepherd who happened to hear him cooeying. He was much exhausted.
+The robbers took £24 10s. and a pennyweight nugget. On the same day
+Samuel William Jacobsen, hawker, was stuck up near the Wedden Mountains
+by John Healy, who ordered him to "bail up and be quick about it unless
+you want your---- brains blown out." Jacobsen and his assistant, Henry
+Clok, were stripped and told to remain where they were for an hour
+under penalty of death. Their clothes were given back to them after
+having been searched. They dressed, and when they judged that the time
+allowed them had expired--their watches had been taken away with other
+property--they walked on. They followed the track of their waggon and
+came up to it about three miles away. The horses had been turned loose
+and were feeding near. All the drawers and boxes in the waggon had been
+broken open and ransacked, and everything of value had been stolen.
+
+During the week ending April 22nd, 1863, a large number of people were
+stuck up and robbed on the road between Marengo and Burrangong. One of
+them, William Oakes, a store-keeper, was going on his usual round among
+the Fish River farms to purchase fowls, eggs, butter, and other produce
+for his store. He was successful in hiding his money, but the robbers
+emptied his horse feed out on the ground, ripped open the saddles and
+collars of his horses, and broke all the boxes in the cart in their
+attempts to find it.
+
+On January 14th a woman was stopped at the Cherry Tree Hill, and asked
+for her money. She refused to give it up. The robbers tried to search
+her, but, being unable to find her pocket, they tore the skirt off,
+and, in spite of her cries, carried it away, leaving her to get home
+without it. They got about £3 in notes and silver. These fellows stuck
+up the Mudgee mail about an hour later. There were two passengers on
+board, a man and a woman. The man refused to give up his money, when
+one of the bushrangers said, "If you don't hand it out we'll strip
+the---- woman." As he hesitated the ruffian began to tear off her
+clothes. The man yielded. It is satisfactory to know that the amount
+obtained was small.
+
+On April 3rd the Cassilis mail was stuck up at Reedy Creek, near
+Mudgee, by two armed men. One of them remarked, after the letters had
+been gone through, "This mail never has nothing in it." Mr. Farrell,
+schoolmaster at Cassilis, who was riding beside the coach when it was
+stopped, was robbed of his gold watch and some money. He was also
+forced to exchange his horse, saddle, and bridle, for a knocked up
+horse and a very dilapidated saddle and bridle. On the following day
+Mr. Robert Lowe was driving in a buggy from Talbragar to Mudgee in
+company with Hugh McKenzie, who was on horseback, when two armed men
+ordered them to "bail up." Mr. Lowe snatched his gun from the bottom
+of the buggy, and fired. The bushrangers wheeled round and rode away,
+but had not gone far when one of them threw up his arms and fell. Lowe
+and McKenzie went over to him with the intention of taking him to the
+nearest town for treatment, but he died almost immediately. The two
+gentlemen then continued their journey to Slapdash, where they gave
+information to the police and were informed that Messrs. A. Brown,
+J.P., and Alexander Dean had just reported that they had been robbed
+near the same place by two men, one of whom was riding Mr. Farrell's
+horse. Sergeant Cleary and a trooper with two black trackers, Tommy and
+Johnny Bein Bar, followed the other bushranger for 260 miles and caught
+him near Coonamble. He was brought to Mudgee, tried and convicted,
+and sent to gaol for ten years. At the inquest on the man Heather a
+verdict of justifiable homicide was returned, and Mr. Lowe was highly
+complimented for his prompt action. He was afterwards awarded a gold
+medal by the New South Wales Government for his bravery in resisting
+bushrangers.
+
+One day Master Willie Cadell was sent by his mother on a message
+a short distance away from Mudgee. He walked his pony up the hill
+outside the township, and was about to start in a canter when a mounted
+man dashed in front and shouted "Stop." The pony was frightened by
+the shout and bolted for a short distance, the bushranger galloping
+alongside threatening the boy with instant death if he did not pull up.
+At length the pony was brought under control, when the robber said,
+"I don't want to hurt you, but you must come with me." He led the boy
+to a clump of trees where Mr. Smith, of Appletree Flat, and two other
+men were lying tied on the ground. The bushranger told Willie that he
+would not tie him if he promised not to run away, adding, "If you break
+your word I'll put a bullet through you." The boy promised and went
+and sat down on a fallen tree. The bushranger took Willie's pony "to
+spare" his own horse. As he walked past Mr. Smith, he gave the tied
+man a kick, and said roughly, "You stopped me robbing the mail before,
+but I'll keep you quiet this time." He mounted the pony and went back
+to the road. Presently he returned with two other men whom he tied and
+robbed. He fired several shots from his revolver at a mark on a tree,
+"for practice" as he told Willie Cadell. Then he went back to the road
+again. He soon returned with two more men, who were treated as the
+others had been. There were now seven men and a boy held prisoners
+under the clump of trees by one man. The robber had also stopped Mr.
+Robinson, with two stock-riders, and had ordered them to round up the
+mob of fat cattle they were driving and remain on the flat until after
+the mail passed. Occasionally he would say to his prisoners: "The mail
+will soon be here now; then you can all go." He kept continually riding
+from the road to where his prisoners were and back. About half-an-hour
+after capturing his last two prisoners the mail coach turned off the
+road and came into the clump of timber, the bushranger riding behind
+and directing the driver where to go. There were four male and two
+female passengers. The women were told to go under a tree, and to "sit
+down and be quiet." The men were searched and tied. Then the bushranger
+coolly sat down and went through the letters. When he had finished he
+mounted the pony, and took the bridle of his own horse in his hand.
+"Youngster," he said to Willie Cadell, "you'll find your pony by the
+road." He then rode away. Young Cadell, who had replied "All right,"
+began to untie the prisoners as soon as the robber was outside the
+clump. When all were loosed they walked out to the road. The pony was
+hitched to a tree and the robber seated on his own horse was waiting a
+short distance away. He asked them whether they were all right, and on
+being answered in the affirmative, raised his hat politely, said, "Good
+evening, ladies and gentlemen," and cantered away. The mail-man stopped
+to gather up the torn and scattered letters, while Messrs. Smith
+and Martin walked to Mudgee to inform the police, and Willie Cadell
+cantered away to perform the errand on which his mother had sent him.
+
+The coolness with which this robber had acted throughout induced the
+belief among the public that he was no common amateur bushranger, but
+a member of the Gardiner gang. In fact it was said that he was no
+other than Johnny Gilbert himself. The _Goulburn Chronicle_ reported
+about this time that Gardiner and his gang had paid a visit to the
+Muswellbrook district, and suggested that one of them had committed
+this robbery on the way back to their own district. This, however,
+was disproved later, and it was then believed that the robber was
+one of the numerous young men who "turned out" with the intention of
+joining the gang and endeavoured to do something on the road to prove
+themselves worthy of being accepted as comrades by the redoubtable
+bushrangers. It was the custom of the time to attribute all highway
+robberies to Gardiner and his gang, but it is doubtful whether any
+of those recorded in this chapter so far were perpetrated by actual
+members of the gang. It was a time of intense excitement, and many of
+the more or less criminally disposed among the youth of the colony
+felt themselves impelled to take to the road and rob somebody. Some of
+these were captured; others were disillusionised and went back to their
+farms; while others either did join the gang or continued bushranging
+as independent parties. The next story, published a few days later, was
+that of the sticking up of the Mudgee mail on the Bathurst-Sydney Road,
+near the Big Hill, about sixteen miles from Bowenfels. Mr. Henry Edward
+Kater, manager of the local branch of the Australian Joint Stock Bank,
+was a passenger, and he had with him £5000 worth of old notes, which he
+was taking to Sydney to be destroyed at the head office of the bank.
+The bushrangers had received notice from some source that these notes
+were on the coach, and asked for them. Mr. Kater replied that they were
+valueless, as the numbers had been cancelled. "Never mind," replied
+the bushranger. "We can make a bonfire of them as well as you can."
+Mr. Kater declined to give them up, and stooped down. The bushranger
+immediately ordered him to "sit up straight and not try to come Robert
+Lowe on them," or he would be sorry for it. This, of course, was an
+allusion to the recent shooting of the man Heather by Mr. Lowe, as
+already related. Mrs. Smith, wife of a publican at Ben Bullen, who was
+a passenger on the coach, was very much alarmed. She was seated beside
+Mr. Kater, and screamed loudly. She had £200 in her pocket. The robber
+told her to get down and stand aside, adding, "We don't rob women." She
+was only too glad to obey. She sat down on a log beside the road. The
+other passengers were then ordered to dismount, and were eased of their
+valuables. When this duty had been discharged the robbers departed,
+one of them turning back to request Mr. Kater to ask Captain Norton
+whether "his spurs were getting rusty." The robbers were well-dressed
+and splendidly mounted. No doubt was entertained anywhere that they
+belonged to Gardiner's gang. A reward of £500 was offered by the Joint
+Stock Bank for the recovery of the cancelled notes.
+
+In recording the principal robberies committed at this time by
+bushrangers who were not known certainly to belong to the gang, I have
+necessarily omitted to mention the robberies effected by the gang
+itself. It is now, therefore, time to return to the beginning of the
+year and take up the history of the gang itself. On New Year's Day,
+1863, races were being held at Brisbane Valley on the Fish River,
+when Frederick Lowry and John Foley made a daring attempt to stick up
+the crowd, numbering more than one hundred persons. A man named Foran
+refused to be tied when called on to come out and was immediately shot
+by Lowry. Although he was wounded in the lungs Foran rushed forward
+and grappled with Lowry. Several other men came to his assistance, and
+Lowry was overpowered, while Foley, who had been engaged in tying the
+men, jumped on his horse and got away. Lowry was locked up in a room
+behind the bar of the publican's booth, but the booth was a mere shell,
+and he contrived to escape before the police came.
+
+On February 27th Mr. Cirkel, publican at Stony Creek, Burrangong, was
+called out of his house and shot dead, after having been accused of
+having given information to the police. It was said that the men who
+committed this crime were Gardiner, Gilbert, O'Meally, and another
+whose name was not known. O'Meally was said to have fired the fatal
+shot. The party of bushrangers rode on to Mr. Myers Solomon's store
+at the "Big Wombat." Mr. Solomon, seeing them coming, attempted to run
+away, but was followed and brought back. A lad in the store vaulted
+over the counter and snatched a pistol from the belt of one of the
+bushrangers while the dispute was going on as to whether Solomon should
+be shot for attempting to "betray" them to the police. Another of the
+bushrangers immediately put his pistol to Mrs. Solomon's head and said
+to the boy, "If you fire I'll blow her brains out." The boy looked
+undecided. The bushranger cocked his pistol and swore that if the boy
+did not return the weapon he had taken the woman should die. The boy
+then stepped forward, laid the revolver on the counter, and said,
+"If it wasn't for Mrs. Solomon I'd stop your---- run anyhow." He was
+immediately knocked down and kicked.
+
+The _Lachlan Observer_ of March 5th reported that Mr. Inspector Norton,
+who had recently relieved Sir Frederick Pottinger as head of the police
+force in the district, had been captured by the bushrangers. Captain
+Norton had been in pursuit of the robbers, and was returning from a
+long ride through the ranges, accompanied only by a black tracker known
+as Billy Durgan. On Sunday, 1st instant, he came suddenly on a camp
+some three or four miles from Wheogo. Billy, who was riding behind
+leading a spare horse, saw the fire first, and shouted "Here they
+are." Three of the bushrangers sprang up, mounted their horses, and
+came towards the officer. Billy advised him to "bolt," but the captain
+shook his head and replied "No good, Billy. Horse too much knock up."
+"Mine stop it too," said Billy. O'Meally and Patrick Daly fired as they
+approached, and Norton returned the fire until his revolver was empty,
+when he said "I surrender." Daly cried "Throw down your arms," and as
+Norton threw away his revolver another man galloped up and fired at
+him. At that moment Billy, the black boy, seeing the danger Norton was
+in, gave a yell, jumped off his horse, and threw his empty pistol in
+the bushranger's face. By this plucky act Billy no doubt saved Captain
+Norton's life, but the bushranger turned and fired at the black. Billy,
+however, kicked off his boots, sprang behind a tree, and shouted "Come
+on, you----." O'Meally replied, "We'll wallop you, you young----,
+when we catch you." At which threat Billy laughed, and replied "You
+catchem first." Daly and the other bushranger chased him, but Billy
+dodged about from tree to tree with all the agility of the black,
+pelting sticks at them, and laughingly telling them to "come on."
+The bushrangers fired at him several times, but with no effect, and
+at length gave up the chase and returned to where O'Meally was still
+guarding Captain Norton. After a consultation aside the bushrangers
+told the captain that they had mistaken him for Trooper Holliston. They
+intended to "do for" the trooper the first time they caught him. They
+detained the captain for about three hours, treating him very civilly,
+and then released him.
+
+A few days later, Daly was arrested by Sir Frederick Pottinger. He
+was a native of the district, under twenty years of age. When brought
+up and charged at the police court, Captain Norton failed to identify
+him, but Billy Durgan exclaimed, when called upon for his evidence:
+"Mine know it, Patsy Daly like it brudder." Daly was placed on trial
+for having, in company with others, robbed Myers Solomon, store-keeper,
+of property, including money, horses, guns, revolvers, clothing, food,
+&c., to a large amount. George Johnson identified Daly as the man who
+had knocked the boy down and kicked him when he placed the revolver
+on the counter. Johnson called Daly a coward, and was told to keep
+quiet unless he wanted his "---- brains blown out." Johnson replied:
+"I'd like to meet you man to man fairly." Another of the bushrangers
+asked: "Will you stand up and fight me if I give you a pistol?" Johnson
+replied, "Yes," and stepped forward. The third bushranger, however,
+ordered him back, and told his mates to "quit fooling." Johnson and
+the other men in the store were then made to lie on their faces, with
+a bushranger over them on guard, while the other bushrangers selected
+what they wanted, packed it in bundles, and strapped it on the pack
+horses. While thus employed, the bushranger who had challenged Johnson
+kicked him in the ribs savagely, and told him to keep still. The
+other persons present gave their versions of the occurrence, but they
+differed little from what has been recorded above. Daly was convicted,
+and was sentenced to fifteen years' penal servitude.
+
+On March 30th, two men called at James Brown's hut at Wallenbeen
+and asked for something to eat. Brown told his wife to give them
+some breakfast. It may be necessary to remark that such hospitality
+is common in Australia. Having eaten as much as they required, the
+travellers demanded Brown's hat and boots. After some dispute these
+were handed over. The boots were too small, and the man who wanted
+them took out his pocket-knife to cut them, when his mate said, "Oh,
+come on; we'll get plenty at McKay's." They left the boots, went
+out, mounted their horses, and rode away. They had only gone a few
+yards when they met Mr. Barnes, a store-keeper at Cootamundra, and
+his assistant, Mr. Hanlow, who was in charge of a branch store at
+Murrumburrah. The travellers ordered Barnes to "bail up." Barnes said,
+"I know you, O'Meally," and O'Meally replied, "I know you, you----.
+Get off that horse; I want him." Barnes wheeled his horse round and
+galloped away, and O'Meally followed. They galloped round the hill,
+back past the stockyard, and then down the gully out of sight among the
+trees. In the meantime, Hanlow was conducted by the other bushranger
+off the road to the stockyard, where they were soon joined by O'Meally.
+"Where's Mr. Barnes?" asked Hanlow, as the robber rode up. "Down
+there," replied O'Meally nonchalantly, pointing down the gully. "You
+haven't shot him?" inquired Hanlow anxiously. "Oh, no," replied the
+bushranger coolly, "he hit himself against a tree and tumbled off." Mr.
+Alexander McKay, the squatter who owned the stockyard, and whose house
+was not far away, had heard the galloping and shouting, and went on to
+the verandah of his house to ascertain the cause of the noise. It was
+then about half-past eleven a.m., and the day was Sunday. He saw one
+man chasing another, and thought it was a trooper after a bushranger.
+He watched them gallop down the gully, and saw the one he took to be
+a trooper shoot the other, and then wheel his horse round and gallop
+back without waiting to see whether the man who had fallen off his
+horse was dead or not. As O'Meally came nearer McKay recognised him,
+and his suspicions were aroused. He started to walk down the gully to
+the wounded man, when he was stopped by O'Meally who ordered him to
+go back and open the store, adding, "I want some boots and clothes for
+my mate. He lost his in a brush with the traps." Mr. McKay went to the
+store and gave O'Meally the things he had asked for. The bushranger
+then said he wanted fresh horses. McKay replied that the horses were
+never brought in on a Sunday and therefore he could not get them.
+"Ah," said O'Meally, "I had Chance from you. He was a good 'un. Well,
+I'll come some other time and get one." The bushrangers then went away
+and McKay and Hanlow walked down the gully to where Barnes was lying.
+They found that he was quite dead, and sent word to the nearest police
+station. An inquest was held next day, and a verdict of wilful murder
+was returned against O'Meally and another man whose name was unknown.
+
+A day or two later Mr. Frank was riding from Lambing Flat (Burrangong)
+to Yass, when he was stopped by seven men whose faces were hidden by
+black crape veils. They ordered him to "shell out." "I've only thirty
+bob, boys," he replied. One of the robbers said "Oh, keep it. You'll
+want that to take you home again." Some of the others said that they
+knew him and he wasn't "a bad sort," so he could go. They asked him if
+he had seen any police on the road, and added that they wished to "meet
+the---- traps." After several minutes spent in conversation they rode
+off and Mr. Frank continued his journey.
+
+Shortly after this Constables McDonald, Lee, and Nicholls traced John
+Foley to Mackay's Hotel, Campbell's River, with the aid of a black
+tracker. McDonald pushed the door of the bedroom in which he was told
+Foley had been sleeping, but the man inside leaned heavily against
+it to prevent it from being opened. After a struggle McDonald forced
+his revolver through the opening and fired round the corner. He did
+not hit the man inside, but the shot forced him to give way a little.
+The constable said, "Come along, Foley. We've got you. You can't
+get away." After a moment's pause Foley replied, "All right. Don't
+shoot." He stepped back and the door swung open. The police rushed in
+and handcuffed him. He was taken to Bathurst, where he was charged
+with having looted Mrs. Anne Webb's store at Mutton Falls, and with
+having aided and abetted other bushrangers in several robberies on
+the highway and elsewhere. During the trial it was noticed that Mrs.
+Foley, the prisoner's mother, was passing in and out of the court and
+communicating with the witnesses who had been ordered out of court.
+She was cautioned, but as she persisted in spite of the efforts of the
+police, she was ordered to be locked up for contempt of court. Timothy
+Foley, a brother of the accused, was also committed for contempt of
+court, and was threatened with prosecution for perjury for his attempts
+to prove an alibi. The prisoner was convicted and was sentenced to
+fifteen years' imprisonment, the first three years in irons. Another
+brother, Francis Foley, was sentenced at the same sessions to ten
+years' imprisonment for having raided the Chinese Camp at Campbell's
+River. Henry Gibson was also arraigned for bushranging. He admitted
+that he had been overseer on Ben Hall's station, but denied that he
+had ever joined Gardiner's gang. He was acquitted by the jury, and the
+verdict was received with some applause. As soon as order had been
+restored, the judge remarked that it would perhaps add to the general
+satisfaction if he informed the court that the prisoner would not go
+free in spite of his acquittal. He had before him a document which
+proved that the prisoner was an escaped convict from Victoria, and
+would therefore be detained until he could be returned to that colony
+to finish his sentence.
+
+Hitherto the gang had continued to be known as "Gardiner's Gang,"
+although it had been repeatedly asserted in the press that Gardiner
+had taken no share in the later robberies, and that in fact he had
+retired from "the profession" several months ago. It was said that
+notwithstanding the vigilance of the police, Gardiner had succeeded
+in escaping from New South Wales, taking with him the wife of a
+respectable farmer in the Burrangong district named Brown. The reports,
+however, were very contradictory. Sometimes it was said that he had
+gone to New Zealand. Then that he had made his way to California or to
+South America. In the meantime the gang continued to be as active as
+ever under the leadership of Johnny Gilbert and Ben Hall.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+  Racers as Mounts for the Bushrangers; The Shooting of Lowry; The ----
+  Bushrangers visit Bathurst; They hold the Town of Canowindra for
+  Three Days; Burke Shot by Mr. Keightley; Female Bushrangers; Death of
+  O'Meally at Goimbla; A Newspaper Man and his Wife Stuck Up; Lively
+  Times During the Christmas Holidays.
+
+
+The chief necessity for a successful career as a bushranger was a
+good supply of racehorses, and hence it was almost impossible for any
+person to keep a really valuable saddle horse during this "Reign of
+Terror," as the newspapers of the district called it. Special raids
+were organised by members of the gang to obtain a supply of horses,
+and the bushrangers frequently travelled upwards of two hundred miles
+to secure a horse which had made a name on the turf. Thus on May
+18th Harry Wilson, trainer for Mr. Allen Hancock, was exercising the
+racer Jacky Morgan, within sight of the police station in the town of
+Burrowa, when Gilbert rode up and said "I want that horse." "For God's
+sake don't ruin me, Johnny," exclaimed the jockey. "Hold your---- jaw
+and get off," was the reply, as the bushranger brought out his ready
+revolver. The robber specially cautioned Wilson not to "sing out" so
+that the police could hear, or he'd "be sorry for it," and in spite of
+his remonstrances the jockey was compelled to dismount and walk home to
+inform his employer. Mr. Hancock told him to saddle another horse. He
+then took down his gun carefully, wiped and loaded it, and went away
+swearing that he would never return until he had recovered Jacky Morgan.
+
+Gilbert also took a racer out of Mr. Hammond's stables at Junee. He
+stole the racers Chinaman and Micky Hunter from the stables of Mr.
+J. Roberts at Currawang. When leading Micky Hunter out of his stall
+Gilbert patted his neck and said, "You're the---- cove we want." Old
+Comus and several other horses were taken out of Mr. Iceley's stables
+at Coombing. The old horse had had a good career on the course, and
+had been set apart for stud purposes, and Mr. Iceley offered a large
+sum to the bushrangers to leave him alone, but Gilbert said, "There's
+a good gallop in him yet," and led him away. But the bushrangers did
+not devote their whole time to capturing race horses. Robberies on
+the highway continued as frequently as usual. The police, however,
+were not idle. In August, Sergeant James Stephenson, Constable Herbst,
+and Detectives Camphin and Saunderson traced Lowry to Thomas Vardy's,
+Limerick Races Hotel, at Cook's Vale Creek. When asked if there were
+any lodgers there, Vardy pointed to the door of one of the bedrooms
+and replied, "Yes, one there." Stephenson knocked at the door, but
+there was no reply. The sergeant knocked again and called out "Come out
+Lowry, it's no use." As no answer was returned, the sergeant placed
+his shoulder against the door, and tried to burst it open. Immediately
+some one inside fired a pistol, the bullet from which passed through
+the panel of the door between the two policemen. Stephenson again
+called on Lowry to come out or it would be "the worse for him," and
+the bushranger replied "I'll fight you, you----. All of you." He again
+fired through the door, and the bullet wounded one of the police
+horses tied to the verandah. Sergeant Stephenson called on Vardy to
+take the horses to a safe place, and when they were out of sight, he
+and Constable Herbst again tried to force the door by leaning their
+combined weight against it. Suddenly Lowry threw the door open, and the
+sergeant almost fell into the room. The bushranger shouted "Come on,
+you---- I'll fight you fair," and fired. The police returned the fire.
+Stephenson, who was inside the room, took steady aim and pulled the
+trigger. The robber fell, saying "I'm done for! Where's the priest?"
+The police arrested Vardy and all his family, as well as a man named
+Larry Cummins, who was in the room with Lowry, but who took no part
+in the fight. When this ceremony had been completed, Lowry was made
+as comfortable as circumstances permitted while a messenger was sent
+off to the nearest town for a doctor. For more than an hour detective
+Camphin sat by Lowry's side reading prayers from a Catholic prayer-book
+which Mrs. Vardy lent him. The robber gradually grew weaker and died.
+His last words were, "Tell 'em I died game." The police borrowed a
+cart from a farmer who lived about a mile away from the hotel, and the
+body was placed in it, covered with a blanket, and started away for
+Goulburn, where this extraordinary funeral cortège arrived the next
+day, Sunday, just as the people were leaving the churches.
+
+Frederick Lowry was a native of the district, twenty-seven years of
+age, and six feet two inches in height.
+
+In the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, on August 18th, 1863,
+Mr., afterwards Sir James, Martin moved that "the alarming state of
+insecurity of life and property which has so long prevailed through the
+country districts is in a high degree discreditable to Her Majesty's
+Ministers in this colony." Mr., afterwards Sir Charles, Cowper,
+speaking for the Government, said that the police authorities had full
+power to take all the troopers that could be spared from the more
+thickly-populated districts to the disturbed area. The discussion on
+the motion lasted for a week, when it was negatived by forty-four to
+eighteen votes. The Government was in fact doing all that it could
+reasonably be expected to do to preserve order, and this was generally
+recognised, although the Press continued to urge that more energetic
+measures should be adopted, and bushranging stamped out at any cost.
+The success of the bushrangers was largely due to the nature of the
+country, with the features of which they were perfectly familiar. Had
+there been double the number of police in the district it is barely
+probable that the outbreak could have been put down much more quickly
+than it was. The police showed remarkable bravery, but they were unable
+to follow the bushrangers into the ranges, with the intricacies of
+which they were unacquainted. It was not the number of bushrangers, but
+their activity, boldness, and more than all their intimate knowledge
+of the country, which enabled them to keep so extensive an area of the
+colony in a ferment for so long a time.
+
+The Carcour mail was stuck up at about a mile outside the town of
+Blaney on September 23rd. A passenger named Garland refused to "hand
+out" when ordered. He was told that if he persisted in his refusal he
+would "get a good hiding." One bushranger stood by his side holding a
+gun close to Garland's head, while another bushranger felt his pockets.
+They took out two £1 notes. The coach was then taken up the ridge to
+about 300 yards from the road. Here there was a level spot fairly clear
+of timber, and in this little plain were eight men sitting in a ring
+with a robber standing on guard over them. The coach-driver and the
+two passengers were ordered to take their seats in the ring while the
+letters were searched. They obeyed, and were detained more than an
+hour. One of the prisoners in the ring was a trooper. When the mail had
+been gone through the bushrangers, one of whom was riding Mr. Daniel
+Mayne's horse Retriever, told them they might go. Garland said "It's
+no use going without any money," whereupon a bushranger handed him ten
+shillings and told him not to growl. It was about five o'clock p.m.
+when the bushrangers rode off. They were said to be Gilbert, O'Meally,
+Burke, and another.
+
+A few days later Gilbert and O'Meally went to a cattle station some
+miles from Burrangong and rounded up the horses. A stock-rider galloped
+up and ordered them to desist. Gilbert told him that they were troopers
+and had orders from Her Majesty the Queen to take any horses they
+required. The stockman then assisted them to catch two of the best.
+
+On Saturday, October 23rd, Hall, Gilbert, O'Meally, Burke, and Vane
+walked into Mr. Perdrotta's gunsmith's shop in William Street,
+Bathurst, opposite the School of Arts, and asked to see some revolvers.
+They were shown a number, but said they were common things and no
+good. Mr. Perdrotta said he had sold out. There had been a run on
+revolvers lately on account of the bushrangers, but he expected a new
+stock up from Sydney in a few days. The robbers laughed heartily, and
+said that the bushrangers required to be looked after. They promised
+to call again in a few days. They walked up the street to McMinn's
+Hotel, and went in as the family were sitting down to tea. Miss McMinn
+recognised them and screamed. She was ordered to keep quiet, but as
+this made her scream louder the bushrangers left. The report that the
+bushrangers were in the town spread like wild-fire, and the streets
+were crowded with excited people in a few minutes. It was rumoured that
+the bushrangers had robbed Mr. De Clouett, in Piper Street, and that
+De Clouett had recognised Johnny Gilbert as a jockey who had ridden
+for him some years before. The police hastily armed and mounted, when
+suddenly the bushrangers, mounted on their horses, with revolvers in
+their hands, dashed through the crowd in Howick Street, shouting, "Two
+of us is good for forty---- troopers." The crowd scattered to let them
+pass. The bushrangers rode through the street at a gallop and left the
+town in the direction of the timbered country, avoiding the roads. The
+police followed close behind, but the bushrangers had the faster horses
+and got away.
+
+On October 17th, Mr. Robinson, of Robinson's Hotel, Canowindra, was
+awakened at about 1.30 a.m. by a loud knocking. He went to the door
+and asked, "Who's there?" The reply was, "The police." Robinson opened
+the door and was immediately ordered to "bail up." The visitors were
+Hall, Gilbert, and O'Meally, the bushrangers. Mr. Robinson gave them
+£3, which he took from a drawer, and said that was all the money he had
+in the house. He begged them to go away. They refused, and insisted on
+every one in the house getting up at once. After some delay the family
+and Mr. Kieran Cummings, a lodger, were collected in the dining-room.
+The bushrangers took charge and served out drinks all round. When time
+for opening the house came, the bushrangers stationed themselves, one
+at each end of the verandah and the third in the bar. They bailed
+up fourteen bullock-drivers who were camped near the township, and
+compelled them to leave their teams in the street as they arrived.
+The robbers took anything they required or fancied from the drays and
+marched the drivers into the dining-room of the hotel. During the
+morning, Messrs. Hibberson, Twaddell, and Kirkpatrick drove up to
+the hotel in a buggy. They were compelled to alight and go into the
+dining-room. Ben Hall, seeing that Mr. Kirkpatrick carried a revolver,
+requested him to "oblige by handing that thing over. Not that we want
+it, you know; but it might go off by accident." Mr. Kirkpatrick
+laughed, and gave him the weapon. Hall examined it carefully and said,
+"We've got better than that. We'll leave it for you at Louden's, at
+Grubbenbong, so that you may get it when you pass." Mrs. Robinson and
+the cook were released and ordered to get a "first-class dinner for
+the gentlemen, and we'll pay for it." The prisoners were well treated.
+Food was brought in at intervals, and bottles of brandy were placed on
+the table for all to help themselves as they pleased. Several boxes of
+cigars were ordered, and these were opened and the cigars thrown along
+the table. Robinson had promised not to "try any hanky panky," and was
+allowed to go to the bar. Everything ordered was paid for without delay
+or dispute. Gilbert walked to the lock-up, called out the solitary
+policeman who was stationed in the town, and made him march down to
+the hotel. Here he was given his musket, and ordered to pace up and
+down before the verandah as if on sentry duty. When they grew tired of
+showing their contempt for "the force" in this manner the gun was taken
+away and the policeman conducted into the dining-room and placed with
+the other prisoners to "enjoy himself like the rest." The robbers drank
+very little themselves. Occasionally they ordered a bottle of English
+beer, and drew the cork themselves after having examined it carefully
+to make sure that it had not been tampered with. On the Wednesday
+morning Mr. Hibberson begged hard to be allowed to go. He said that he
+and his friends had enjoyed themselves very much, and would have been
+willing to stay longer to oblige, but the river was beginning to rise,
+and if it came down as usual at that time of the year they might not be
+able to cross for a month. This would interfere seriously with their
+business. The bushrangers listened to this plea, and then withdrew.
+After a consultation which lasted several minutes, Hall came back, and
+said they thought it was "a fair thing." They were very much obliged to
+the gentlemen for their contributions towards the general amusement,
+and they graciously gave them permission to fetch their horses from
+the stable and start. An hour or so later the other persons in the
+dining-room were told that they might go. This spree must have been an
+expensive one. The bushrangers only took a few pounds to start with,
+while they paid for everything that was consumed by the crowd between
+1.30 a.m. on Monday and noon on Wednesday. At first there had been a
+feeling of restraint, caused, perhaps, by fear or uncertainty, but this
+soon wore off, and the party ended by being a very merry one. Several
+games were started. Songs were sung, and one of the bullock-drivers
+had a concertina and played dance music; several of the members of the
+party danced. The women and children were allowed to go to bed, but the
+men had to sleep with their heads on the table. The bushrangers only
+slept for short naps in turn. On leaving Canowindra the bushrangers
+rode straight to Mr. Grant's place, at Balubula, called him out, and
+accused him of having given information to the police as to their
+movements. As a punishment they burned his house, stacks, and standing
+crop.
+
+A week later, on October 24th, Hall, Gilbert, O'Meally, Vane, and Burke
+rode up to Assistant Gold Commissioner Keightley's house, at Dunn's
+Plains, near Rockley, and called on him to come out. Mr. Keightley had
+been standing on the verandah, and on seeing them coming had rushed
+in and slammed the door. As he did not obey, the bushrangers fired
+some shots at the windows. Keightley returned the fire, and Burke
+fell, crying out "I'm done for." There was very little ammunition in
+the house and when this was expended Keightley surrendered. He asked
+only that the women should not be molested. Vane swore he would avenge
+Burke by shooting Keightley. Mrs. Baldock, wife of the camp-keeper,
+who was acting as general servant at the time, rushed between the
+men and pushed Vane back, crying at the time, "Oh! don't shoot him!
+Recollect his wife and her little baby." Dr. Peechy, who was present,
+also interfered, but was knocked down with the butt of a revolver.
+Mrs. Baldock again pushed Vane away, saying, "Don't hurt the doctor.
+He never did you any harm." Vane was much excited and swore a great
+deal, but he did not even push the woman away. Presently Hall, who had
+been some distance away, came up and told Vane to keep cool. He added
+that it was impossible to say in the _mêlée_ who shot Burke. "Why,"
+he exclaimed, "I might have done it myself." After a short time order
+was restored, and the doctor then said that Burke was not dead. He
+offered to go to Rockley for his instruments and to return immediately.
+Hall said "What's the good? Better shoot him and put him out of his
+misery." A discussion followed, and at length permission was given
+to the doctor to go to his house for his instruments, after he had
+solemnly promised "not to bring the traps" on them. After the doctor's
+departure O'Meally declared his intention of taking Keightley down
+the paddock and shooting him. He told the Gold Commissioner "to come
+on," but Mrs. Keightley rushed between them and said he should shoot
+her before he took her husband away. Hall again interfered and order
+was restored. When the doctor returned he found that Burke was dead. A
+lengthy discussion took place as to what should be done with Keightley.
+O'Meally and Vane wished to shoot him. Hall and Gilbert were in favour
+of holding him to ransom, and Mrs. Keightley undertook to pay them £500
+if they would spare his life. Finally an agreement was arrived at. Mrs.
+Keightley was to ride to Bathurst and bring back the money by two p.m.
+the next day (Sunday). If she failed to return at that time, or brought
+any one back with her, her husband and Doctor Peechy were to be shot.
+The distance from Rockley to Bathurst was twenty-five miles, but Mrs.
+Keightley started without misgiving. The bushrangers refused to stop
+in the house during the night in case of surprise. They took their
+prisoners and camped with them on a knoll, some distance away, from
+the top of which they had a good view of the Bathurst Road for several
+miles. This they declared would give them time to shoot their hostages
+and ride away if treachery was attempted. Mrs. Keightley obtained
+the necessary amount of money from her father, Mr. Rolton, M.L.A.,
+and returned home an hour before the stipulated time. She handed the
+money to Ben Hall, who complimented her on her endurance and pluck.
+Then Mr. Keightley and Dr. Peechy were told that they were free, and
+the bushrangers mounted and rode off. When this outrage was reported,
+the rewards offered for the capture, dead or alive, of Hall, Gilbert,
+O'Meally, and Vane, were increased to £1000, while £100 was offered for
+the capture of any other of their accomplices.
+
+A bullock-driver left Burrangong, after having disposed of his load
+of produce, and camped near the Burrangong Creek, a few miles from the
+diggings, when three men with blackened faces, and further disguised
+with spectacles, called on him. They demanded the £45 which he had
+received in payment for his load, proving that they had somehow
+established a very effective system of espionage in the diggings.
+He admitted that that was the sum for which he had sold his load,
+but denied having the money, asserting that he had paid it away.
+They disbelieved him, and searched him and his dray, shaking out his
+blankets and tarpaulin. They found about £3 in notes and silver, and
+went off with it. The bullock-driver had been too wide awake for them.
+He had heard them coming along the road, and knowing how the district
+was infested with robbers, had hastily thrust his roll of notes under a
+log near his camp fire.
+
+Peter Toohey was driving the mail coach on the road between Burrangong
+and Cowra, when he was ordered to bail up by three armed men. Instead
+of obeying he lashed his horses into a gallop, and did not pull up
+until he reached Mr. Allen's station at Wattamundera. The bushrangers
+followed for a mile or more and snapped their revolvers at him, but
+they were either not loaded or missed fire. In recording this event the
+_Burrangong Courier_ remarked that this was probably the fastest three
+miles on record for a "Cobb's coach." This, however, is very doubtful.
+The _Courier_ does not give the time, but some very tall tales of
+coach-racing have been given in the Victorian newspapers of the races
+run by opposition coaches on the roads from Melbourne to Bendigo and
+from Geelong to Ballarat in early diggings days.
+
+The same paper reported that Constable Clark chased and captured two
+supposed bushrangers near Marengo on August 30th. When they reached
+the lock-up they were identified as Kate Meally and Elizabeth Mayhew.
+They were detained, but the next morning Sergeant Monaghan asked the
+magistrate to discharge the prisoners, as he had ascertained from
+enquiries that the girls only went out "for a bit of a spree in their
+brothers' clothes."
+
+Mr. David Henry Campbell was sitting in his house on the Goimbla sheep
+station on the evening of November 19th when he heard footsteps on
+the verandah. Being suspicious as to the character of the visitors,
+he seized his gun and retreated to an inner room, while his brother
+William retired by another door. Mrs. Campbell was in the bedroom.
+The bushrangers came to the front door, and fired into the room. Mr.
+Campbell returned the fire, and the bushrangers retreated. They went
+to the stackyard, and fired the barn and haystack. They then returned
+to the house, which was illuminated by the blazing of the barn and
+stack. Mrs. Campbell came out of the bedroom, and spoke a few words to
+her husband. Then she crossed the front parlour in full view of the
+bushrangers, took a second gun and a powder flask from the corner, and
+returned to her husband. The bushrangers fired at her, but missed,
+and they then retreated along the verandah to where the shadow cast
+by the blazing stack concealed them. After waiting a few minutes Mrs.
+Campbell, thinking, as she could hear no sound except the roaring of
+the flames, that the bushrangers had gone away, stealthily crossed the
+front room and peeped out of the window. She saw three men standing
+near the stackyard, and went back to inform her husband. Mr. Campbell
+immediately left the house by the back door, crept gently along the
+fence, taking care to keep in the shadow, and approached the men as
+closely as possible without giving them the alarm. He recognised the
+man nearest to him as O'Meally, and fired. O'Meally fell. Almost at the
+same moment the police, having seen the reflection of the fire miles
+away, and had ridden over to ascertain its cause, came galloping up.
+Hall and Gilbert, the two other bushrangers, hastily mounted their
+horses and went off under cover of the darkness. O'Meally's body was
+conveyed to Bathurst, where an inquest was held, and a verdict of
+justifiable homicide was returned. The _Bathurst Times_ reported that
+locks of O'Meally's hair were being shown about and sold in the town,
+and protested against it. The paper said that the authorities had no
+right to allow this desecration of the body, even of a bushranger and
+murderer. "The police," it added, "would not have dared to touch his
+hair had he been alive. Probably Pottinger and the army of troopers
+that swarmed round Goimbla when the danger was passed each took a lock
+of his hair _in memoriam_ when their enemy lay prostrate and dead." A
+public meeting was held in Sydney on March 3rd to consider what means
+should be adopted to recognise the bravery of Mr. Campbell in daring to
+resist the bushrangers and shooting O'Meally. A number of prominent men
+gave addresses, and it was resolved that a public subscription should
+be taken up to recoup him for the loss of his barn and stacks. The
+amount collected at the meeting and during a few days after totalled
+£1100. Mr. Campbell was also awarded a gold medal by the Government.
+
+The violent deaths of Lowry, Burke, and O'Meally, in so short a time,
+seemed to have very little effect on the gang, which continued its
+depredations. Neither did these deaths prevent other young men from
+adopting the "profession of bushranger." In fact the deaths of a few
+bushrangers appear to have had less effect in deterring the criminally
+disposed from taking to the roads than the immunity enjoyed by the
+leaders offered encouragement. Bushranging was increasing instead of
+diminishing, although for a few months very little was heard of the
+Hall and Gilbert Gang. There was also some comedy mingled with the
+prevailing tragedy. For instance, a blackfellow met Alexander Sinclair,
+near Killoshiel, and enquired how far it was to Bathurst? Sinclair
+told him, and was immediately ordered to "get off that horse." The
+rider hesitated, but the darkey pushed him off the saddle, sprang
+into it himself, and galloped away threatening to shoot Sinclair if
+he followed, although it is very doubtful whether he had any arms on
+him. The same blackfellow took possession of another horse in a similar
+manner a few hours later some miles along the road. He rode both horses
+until they knocked up, and then abandoned them. They were afterwards
+found feeding in the bush with their saddles and bridles still on. It
+was supposed that the blackfellow was just pining for a gallop and
+adopted this means of gratifying himself. He was not traced.
+
+Sergeant Donohoe captured William Dunne after an exciting chase through
+the ranges, and as the sergeant did not know his way back to the high
+road, he compelled his prisoner to lie down and waited patiently until
+some other policemen went out in search of him. Neither the sergeant
+nor his prisoner had any food for forty-eight hours. The police also
+captured George Bermingham. This man was a printer, born in Sydney, and
+was twenty-one years of age. When taken he was full of braggadocio,
+boasted loudly of the number of people he had stuck up, and talked
+familiarly of Vane and Johnny Gilbert. He laughed at the idea of Ben
+Hall having been shot as had been rumoured, and said, "Wait till he's
+spent the five hundred quid he got from Keightley, and you'll soon hear
+of him again." Sergeant Donohoe said he had followed Dunne because he
+recognised the magnificent chestnut horse he was riding as one ridden
+by the robbers of the Cooma mail. Dunne and Bermingham were sent to
+gaol for ten years for having been concerned in this robbery.
+
+In the last week of November, Hall and Gilbert stuck up the Burrowa
+mail. Hall expressed his disgust at the number of cheques found in
+the letters, and requested some of the passengers to cash them. As no
+one volunteered to oblige him he continued--"If I thought it would
+injure them (the people who posted cheques presumably) I'd burn the----
+lot." The two bushrangers sat down to open the letters, leaving the
+passengers perfectly free. Gilbert took up one letter which had a black
+border and laid it aside unopened, with the remark "We must respect
+death." In one of the letters a piece of wedding cake was found, and
+Gilbert proposed that they should eat it, but Hall objected, saying
+"It may be a trap." This caution was common to all the bushrangers.
+They were in constant dread of being poisoned, and were therefore very
+cautious as to what they ate or drank. One of the passengers, Mr.
+Robert Handley, described the two bushrangers as being well-dressed,
+healthy looking, and very civil.
+
+The following morning Hall and Gilbert went to Coffey's Inn, near
+Burrowa, and ordered breakfast. When they had finished their meal they
+walked out on to the road and stopped every one who passed, compelling
+them to go into the bar after handing over their money. Mr. Campbell,
+however, refused to stand when challenged. He struck spurs to his horse
+and galloped away. Hall fired at him and then rushed to the verandah
+and mounted his horse. He galloped only a short distance and then
+returned, Campbell having too good a start. The bushrangers "shouted"
+for their prisoners in the bar several times "for the good of the
+house," and paid for what they ordered. It was said that they spent
+nearly as much as they had obtained from the persons robbed.
+
+On December 16th Mr. Henry Morgan, one of the proprietors of the
+_Burrangong Star_, was driving, with his newly-married wife, between
+Bowning and Binalong, when he was ordered to bail up by Hall and
+Gilbert. Gilbert was in high spirits. He exchanged hats with Morgan,
+and put his poncho on Mrs. Morgan, declaring that she would make "a
+first-rate bushranger." The newspaper man and his wife were taken into
+the bush, and detained from eight a.m. till six p.m. During this time
+Mr. George Franklin and his wife and four bullock drays were stuck
+up. One of the bullock-drivers named Sheedy had four bottles of gin
+on his dray, and these were opened and the liquor served round. The
+robbers asked Mrs. Franklin to cook breakfast "for the crowd," taking
+the necessary provisions from the loading on the drays. During the
+afternoon a number of other persons were brought into "the camp."
+All except one man were allowed to move about freely. This one man
+was tied, and was spoken to very roughly and uncivilly. The man was
+supposed to be "a telegram," and this show of harshness "a stall." At
+six o'clock the camp was broken up, and the prisoners permitted to
+resume their journeys.
+
+This performance was repeated the next and the two following days, near
+the same spot, and although the individual losses were generally small,
+the aggregate amount of money collected must have been considerable.
+Only in one instance was any violence used. A bullock-driver named Lake
+refused to turn out his pockets. Gilbert pressed the muzzle of his
+revolver against Lake's face and said: "If you don't do what you're
+told I'll shove this down your---- mouth." Hall felt Lake's pockets
+and took out £5 in notes and some silver. At night, when released,
+Lake asked for some of his money back to pay expenses along the road.
+Gilbert replied: "If you're a---- carrier your name's good for what you
+want. If you hadn't been so ---- jolly you'd have got something. We
+always divide with them that behave themselves."
+
+In the week ending December 23rd, the Molong, the Cooma, the Tuena,
+and the Hartley mails were stuck up and robbed, proving that either
+the gang was divided or that more than one party was at work in the
+district.
+
+A party including Messrs. Sheedy, Bass, Hutchinson, and other residents
+of the district, with several ladies, when returning home from one of
+the numerous race parties held during the Christmas holidays, were
+ordered to "bail up." A lad was leading the racer Black Diamond, owned
+by Mr. Sheedy, and let him go. Ben Hall was furious. He galloped after
+the racer, swearing, and tried to head him, but failed. He came back
+and threatened the boy and Mr. Sheedy, but soon grew cool. The ladies
+were treated very civilly, but the robbers took watches and other
+valuables and all the money they could find from the gentlemen. Black
+Diamond was found safe in his stable when Mr. Sheedy reached home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+  A Heavy Sessions at Goulburn; Ben Hall Hard Pushed; An Amateur Mail
+  Robber; Discovery of Frank Gardiner; His Trial and Sentence; The Old
+  Man; A Brush with the Police; The Chinkies show Fight; Messrs. Hall
+  & Co. Take a Lease of the Main Southern Road; Capture of Mount and
+  Dunleavy; Johnny Dunn; A Desperate Duel and Death of Sergeant Parry;
+  A Country Ball and its Sequel.
+
+
+Bushranging by no means died out with the close of 1863. During the
+holidays the activity of the robbers continued, and the disease spread
+to other districts. It will, however, perhaps be better to continue the
+history of this gang, and return later on to the actions of other gangs
+elsewhere. On February 7th, 1864, Inspector Brennan and Constables
+Lovett and Roche went to a sly-grog shanty, as the places where strong
+drinks were sold without a licence were called, and captured George
+Lynam and Michael Seary. The horses of the two bushrangers were so
+exhausted with hard riding that although they mounted and rode away
+when the police came, they were soon caught, in spite of their long
+start. They were charged and convicted of having robbed a number
+of persons at William Sidwell's, Governor's Arms Hotel, Towrang,
+two miles from Goulburn, in company with James Crookwell and Daniel
+Matthews. Lynam also, in company with John Southgate, stuck up and
+robbed Thomas Cummins, Robert Sherwood, and others at Mr. Cornelius
+O'Brien's Station, near Binalong. They also stuck up Mr. Dwyer's place
+at Pudman's Creek, and after having made a bundle of all that was worth
+taking away, compelled Mrs. Ann Dwyer to cook thirty-four eggs and a
+quantity of bacon for them. They tied Dwyer, struck Mrs. Dwyer, and
+threatened to burn the place down unless they were told where the
+money was hidden. Jane Dwyer, daughter of Ann Dwyer, said that when
+they went in to search the bedroom, Lynam exclaimed, pointing to the
+crucifix, "There's Jesus Christ. He ought to be burned, and I've a
+good mind to do it." They smashed the furniture and broke open boxes
+and cupboards in their search for money. Lynam was sent to gaol for
+fifteen years, while Seary, Matthews, Crookwell, and Southgate were
+sentenced to ten years each for some offences, and to fifteen years for
+others, but as the sentences were all made concurrent all the prisoners
+were practically sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment. At the same
+sessions Charles Jones, alias William Herbert, and Frank Stanley, alias
+Wright, were sentenced to twelve years for various acts of highway
+robbery. Some of these young men were said to have assisted in some of
+the robberies effected by the Hall and Gilbert gang, and were suspected
+of being on their way to join that gang. James Hill and James Jones
+went to William Duguid's house at Mils, Twofold Bay, on March 13th, and
+stuck up all hands. It was early in the morning when they arrived, and
+they sent everybody about the place into the kitchen and then searched
+the house. Jones remained on guard while Hill went with the stockman
+to fetch up the horses. Mr. Duguid warned Jones that he expected the
+police and advised him to go before they came to avoid bloodshed. Jones
+laughed, and ostentatiously loaded the double-barrelled gun which he
+had just taken from Duguid's bedroom. Hill returned with the horses,
+and while the bushrangers were selecting the ones they liked the police
+arrived. Sub-Inspector John Garder Hussey challenged the bushrangers
+and called on them to surrender. For a minute or two the shooting was
+very brisk, but it did not last long. Jones and Hussey fell wounded
+almost simultaneously, and Hill ran away. He was followed by Constable
+Zollner and captured, while Sergeant Chandler secured Jones. The wounds
+were not very serious, but the bushrangers were sent to gaol for
+fifteen years. Ah Ling and ten other Chinese were living together in
+a hut on the Abercrombie Goldfield. On May 2nd John Taylor and Thomas
+Webb drove the Chinamen into the kitchen and called them up one by one
+to be robbed. The first victim was Ah Wee. When asked for his gold he
+replied "No savee." He afterwards said he had none. Webb got a rope,
+tied it round the Chinaman's neck, and hauled him up to a sapling beam
+which ran across the building. After hanging for several minutes Ah
+Wee was let down and asked whether he "saveed now?" He handed out his
+gold and explained at the trial that it made him "welly sick." Ah Yong,
+Ah See, and two or three others were served in the same way, and the
+others gave up their gold without further compulsion. The prisoners
+were sent to gaol for two years. The session was a remarkably heavy
+one, and the majority of the cases tried were for robbery under arms.
+
+While the police had been very successful in bringing a number of
+outsiders to justice, the better known members of the gang continued to
+keep the district alive. The _Yass Courier_ reported that nearly every
+one in the district had turned out to hunt Ben Hall, who was reported
+to have paid them a visit. The bushranger had been so hard pressed
+that he was forced to abandon Willy the Weasel, owned by Mr. Garry.
+The horse was completely knocked up, otherwise the bushranger would
+not have let him go, as he was a favourite. The stock riders of the
+district had expressed great contempt for the police, their opinions
+being summed up as follows: "They can't catch him. They don't know how
+to ride down a hill." Many of the "hills" in the district would be
+elsewhere considered almost as precipices.
+
+The _Young_ (Burrangong) _Daily Tribune_ the same week reported that
+a day or two ago Ben Hall walked alone into the stables at Groggan
+station, Bland Plains, said "Good morning, boys," and then proceeded
+coolly to tie up the three men and a boy. Having secured these to
+his entire satisfaction, he walked to the house and asked to see
+Mr. Chisholm. On that gentleman coming to the door Hall said, "Good
+morning, Mr. Chisholm. I've come for Troubadour." "You've left him
+so long you might do without him now," returned Mr. Chisholm. "Oh,"
+exclaimed Hall, "you're getting too---- flash. If you consort with
+traps you'll have to be taught manners." They walked to the stables,
+where Hall put saddles and bridles on Troubadour and Union Jack. The
+last-named had won the Champion Plate at the Wagga Wagga races on
+New Year's Day, and had only been brought home under police escort a
+day or two before. Hall also selected two other horses, which he said
+he "liked the look of," and put bridles on them. He then made Mr.
+Chisholm fill two three-bushel bags with clothing from the store, and
+these he packed on the spare horses. Then he mounted Troubadour, and
+leading the others started away. He had scarcely moved, however, before
+he pulled up again, and said to Mr. Chisholm, "That's a good looking
+watch of yours. I want it. Hand it over." Mr. Chisholm did so, and
+the bushranger then rode off. It may be explained that the reason why
+no opposition was attempted was because it was believed that Hall had
+plenty of support if he had required it. He never walked unless he was
+compelled, and it was thought that his mates with the horses were not
+far off. It was also suggested that Hall had a bad mount after he lost
+Willy the Weasel and that he did not wish to let Mr. Chisholm see him
+riding an inferior horse.
+
+The mail coach from Wagga Wagga having failed to arrive at Cootamundra
+at the usual time, on May 12th, the contractor, Mr. Burke, supposed
+that it had been stuck up somewhere along the road and rode out to
+make enquiries. At about three miles from Cootamundra he found a
+number of letters lying scattered about the road. He gathered them up
+and continued his search. At length he found the mail-man drunk in a
+public-house near Murrumburrah. The fellow had robbed the mail himself,
+no doubt with the intention of laying the blame on the bushrangers. He
+was convicted and sentenced to seven years' penal servitude.
+
+The mail was stuck up at Mumble Flat, between Orange and Wellington, on
+March 1st. A portion of the loading consisted of carbines and revolvers
+for the police, "all of which," said the _Orange Guardian_, "were borne
+off to be used against them."
+
+The Bathurst-Sydney coach was stuck up at Lapstone Hill by three armed
+men. The passengers were Michael Duffy, Constable McKay, in charge of
+a female lunatic, and three Chinamen. After having collected the money
+from the passengers and searched the letters, the robbers extinguished
+the coach lamps, took the horses out, and drove them up the hill.
+The driver waited for half an hour, as he had been ordered to do, and
+then started to catch his horses. This he managed to do with some
+difficulty, and on his return he drove on to Penrith. From thence the
+passengers and the broken mail-bags were taken to Sydney by train.
+John Forster was arrested in a house at Strawberry Hills, Sydney, and
+charged with having, with others, stuck up and robbed the mail coach
+between Penrith and Hartley at two a.m. Ah Lung, one of the passengers
+on the coach, recognised a sash which the prisoner wore round his waist
+as his property, and said he carried his money in it. Forster was sent
+to gaol for ten years.
+
+About this time great excitement was caused throughout New South Wales
+by the report that Frank Gardiner had been discovered and arrested
+by Detective McGlone on March 3rd, at Apis Creek, on the road from
+Rockhampton to the Peak Downs diggings, Queensland. Gardiner was
+keeping a shanty, or roadside store, with Mrs. Brown, who passed as
+his wife. Gardiner was brought to Sydney and duly committed for trial.
+In connection with this case Mr. (afterwards Sir) E. Deas Thompson
+laid a return on the table of the Legislative Assembly showing that
+the amount stolen by Gardiner previous to his disappearance was about
+£21,000. Of this total, £13,694 had been stolen in the robbery of the
+Lachlan Escort, and £5335 had been recovered by the police under Sir
+Frederick Pottinger. No murders were charged against Gardiner, but he
+was convicted on three counts for highway robbery. On each of these
+counts he was sentenced, on the first to twelve years and on the other
+two to ten years each. The first three years in irons in each case. The
+sentences were made cumulative, and aggregated thirty-two years. It
+will be remembered that Captain Melville, the bushranger, was sentenced
+to a similar term of imprisonment in Victoria about twelve years
+before, and there were many people in New South Wales who thought that
+Gardiner had been too harshly dealt with. Such a sentence, they said,
+deprived a man of all hope, and rendered him desperate, and they would
+not be surprised if Gardiner rebelled against it as Melville had done.
+Those who held this view were, however, in the minority. The majority
+said bushranging must be stamped out at any cost, and until this was
+effected the sentences could not be too severe.
+
+On the 20th of May Ben Hall, Gilbert, and a new recruit known as "the
+Old Man," rode up to McGregor's Inn at Bong Bong, where a number of
+men were on the verandah. The bushrangers ordered these men to "throw
+your arms up," enforcing the order with revolvers. There were some
+twenty visitors on the verandah and in the bar, and these were ranged
+along the wall in the dining room, with Hall on guard. Gilbert and
+"the Old Man" walked down the yard to the stables, where several
+racehorses were in the stalls under the charge of Constables Scott
+and Macnamara, who were escorting them to Burrangong for the races on
+Queen's birthday. Gilbert called to the constables to "leave those
+horses." The constables drew their revolvers, and fired by way of
+reply. The bushrangers fired, and Hall left the dining-room to take
+part in the scrimmage. For some minutes the shooting was very brisk,
+but no one appeared to be hurt. The police were on foot and under cover
+of the stables, but the bushrangers were mounted and in the open yard.
+Suddenly the firing ceased as if by mutual consent, and Gilbert shouted
+that they would be back presently. The bushrangers then rode away. As
+Hall went out of the gate his cabbage tree hat fell off, and a cry was
+raised that he had been hit. He rode off, however, without showing
+any symptoms of injury. Believing that the bushrangers had gone for
+reinforcements the two constables barricaded the stables, and sent a
+messenger to the nearest police depôt for assistance. About midnight
+Sir Frederick Pottinger arrived with four troopers, but the bushrangers
+did not return.
+
+On the following afternoon the mail coach was stuck up at Emu Flat,
+between Burrangong and Yass. A passenger named Michael Curran saved his
+gold watch and chain by dropping them among the straw in the bottom of
+the coach, but a valuable gold ring and £21 in notes were taken from
+him. Ben Hall also exchanged an old poncho for a valuable rug, and an
+old clay pipe for a very fine meerschaum. Some distance away Mr. Barnes
+met the coach, and the driver, J. Roberts, who knew him, warned Barnes
+that the bushrangers were on the road. Barnes laughed and went on.
+He was stopped and robbed, and as he did not hand out his money very
+readily when ordered to do so, he was very roughly treated and was
+threatened with death. Several teams were also robbed. The bushrangers
+were riding the racers Teddington, Harkaway, and Troubadour.
+
+During this "reign of terror," the Press, especially of the country
+districts, continued to urge the necessity for suppressing the "bush
+telegraphs" and other sympathisers of the bushrangers, and said that
+while so many who aided them either by giving them information of the
+movements of the police or providing them with hiding places when they
+were hard pressed were at large the police had little chance of making
+headway against the evil doers. The _Yass Courier_, for instance,
+spoke of "the wealthy relations--of the bushrangers--with whom the
+police are afraid to interfere, but whose places never have and never
+will be stuck up." The paper "perforce refrains from publishing the
+names of these people on account of the state of the libel law," but
+it charges them with "comforting and assisting the bushrangers." It
+seems difficult to understand what the police were expected to do, or
+to see what action could be taken against a settler because his place
+was not raided, and who had some more or less distant relative "on the
+roads." But this serves to show how closely the Press enquired into the
+antecedents and relationships of the bushrangers.
+
+A man, believed to be Johnny Gilbert, accompanied by a lad named
+Ryan, stopped to dinner at the Korowatha Inn. They talked freely of
+bushranging, and laughed at the report that Hall had been hit at
+McGregor's, as the newspapers had reported. They affirmed that "the
+traps could not fire straight enough to hit a haystack."
+
+On the 22nd of June, the _Bathurst Times_ said: "After an immunity
+from bushranging crimes in this district for some months, the gang has
+appeared once more and commenced operations. On the 18th, the mail
+coach for Orange and the Lachlan started an hour late from this town
+in consequence of the heavy mail. There were on board James Nairne and
+seven passengers. About eighteen miles out, near the turn-off road to
+Guyong, three men jumped out of the bush and ordered the mail-man to
+'bail up.' The coach was taken off the road, where the passengers were
+robbed and the letters torn open. The driver and passengers were then
+told that they would be detained until the down mail came. While they
+were waiting, a little boy was stopped and one pound of tea and 1s.
+6d. in money were taken from him. The boy's father, a farmer living
+near, came out to look for his son, and was run in among the crowd.
+After some dispute the tea and the 1s. 6d. were given back, but the
+father and son were compelled to remain until the other coach came by.
+The down mail, driven by John Fagan, arrived about midnight and was
+stopped. Fagan was asked what made him so late, and replied that the
+roads were bad with the rains. The letters were opened, except those
+in the registered bag, which the robbers missed. About two a.m. the
+robbers told their prisoners that they might go, and walked away." It
+was said that this was not the Gilbert and Hall gang, as the robbers
+had no horses. The police started in pursuit from Bathurst and Orange
+as soon as news of the robbery reached these towns.
+
+Ben Hall and his gang stuck up and robbed Pearce and Hillier's store at
+Canowindra, and held the town for the day as on a previous occasion.
+The following afternoon, June 23rd, they called at Mr. Rothsay's
+station, took four horses from the stables, and set fire to a stack
+containing about 14 tons of hay as a "caution to traitors."
+
+Ben Hall, Johnny Gilbert, John Dunleavy, and James Mount (hitherto
+known as "the Old Man") stuck up the Carcour and Cowra coaches. They
+then rode on to the Half-Way House Hotel and compelled the landlord to
+hand over £76. They held the road for several hours, robbing all who
+passed, and bringing them to the hotel, where they "shouted for all
+hands" several times. This time the bushrangers drank port wine. They
+took several well-bred horses from the stables. One of these got loose
+and galloped along the road. He was followed by Dunleavy, who failed to
+head him. The horse was caught next day and sent to Bathurst for safety.
+
+Two armed men endeavoured to stick up the Chinese Camp at Gilmandyke
+Creek, near Rockley. The Chinese fought bravely, returning the
+bushrangers' fire in a spirited manner with shot guns. A bushranger
+named Clayton was wounded and captured, when the other man rode away.
+The Chinese were highly commended for their pluck, and several of the
+newspapers said that they had set a good example for white men to
+follow.
+
+Hall and Mount went to Mr. Jamieson's station on the Bland River, and
+informed the proprietor that they intended to stop for the night. They
+called the men up, asked their names and how much money each one had.
+Having obtained this information they announced that they did not
+intend to take anything from any one. Possibly this decision may have
+been due to the fact that the total amount acknowledged to be in the
+possession of those present was small. Whether this was so or not,
+however, matters little. They ordered supper to be served, and made all
+present sit down to the table in the dining-room. When the meal was
+over and the table cleared, Mr. Jamieson was asked to bring out some
+rum from the store. A pint pot, filled with hot water with plenty of
+salt in it, was placed on the table, and Hall announced that if any
+one present refused to sing or to contribute in some other way to the
+general amusement, he would be compelled to swallow the contents of
+this pannikin. Then they made a night of it. In the morning half the
+men were lying on the ground in a drunken sleep, but the bushrangers
+were quite sober, having drunk very little. They spent half-an-hour
+in the stable cleaning their horses, had breakfast, and rode away,
+declaring that they had enjoyed themselves immensely, and thanking Mr.
+Jamieson for the entertainment he had afforded them.
+
+They called at the next station and took the racehorse "Plover" out of
+the stable. Mount ordered the stockman to fetch the horses out of the
+paddock, as he wanted to select one or two of the best stock-horses.
+While they were talking, the stockman moved round from Mount's right
+hand side to the left. The bushranger immediately shifted his revolver
+from the right hand to the left, remarking quietly: "I can shoot just
+as straight left-handed as right." Hall said he had enjoyed many a good
+laugh at the newspaper yarns about himself. He added that Brown's men
+were "jolly good fellows." In the evening they stuck up the Gundagai
+mail near Jugiong. When opening the letters Hall found a bulky roll of
+bank notes. "Ah!" he said, "This is what I like." He took a number
+of newspapers away with him, "just to see what they say about me."
+From thence they rode straight to the Chinese camp at Wombat, "to give
+the Chinkies a lesson." The Chinese were very slow in producing their
+gold, and the bushrangers fired in among them, killing one and wounding
+another. The next day, Sunday, they stuck up a number of Chinamen
+on the road and took their gold, but did not ill-treat them. In the
+afternoon they went to Mr. McCarthy's store in Jugiong and compelled
+him to open the door. They selected a quantity of clothing and drapery,
+which they placed on a spare pack horse they had with them. In the
+evening they stuck up the Gundagai mail within a mile of the place
+where they had stuck it up a few days before. Hall took out a roll of
+half notes from one packet. "This is a green trick, this is," he said,
+holding them up. "It's little trouble to us to match half notes." This
+series of outrages, following so closely one on the other, naturally
+stirred the police up to increased activity, and the bushrangers were
+so closely followed that a brush took place between them and the police
+in the last week of October. In this fight, which lasted only a very
+short time, Dunleavy was severely wounded and surrendered, while Mount
+was captured.
+
+James Mount was an escaped convict, out on a ticket-of-leave. He was
+forty-five years of age, but had been called "The Old Man" before his
+name was known, to distinguish him from the young men and boys who
+formed the body of this gang. Mount was tried and convicted of highway
+robbery in Bathurst, and was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.
+
+In commenting upon the capture of Mount and Dunleavy the _Goulburn
+Herald_ announced that their loss to the gang had been to some extent
+compensated for by the accession of Johnny Dunn, who was born in
+Murrumburrah. Earlier in the year 1864 Dunn had won the principal prize
+at the Yass race meeting with the Binalong horse, Ringleader. He was an
+excellent rider, and would no doubt give the police some trouble.
+
+"Messrs. Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn seem to have obtained a lease of
+the Main Southern road," said the _Yass Courier_ of November 19th.
+They robbed the up and down mails from Gundagai two consecutive
+weeks. On the last of these four robberies the coach was bailed up
+at Deep Creek, near Jugiong, at about four p.m. Messrs. Bradley and
+Sheahan, passengers, had alighted to walk up the steep hill, and were
+some hundred yards or so ahead of the coach, when three men suddenly
+appeared from behind the scrub and ordered them to "bail up." "All
+right," replied Mr. Sheahan, holding his hands above his head. Hall
+said, "That'll do. We've got a little township of our own up there.
+Come on." He pointed up the hill as he spoke. They followed him until
+they came to a small, clear spot, surrounded with high trees and scrub.
+Here they saw twelve bullock drays and a number of men. Several horses
+were hitched to the trees round the clearing, and the men who owned
+them, as well as the bullock-drivers and some footmen, were seated on
+the ground. When asked for his money Sheahan replied, "Got none. Search
+if you like." "Oh, you're not a bad sort," said Hall, "we'll take your
+word for it." Bradley took out a cheque for £1, saying, "That's all
+I've got. I brought it to pay my way on the trip." Hall put his hand
+into Bradley's pocket, and finding nothing there told him to keep the
+cheque. A cask of port wine, which was found on one of the bullock
+drays, was tapped, and the wine was handed round to all present in a
+quart pot in which tea had been made, as was evident by its colour.
+When the letters had been searched, the bushrangers told the company
+that they might go.
+
+Expecting that the return mail would be robbed again next day Mr.
+Ross, police magistrate, and Constable Roche in private clothes went
+as passengers, while Inspector O'Neil and Sergeant Edmund Parry rode
+beside the coach on horseback. At Black Springs, near Jugiong, the
+bushrangers appeared as had been anticipated, and on emerging from
+the bush one of them shouted out, "Hullo, here's the bobbies." Hall
+said, "There's only two. Rush the----." The three bushrangers then
+rode forward shouting "Come on, you----, fight like men." Sergeant
+Parry rode forward and encountered Gilbert, and a desperate duel on
+horseback with revolvers took place until Parry fell. In the meantime
+Inspector O'Neil had kept under cover of the coach and managed to keep
+the other two bushrangers at bay until Parry fell, when he surrendered.
+Mr. Ross fired several shots, but what became of Constable Roche is
+not known. He was not captured or wounded. He simply disappeared in
+the scrub. When all was quiet Gilbert dismounted, turned over Parry's
+body, and remarked coolly "He got it in the cobbera. It's all over with
+him. Well, I'm sorry for it. He's the bravest trap I've met yet." The
+coach was taken off the road to where several bullock teams, two horse
+carts with their Chinese owners, a buggy with Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, and
+several footmen and horsemen--among whom was Constable McLaughlin, who
+had fired away his ammunition before he surrendered--were collected
+together. The robbers searched the letters as usual, took all the
+police horses and arms, collected the money, watches, and other
+valuables from the crowd and rode away saying "We'll rob the mail
+to-morrow if all the---- traps in the colony are here." Whether this
+threat was mere braggadocio, or whether the bushrangers intended to
+draw the police here so that they might operate in safety elsewhere,
+has been frequently argued without any definite result. The police
+were on the road, and the bushrangers did not put in an appearance.
+That is what is known. The day following, however, the gang stuck up
+the Binalong mail, and after searching the letters, burned letters and
+papers to "put a stop to the---- English correspondence."
+
+A day or two later, "Messrs. Hall & Co." took possession of the road
+between the Fourteen Mile and the Fifteen Mile rushes at Burrangong
+and bailed up about thirty men, women, and boys. A bridle took the
+fancy of one of the gang, and he insisted on taking it and giving his
+own in return. With this exception, and the taking of a quantity of
+bread and butter found on the drays bailed up, nothing was stolen. The
+bushrangers explained that they expected some gold buyers along the
+road, and when they came the camp would be broken up. In the meantime
+they wanted every one to enjoy the picnic. The women were set to work
+to cut up and serve out the bread and butter. Fires were lighted and
+tea made. Then races and other sports were organised for the boys. One
+of the bailed-up men was a newsvendor, and the bushrangers "borrowed"
+his papers and took it in turn to lie down and "read the news." At last
+one of the boys contrived to sneak away unseen, and as soon as his
+escape was discovered the camp was broken up and the robbers rode away.
+
+On December 19th, the Hon. William Macleay, M.L.C., was driving in a
+buggy from Towrang to Shelly's Flat, when he noticed a large crowd
+a little way ahead. He sent his coachman on with the buggy and got
+down to make enquiries. As he drew near he saw that a number of
+people were standing round two bullock drays, while one or two men
+were breaking open the boxes on the drays. Mr. Macleay asked a man
+what was the matter, and the man motioned to him to keep quiet. Mr.
+Macleay conjectured that it was the bushrangers robbing the drays,
+and withdrew as quietly as he had joined the crowd. He walked on to
+Plum's Inn, where he found a wedding party enjoying themselves. He told
+the landlord what he had seen and his suspicions, and advised those
+present to take precautions to avoid being robbed. Some time later
+the bushrangers came up, and seeing a number of men on the verandah
+with guns and revolvers in their hands, fired. Mr. Macleay immediately
+returned the fire. The bushrangers drew together some distance away,
+and held a consultation. They apparently decided that the risk was
+too great, as they went off along the road. For beating off the
+bushrangers, and proving that a show of resistance might prevent
+robberies, Mr. Macleay was awarded a gold medal by the New South Wales
+Government. As a _per contra_, the fact that the bushrangers robbed the
+drays openly in the main road in this instance, instead of taking them
+into the bush, was cited as evidence that they were growing bolder and
+more careless of the police.
+
+Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn rode up to a store at Binda, owned by an
+ex-policeman named Morris, on December 21st, and took about £100
+from his cashbox. They informed Morris that a ball was being held
+at the Flag Hotel, and insisted on himself and Mrs. Morris dressing
+themselves, and accompanying the bushrangers to the ball. Morris at
+first objected, but finally gave way. When they reached the Flag Hotel
+the bushrangers mixed freely with the crowd, dancing and otherwise
+enjoying themselves. Presently some "bush telegraph" informed the
+bushrangers that Morris had been sounding several of the men present
+as to the probability of effecting a capture. Gilbert and Dunn drew
+their revolvers and started to look for Morris, who, having been
+informed of what had transpired, jumped through an open window, and
+ran towards where the bushrangers' horses were tied to trees. His
+intention was to take one and ride for the police. The bushrangers,
+however, caught sight of him and divining his intention ran and fired
+at Morris. This compelled him to turn aside and take refuge behind a
+tree. The bushrangers made no attempt to follow him. They removed their
+horses to a safer place, then walked to the store, piled a quantity of
+brushwood on the verandah, and set fire to it. Then they mounted their
+horses, and sat and watched the blaze until the house was well alight,
+when they rode off. There were more than a hundred persons at the
+ball, but no attempt was made to prevent the bushrangers from burning
+down the store. In connection with this "act of vengeance" Christina
+McKinnon and Ellen and Margaret Monks were arrested and charged with
+having aided and abetted in burning down Morris's store. The girls had
+been dancing with the bushrangers, and had accompanied them when they
+went to the store. The police said that they were well known as "bush
+telegraphs," and cited instances in which it was supposed that they had
+given notice to the bushrangers of the approach of the police. Margaret
+Monks was discharged, but the other two were sent to gaol, the evidence
+showing that they had assisted the bushrangers in piling wood on the
+verandah of the store.
+
+Mr. D. Davis, auctioneer, of Yass, had been conducting a sale at
+Murrumburrah, and was returning home on December 30th when he was stuck
+up. He had on him £109 1s. 5d., the proceeds of the sale, principally
+in cheques. When these were handed out Ben Hall was in a furious rage,
+and threatened to burn them. Gilbert proposed that he should gallop on
+and "change them before they're stopped." There was £1 5s. 6d. in cash,
+and of this they kept £1, returning the silver. They then rode rapidly
+away. Nothing more was heard of the cheques, the only thing known of
+them being that they were never cashed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+  Meeting the Gold Escort; Murder of Constable Nelson; A Brush with
+  the Police; Attempt to Stick Up the Araluen Gold Escort; Death of
+  Constable Kelly and Pluck of Constable Burns; Sir Frederick Pottinger
+  Resigns; Death of Ben Hall; Sketch of his Life; Death of Johnny
+  Gilbert; Record of John Dunn and the Gang; Capture and Trial of
+  Johnny Dunn; His Execution; Fate of the Chief Members of the Gardiner
+  Gang.
+
+
+Like many other young men I spent a few years on the diggings in hopes
+of making "my pile," and early in 1865 I, in company with two mates,
+left the King's Plains, where we had just finished working out a hole,
+and started for Apple Tree Flat, near Mudgee, where a rush had recently
+taken place. We were well mounted, and had a packhorse which "belonged
+to the firm." One of my mates was a keen sportsman, and his horse had
+won several prizes at those country meetings known as "Publican's
+Races," from the fact that they were organised by a publican and
+held near his house for obvious business reasons. We were travelling
+steadily along the road leading from Blaney to Bathurst, near Back
+Creek, when we saw the Government Gold Escort in the distance. The
+police authorities of New South Wales had learned a lesson from the
+Great Escort Robbery of 1862, and no longer mounted all the police on
+the coach or drag in which the gold was conveyed to Sydney. At the
+place we had arrived at the road, a chain and a half wide (99 feet),
+had been cleared through a stretch of heavy forest timber. It ran as
+straight as possible as far as the eye could reach, and was bordered on
+either side by a dense growth of timber and scrub rising to a height
+of from 200 to 300 feet like a wall of greenery. In the centre of the
+roadway was a metalled or gravelled road about fifteen feet wide. The
+remainder on either side was graded to near the timber line, where
+a small cutting to carry off surface water was made. We rode on the
+soft grassy side slopes and left the metalled or gravelled road for
+vehicles. It was in the centre of this gorge in the forest that we
+first sighted the escort. First rode a single trooper; at fifty yards
+distance came two more; then, at about the same distance, came the
+escort cart, drawn by four horses, the driver and another policeman
+sitting on the front seat, while a third trooper sat behind. A mounted
+trooper also rode one on each side of the cart. Fifty yards further
+back were two more troopers, while the rear was brought up by another
+single trooper. The troopers had their carbines ready in their hands,
+the butts resting on their thighs. When the leading trooper came within
+hail of us, he cried "Halt," and raised his rifle. We halted. The
+two troopers behind him came forward at a rapid pace until they were
+near enough to support him, if necessary. The cart stopped, and the
+other troopers gathered round it ready to defend it. The sergeant in
+charge inquired what our names were, where we were going, and what was
+our business. We told him. He said our horses were superior to those
+usually ridden by diggers. We replied that we didn't care about riding
+old screws. He asked whether the two guns we carried were loaded. We
+informed him that one was loaded with shot in case we came across a
+duck or a pigeon. He told us to sit up straight and follow him. Then he
+motioned to the two troopers just behind him. He led the way while the
+troopers followed behind us. We all kept to the side of the road; the
+cart having been drawn up on the other side. The other troopers sat on
+their horses, carbine in hand, as we passed. It was a most impressive
+show of force out there in the bush. The sergeant and two troopers
+conducted us for about a hundred yards past the cart and then pulled
+up. The sergeant said it was difficult to tell what men were by their
+appearance. He advised us to be very careful, and asked if we had any
+gold or money with us. We told him that we had been at Lambing Flat,
+and knew what the state of the country was. We did not feel disposed to
+carry gold or very much money with us while there were banks in every
+town. He said we were right and wished us good day after telling us
+to ride straight on and not attempt to turn back. We laughed and said
+we were travelling in the opposite direction and had no desire to turn
+back. In talking the matter over in our camp that night we decided that
+great as the improvement in the escort service had been it would not
+be impossible to rob the escort again. If, for instance, we had been
+part of a gang of bushrangers, sent to draw the attention of the police
+to us, while another portion of the gang had been hidden in the scrub,
+opposite where the cart stood, the troopers might have been shot down
+almost without a chance of defending themselves. However, the escort
+protection seems to have been sufficient, as it was not robbed again,
+although one or two attempts were made in other districts.
+
+During the first week or two of 1865 very little was heard of Messrs.
+Hall & Co., but on January 26th the three principal members of the
+firm (Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn), stuck up Mr. Kimberley's store in Main
+Street, Collector. Dunn was stationed on guard on the verandah while
+Hall and Gilbert went inside to select such articles as they required
+or fancied. Constable Nelson, the only policeman stationed in the
+little town, was at the lock-up, and on being informed of what was
+going on he loaded his carbine and walked down the street towards the
+store. Dunn saw him coming and withdrew out of sight behind the fence
+at the corner of the verandah, and when the constable was only a few
+yards distant the robber fired at him. The constable fell, and Dunn,
+coming out of his hiding-place, walked to where he was lying, put his
+revolver close to the constable's head, and fired again. Hearing the
+shots, Hall and Gilbert came out, and on seeing what had been done,
+held a whispered consultation, and then mounted their horses and rode
+away. They went straight to Alfred Cramp's farm at Binda, and ordered
+dinner. While they were still at table a party of police galloped
+up, dismounted, and rushed into the front door of the house as the
+bushrangers went out of the back door. A few shots were fired, but the
+bushrangers mounted and escaped, owing to the superiority of their
+horses. The news of Constable Nelson's death had been conveyed to
+the police at once, and they had followed close on the tracks of the
+bushrangers.
+
+In February a number of persons were stuck up near Illalong, on the
+road between Yass and Burrangong. The robbers were said to have no
+connection with the firm of Hall & Co., as they robbed their victims
+of their coats and vests. The Hall gang never did this. If they saw a
+man with a coat or vest, or any other article of clothing to which they
+took a fancy, they would exchange with him, but they only stole clothes
+from the stores. However, while the police were out in search of these
+plebeian bushrangers, they happened to come across Hall and Gilbert
+at Lodge's Inn, Breadalbane Plains, and captured their horses. It was
+supposed that the two robbers had been sleeping in the barn. They
+rushed out when the police came, and went across a cleared paddock,
+both parties firing their revolvers. Constable Wiles was wounded, and
+Ben Hall was supposed to have been wounded, as he fell. He was up again
+in a moment, however, and succeeded in reaching the timber, the ground
+being too rough and heavily-timbered for the police horses to make
+their way through it.
+
+A daring attempt was made by Hall and three others to stick up the
+Araluen escort on March 16th. The bushrangers fired from behind trees
+as the escort cart was going up Major's Creek Mount, at the same place
+where a similar attempt had been made about two and a half years
+previously. Constable Kelly fell wounded, and died a few days later.
+Constable Burns, who was driving, jumped off the cart, put a stone
+behind the wheel, and then fired, shouting "Come on." Mr. Blatchford,
+J.P., who had been riding beside the driver, remained on his seat until
+a voice from behind the trees cried out, "Shoot the---- on the cart."
+He then jumped down quickly, but was wounded in the leg. He fell, but
+got up again immediately and ran down the hill to Noonan's Hotel for
+assistance. Constable Stapleton and his companion forced their horses
+up the steep cutting which bordered the road, and disappeared among the
+trees. Burns, thus left alone with the cart, sheltered himself behind
+it as well as he could, and kept blazing away coolly from his cover.
+Suddenly, Constable Stapleton and his companion attacked the robbers in
+the rear. Gilbert turned sharply, and said, "You're a---- good shot,
+take that," and shot the constable's horse. The two policemen, however,
+kept up the firing, and the bushrangers mounted their horses and rode
+away. Mr. Blatchford presented Constable Burns with a cheque for £50,
+as a reward for the pluck he had shown in defending his charge.
+
+It was at about this time that Sir Frederick Pottinger, who was in
+command of the police in this district, was charged with having
+neglected his duty. Sir Frederick had ridden in a gentleman's race on
+the Wowingragong course. It was rumoured that the bushrangers, for whom
+he was supposed to be looking, had been on the course too, and had
+not been recognised. Sir Frederick was called to Sydney to attend an
+inquiry, and resigned his position in the force. About a month later he
+died from the effects of a wound from a pistol, accidentally fired by
+himself.
+
+The gang yarded a mob of horses at a station near Murrumburrah and
+picked out several of the finest horses, which they took away, leaving
+their own knocked-up horses in their place. They rode to Wombat,
+where they stuck up a mob of Chinamen, one of whom was shot to make
+the others "shell out" their gold more quickly. Then the bushrangers
+travelled to Forbes, and on the following day robbed Mr. Jones's store
+of £81 in cash and a quantity of clothing and drapery. Information was
+given to the police in the town as soon as the robbers left the store,
+and a party of police with two black trackers followed them. On the
+following evening, May 5th, they came on two hobbled horses feeding
+near the Billabong Creek. These were recognised as horses which had
+been ridden by the bushrangers, and the police watched them carefully
+without allowing themselves to be seen. This was not difficult, as
+there were thick patches of scrub about the flat. Half-an-hour later a
+man came out of one of these patches of scrub, unhobbled the horses,
+and led them away for about two hundred yards to where there was better
+grass. It was at that time too dark to distinguish him. He rehobbled
+the horses and retired into the scrub once more. The police drew up
+closer to this patch with great caution and watched till morning. At
+daybreak the man appeared again and looked round to ascertain whether
+the horses were in sight, and Inspector Davidson immediately recognised
+him as Ben Hall and called on him to stand. Hall turned to go back
+into the patch of scrub, and the inspector fired at him. Sergeant
+Condell and the four policemen also fired, and Hall stopped and leaned
+on a sapling for support. Then Constable Hopkiss took steady aim and
+fired again, and Hall let his revolver fall from his hand. The police
+went forward and Hall said "I'm hit. Shoot me dead." He relaxed his
+hold on the sapling, staggered forward and fell. The police rushed up,
+but he died before any attempt could be made to staunch the blood. On
+the body being examined one rifle and six revolver bullet wounds were
+found, any one of which should have proved fatal. The bushrangers'
+horses were soon caught, the body was strapped on one of them, and
+the party returned to Forbes. The police were much surprised to find
+Hall alone, but conjectured that Gilbert and Dunn had gone down the
+Lachlan River to some of the great stations to procure horses, all the
+racehorses about Burrangong having been pretty well exhausted. The two
+captured with Hall were in very poor condition, and had evidently been
+ridden hard. It was supposed that they had knocked up, and that Hall
+had stayed behind while his companions sought fresh mounts. He thought
+he was quite safe in the scrub, so far away from his usual haunts.
+
+Benjamin Hall was about twenty-eight years of age. His father had come
+to the Wedden Mountains district in about 1840, when little Ben was
+about three years old. The elder Hall had worked for Mr. Ranken for
+some years, and had always borne a good character. When Ben was old
+enough he had engaged as stockman with Mr. Hamilton, of Tomanbil. He
+saved money, and took up a small station for himself at the Pinnacle,
+about fifteen miles from Forbes. He married a daughter of another
+settler. He had no sympathy with the bushrangers when the outbreak
+under Gardiner occurred, and the police frequently stopped for a
+night at his house when looking for the bushrangers near his station.
+His wife was of a flighty disposition, and was seduced, it was said,
+by a police official, and Hall joined the gang "to meet the man who
+ruined my happiness." Such was the story currently believed in the
+neighbourhood, and Ben was the only one of the bushrangers for whom
+the general public, apart from those who were related to or interested
+in them, felt any sympathy. Before "he took to the bush," he was known
+as a steady, industrious, kind-hearted young man, and numbers could
+scarcely believe that it was the same Ben Hall, the noted bushranger,
+of whom everybody was talking.
+
+The death of Ben Hall no doubt had a depressing effect on the
+bushrangers generally, but it by no means put an end to their
+depredations. On the 11th May, a horse was stolen from Murrumburrah,
+and on the following day the horses at Mr. Furlonge's station were
+rounded up and a racehorse taken away, the Murrumburrah horse being
+left instead of it. Information was immediately sent to the police,
+and a party, with the aid of a black tracker, followed the tracks
+toward Binalong. The place being near the house where Johnny Dunn's
+parents lived, the police camped near and watched the little township
+all night, but saw nothing to excite their suspicions. In the morning
+a lad named Thomas Kelly, brother of one or two convicted bushrangers,
+was asked whether any one was staying at his grandfather's house, and
+replied "No." Constables Hales and King, however, walked up to old
+Kelly's place, and pushed the door open. Gilbert and Dunn were in
+the front room, and immediately fired at the police, who retreated.
+A few minutes passed, during which the police were looking to their
+revolvers, and then the two bushrangers were seen to emerge by the
+back door and walk steadily down the paddock. The police followed,
+and some shots were exchanged. Near the fence the bushrangers made
+a stand, and there was a pause for a second or so. Then Constables
+Hales and Bright fired together, and Gilbert fell. Dunn jumped over
+the fence and dashed in among the trees. Some of the police followed,
+but he soon disappeared. On examination it was found that a bullet had
+entered Gilbert's breast and passed out below the left shoulder-blade,
+having travelled through the left ventricle of the heart. He was then
+about twenty-five years of age. Old Kelly was arrested and charged with
+having harboured bushrangers, and was sent to gaol.
+
+John Dunn, the last of this notorious trio, did not long survive
+his two mates. His record as given in the _Yass Courier_ is very
+instructive. He joined Hall and Gilbert a few days after the capture
+of Mount and the wounding of Dunleavy, and on the 24th of October
+robbed Mr. Chisholm on the highway near Goulburn. On the 28th he stuck
+up Mr. Macansh's station. On the 28th robbed the Albury mail near
+Jugiong. On November the 8th robbed Mr. Rossi's station, near Goulburn.
+On the 9th robbed the Southern mail six miles from Goulburn. On the
+11th robbed the Yass mail on Breadalbane Plains. On the 15th robbed
+the Gundagai mail near Jugiong, and had a desperate fight with the
+police, Sergeant Parry being shot by Gilbert. On the 19th robbed Mr.
+Clarke's station at Bolero. On December 19th stuck up the Goulburn
+mail near Towrang. On the 27th stuck up Mr. Morris's store at Binda,
+forced Mr. and Mrs. Morris to go to a ball, and finally burned his
+store and dwelling-house. On the 30th stuck up Mr. Davidson and others
+on the Murrumburrah Plains. On January 19th, 1865, stuck up Mr. James
+Christie's store. On the 25th stuck up Mr. Ross and others on the
+Gap Road. On the 27th stuck up a number of carriers and the hotel at
+Collector, and shot Constable Nelson. On February 6th stuck up the
+Goulburn mail twelve miles from Goulburn. On the 18th stole racehorses
+from Messrs. McAlister's and Bowne's. On the 23rd had a desperate fight
+with the police on Breadalbane Plains, when several were wounded and
+the robbers lost their horses. On March 13th stuck up the Gundaroo
+mail near Geary's Gap. On the 14th attempted to rob the Araluen escort
+at Major's Creek, when one policeman was mortally wounded, two others
+put to flight, while the fourth beat off the bushrangers and saved the
+gold. On the 22nd seen at Gardiner's old haunt near the Pinnacle. On
+the 24th went to Mr. Atkin's place, near the Billabong Creek, had a
+good dinner and enjoyed themselves, besides feeding the horses they
+had stolen from Mr. Morton the day before. Left on the 25th, taking
+clothes for winter wear and about £90 in cash from Mr. Jones's store,
+Forbes. On April 1st stuck up Mr. Sutton's station at Boramble. On the
+10th robbed Mr. Watt's Inn at Newra. On the 11th robbed Mr. Gallimore's
+store and the White Horse Inn at Black Rock. On the 18th bailed up the
+Newbiggen Inn, organised a _soirée dansante_, and compelled all hands
+and the cook to take part in it. Afterwards robbed Mr. Lee's station at
+Larras Lake. On the 25th robbed Mr. Cropper's station on the Lachlan.
+On May 8th robbed two travellers on the Cowra Road, eighteen miles from
+Marengo. On the 11th robbed Mr. Furlonge's station. On the 14th four
+policemen attacked the bushrangers near Binalong, when Gilbert was shot
+and Dunn wounded. On the 15th Dunn alone stuck up Julian's station, and
+took a racehorse, a saddle and bridle, and some food. He was not heard
+of again until December 18th, when he was recognised by the police near
+Mr. McPhail's station, Walgett, and pursued. He escaped, but two days
+later a man in whom he had confided gave information to the police as
+to his whereabouts, and a desperate struggle took place, Dunn being
+wounded in three places and Constable McHale also severely wounded;
+Dunn, however, was captured.
+
+This record of the achievements of the gang during the time that Dunn
+was a member--namely, from October 24th, 1864, to May 15th, 1865, or
+rather less than seven months--although not quite complete, serves to
+give a very vivid idea of the terrible scourge which the bushrangers
+were to the country. The gang was not more active during the time
+covered by this record than it had been before, or since it was first
+organised by Frank Gardiner in 1861, while some of the most extensive
+robberies committed by the gang belong to the earlier period. However,
+with the capture of Johnny Dunn this gang ceased to exist, and we have
+only to finish the story of his life before turning back to take notice
+of the proceedings of other gangs of bushrangers in other parts of the
+colony.
+
+Constable McHale and John Dunn were conveyed as carefully as possible,
+and by slow stages, from Walgett to the lock-up at Dubbo, to be nursed
+back to health. After some weeks, Dunn appeared to be growing strong,
+and as his character was well known, it was deemed expedient to put
+him in irons. He resented this treatment, very naturally perhaps, and
+refused to eat. He groaned so continuously that he prevented McHale,
+who was in bed in the same room in the watch-house, from sleeping.
+The police were taken in by this shamming, and thought that Dunn was
+dying. They therefore took off his irons. The watch-house was an
+ordinary four-roomed weather-board cottage with a verandah. It had been
+built as a residence for the local policeman. Behind, was a stronger
+building divided into two or three cells for the safe-keeping of the
+few evil-doers likely to be arrested in this settlement on the borders
+of civilisation. The sick men were in bed in the cottage, the window
+of which was only a couple of feet above the level of the plain on
+which the town of Dubbo stands. Dunn was not altogether shamming. He
+was very weak, but he was strong enough when his irons were removed to
+watch for an opportunity to escape. He placed his pillow length-ways
+in the bed, covered it with the sheet, which was the only covering
+required in that district at that time of the year, and placed a red
+silk handkerchief where his head was supposed to rest, as if to keep
+the flies or mosquitoes off his face. This was no doubt done to induce
+McHale, and any one else who came into the room, to believe that he
+was still sleeping. However, when daylight came, McHale saw that the
+thing in the other bed was not Dunn and pounded on the floor with a
+boot, being too weak to shout. At the time the police on duty in the
+next room were laughing and joking about something, and it was some
+minutes before McHale could make them hear. At length one of them came
+in, and on being told that Dunn was gone, gave the alarm. The tracks
+in the dust outside showed that the robber had simply stepped out of
+the window, which was kept open on account of the heat, and had made
+for the bush. It was Sunday morning, January 11th, 1866, and very few
+people were about in the little town. The tracks were lost among the
+number of tracks in the roadway and there was no one to give the police
+any information as to the direction in which the bushranger had gone.
+Search parties were organised and sent out in all directions.
+
+About two miles away a brickmaker was watching his kiln and gathering
+brushwood for his fire, although it was Sunday morning, when a man
+crawled out from behind a log and begged for a "drink of water, for
+God's sake." It was Dunn. He told the brickmaker who he was and begged
+him to lend him a horse to get away. "Only save me from hanging and
+I'll make it up to you," he cried, but the brickmaker refused. He
+went and caught his horse and rode into Dubbo to inform the police,
+who returned with him and recaptured the runaway. Dunn was forwarded
+to Bathurst without delay and was lodged in the gaol, while Smith,
+the brickmaker, was rewarded for the assistance he had rendered in
+effecting the recapture of the noted bushranger.
+
+By the latter end of February Dunn was sufficiently recovered from the
+effects of his wound to be placed on trial. He was charged with the
+murder of Constable Nelson. The evidence shows that a number of persons
+had been stuck up on the road between Taradale and Collector. They were
+marched to Kimberley's Hotel and taken inside by Hall and Gilbert,
+while Dunn remained outside in charge of the horses. Dunn called a
+boy, who was standing in the street and who chanced to be the son of
+Constable Nelson, and told him to hold the horses and not let them go
+unless he wanted his brains blown out. The party in the hotel were
+singing and dancing, and the constable hearing the noise walked from
+the watch-house to where his son was and asked him what was going on.
+The boy told him the bushrangers were there and the constable returned
+to his house for his gun. When he came back he did not see Dunn, who
+was hiding behind the fence, and walked towards the front door of the
+hotel, when he was shot as already related. Gilbert came to the door
+immediately and Dunn cried out "I've shot the---- trap." Gilbert walked
+to where the body was lying, turned it over, and took off the belt,
+saying "This is just what I wanted. I've lost mine." At that moment
+Hall came up and the three bushrangers took their horses and went off.
+Dunn was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was hung on March
+19th, 1866. He was of slight build and only twenty-two years old when
+he died.
+
+Of the chief members of this gang Gardiner was sentenced to thirty-two
+years' penal servitude; Vane surrendered owing to the influence of
+Father McCarthy and was sent to gaol for fifteen years; Bow and Fordyce
+were sentenced to death, but their sentences were commuted to fifteen
+years' imprisonment; Manns, Peisley, and Dunn were hanged; Lowry, Ben
+Hall, and Gilbert were shot by the police, and Burke and O'Meally by
+civilians; Mount or "the Old Man" was sent to gaol for ten years.
+
+There were others who either claimed or were supposed to be members
+of this gang, but it is difficult to say with certainty how far these
+claims were justified. Some of these have already been referred to,
+and others will be mentioned further on. Probably some who intended to
+join the gang were captured before they had an opportunity to do so.
+Others merely said they had been out with Ben Hall or Johnny Gilbert
+on account of the kudos they gained among their fellows. However this
+may be, the majority of the members of this gang were quite young men,
+many of them little more than boys. Several were under twenty years of
+age, and all with the exception of Mount, sometime known as "the Old
+Man," under thirty. Their lives may have been exciting, but they were
+short, and none of them, with the exception of Gardiner perhaps, made
+any money by their robberies. They all died poor.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+  Bloodthirsty Morgan; Morgan's Opinion of the Police; Murder of
+  Sergeant McGinnerty; Murder at the Round Hill Station; A Pseudo
+  Morgan; Morgan Threatens to Brand all Hands; He Shoots Sergeant
+  Smyth; Challenged to Visit Victoria; He Accepts the Challenge; His
+  Death at Peechelba.
+
+
+Daniel Morgan began his career as a bushranger shortly after the
+Great Escort Robbery, by sticking up travellers on the roads about
+Wagga Wagga. His head-quarters generally were said to be in the huge
+patch of scrub, which stretched away southward, from the Murrumbidgee
+River across the low ranges between Wagga Wagga and Narrandera. He
+was credited with being the most bloodthirsty of the New South Wales
+bushrangers after Willmore. We have seen that some of the members
+of the chief gang of this era held human life very cheaply, but it
+was the general opinion that, except in the case of a few Chinamen,
+these bushrangers murdered only when on the warpath. In many cases
+they met the police boldly, and fought with some degree of fairness;
+while Morgan, on more than one occasion, fired on unarmed, and in some
+cases sleeping men. For some months he pursued his career without
+much interference from the police, and it was said that some of the
+members of the Hall and Gilbert gang had made a raid to the Southern
+district. When it became apparent that he had no connection with
+that gang and continued his depredations alone, a party of police
+was detailed to hunt him down about the middle of 1863. In August of
+that year, this party of police tracked him for several days, and
+came on his camp on the 22nd. A desperate fight took place, in which
+Morgan's mate was severely wounded and crawled into the bush to die.
+This man was known as "German Bill." On the other side, Mr. Bayliss,
+J.P., a volunteer who accompanied the police, was severely wounded.
+He recovered, however, and was awarded a gold medal by the New South
+Wales Government for bravery in opposing bushrangers. Morgan made his
+escape in the scrub. Later on the same day a shepherd was shot dead on
+Brookong station, and it was supposed that the murderer was in league
+with Morgan. About Christmas Morgan with three companions watched
+the road, near Narrandera, with the intention of sticking-up several
+wealthy squatters who were in the habit of travelling to Melbourne at
+about that time of the year. Fortunately for themselves, they that year
+took a cross track, and thus escaped the meeting. While waiting Morgan
+took about 2lb. of cheese from a bullock driver named John Cole. There
+were several cheeses in the dray, and when Morgan said he should "like
+a bit" Cole offered him one, and told him to "take the lot." Morgan
+replied that "the---- traps would risk their necks climbing over the
+area railings for a leg of mutton. I don't know what they'd do for a
+whole cheese, but this lump's enough for me." He afterwards remarked
+that the police generally were "a sour milk lot."
+
+During the next few months robberies occurred in various parts of the
+extensive tract of country between Wagga Wagga and Deniliquin, and
+were, of course, all attributed to the Morgan gang. On April 16th,
+1864, Mr. George Elliott, of Burrangong, with a stockman named Donnelly
+reached Deniliquin, with a mob of horses for sale. In consequence of
+some rumours which spread through the town, Mr. Elliott was closely
+questioned by the sergeant of police, and after some hesitation
+admitted that he had been stuck up by Morgan and robbed of £127 17s.
+and a bay horse with saddle and bridle, on the road between Narrandera
+and Jerilderie. He said that when he got rid of his horses he would
+have to return home by the same route, and thought it prudent to hold
+his tongue, "the least said the soonest mended," as there was no saying
+whom he might meet on the road.
+
+In June, Sergeant McGinnerty and Constable Churchley were riding
+along the road to Tumberumba, when they overtook a horseman near
+Copabella. McGinnerty civilly said "Good-day" as they passed, in the
+usual Australian fashion. The man looked at him and replied, "Oh,
+you're one of the---- wretches looking for bushrangers, are you?" and
+hastily drew a revolver and shot McGinnerty through the breast. The
+sergeant's horse bolted, and the bushranger galloped after him into
+the bush. Constable Churchley rode back to Copabella for assistance,
+and on his return with a party and fresh horses found McGinnerty's hat
+lying in the road, and opposite to it, at some distance away, the body.
+It was supposed that the bushranger had placed the hat on the road
+to indicate where the body was, and to facilitate its discovery. The
+robber must have ridden straight from the scene of this cold-blooded
+murder to the Round Hill station, where he mustered all the men and
+drove them into the carpenter's shop. He then went to the house,
+called out the proprietor, Mr. Watson, and led him to the door of the
+carpenter's shop. He enquired whether the men had sufficient rations.
+"If they haven't," said Mr. Watson, "they've only got to say so and
+they'll get more." "Well, I'm Dan Morgan, I just wanted to know, and
+you'd better give them a nobbler," replied the bushranger. Mr. Watson
+said he'd no objection to the men having a nobbler, and sent to the
+house. The messenger returned with four bottles of spirits, and each
+man was given a nobbler in a pannikin. The men laughed and took it as a
+good joke. One of them asked the bushranger whether he had "stolen his
+stirrup irons from Mr. Johnstone?" Morgan with a curse immediately drew
+his pistol, and fired into the room. The men ran out. Morgan followed
+them, shouting, "You---- wretches, do you want to give me away?" He
+fired several times, until John McLean fell wounded. By this time the
+men had sheltered themselves behind trees. Seeing no one to shoot at
+Morgan dismounted, lifted McLean carefully on to his horse, and led the
+animal to the house. Mr. Watson and some of the women took McLean in,
+and Morgan mounted and rode away. Then it was discovered that another
+man, John Heriot, was lying wounded in the carpenter's shop. Heriot's
+injury consisted of a broken leg, and he was placed in a buggy and
+conveyed with as little delay as possible to the hospital at Albury.
+But McLean's wound was too serious to admit of his removal, and he died
+after lingering in pain for two or three days. At the inquest held on
+the body, Edward Smith, stockman at the Round Hill station, deposed
+that Morgan had called at the station two days after the attack to
+enquire how McLean was, and had sat at the bedside for several hours.
+At that time there were numerous parties of police and civilians
+searching the country round in all directions in hopes of finding him.
+A verdict of wilful murder was returned against Daniel Morgan on June
+23rd, and a few days later a proclamation was issued by which the
+reward offered for his capture dead or alive was increased from £500 to
+£1000.
+
+A man walked into the bar of the Five Mile Creek Inn, near Bogolong,
+and called for a nobbler of brandy, which was supplied him. He then
+demanded another, which the barman refused to give him until he had
+paid for the one he had drank. "Be careful what you do," exclaimed
+the customer, "I'm Dan Morgan." He drew out a pistol, and the barman
+rushed from behind the counter, jumped through a window, and ran. The
+customer followed him to the window, but the barman could not say how
+much further. The barman, however, ran right round the house. When he
+returned to the window through which he had made his escape, he saw
+the bushranger's pistol lying on the sill. He grasped it, and having
+recovered from his momentary panic, walked into the bar in time to see
+the pseudo Morgan helping himself out of a bottle. The barman at once
+grappled with him, and the cook, the only other man in the house at
+the time, hearing the scuffling, came in. The man was soon secured,
+and in due time was handed over to the custody of the police. He was
+identified as a fiddler, who travelled about the country playing for a
+living. He was sent to gaol for a few months as a caution not to obtain
+grog again under false pretences by personating a bushranger.
+
+Morgan, with three mates, visited Yarribee station, stuck up Mr. Mate,
+the overseer, with two bushmen and the bullock-driver, and tied their
+hands behind them. He demanded the key of the store, which was given
+to him. He opened the door and selected a quantity of articles which
+he packed on a horse. He served out tobacco, gin, and porter to the
+men whom he had made prisoners, having added several, who had arrived
+at the station after he began operations, to their number. The liquor
+had its effect, and some of the men became uproarious. Morgan swore at
+them and ordered them to be quiet, and as they did not obey he brought
+out the station brand--P.T.--put it in the fire, and swore he would
+brand every one of them on the cheek. Whether the threat frightened
+the men into quietness, or whether the bushranger thought better of
+his purpose, is not known. Morgan, however, rode away with his plunder
+without using the branding-iron.
+
+Under the heading--"Comforting Bushrangers," the _Deniliquin Chronicle_
+of the 18th December said:--"Mr. ---- we hear has given orders that
+whenever Morgan calls at his station he is to be given everything he
+wants, and when he does not call food is to be taken into the bush
+and left for him." The paper goes on to accuse the unnamed squatter
+with "holding a candle to the devil." But it is difficult to see where
+the blame comes in. The stations were from twenty-five to fifty miles
+apart, and except at lambing and shearing times had few men employed
+on them. The police in the district were not very numerous, and even
+if they had been very much stronger than they were they could not have
+prevented a daring, reckless man like Morgan from setting fire to the
+grass. It was so easy at that time for even an offended bushman to
+have revenge, for any real or supposed slight or injury, by starting
+a blaze which would destroy the grass over hundreds of square miles
+before it could be stopped, and this might go very far towards ruining
+a squatter. In face of this danger a few clothes or a quantity of
+food was a trifling loss. Certainly Morgan never did fire the grass,
+because, perhaps, there was no profit in it for himself, but there can
+be no doubt that he would have done it had he desired to have revenge
+on any particular run holder.
+
+One of the many stories told about the brutality of Morgan was that
+he went to a cattle station near Jerilderie, and asked to see the
+overseer. The overseer's wife informed him that her husband was away at
+a back station mustering and branding, and that she and the children
+were the only persons at home at the head station. Morgan replied
+that he was sorry for it. He'd travelled to the station specially for
+the purpose of shooting the overseer, who was too friendly with the
+police. He then demanded a sum of money which he said he knew the
+overseer had recently received. The woman declared that her husband
+had no money at the station, or if he had that she was not aware where
+he kept it. Morgan refused to believe her. He made her boil him a
+number of eggs, declaring that he would eat nothing else, as there was
+too much strychnine and arsenic about these stations. When these were
+ready he examined them carefully, rejecting all which had cracks in the
+shells and eating the sound ones only. He then made up the fire until
+there was a big blaze, when he once more asked her for the money, and
+as she persisted in declaring that she had none he seized her by the
+shoulders, forced her back until she was seated on the blazing logs,
+and held her there until her clothes were on fire. Then he allowed her
+to get up, and seizing a bucket of water standing near he dashed it
+over her to put the fire out. Notwithstanding this she was severely
+burned. When he mounted and rode away he said he would soon be round
+again and hoped then to find the overseer at home.
+
+Sergeant Smyth and Constables Cannon, Baxter, and Reed, who were out
+seeking for the bushranger Morgan, camped one night in September
+near Kyamba. They had put up a tent and were seated inside. They had
+a candle and this threw their shadows on the canvas and afforded a
+magnificent mark, which the bushranger could not resist firing at. The
+shot wounded Sergeant Smyth, but he and the constables rushed out of
+the tent and blazed away, but without seeing their assailant. It was
+supposed that this attack was made by Morgan, but nothing was seen of
+the bushranger. Sergeant Smyth fired twice after being wounded and then
+he fainted. He was taken without delay to Doodal Cooma station and a
+doctor was found, but he never rallied and died a fortnight later.
+
+It was said that Morgan was on the Wagga Wagga race course at the
+Christmas races, and that he had lunch at the booth where the
+magistrates, the police inspectors, and the leading merchants and
+shopkeepers of the town went, and that afterwards he rode into the town
+itself without being recognised by the police.
+
+On March 18th, 1865, he stuck up Mr. Rand's station at Mohanga,
+collected all the men in one room, and ordered Mr. Rand to fetch some
+grog from the store. This having been done, Morgan asked one of the
+men whether he could play the concertina, and being answered in the
+affirmative, told him to get his instrument and "amuse the company."
+When all was ready the bushranger said to Mr. Rand: "I understand you
+are a good dancer. Will you favour the company with a reel?" Mr. Rand
+said he should be only too pleased, and began at once. Morgan watched
+him critically and applauded every now and then, but when Mr. Rand
+stopped, he raised his pistol and said: "Once more, please, you dance
+very nicely," and thus he kept the squatter jigging till midnight, when
+he was allowed to retire. In the morning Morgan took from the store a
+quantity of clothing and some other articles, including a gun. He then
+asked for a horse, saddle, and bridle, to pack his plunder on, and got
+them.
+
+At Jerilderie, when engaged in one of his usual robberies, he spoke in
+the most contemptuous terms of the police. He said that the Victorian
+police had been blowing that they would soon catch him if he crossed
+the border, and declared that he would soon show them that they were
+no smarter than the New South Wales police, who were "frightened to go
+near any place where they thought they might find him." A Beechworth
+paper, commenting on this report, challenged Morgan to cross the
+Murray, and prophesied that if he dared to do so he would be either
+dead or in gaol within forty-eight hours. This challenge, it was said,
+gave great umbrage to the bushranger, who had apparently, owing,
+perhaps, to his long immunity from arrest, developed the belief that he
+was invincible. He was reported to have referred to it frequently, and
+to have asserted his intention to cross the Murray River and "take the
+flashness out of the Victorian people and police." Accordingly, early
+in April, he made a raid south of the Murray. Mounted on Mr. Bowler's
+racing mare, Victoria, Morgan stuck up Mr. McKinnon's station on the
+Little River. He crossed the King River, and set fire to Mr. Evans's
+barns and granary for "having shot my fingers off," an event which had
+taken place some time previously, in one of his many encounters on the
+"other side." Morgan then stuck up and robbed a number of carriers
+on the road between Wangaratta and Benalla. He also stuck up Mr.
+Warby's station, and on the evening of April 8th arrived at Peechelba
+station, owned by Messrs. Macpherson and Rutherford. Morgan rode up
+and knocked at the door of Mr. Macpherson's house. It was opened by
+Mr. Macpherson's son. Morgan, pistol in hand, ordered him to bail up.
+Then everybody in the house were called in and compelled to range
+themselves in line along the wall of the dining-room. A housemaid named
+Alice Macdonald, thinking he was joking, refused to stand up against
+the wall "like a child." Morgan took her by the arm to force her into
+line, when she smacked his face. Raising his pistol he said, "My young
+lady, I must take the flashness out of you. Do you know who I am?"
+"No," replied the girl. "Well, I'm Morgan. Will you take your place?"
+The girl pouted but did as she was told. Morgan placed two revolvers
+on the table and sat down. He said he had had no sleep for three
+nights, but he hoped to return to New South Wales next day and have a
+good sleep. He asked a servant to make him some tea and allowed her to
+leave the room. Then he said that he had heard music as he approached
+the house, and he asked which of the ladies played? On being told
+"Miss Macpherson," he asked her to favour him with a tune. She replied
+"Certainly, Mr. Morgan." "Call me Morgan," he said, "I hate to be
+Mistered." Mr. Macpherson asked him what had induced him to lead such a
+life? "I was forced to it," he replied. "I was tried at Castlemaine for
+a crime of which I was innocent and received a heavy sentence. Well, I
+escaped from the stockade and there you are. What else could I do?"
+
+The party sat all night, and Morgan chatted freely, but his vigilance
+relaxed so that Alice Macdonald contrived to slip out without being
+seen and went to Mr. Rutherford's house, about a quarter of a mile
+away, and informed Mr. Rutherford of what had taken place. She went
+back again immediately in case the bushranger should miss her. Morgan
+informed the company that he was born at Appin, in New South Wales,
+and that his parents were still living. In the meantime Mr. Rutherford
+mustered all the men on the station and despatched a messenger to the
+police at Wangaratta. He posted sentinels all round Mr. Macpherson's
+house, hiding them behind bushes or any other cover. In the morning
+Morgan ate a hearty breakfast and then walked out on the verandah.
+Mr. Macpherson invited him to take a glass of whisky and poured out
+some for himself. Morgan replied that he rarely drank. He was almost
+a teetotaller. However, not wishing to appear churlish, he accepted
+half a glass. He went into a bedroom to wash his hands and face and
+comb his hair, and Alice Keenan, one of the servants, took advantage of
+the opportunity to carry a can of coffee to the watchers outside. When
+Morgan had washed he stepped out on the verandah again and reminded
+Mr. Macpherson that he had promised to let him have a fresh horse. Mr.
+Macpherson replied that he had not forgotten it. He called to his son
+and they walked together towards the paddock to catch the horse, while
+Morgan waited on the verandah. They had not gone far, however, when
+Morgan started to follow them, and John Quinlan shot him from behind
+a bush. The bushranger fell, crying "Why didn't you challenge me?" He
+was carried indoors, and every attention possible was paid to him, but
+he died at about half-past one, or, as nearly as could be ascertained,
+forty-eight hours after he crossed the Victorian border.
+
+The £1000 reward was divided as follows:--John Quinlan £300;
+Alice Macdonald £250; James Frazer, who rode into Wangaratta and
+back--forty-two miles--in three hours and a-half, £200; Donald Clarke,
+who fetched guns from the school house, cleaned and loaded them, £100;
+Alice Keenan, who communicated between the parties inside and outside
+the house, £50. The remaining £100 were given to Mr. Rutherford and
+Inspector Singleton (£50 each) to be divided among the civilians and
+the police who took part in the capture, according to the merits of
+their performances.
+
+The news of the death of Morgan was received generally throughout
+Australia with satisfaction. There were a few people whose love of
+fair play impelled them to express the opinion that he should have
+been challenged, but the majority held that he was little better
+than a wild beast, and should be treated accordingly. He had given
+no notice to Sergeants McGinnerty and Smyth, nor to the unarmed men
+among whom he had fired at the Round Hill Station, and it is doubtful
+whether those who declared that he should have been accorded "fair
+play" would, knowing the character of the man, have risked their lives
+by challenging him in circumstances similar to those in which he
+was captured. There was a tendency among a portion of the people of
+Victoria to glorify that colony at the expense of the mother colony
+over the capture of Morgan. It was said that bushrangers would never
+receive the public sympathy and support in Victoria which they did in
+New South Wales, and attributed this to the fact that Victoria had
+never had a penal settlement within its borders. There has always
+been an absurd jealousy between the people of Melbourne and those
+of Sydney, and there can be no doubt that it has been somewhat of a
+disadvantage to the colonies generally. In this case there is no ground
+for believing that the character of the people of New South Wales,
+which was a penal colony, differs in any essential degree from that of
+the people of any other portion of Australia. As a matter of fact, the
+Australias are so intimately connected together,--it is so easy for
+the residents of one colony to make their way into any other colony,
+and the people as a body are more prone to moving about than those of
+any other civilised country,--that any claim of superiority either in
+extraction, morals, or in any other particular, by the residents of any
+one colony over those of any other colony is absurd. It is true that
+there was no English penal settlement within the present bounds of the
+colony of Victoria, but in former times that colony was a portion of
+the penal colony of New South Wales, while the founders of Melbourne
+came from another penal colony, namely, Van Diemen's Land. Many of the
+early settlers were emancipated convicts from either one or the other
+of these penal settlements. But even if this had not been the case,
+the whole population of Australia was so thoroughly intermixed during
+the great rushes to the Victorian diggings that there is absolutely
+no excuse for any pretence of superiority on this account in this the
+smallest of the colonies on the main land. I do not say this out of
+any ill-feeling towards Victoria, or with the desire to glorify any
+other colony, at her expense, but simply to point out the folly of such
+petty and absurd jealousies as have tended to keep the colonies apart
+hitherto. As a plain matter of fact South Australia is the only one of
+the seven colonies which can claim not to have had a convict origin.
+That colony was founded directly from England by a syndicate. All the
+other colonies were either portions of or were founded from New South
+Wales, about the convict origin of which colony there can be no doubt.
+But even South Australia, wedged in as it is between what have been two
+convict colonies, could not escape the contagion. But, judging from
+the statistics, Australia as a whole does not appear to have suffered
+much, now that the bushrangers have been disposed of. The percentage
+of crime in each of the colonies is lower than in most other civilised
+communities, and the "convict colonies," as they were called, do not
+show a higher percentage of crime than the "free colonies." I have
+already pointed out that the condition of Victoria, during the years
+1853-55, was worse than that of any of the so-called convict colonies
+at any time, so far as the number and ferocity of the bushrangers were
+concerned, and we shall soon see that Victoria can produce native-born
+bushrangers as well as New South Wales. Only a few months after the
+poeans of self-glorification had been sung by the Victorian press over
+the death of Morgan in that colony, the same papers lamented the fact
+that while bushranging appeared to have been stamped out in the mother
+colony, it still flourished in Victoria.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+  The Brothers Clarke; The Raid at Nerigundah; Deaths of William
+  Fletcher and Constable O'Grady; Murder of Four Special Constables at
+  Jinden; Annie Clarke at Goulburn; Capture of Thomas and John Clarke;
+  A Terrible Record; A Plucky Woman; An Attempt to Escape Custody;
+  "Shoot Away, I Can't Stop You"; Some Daring Robberies; Murder and
+  Cremation of the Brothers Pohlmann; Blue Cap.
+
+
+The brothers Clarke, of Manaro, although they did not belong to the
+Gardiner gang, were more or less closely connected with it. There
+were three of them, Thomas, James, and John, and their education was
+on similar lines to that which I have described as prevalent in the
+Western Ranges. They were cattle duffers and horse planters until the
+police began to enquire too closely into their mode of life, when they
+"took to the bush." James was probably saved from the more elevated
+fate of his elder and younger brothers by being arrested on suspicion
+of having been concerned with Ben Hall, Johnny Gilbert, and others in
+the robbery of the Cowra mail, but as the evidence of his presence
+on that occasion was inconclusive he was acquitted, and charged with
+having received stolen property, a number of the bank-notes stolen
+from the mail having been found in his possession. He was convicted,
+and was sentenced to seven years' penal servitude on January 12, 1865.
+He was probably kept out of mischief during the troublous times by
+this imprisonment. Thomas and John, the eldest and youngest of this
+interesting family, operated over the district in which the redoubtable
+Jackey Jackey first earned his notoriety as a bushranger, but they
+did not confine their operations within any strictly defined limits,
+and therefore they, as it may be said, overlapped with the Hall and
+Gilbert gang. The elder brother Thomas was arrested in October, 1864,
+on a charge of highway robbery, but contrived to effect his escape
+from the Braidwood gaol. He stole several racehorses from residents
+in the neighbourhood of Jembaicumbene and Mericumbene, stuck up the
+Araluen mail, robbed the Post Office at Michelago, besides sticking-up
+and robbing numbers of travellers on the roads about Braidwood and
+Moruya. On January 12th, the very day on which his brother James was
+being tried, he stuck up Mr. George Summer's store at Jembaicumbene,
+and on the following day he bailed up John Frazer and Kenneth Matheson,
+on Major's Creek Mount, and robbed them of £36 10s. in money, and a
+bank draft for a large amount. In these enterprises he was assisted by
+several young men and lads residing in the district. In April, Thomas
+Clarke, Patrick Connell, Tom Connell, William Fletcher, and two or
+three other young men were returning home from the racecourse at Bega,
+where races had been held, when Clarke stuck up a Chinaman, who was
+travelling from the Gulph Diggings, and took his gold and money. A
+little farther along the road the party met the mail boy, and Clarke
+compelled him to exchange his horse, saddle, and bridle for those
+stolen from the Chinaman. Some miles from the scene of this outrage
+the party met Mr. John Emmott, and ordered him to bail up; but he,
+having a considerable amount of gold and money about him, wheeled his
+horse and started to gallop away. By this time others of the party had
+become excited, and several of them chased Emmott, and fired their
+revolvers at him. Emmott fell wounded and his horse was killed. About
+£100 in money and a parcel of gold dust was taken from him, and the
+party went on, leaving Mr. Emmott to make his way to where he could
+obtain surgical aid as best he could. On the following day they arrived
+at the Gulph Diggings, stuck up Mr. Pollock's store, and stole between
+two hundred and three hundred ounces of gold, besides all the money
+that they could find. On leaving the store they met Charles Nash in
+the street, and Clarke greeted him with "Hullo, Charlie, back from
+the Bega races?" "Yes," replied Nash. "Then fork out," cried Clarke,
+bringing out his revolver. Nash at first thought this was a joke, and
+began to laugh, but on the remainder of the gang crowding round and
+presenting their revolvers in a threatening manner he put his hand in
+his pocket, took out about thirty shillings, and handed it over with
+the remark, "That's all I've got." He was then permitted to pass on.
+Fletcher then led the way to the butcher's shop owned by R. Drew, and,
+putting his revolver to the butcher's head, told him to "shell out."
+Drew put his hands behind him and made no reply. Then the rest of the
+gang crowded in and called for a light, declaring their intention to
+search the place. Drew told them to "clear out." They refused, and
+threatened to shoot him. The dispute grew so loud that it reached the
+ears of Constable Miles O'Grady, the only policeman stationed on the
+little diggings, who was ill in bed. O'Grady got up and dressed, and
+went to the butcher's shop. He enquired what the row was about, and
+ordered the crowd to leave the shop. Fletcher turned round and fired
+at the constable, but missed. O'Grady immediately returned the fire,
+and Fletcher fell dead. One of Fletcher's mates then shot O'Grady,
+who died a few days later. The bushrangers rushed to their horses,
+mounted, and galloped away out of the township. The _Moruya Examiner_
+said that William Fletcher was little more than a boy, and was born in
+the district. He had ridden in the St. Patrick's Day races on March
+17th at Mullenderee only a few weeks before. His father was a farmer in
+the district, and had always borne a good character. The boy had been
+digging for gold at Araluen, Nerrigundah, The Gulph, and other diggings
+in that neighbourhood. It was his first essay at bushranging. His mind
+had probably been inflamed by the stories told of Gardiner, Ben Hall,
+and Johnny Gilbert, and he had been induced to endeavour to emulate
+their actions by the boastings of Thomas Clarke. Several young men who
+had taken part in this fray returned home afterwards, and were arrested
+by the police. Some of them were acquitted on account of their previous
+good character, and because there was no evidence to prove that they
+had done more than accompany the robbers. Thomas Clarke, his uncle
+Patrick Connell, his cousin Tom Connell, with Bill Scott and one or two
+others, who escaped to the ranges, continued to commit depredations
+similar to those described in the previous chapter.
+
+In September, 1866, John Carrol, Patrick Kennagh, Eneas McDonnell,
+and John Phegan were sent by the police authorities to the Braidwood
+district, to assist the police in the capture of the Clarke gang.
+Phegan had been mining in the district and was well acquainted with
+the ranges. He paid a visit to Mrs. Clarke, and was received with
+some suspicion as a stranger. On his second visit Mrs. Clarke and
+her two daughters became quite friendly, and asked Phegan to write
+out a petition in favour of her second son James, who was a prisoner
+on Cockatoo Island. The party camped as if engaged in surveying, and
+Phegan said that Kennagh knew more about writing out petitions than
+he did. He therefore took Kennagh to the place and introduced him to
+Mrs. Clarke. They wrote out the petition and left. During the next few
+days they saw the girls frequently. In the absence of their brothers
+these girls looked after the cattle, and were riding about the ranges
+every day. They passed the camp several times and spoke in a friendly
+manner. On the 4th of October, the party had been pretending to survey
+a flat, and under this pretence had searched a gunyah hidden among the
+timber. This gunyah was believed to be one of the rendezvous of the
+bushrangers, and was closely watched in the hopes that the bushrangers
+might visit it. On the day named, the special constables had finished
+their work and were standing round the camp fire, when a gun was fired,
+and the bullet passed between the men and struck the tree against
+which the fire was built. The party had their guns ready and returned
+the fire, although they could not see what they were shooting at.
+In the morning a flask half full of powder was picked up, but this
+gave no indication as to who had attacked the party. After this no
+pretence of friendship was made, and Carrol and the party under his
+charge openly took up the pursuit of the bushrangers, penetrating the
+mountains and searching everywhere where they thought it probable that
+the bushrangers might camp. In January, 1867, the bodies of the four
+men were found near their camp on the Jinden station in the Jingera
+ranges, in the Braidwood district. How or when they were shot is not
+known, but it is supposed that they were somehow drawn into an ambush
+and shot down. Carrol's body was lying on its back, and a handkerchief
+thrown across it with a one pound note pinned to it. The bodies of
+Carrol and Kennagh were close together, while the other two were half
+a mile away. Three revolvers were lying beside Phegan. One of the men
+had £14 on him, and another £19. The bodies were found by Mr. Edward
+Smith's stockman when riding through the ranges after cattle, on the
+9th January, and as they were in an advanced state of decomposition,
+they must have been there for several days. The Governor, Sir John
+Young, immediately issued a proclamation, calling upon magistrates,
+freeholders, and all other of Her Majesty's subjects, resident in the
+police districts of Braidwood, Browlee, Queanbeyan, Eden, Bega, and
+Cooma to assist the police in the capture of the "notorious outlaw,
+Thomas Clarke, whose life is forfeit to the laws of his country." The
+Colonial Secretary, (Mr. afterwards Sir) Henry Parkes, offered a reward
+of £5000 for the capture of the persons guilty of murdering the four
+special constables. A free pardon was also offered to any accomplice,
+not being the actual murderer. Carrol, Kennagh, and Phegan had been
+warders in Darlinghurst gaol, and had volunteered to attempt the
+capture of the bushranger Clarke, and McDonnell was an ex-policeman
+who had accumulated a considerable sum of money in business, and was
+about to visit Ireland, his native country, but who volunteered to
+join this party before going home. The firing had been heard at Jinden
+station, three miles from the camp, but no notice had been taken, as it
+was attributed to opossum hunters. According to the medical evidence,
+the men were killed with rifle bullets fired at close range--not more
+than twenty yards. Phegan and McDonnell were first shot, McDonnell only
+having one wound, which was fatal. Phegan was shot in the right side,
+and appears to have turned over after falling, and to have been then
+shot on the other side to finish him. Carrol and Kennagh appear to have
+been kneeling when shot, and had perhaps surrendered. The ostentatious
+disregard of the money on the bodies shows, said the _Sydney Morning
+Herald_, that revenge and not plunder was the object of the murderers.
+
+No certain knowledge as to how these men came to their death has since
+been arrived at. According to rumour three of them were shot by Thomas
+Clarke and the fourth by Bill Scott, who was afterwards wounded in a
+brush with the police, and as is believed killed by Clarke, as the
+bushranger known as German Bill had been killed by Morgan, to prevent
+him from falling into the hands of the authorities and being induced to
+give evidence against his former companions. In both cases, however,
+the end of the missing bushranger is uncertain.
+
+At the Criminal Sessions, held in Goulburn in April, 1867, Thomas
+Cunningham, Charles Hugh Gough, alias Wyndham, alias Bennett, James
+Baldwin, and Harry Brown were each sentenced to fifteen years'
+imprisonment for various acts of bushranging in various parts of the
+district. William Johnson for robbing and shooting at a man received
+a sentence of only two years. Several of these bushrangers came from
+the neighbourhood of Braidwood, and the _Yass Courier_ reported that
+Annie Clarke, one of the sisters of the bushrangers, stayed in Goulburn
+during the time that the sessions lasted, her visit doubtless being one
+of sympathy with some of the prisoners. She was about twenty years of
+age, with a fine figure and good features. She was observed to change
+her costume four times in one day. In the morning she was very quietly
+dressed. Later she came out in a second costume, also very quiet and
+neat. But in the afternoon she walked about the streets in blood red
+silk with red hat and feathers to match, and later towards evening she
+came out in a bright blue silk dress, white shawl, and a hat with white
+feathers.
+
+At Wellington, in the same month, John Kelly was sentenced to fourteen
+years' hard labour, the first two in irons, for highway robbery.
+
+At this time the reward offered for the capture of Thomas Clarke was
+raised to £1000, while £500 was offered for his brother John, who had
+just "turned out." A similar sum was offered for the capture of Bill
+Scott, whose death had not then been ascertained, or for any other
+member of the gang.
+
+On April 26th, Senior Constable Wright, and Constables James Wright,
+Lenehan, Walsh, and Egan, with the assistance of a black tracker
+known as Sir Watkin Wynne, tracked the bushrangers to a hut not far
+from where the four special constables had been murdered. The hut or
+cottage stood in a small cultivation paddock in which there was a small
+haystack. The constables watched the hut from behind this haystack
+until morning. At daybreak two racehorses were seen feeding behind
+the hut, and Constable Walsh, making a détour round the hut so as not
+to be heard by the occupants, walked down and caught these horses. He
+was leading them towards the haystack when the door opened and the
+two brothers Clarke came out of the house and fired at him. The other
+troopers immediately rushed forward from behind the stack and summoned
+the Clarkes to surrender. They made no reply, but went inside and
+shut the door. The police then took up positions, Constable Lenehan
+with Sir Watkin stopping at the stack with the horses at about two
+hundred yards from the hut and nearly facing it. The Senior Constable
+and Constable Wright went to a fallen tree about fifty yards to the
+right of the hut, while Constables Egan and Walsh went to about the
+same distance to the left, where there was no cover. The paddock in
+which the house stood had been recently ploughed, and the heavy rains
+which had fallen made the ground difficult to travel over. The hut was
+built of slabs, and these had shrunk away from each other, leaving
+interstices through which the bushrangers could point their guns and
+revolvers. The bushrangers kept up an irregular fire until Constable
+Walsh was wounded in the thigh and Sir Watkin in the shoulder, when the
+other four troopers made a rush, forced open the door, and entered. The
+bushrangers surrendered. They had two revolvers, two double-barrelled
+guns, two revolving rifles, one single-barrelled gun, and a horse
+pistol. The tracker's wound was so severe that he had to have his arm
+amputated, and he bore the operation with the stoical indifference of
+his race. He walked downstairs from the upper ward of the Braidwood
+Hospital to the dissecting room, and after his arm had been cut off
+and the stump bound up he walked up again as coolly "as if he had
+merely had his finger punctured," said the _Braidwood Dispatch_.
+He was supposed to be about fifty years of age, and was well-built
+and "handsome for a blackfellow." He was promoted to the rank of
+sergeant-major, and had two stripes placed on his arm, of which he was
+very proud. Senior Constable William Wright was made sub-inspector, and
+the other constables engaged were promoted and rewarded.
+
+Thomas and John Clarke were placed on trial charged with having wounded
+Constable Walsh and Black Tracker Sir Watkin, while in the execution
+of their duty. In two years Thomas Clarke had committed nine mail
+robberies, and had stuck up and robbed thirty-six individuals, some
+of whom had been wounded. He was also suspected of having caused
+the deaths of at least two persons. John Clarke had taken part in
+twenty-six of these robberies. They were found guilty, and the Chief
+Justice--the late Sir Alfred Stephen--in his address said:--"I
+never knew a bushranger (except one who is now suffering sentences
+aggregating thirty-two years) who made any money by it.... I will
+read you a list of bushrangers ... many of them young men, capable of
+better things, but who died violent deaths. Peisley executed; Davis
+sentenced to death; Gardiner sentenced to thirty-two years' hard
+labour; Gilbert shot dead; Hall shot dead; Bow and Fordyce sentenced
+to death, but their sentences commuted to imprisonment for life;
+Manns executed; O'Meally shot dead; Burke shot dead; Gordon sentenced
+to death; Dunleavy sentenced to death; Dunn executed; Lowry shot
+dead; Vane a long sentence; Foley a long sentence; Morgan shot dead;
+yourselves, Thomas and John Clarke, about to be sentenced to death;
+Fletcher shot dead; Patrick Connell shot dead; Tom Connell sentenced
+to death, but sentence commuted to imprisonment for life; Bill Scott,
+a companion of your own, believed to have been murdered by you....
+The list shows six shot dead and ten wounded.... Unfortunately there
+were seven constables shot dead and sixteen wounded in three years
+... since 1863.... The murders believed to have been committed by you
+bushrangers are appalling to think of. How many wives have been made
+widows, how many children orphans, what loss of property, what sorrow
+you have caused!... and yet, these bushrangers, the scum of the earth,
+the lowest of the low, the most wicked of the wicked, are occasionally
+held up for our admiration! But better days are coming. It is the old
+leaven of convictism not yet worked out, but brighter days are coming.
+You will not live to see them, but others will."
+
+Sentence was then passed in the usual form, and the brothers were hung
+on June 25th, 1867.
+
+Meanwhile robberies were frequent in other districts. Mrs. Colonel
+Pitt, with her daughter and Mrs. Colonel Campbell, were driving along
+the Mechanics' Bay Road, near the Domain, Forbes, when a servant who
+was leading the horses at the time was knocked down by an armed man.
+Another robber tried to seize the reins, but Mrs. Pitt stood up in the
+buggy and raised them out of his reach. She brought the butt of the
+whip so heavily down on the bushranger's head that he fell. Mrs. Pitt
+shouted and whipped the horses, and they galloped up the hill and did
+not stop until they reached Parnell, where the police were informed
+of what had occurred. A couple of troopers immediately started down
+the road, and found the servant lying where the outrage was said to
+have been perpetrated. He had been severely beaten, but was still
+alive. He was taken without any unnecessary delay to the hospital at
+Forbes, where he subsequently recovered. The robbers were tracked and
+followed and were captured next day, March 5th, 1865. They were Richard
+Middleton, alias Ruggy Dick, John Wilson, and Thomas Tracey. They were
+tried, convicted, and sent to gaol for long periods.
+
+On the 20th a man went into Richardson's Inn, Evans' Plains, and
+ordered those in the bar to "bail up." He obtained about £5. He had
+been travelling on foot, but when he left the bar he mounted a horse,
+belonging to one of the men he had robbed, and which was hitched to a
+verandah post, and rode straight into Bathurst, where he was captured
+while spending the money he had stolen in the bar of a public house.
+
+On the 19th, two armed men rode up to Mr. Ryan's house, on the Burrowa
+River, and ordered Mrs. Ryan to hand out her money. She refused, and
+one of the ruffians struck her with the butt of his revolver. An old
+man named Billy Dunn, who worked on the farm, jumped up from the
+table where he was at dinner to protect his mistress, when the other
+bushranger ordered him to sit down again, adding, "I'll shoot you if
+you interfere." The leader again demanded the money, and Mrs. Ryan
+struck him in the face, when he fired and wounded her on the knee. As
+she fell he struck her again with the pistol. They ransacked the house,
+and at length found a roll containing £94 in bank notes, which the old
+couple had just received by the Sydney mail. They also took a nugget of
+gold and several rings, brooches, and other articles of jewellery. The
+robbers were supposed to live in the neighbourhood and to have known
+that the money had been received from Sydney. They kept their faces
+covered, however, and the police could not obtain a description which
+would enable them to identify any persons as the robbers.
+
+The Bathurst mail was stuck up and robbed on February 2nd, 1866, near
+Pulpit Hill, by two young men named Seymour and John Ford, who were
+followed and captured next day.
+
+On the 14th of April, 1866, Sergeant John Healey, with Constables
+William Raymond, Edward William Mitchell, and Andrew Kilpatrick, left
+Berrima in charge of eleven prisoners, whom they were to take to the
+gaol in Sydney. The prisoners were seated in the body of the coach,
+and were connected together by "a marching chain," to which their
+handcuffs and leg irons were attached. The police were armed each
+with a short carbine and a revolver. The three constables sat in the
+body of the coach with the prisoners, while the sergeant sat on the
+box seat with the driver and a passenger named Whatmore. The coach
+stopped for change of horses at Bargo Brush, and the prisoners were
+taken out of the coach into the public-house yard. One of them, Thomas
+Berryman, produced keys with which to unlock the handcuffs from his
+pocket, and asked Webster, another prisoner, whether he would be one
+to "rush the police." Webster said "No," as he had only twelve months
+to serve, and was then threatened with vengeance if he informed the
+police, and was called "a---- hound," and a coward. Webster therefore
+promised to say nothing as to what the other prisoners proposed to do.
+After the halt the prisoners were again placed in the coach, and when
+they had travelled about three miles they made a sudden and combined
+rush on the constables. The prisoners who engaged in this mutiny
+were James Crookwell, William Lee, Thomas Berryman, John Owens, and
+Michael Slattery. Five others, Webster, Bland, Foster, Hindmarsh, and
+Smith, sat still and helped neither party. They had refused to join
+in the attempt at escape, but had promised not to give warning to the
+police. Crookwell snatched a revolver from Constable Raymond's belt
+and shouted, "Shoot the ----." Raymond had been seized by two of the
+prisoners, but he shook himself free and jumped out of the coach.
+Sergeant Healey was also seized by some of the prisoners, who attempted
+to drag him backwards into the coach. He also got free and jumped
+down: he ran to the side of the coach and called to the prisoners to
+surrender, and as they did not do so, he pulled the trigger, but the
+rifle missed fire. Crookwell had got a revolver in his hand, and was
+struggling with Constable Kilpatrick, and Healey made a blow at the
+convict with the gun but struck an iron bar in the coach and smashed
+the stock. Healey then threw away his rifle and drew his revolver. He
+fired and wounded Slattery, but at the same time Constable Raymond
+fell. Bland and Slattery were also wounded, and then the prisoners
+gave in. The passenger, Mr. Robert Whatmore, a publican at Bargo
+Brush, had got on to the coach when it left his place to go to Picton.
+He had his coat torn in the struggle. When it was over he borrowed a
+horse and rode to Picton for a doctor. The body of Constable Raymond
+and the wounded prisoners were put into the coach, and the sergeant
+and constables walked until they were met by the police from Picton.
+When tried, the prisoners denied having shot Constable Raymond, and
+said that he had been killed by the fire from the police guns. This,
+however, was denied by all the witnesses in the case. The six prisoners
+named were found guilty of murder, and were all sentenced to death.
+
+Sergeant Grainger and Constable Carroll chased a young man on the
+Carcour Road on suspicion that he was a bushranger. When asked by
+the sergeant where he was going, he replied, "Looking for work." The
+sergeant made him unstrap a coat which was fastened across the pommel
+of his saddle, and a small revolver was found in it. "What do you
+carry that for?" inquired the sergeant. "For protection," was the
+reply. The sergeant then snatched away the coat and saw that the man
+had a large revolver in his hand. He was told that if he attempted to
+raise this weapon he would be shot at once, and seeing that escape was
+impossible he surrendered and allowed the police to handcuff him. Then
+the sergeant opened his vest to ascertain what caused a protuberance
+there, and found a pair of false whiskers and moustaches. He was
+identified as John Miles, who had raided the Chinese Camp at Mookerawa,
+besides committing several highway robberies on Evans' Plains and in
+the neighbourhood of Orange. He was sent to gaol for ten years, the
+Judge saying that the prisoner had used less violence than was usual
+with bushrangers, and had not ill-treated the Chinamen further than by
+taking their gold.
+
+Henry Evans, a settler at Little Plains, near Burrowa, was stuck up by
+two armed men on January 7th, 1867. When asked to give up his money
+he said that he had none. He never had more than a few shillings in
+the house. This was disbelieved, and the bushrangers threatened to
+take him out and shoot him. "Shoot away," he replied coolly, "I can't
+stop you." They tied him up and ransacked the place, breaking the
+furniture and even stamping on Mrs. Evans's best bonnet. Being unable
+to find any money they made a bundle of some clothing and strapped it
+on a packhorse. Evans complained that the rope with which his hands
+were bound was cutting his wrists. "Serve you right," exclaimed the
+bushranger, "you deserve no better."
+
+Mr. Kelly's store on the One Mile Creek, Emu Creek Goldfield, was stuck
+up by John Kerr, alias Maher, and John Shepherd. Kelly, with his wife
+and children, and a man named Gibbons were locked up in a back room
+while the robbers were making a bundle of clothing, drapery, and other
+articles in the store. Gibbons, however, succeeded in forcing open a
+back window, without being heard by the robbers, and making his escape.
+He ran to the police station and gave information, but the robbers
+discovered his escape before the arrival of the police, and decamped
+without their booty. This, however, did not save them. They were
+followed and captured by Sergeant O'Donnell and Constable McGlone.
+They were convicted of more than one robbery on the Cowra Road.
+
+On Saturday night, June 8th, Cummings, while awaiting his trial for
+highway robbery, made an attempt to escape from the Bathurst Gaol. He
+filed a link of the chain of his leg-irons with a small pocket knife,
+which he had somehow procured, tore up two boards from the floor of
+his cell, crawled under the joists and scraped away the mortar so as
+to loosen several bricks in the gaol wall. The opening was only about
+ten inches square, but he contrived to squeeze through. Of course,
+when his cell was found empty on the Sunday morning, the excitement in
+the gaol was very great, but Mr. Forbes, the head gaoler, soon found
+the prisoner seated in the summer house in his private garden. "Here
+I am," cried the bushranger; "I did my best, but could not succeed."
+The prisoner had found some pieces of scantling in the outer yard, but
+they were not long enough to enable him to reach the top of the wall
+which encloses the gaol yard. An examination into the state of the gaol
+showed that the boards were quite rotten, and that the walls themselves
+were not very strong, the bricks being quite soft and rotten.
+
+Several bullock-drivers were stuck up by John Egan and Patrick Ryan
+on the Orange Road, in August, 1867. On the 16th Robert and John
+Tait, father and son, and Edward Barrell were camped together when
+the bushrangers rode up and ordered them to "fork out." The robbers
+took all their money and some articles from the drays. On the 19th
+they repeated the operation on some other bullock-drivers. They
+were followed by Sergeant Rush and Constable Lawrence and arrested
+about forty-five miles from where the robberies were committed. At
+the Bathurst Assizes the prisoners called seven witnesses to prove
+an alibi, but they contradicted each other under cross-examination,
+and on the prisoners being found guilty his Honour, Judge Hargrave,
+directed that they should be prosecuted for perjury. The prisoners
+were sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment. Another bushranger,
+John Foran, who was convicted on three charges, was also sentenced to
+fifteen years.
+
+Patrick Fitzgerald, alias Paddy Wandong, was charged at Wellington on
+October 21st, 1867, with having on the 21st December bailed up Thomas
+Goodall, a free selector, on the Castlereagh River. The prisoner rushed
+into the house in the night and ran into the bedroom. Mr. Goodall was
+sitting in another room and heard his wife scream and cry "Don't kill
+me." The prisoner, who was a half-caste, seized her by the throat
+and pulled her out of bed. The other man, Ted Kelly, stuck up Mr.
+Goodall. The prisoner said he was at Curbin, five miles away, but as
+he was positively identified and was well-known in the district he
+was convicted and sentenced to fifteen years' hard labour. The judge
+said that Kelly had been tried for his share in the crime and had been
+sentenced nearly twelve months since. Circumstances connected with
+bushranging had greatly altered since then, and this would naturally
+induce him to be less severe; yet, having passed a sentence on one man,
+he could not now pass a lighter sentence on an accomplice who was no
+less guilty.
+
+On the 24th of November, 1867, a party of forty or fifty shearers and
+others had assembled at Mr. William Whittaker's store on the Willandra
+Billabong, about a mile and a half from Mossgiel station, for the
+purpose of holding a race meeting, when they were bailed up by John
+Williams, William Brookman, Edward Kelly, and John Payne, and robbed
+of a considerable amount. Afterwards Michael McNamara, a constable
+stationed at Booligal, about sixty miles from Mossgiel, but who was
+at Mossgiel on duty at the time, was talking to Mr. Dobbins on the
+verandah of the store, when Williams and Brookman came up, and asked
+Dobbins if he was Constable McNamara. Dobbins replied "No." Brookman
+then turned to the constable and asked him the same question. The
+bushrangers each had a revolver in his hand, and so the constable
+also said "No," and made a rush at Brookman. In the struggle they got
+inside the store, and Brookman's pistol exploded, the bullet shattering
+McNamara's wrist. Brookman was shouting for help, and another shot
+was fired, wounding Constable McNamara in the back of the head. Mr.
+Peerman, overseer of the Mossgiel sheep station, and Mr. Edward Crombie
+rushed up and secured Williams and Brookman, who were placed in a
+hut and watched by Messrs. F.G. Desailly, Robertson, and others. The
+two bushrangers had five revolvers all loaded, except two barrels
+which had recently been fired. Williams had £82 1s. 10d. and Brookman
+£34 8s. 8d., making in all £116 10s. 6d. The two bushrangers were
+charged on January 14th, 1868, at Deniliquin, with having wounded
+with intent to kill Michael McNamara, a constable in the execution
+of his duty. Williams, it was said, was a bullock driver, who had
+recently sold his team for the purpose of turning bushranger. Brookman
+was under seventeen years of age, and very boyish in appearance. Mr.
+George Milner Stephen, who appeared for the prisoners, pleaded hard
+for a light sentence on Brookman on account of his youth, and also
+because his family were respectable people. The Chief Justice said
+that in a recent case of a bushranger who put a pistol to the head of
+an advancing constable, the jury had found that there was no intent
+to kill, for what reason no one could tell. In the present case the
+arresting constable had not been killed, and the jury must decide as to
+the intent. With regard to the youth of one of the prisoners, it was
+an ascertained fact that lads when they became bushrangers were more
+bloodthirsty, brutal, cruel, and fiendish than grown men. The prisoners
+were sentenced to death, and the boy when he heard the sentence said
+"Thank you." His sentence was afterwards commuted to imprisonment for
+life.
+
+Edward Kelly and John Payne pleaded guilty to the robberies at
+Whittaker's, and to two other charges of bushranging. They had been
+followed by the police, and Payne was captured while Kelly got away,
+but not without a wound. Subsequently Payne led the police to the camp,
+and thus assisted them to capture his wounded mate. For this act of
+humanity, the judge sentenced him to ten years' imprisonment on two
+charges, the sentences to be concurrent; while Kelly was sentenced to
+two terms of fifteen years each, or thirty years in all.
+
+Walter Maher, another bushranger, also pleaded guilty to a charge of
+highway robbery, and was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.
+
+Charley Johnson and Miller, alias Slater, who had been arrested and
+lodged in the lock-up at Denison Town, on April 3rd, 1868, made a rush
+on the watch-house keeper when he entered their cell, knocked him
+down and took his revolver. They fired two shots at him and walked
+away. They called at the blacksmith's shop and made the blacksmith take
+off their irons. Then they left the town, to resume their bushranging
+career. On the following morning they stuck up and robbed Mr. Ashton of
+about £10. On the 6th they stuck up the Green Swamp Inn, kept by Mr.
+McNaughton. In the evening they walked into Mr. Tuckerman's Hotel, in
+Mudgee, and called for drinks. When these had been served they ordered
+all in the bar to bail up, and began collecting the money. When they
+had obtained all they could they walked away, no attempt being made
+to detain them. They went into Langbridge's hotel, and collected the
+money in the same way. Then they returned, mounted their horses, and
+left the town by the Green Swamp Road. They stopped for supper at
+Landell's Hotel, about a mile from the town. In the meantime a party
+under Constable Campbell, composed principally of those who had been
+robbed, started in pursuit. They rode rapidly, and as they came up to
+the front of Landell's Hotel the bushrangers left by the back door,
+the horses they had ridden being captured, as they were hitched to
+the verandah. On the following morning Mr. Farrar was returning from
+Gulgong to Mudgee when he saw three mounted men, whom he took to be
+bushrangers. He started to gallop away, when he recognised Constable
+Webb's voice, and pulled up. He informed the police that he had stayed
+at Matthew Horner's Inn on the previous night, and had been suddenly
+wakened by a blow on the head from the butt of a revolver. He was
+ordered to keep quiet and to get up. He did so, and was compelled to
+lead the way to the stable, saddle and bridle his horse, and give the
+animal to the bushrangers. He had no idea who they were, and had been
+too much confused by the blow on his head to notice their appearance.
+They afterwards roused up Mr. Horner and compelled him to supply them
+with horses, giving Farrar his horse back again. On obtaining this
+information the party in pursuit rode on to Horner's Inn to make
+further enquiries, while at the same time the bushrangers must have
+been riding through the bush to Mudgee, and so passed their pursuers.
+They called at Tuckerman's Hotel, and had breakfast. As soon as their
+presence in the town was known, another party was made up to capture
+them. When the bushrangers left the town they were again followed, and
+were overtaken near Bambera Hill, where a fight took place, but when
+the pursuers had expended all their ammunition they returned to Mudgee,
+while the bushrangers proceeded to stick up and rob the Barragon mail.
+They were captured subsequently, and sent to gaol.
+
+The murder of the brothers Pohlmann, hawkers, was reported in the
+_Wagga Wagga Express_ of April 11th, 1868. The hawker's waggon had
+been found standing a little off the road which runs along the bank of
+the Yanco Creek from Narrandera to Jerilderie. A few yards away was a
+gunyah of boughs and bushes, supposed to have been constructed by the
+brothers to shelter their camp fire from the wind. Not far away were
+the ashes of a large fire, and on this being carefully examined some
+metal buttons and remains of charred bones furnished incontrovertible
+evidence that some human being had been cremated there. The drawers and
+lockers with which the waggon was provided were open and had evidently
+been ransacked. The clothes and drapery were disarranged and scattered
+about the waggon, while of the large stock of jewellery which the
+brothers were known to carry with them nothing could be found. When
+the report was first published a rumour spread around that one of the
+brothers had murdered the other and had made off with the more valuable
+articles. A sister, who resided in Sydney, wrote to the Press stating
+her opinion that this was not true. Her brothers were too fond of each
+other to quarrel, and as they had been very successful there was no
+motive for the robbery. She added that there was a secret receptacle in
+the axle bed of the waggon known only to herself and her brothers, and
+it was their custom to carry their money and the most valuable articles
+of jewellery in this _cache_. She felt certain that if the police
+searched they would find this secret hiding place with its contents
+intact. The police did search, and found £73, some gold watches, and
+other valuables hidden as Miss Pohlmann declared they would be. This
+effectually disproved the rumour about one brother having murdered the
+other, and made it evident that both had been murdered. A number of
+suspicious characters were arrested and discharged, and it was thought,
+as time passed away, that this murder would have to be included among
+the many undiscoverable crimes. Two years had elapsed, and the murder
+was almost forgotten, when a man named Robert Campbell was arrested
+and charged with the crime. One witness said he had been camped on the
+sand hill near the Yanco Creek, on March 13th, 1868. This sand hill was
+a favourite camping ground, because there was plenty of scrub on it,
+and there was no timber for firewood for miles on either side. He had
+just finished his supper when Campbell came up and asked him to take
+some tea to his mate who was lying ill about a quarter of a mile away.
+Witness told him he could take the tea himself, but he refused. The
+reason why witness would not take the tea was because Campbell bore a
+bad character. Campbell went away, and witness removed his camp some
+distance away, as he believed that Campbell was "up to some mischief."
+The following morning, soon after he resumed his journey, he met the
+Pohlmanns going towards the camping ground. No one could be found who
+had seen the Pohlmanns after this, and the evidence as to the time when
+they left Gillenbah tallied with the time when they were seen by this
+witness. The police succeeded in tracing some of the jewellery which
+had belonged to the Pohlmanns, and which Campbell had sold. He was
+convicted of murder, and was hung on October 5th, 1870, but as he made
+no confession the manner in which he carried out his crime can never be
+known.
+
+On April 20th, 1868, Robert Cotterall, alias Blue Cap, was tried at
+Wagga Wagga for having stuck up and robbed Carl Seeman at Rock Station,
+Reedy Creek, in June, 1867; and William Marshall, Jeremiah Lehane, and
+several others at various places, between July 15th and October 24th.
+The prisoner had made a hard struggle when run down by the police, and
+had been wounded. He was still very ill when brought to trial. He was
+deathly pale, and wore a green shade over his eyes. He looked very
+little like the popular ideal of a bold bushranger. He was convicted
+and sent to gaol for ten years.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+  Bushranging in the Northern District of New South Wales; Captain
+  Thunderbolt Robs the Toll Bar; A Chinaman Bushranger; A Long Chase;
+  A Fight with the Police; "Next, Please"; The Bushranger Rutherford;
+  Captain Thunderbolt and the German Band; Desperate Duel between
+  Captain Thunderbolt and Constable Walker; Thunderbolt's Death.
+
+
+It must not be supposed that while the Southern and Western districts
+of New South Wales were harried by bushrangers, that the great Northern
+district escaped from this scourge. As a fact, although bushranging
+began rather later than in the Western district, the Northern district
+was in no degree behind the others in interest at this time. In April,
+1864, Peter, James, and Acton Clarke, three brothers, with John Conroy
+and a boy of twelve, named Samuel Carter, were riding together towards
+Culgoa, near Warland's Range. The boy had cantered some distance ahead,
+when he was ordered to "bail up" by a mounted man, who suddenly came
+out from behind a clump of trees. The boy took no notice and the man
+fired at him and missed. The boy galloped away and the man started to
+follow him, when he caught sight of the other travellers, who had just
+appeared round a bend in the road. The bushranger stopped his horse,
+turned to meet them, and ordered them to dismount. They did so. The
+bushranger also dismounted and came towards them. He demanded their
+money, and they felt in their pockets to get it out. Just then Peter
+Clarke made a rush, threw his arms round the bushranger, and tried to
+throw him. There was a short struggle, and a pistol went off. Peter
+Clarke fell dead, and the bushranger broke away from him. The other
+travellers had come forward and endeavoured to assist Peter, but had
+been unable to grasp hold of the bushranger, as the wrestlers shifted
+so rapidly. Now, however, they caught him as he was trying to reach his
+horse. In the struggle both James Clarke and Conroy were wounded, but
+the bushranger was overpowered and disarmed. They tied his arms and
+took him along with them. About two miles along the road they came upon
+two men tied to trees, who said that they had been stuck up and robbed
+by the prisoner about two hours before. The prisoner was handed over to
+the police, and was identified as Harry Wilson, twenty years of age. He
+was taken to Maitland and charged with wilful murder. He was convicted,
+and hung on October 4th. A public meeting was held at Murrurundi and
+a committee was appointed to raise a subscription for the purpose of
+erecting a monument to Peter Clarke, who had "sacrificed his life in
+the cause of order and justice." This project was duly carried out.
+
+Mr. Samuel Turner, travelling from Bingera Goldfield to Newcastle in
+a buggy, put up for the night at Britten's Hotel, Willowtree. Next
+morning (Sunday, October 19th) he started early, intending to breakfast
+at Wallabadah. He had gone barely ten miles, however, when he was
+stuck up by a man riding a fine-looking horse. The robber took him off
+the road, tied him to one tree and hitched his horse to another. He
+robbed Mr. Turner of about £12, a gold watch and chain, and a bunch of
+keys, and rode away. Mr. Turner struggled desperately and succeeded in
+getting loose. He was leading his horse through the scrub towards the
+road when the robber returned, tied him up more securely than before,
+and cautioned him not to "try that dodge again." This time Mr. Turner
+remained quiet, and about an hour later the bushranger returned again,
+directing Mr. McShane where to drive his mail coach. When the coach
+had been placed in a satisfactory position the robber tied McShane and
+a passenger back to back, with a sapling between them, and laid them
+on the ground. The bushranger then sat down to go through the letters.
+McShane said, "You'd better leave them alone, you'll get nothing out
+of them." "Won't I," replied the bushranger. "What do you call this?
+It's a hundred and forty quid anyway." He held up a roll of bank
+notes as he spoke. Having finished the letters he told them to remain
+quiet until he "got the other mail," and went away again towards the
+road. It was fully two hours later when he again returned, directing
+Smith, the driver of the other mail, where to drive. Smith said his
+horses were young ones and would not stand. "All right," replied the
+bushranger, "stand at their heads, but, mind, no hanky panky." The
+only passenger was Mrs. O'Dell. She was politely requested to take a
+seat on a log and was not interfered with or asked for her money. By
+a strange coincidence her husband had been a passenger on the coach a
+week before and had been robbed at the same place, presumably by the
+same bushranger. By the present transaction the Bank of New South Wales
+lost £274, and it was doubtful whether this included the "hundred and
+forty quid" or not.
+
+J. Lowe's mail coach, plying between Mudgee and Sofala, was stuck up
+by an armed bushranger about two miles from Peel. It was not known
+whether this highwayman came from the Northern or the Western district,
+the place where the robbery took place lying between the two and being
+raided occasionally from either side.
+
+On December 16th a toll-keeper named Delany was "sitting at the
+receipt of custom" in the toll-house on the road between Maitland and
+Rutherford, when a man pushed the door open, presented a pistol at
+his head, and cried out "Give me your money." Delany was of course
+considerably startled by the suddenness of this attack, but he replied
+"I've got none." "No---- nonsense!" cried the bushranger. "Give it
+here!" "I tell you," exclaimed Delany, "there's no money here. My
+mate's just taken it to Maitland." The bushranger stepped into the
+house, pushed Delany aside, opened the cupboard, and took out the cash
+box, saying at the same time, "I'm Captain Thunderbolt." Delany made no
+attempt to resist this violence, and the bushranger put the box under
+his arm and walked away up the road to where he had hitched his horse
+to the fence. He mounted and rode away, and a few minutes afterwards
+O'Brien, the lessee of the tollbar, returned from the town. Delany told
+him what had occurred, and leaving O'Brien in charge walked towards
+the Spread Eagle Inn at the Rutherford Racecourse. Near the inn he
+came upon the bushranger, who exclaimed, "Hulloa, come after me?" "No,"
+replied Delany, "I'm going to the pub." "Has your mate gone for the
+crushers?" asked the bushranger. "No," was the reply, "he's minding the
+bar." Captain Thunderbolt kept silence for a moment, as if thinking,
+then he said, "I was told that young Fogarty, the flash fighting man,
+was keeping the bar, and I wanted to take it out of him. I didn't want
+to hurt you. You'll find your cash box behind that clump of trees and
+here's your money." He handed Delany about four shillings, mostly in
+coppers, and Delany walked away, picked up the cash box, which was
+uninjured, and went back to the toll-house. The bushranger walked into
+the bar of the inn and asked if he could have something to eat. Mrs.
+Byrne, the landlady, replied "Certainly," and went out to cut him some
+bread and meat. He sat down and waited, and on her return ate the bread
+and meat as if he was very hungry. When he had finished he asked "How
+much?" "Oh nothing," replied Mrs. Byrne, "we never charge for a little
+thing like that." "Well," said the robber, "I came here to stick you
+up, but as you're so---- hospitable, I won't." He then asked for a
+bottle of rum, paid for it, and went away. About half-a-mile away he
+met Godfrey Parsons, who was taking his sick wife to Maitland, to see
+the doctor. Thunderbolt ordered him to "bail up and hand out." Parsons
+replied, "We've only two pounds, and we want that for the doctor." The
+bushranger asked what was the matter with Mrs. Parsons and how long
+she had been ill. Parsons told him. "Well," said the robber, "I'm a
+bushranger, but I don't rob sick women; pass on." Mrs. Parsons had £30
+in her pocket and was crying at the prospect of losing it.
+
+Further along the road Thunderbolt met a man and four women, and
+stopped to joke with them. He said he thought it----- unfair that one
+man should have four women, while he could not get one. As they were
+laughing a trooper rode up, and the bushranger immediately challenged
+him to fight; the trooper, however, said he had no ammunition with
+him. "I've been chased by you---- traps near Armidale," exclaimed
+Thunderbolt, "but they pulled up at the Black Rock. They were afraid
+of getting bogged in the Green Swamp if they followed me."
+
+He stopped a number of other people during the afternoon, robbing some
+and letting others go, and in the evening went back to the Spread Eagle
+to tea. He chatted for some time with Mrs. Byrne, telling her of his
+exploits. Just after his departure four troopers rode up. Information
+as to the proceedings of the bushranger had reached Maitland, and these
+troopers had been sent out to catch him if possible. They made some
+enquiries, and then followed in the direction in which Thunderbolt had
+gone, overtaking him as he was talking quietly to a man on the road.
+The foremost trooper presented his pistol at the bushranger's head,
+and said "You're my prisoner." "Am I?" cried Thunderbolt with a laugh,
+as he put spurs to his horse and galloped away. After a long chase,
+and the expenditure of a large quantity of Government ammunition, the
+bushranger escaped in the dark, the troopers' horses being almost too
+tired to return to Maitland. In its comments on this escapade of the
+new bushranger the _Maitland Mercury_ enquires: "Is this hitherto quiet
+district to be disturbed as the Western district has been for so long a
+time?" and events proved that it was.
+
+Within a few days the Northern mail was stuck up by two armed men. One
+of the robbers was said to be in a state of trepidation the whole time.
+Perhaps this may account for the bushrangers missing two registered
+letters, one containing £60 and the other £30, and a small bag of
+gold-dust in a package. A gentleman who was accompanying the mail cart
+on horseback was allowed to continue his journey because he said he
+was on a visit to a sick friend. He was required to promise, "as a
+gentleman," not to give any information to the police, and he kept his
+word, but on his arrival in Tamworth he made a bet that the mail coach
+would not arrive by three p.m. The mail was delayed less than half an
+hour, however, and the driver nearly made up the lost time by fast
+driving. The gentleman therefore lost his bet in spite of the special
+knowledge he had acquired. The robbers were followed at once, and on
+January 6th, 1865, William Mackie and Robert Johnstone were committed
+for trial for this robbery. Mackie was identified as a bushranger
+who had been previously convicted at Bathurst for robbery under arms,
+but had made his escape while being conveyed to Sydney to be sent to
+Cockatoo Island. The prisoners were taken from Bathurst to Penrith by
+coach. From thence they went to Sydney by train. They were handcuffed
+in the guard's van, the door being open, as the day was very hot.
+When running along the embankment near Fairfield, between Liverpool
+and Parramatta, Mackie, ironed as he was, jumped out. The train was
+travelling at a fast rate, and it ran some distance before notice could
+be conveyed to the driver and the train stopped. It was expected that
+the prisoner would be found dead at the foot of the embankment, but
+nothing could be seen of him. It was then believed that he had crawled
+somewhere into the scrub to die, but although diligent search was made
+no body could be discovered. He was now sent to Cockatoo to undergo his
+original sentence, and Johnstone was sent to keep him company. It was
+said that they intended to join Captain Thunderbolt.
+
+An attempt was made to stick up the Northern mail about twelve miles
+north of Singleton, on January 7th. A shot was fired from behind a
+culvert on the road, as the coach was passing, and a voice called out
+"Bail up." The driver, however, instead of obeying, lashed his horses,
+took his foot off the brake, and the coach plunged down the hill at a
+tremendous rate, and at the imminent risk of a capsize. Two robbers
+came out from behind the culvert and fired. The passengers declared
+that they heard the whizz of the bullets, but no one was hurt, and the
+coach reached the level ground safely.
+
+On the same day the branch mail from Bendemeer was stuck up and robbed
+near Stringy Barks, proving that more than one party was raiding on the
+Great North Road. There were no passengers, but a number of half notes
+were taken. The robbers handed the driver several cheques to "take care
+of," one being for £1000. No violence was used.
+
+The Northern mail was robbed again on January 30th, at Black Hill,
+about two miles from Muswellbrook, by four armed men. There were three
+male and one female passengers. The amount stolen was estimated at
+between £700 and £800. These and several minor robberies on the road
+were all credited to Captain Thunderbolt, or to men who were trying to
+join him, and it was said that the immunity enjoyed by him encouraged
+other evil-disposed persons to take to the road.
+
+In one case at least a Chinaman turned bushranger. Constable Ward was
+returning to his station at Coonanbarabran from Mudgee, on February
+21st, when he was informed that a Chinaman had recently stuck up and
+robbed a number of persons in the neighbourhood. The constable followed
+him into the bush, found his camp, and called on the Asiatic to come
+out and surrender. Instead of obeying the Chinaman exclaimed, "You----
+policeeman, me shootee you!" and did so. The constable, though wounded,
+returned to the nearest farm, from whence news of the occurrence was
+sent to the police-station. A party was organised and the Chinaman was
+soon hunted down. He was convicted of attempting to murder a constable
+while in the execution of his duty, and was hung. Constable Ward
+recovered from his wound.
+
+On April 6th, Mr. Hughes, of Bourke & Hughes, squatters, informed the
+police at Dubbo, that the hotel at the Fisheries had been stuck up and
+robbed, and volunteered to assist in the capture of the bushrangers.
+They tracked the robbers to Canonbar, about a hundred and twenty miles,
+when Mr. Hughes's horse knocked up. There they were informed that the
+bushrangers had passed three days before, and had stolen fresh horses
+from Mr. Baird's station, Bellerengar, leaving their knocked-up ones
+in exchange. The black trackers were thrown off the trail by this
+manoeuvre, as they followed the tracks of the abandoned horses for
+several miles before they discovered their error. They soon, however,
+picked up the new tracks, although the bushrangers had kept off the
+road as much as possible, as if aware that they were being followed.
+They rode through the scrub and across arid or rocky patches wherever
+they could find them, but the black boys followed them with unerring
+skill and with but little delay. The bush rangers stuck up and robbed
+several people on the road and took fresh horses, provisions, and
+other necessaries from the stations as they went along. At Martell's
+Inn the police were informed that the bushrangers were only twelve
+hours ahead. We will now leave the pursuers and see what the pursued
+were doing. They stuck up Mr. Strahan's station and then went on to
+Gordon's Inn, where they called for drinks like ordinary travellers,
+shouting for all those in the bar. Then the leader, Daniel Sullivan,
+produced his pistol, while his two mates went to the door to prevent
+any of the men inside from running away. They collected about £4 from
+the landlord and those in the bar, then they put their pistols in their
+pockets and began "shouting" again. When the £4 was expended, they
+again produced their pistols, compelled the landlord to hand over the
+cash, and proceeded to spend it as before. The money had been expended
+some three or four times, when Sullivan left his mates, Clarke and
+Donnelly, to "keep the game alive," mounted his horse and rode into
+the bush. Mr. Gordon was compelled to remain in the bar to serve out
+the liquors called for, but Mrs. Gordon went on to the verandah to
+ascertain whether she could find any one to send to Molong to give
+the alarm. Presently she saw three dusty, weather-stained travellers
+walking towards the inn, and thought that they were more bushrangers.
+Fortunately she did not go into the bar to tell her husband, and when
+Sergeant Cleary, with Constables Brown and Johnston, came up they
+speedily told her who they were, and were informed in their turn that
+the men they had ridden so far to arrest were inside. The police
+entered the bar, and covering the two bushrangers with their revolvers
+called on them to surrender. Instead of obeying, Clarke put his hand
+to his belt and was immediately shot. Donnelly made a rush towards
+the corner of the bar, where their guns were standing against the
+wall, and he also was shot just before he reached them. A moment later
+Sullivan rode up to the front of the hotel, unconscious of the change
+which had taken place during his absence, and when he found himself
+covered by the police weapons he was so dumbfounded that he permitted
+himself to be pulled from his horse and handcuffed without resistance.
+The police had left their horses some distance away in charge of the
+black tracker. Now they went for their horses and fed them as well as
+themselves. Later on a cart was procured, and the body of Donnelly
+was disposed in the bottom. Beside it, wrapped in a blanket, was the
+wounded man, Clarke, while Sullivan, being uninjured, was mounted on
+horseback, and the whole party proceeded to Molong, where an inquest
+was held on Donnelly's body. Sullivan, and Clarke, who recovered from
+his wound, were subsequently tried and convicted.
+
+On April 29th, the _Tamworth Examiner_ said:--"A week ago we reported
+that Frederick Ward, alias Captain Thunderbolt, had stuck up the
+Warialda mail. He afterwards went to Mr. Lloyd's Manilla station and
+took two first-class horses. Then he stuck up Cheeseborough's and
+Lethbridge's stations. From the 20th to the 24th nothing was heard of
+him, but on the last-mentioned date he and another stuck up Munro's
+Inn, at Boggy Creek. Mr. Munro challenged them to fight singly, either
+with fists or pistols, but they laughed at him and shot a valuable dog.
+They drank a large quantity of spirits, and collected between £70 and
+£80. They went on to Walford's Inn at Millie, sticking up Mr. Baldwin
+on the road. Mr. Walford, having been informed of their approach, had
+hidden away everything of value, so that they got very little, except
+more grog. The police also had been informed, and three troopers,
+with a black tracker, soon arrived on the scene. As they approached,
+the bushranger on guard outside whistled, and the other man came out
+and mounted, Thunderbolt waving a revolver and pointing to a field
+behind the house as a challenge. He led his men to the clearing and
+made a stand. The police followed, and a number of shots were fired
+on both sides. The police closed up, and Constable Dalton shot one of
+the bushrangers, a mere lad, and he fell. Dalton shouted to Constable
+Morris to 'look after him,' and turned towards Thunderbolt, when the
+boy raised himself on his elbow and fired. Constable Lynch shot the boy
+in the neck, probably in time to save Dalton's life. Ward made a dash
+forward, perhaps with a view to driving the police away from the boy
+and carrying him off, but the police fire was too brisk, and after a
+few more rounds the robber turned and rode into the bush. The police
+followed, but as their horses had travelled fifty miles that morning,
+they were obliged to give up the chase. The robber who was killed, was
+identified as John Thompson, aged sixteen."
+
+The Namoi mail was robbed by one white man and two blacks, near
+Tamworth, and on September 17th the mail from Walgett to Singleton was
+stuck up at Brigalow Creek. The passengers and driver were conducted
+some distance off the road, to where a fire had been kindled, and were
+told to "make some tea and enjoy yourselves while we look after the
+bags." James Boyd, alias McGrath, and Charles Stanmore were arrested
+after a smart chase, and were convicted of having robbed the Walgett
+mail. A number of similar robberies occurred from time to time in
+various parts of this extensive district, and the police were kept
+constantly busy.
+
+In December, 1865, Ward, riding Mr. Duff's racer Eucalyptus, stuck up
+Cook's Inn at Quirindi on the 18th; J.M. Davis's Inn at Currabubula on
+the 20th, and Griffin's Inn at Carroll on the 23rd. At this last-named
+place he pulled up, and said to his mate in a loud voice, "Let's have
+a glass of brandy. We want it this wet evening." They dismounted, and
+stepped on to the verandah. As he entered the door Thunderbolt raised
+the corner of his mackintosh to display his pistols, and said, "I'll
+trouble you, ladies and gentlemen, to bail up." The women began to
+scream, and Ward said, "Don't be afraid. We shan't hurt any one. We
+only want a little money." A traveller who had entered some time before
+drew away from the bar, and joined the bushrangers. The other men
+present were ranged in single row along the wall, and when all were in
+position each man was called up in turn to be searched. The proceedings
+were very suggestive of the "next, please," in a barber's shop. While
+this was going on several people entered, and were compelled to take
+their places at the end of the queue. The bushrangers held the bar
+from five to nine p.m., pausing in their work every now and then to
+order drinks for all hands. Shortly after nine o'clock two men rode up
+to the verandah, and shouted "Landlord." The robbers looked out, and
+recognising the horsemen, retreated into the back room. Mr. Griffin
+went to the door, and said in a low tone to Constable Lang, "We're
+all stuck up here." "Which are the bushrangers?" asked the constable,
+and on being told that they were in the back room he rode to the door
+and fired. The shot was returned, and the shooting continued until
+the constable was wounded in the arm and his horse in the neck. The
+bushrangers went out through the back door, and escaped in the darkness
+into the bush, but they left their horses behind.
+
+Early in 1866 Ward and his gang made a raid across the Queensland
+border, robbing stations, hotels, and travellers in the Curriwillinghi
+district, but he soon returned to his own district, and in March the
+Tamworth and Wee Waa mail was stuck up near Bullingall by two armed
+men supposed to be Ward and another. The driver of the Northern mail
+was also ordered to bail up near Murrurundi, and as he did not obey
+with due alacrity he was speedily brought to a standstill by one of his
+horses being shot dead. After going through the letters the bushrangers
+rode into the town and took a quantity of clothes, some money, and some
+jewellery and other valuables from Barton's and Johnstone's stores and
+Humphries' Hotel.
+
+The Northern mail was robbed by three armed men at the Red Post Hill,
+near Falbrook. It was just before dawn when the driver was ordered to
+bail up. The robbers were on foot and had a number of pieces of rope
+ready to tie up the passengers. Mr. Moore, of Abingdon, attempted to
+run away, but was followed and knocked down with the butt of a pistol.
+The six passengers and the driver were tightly bound either to the
+fence or to trees, and their money and watches taken away from them.
+The robbers then mounted the coach and drove away along the road.
+As soon as it was out of sight the bound men began to struggle for
+liberty. Mr. Moore was the first to succeed in breaking loose and he
+untied Mr. Dines and the others. They followed the coach along the road
+towards Singleton, but had not gone very far when they were overtaken
+by Mr. Wyndham on horseback. They informed him of their circumstances
+and he rode rapidly away to give notice to the police in Singleton. He
+found the coach standing on the road within a mile of the town but did
+not stay to examine it. The police started out immediately and arrived
+at the coach almost as soon as the driver and passengers. Only one of
+the bags had been cut open, and no damage was done to anything else on
+the coach. The police spent the whole day in searching, but failed to
+find any tracks or to ascertain in which direction the robbers had gone.
+
+James Booth, William Willis, alias Dunkley, and Thomas Hampton were
+arrested in a public house at the corner of Goulburn and Pitt Streets,
+Sydney, by Detectives Camphin and Finigan on April 17th, 1866, and
+charged with having robbed the Singleton mail on the previous day.
+The coach had arrived at the Red Post Hill, between Muswellbrook and
+Singleton, when the men sprang out from behind the trees bordering the
+road and sang out, "Bail up, stand and deliver, throw up your arms."
+Mr. Moore, one of the passengers, jumped out of the back of the coach,
+and Hampton chased him and brought him back. Mr. Button, a Government
+railway guard, also tried to get down, but Willis told him that he
+would blow his "---- brains out" if he didn't sit still. The passengers
+were all tied up and robbed. One of them, George Beved, said that
+Willis was the man who threatened to "Blow the roof of his---- skull
+off" when Moore was wrestling with Hampton. The prisoners were also
+charged with having bailed up and robbed the mail near Campbelltown, on
+April 10th. The proceedings were of the usual character. The prisoners
+were convicted on both charges and were sentenced, Willis to ten years'
+and Booth and Hampton each to eight years' imprisonment.
+
+The April Sessions at Bathurst were unusually heavy. John Weekes was
+sentenced to death for the murder of Mr. Scheffts at Grenfell, and John
+Connors for attempted murder in another bushranging exploit. Besides
+these, Patrick Foran and James Kelly were sent to gaol for ten years
+for sticking up the Half-Way House on the Carcoar Road, and other
+acts of bushranging; James Kennedy, alias Southgate, to fifteen years
+for sticking up John Edwards, William Woodley, and Henry Rodwell,
+at Murdering Swamp on January 1st--Kennedy also pleaded guilty to
+robbing John Fawcett and John Eaton; Charles Rutherford, who had been
+engaged in several robberies in company with William Mackie, who, as
+already related, had jumped out of the train while being conveyed to
+Sydney, and was afterwards captured in the Northern district, was
+sentenced to seven years' penal servitude; Smith and Moran sentenced
+to seventeen years each, and Kerr to ten years. These, with some
+prisoners, sentenced for minor offences, were being conveyed to Sydney
+to gaol on April 25th, 1867. There were fifteen prisoners in all,
+guarded by eight troopers. Sergeant Casey, in charge, was seated on
+the box seat of the Cobb's coach. The prisoners were inside chained
+together in two gangs of seven and eight respectively. Constables
+Madden and Kennedy were seated, unarmed, with the prisoners, while the
+other five troopers rode beside the coach fully armed. At Pulpit Hill
+the prisoners, notwithstanding the heavy force opposed to them, made
+a desperate attempt to escape, and in the melee Constable Holmes was
+killed, while Rutherford and another prisoner got away in the bush.
+Rutherford immediately returned to his old haunts and recommenced his
+depredations. In December, 1867, he was captured by Sergeant Cleary,
+of Bourke, and was conveyed to the lock-up, but he again contrived to
+escape. In January, 1868, he stuck up the Boggy Creek and Galathera
+Inns, and robbed numbers of people on the road. He then went to Mr.
+Beauvais' inn at Cannonbar and called on the landlord to bail up. Mr.
+Beauvais, however, had a pistol in the till and knew how to use it. On
+pretence of taking out the money, to hand over as commanded, he got out
+his revolver and shot the bushranger. He was awarded a silver medal by
+the Government for this act.
+
+The districts raided by Rutherford and Thunderbolt overlapped, so
+that it is difficult to decide which of these two bushrangers were
+responsible for many of the outrages. Ward, however, was not idle. In
+company with a boy named Mason, he stuck up and robbed the Northern,
+the Walcha, and several other mails in the district. He was frequently
+chased by the police, but being a magnificent rider, with an intimate
+knowledge of every gully, ravine, or hill in the extensive district
+over which he ranged, he always contrived to escape. Sometimes he was
+very hard pressed, as, for instance, when he was compelled to abandon
+Talleyrand, a racehorse for the recovery of which Mr. Wyndham had
+offered a reward of £100, in April, 1869. His companions were captured
+one after the other. They were generally boys of from sixteen to
+twenty, but Thunderbolt continued his career unchecked. No doubt he
+owed many of his hairbreadth escapes to the superiority of his horses.
+He would travel two hundred miles to steal a noted racehorse. Thus he
+stole Mr. Samuel Clift's horse, John Brown, from Breeza. The horse had
+run on the Maitland and Sydney courses.
+
+One of the stories told about Ward was that he stuck up a German band
+at Goonoo Goonoo Gap, and made the Teutons play for him, besides
+giving him their money. The Germans pleaded hard. They said they were
+only poor men, and that their wives and children would suffer if they
+were robbed. Thunderbolt told them that he must have money. He was
+waiting for the principal winner at the Tamworth Races, he added, and
+he promised that if he caught him he would return the Germans their
+money. He took down their names and addresses. Notwithstanding this
+the Germans departed very sorrowful. They never expected to see their
+money again. Nevertheless, on their arrival at their home in Warwick,
+Queensland, they found a Post Office Order for £20 awaiting them. It
+was surmised, therefore, that Thunderbolt had captured the winner.
+
+On May 25, 1870, Ward met Mr. Blanche, innkeeper, near Uralla,
+returning home with his wife from a drive, and called on him to bail
+up. Blanche laughed, but took no further notice of the order. Ward
+exclaimed, "No humbugging. You wouldn't let me have a bottle of rum the
+other night, though I offered £5 for it." Blanche replied that he never
+served any one after hours. He then took four shillings and sixpence
+from his pocket and said, "This is all the money I've got. You can have
+that." The robber said, "The missus has more than that." "No," cried
+Mrs. Blanche, "I've no money. We only came for a drive." Ward seemed to
+consider for a moment, and then told Mr. Blanche to drive on. Several
+men came up the by-road from Carlisle Gully, and Ward stopped and
+robbed them. An old man named Williamson, and an Italian dealer named
+Giovanni Cappisote, were also stopped, but after handing over a gold
+watch and chain, a small nugget of gold, and £3 13S. 6d. in money, the
+dealer was allowed to depart. The other men were taken to Blanche's
+Inn, where Williamson was ordered to shout. He did so, and then Ward
+shouted. They danced, and sang, and enjoyed themselves. Becoming
+quieter, Ward asked Blanche whether he remembered a fight between a
+bushranger and the police at the Rocks, about three hundred yards away,
+seven years before. Blanche said he remembered it well. "Well," cried
+Ward, "I'm the man; I was shot in the leg." Ward went on to relate more
+of his exploits, the narrative being interspersed with songs and dances.
+
+In the meantime, Cappisote drove on to a selector's farm about a mile
+and a half along the road. Here he told Mrs. Dorrington what had
+happened. He borrowed a saddle and bridle, took his horse from the
+cart, and rode to Uralla; making a wide détour round Blanche's house.
+He told the police where the bushranger was, and Constables Mulhall
+and Walker armed and mounted at once. Mulhall had the faster horse and
+he reached Blanche's first. As he rode up he saw Ward and a young man,
+both mounted on gray horses, riding along the road. He followed them,
+and as he approached Ward turned round in his saddle and fired. Mulhall
+returned the fire but his horse bolted. The trooper soon pulled him
+up. He wheeled and, seeing one of the men on the grays gallop away,
+followed shouting to Walker to "look after the other fellow."
+
+The "other fellow" was Thunderbolt, and he turned off the road and rode
+down the steep hill towards the Rocky River, followed by Constable
+Walker. Both men fired a shot occasionally when an opportunity offered
+but neither spoke. On reaching the bank of the river, Ward plunged
+in, intending to cross and escape up the opposite range, but Walker
+shot his horse. Ward fell into the river, which was shallow there, and
+he rose immediately. Walker galloped along the bank past a deep hole
+and crossed. Then he returned to where Ward was standing in the water
+and called on him to surrender. "Who the---- are you?" enquired Ward
+roughly. "Never mind who I am," replied Walker, "put your hands up."
+"Are you a trooper?" asked Ward. "Yes," replied Walker. "Married?"
+continued Ward. "Yes," said Walker. "Well, remember your family," said
+Ward. "Oh, that's all right," returned the trooper. "Will you come
+out and surrender?" "No," cried Ward, "I'll die first." "Then it's
+you and me for it," said Walker. The trooper urged his horse into the
+river. The animal objected at first and then entered with a rush into
+deep water. Walker raised his revolver above his head to keep it dry.
+Ward fired several shots, none of which took effect. When the horse
+steadied Walker fired again and Ward fell. He rose again immediately
+and tried to scramble up the bank. Walker struck him with the butt of
+his revolver and the bushranger fell back into the deep hole and sank.
+The trooper slipped from his horse, and reaching down grabbed Ward's
+shirt and pulled him up. He dragged the bushranger out of the hole,
+up the steep bank, and laid him out on the grass, believing him to be
+dead. Then he remounted and rode to Blanche's Hotel for assistance
+to bring the body in. Several of the men about there volunteered to
+help, but on their reaching the river they found that the bushranger
+had disappeared. A search was made, but it was too dark to look for
+tracks. The next morning at daybreak the police and several civilians
+went to the spot and found a trail of blood. They followed it, and
+found Ward hidden under some bushes. He was placed in a cart and taken
+to Uralla, but he died before night. The young man chased by Constable
+Mulhall said he had gone after Ward to try and get back a horse which
+the bushranger had stolen from him, and as nothing detrimental to his
+character was known he was discharged at the police court.
+
+Constable Walker was highly complimented for the pluck and
+determination he had shown in this desperate encounter with the noted
+bushranger in a deep water hole in a mountain stream with no one
+looking on. Of the many brave actions recorded of the police this was
+perhaps the bravest and the most tragical. The constable was promoted
+and paid his well-earned reward.
+
+In referring to this duel the _Melbourne Argus_ spoke of Ward as the
+last of the "professional bushrangers" of New South Wales, and said:
+"With a much more compact territory than New South Wales, and with a
+population which can entertain no ancestral or traditional sympathies
+with burglars or highwaymen, we are nevertheless amenable to the same
+reproaches as those with which the neighbouring colony was assailed a
+few years ago."
+
+I have already dealt with this mild pharisaical glorification of
+Victoria as compared with New South Wales, and have no intention of
+enlarging upon it here. I refer to it merely to remind the reader that
+bushrangers were at work elsewhere than in New South Wales at this
+time.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+  Bushranging in the Wild Paroo; A Raid into South Australia; A Relic
+  of the Bushranging Era; Agitation for the Release of Gardiner;
+  Official Reports as to Twenty-four Bushrangers Still in Gaol; The
+  Cases of Gardiner and William Brookman; Gardiner and the Other
+  Bushrangers Released; Gardiner Leaves the Country.
+
+
+Bushranging in New South Wales practically ceased with the death of
+Frederick Ward, alias Captain Thunderbolt. Previously to his tragical
+death in the New England River, the few stragglers from the big gangs
+had been captured, and any new men who attempted to revive the "reign
+of terror" were speedily dealt with by the police. There were some few
+robberies besides those already related which may be mentioned here.
+They were distributed over a wide range of country, one party even
+crossing the border into South Australia, where the bushranger had
+hitherto been known only by hearsay. But these later bushrangers did
+not inspire the terror which those who had passed away had done. They
+were very small fry as compared with Gardiner, Gilbert, Hall, Dunn,
+Morgan, Thunderbolt, and their companions. Three bushrangers stuck up
+Mr. Wearne's station at Crookwell on January 6th, 1869, and stole £80
+worth of property. The Carcoar mail was bailed up on the mountains,
+near the Bathurst Road, by two bushrangers, when £15 were taken from
+the passengers and the bags were searched. A desperate attempt was made
+to stick up the Joint Stock Bank at Braidwood, but the robbers were
+beaten off. The Southern mail was robbed on May 10th between Goulburn
+and Marulan. An attempt was made to stick up the Yass mail on the 24th.
+Mr. Longfield, a passenger, was wounded, but the robber was forced to
+retire without having effected his purpose.
+
+In December, a number of people were bailed up and robbed in the
+Paroo and Warrego districts. The "Wild Paroo" had not been very long
+reclaimed from its original desert state, but this did not prevent an
+enterprising bushranger from finding his way there, though he did not
+continue his career for any very lengthened period. He stuck up Messrs.
+Lyons & Martin's station, and made the men sit on the top rail of the
+stockyard fence while he rolled up a parcel of goods which he selected
+from the store. Messrs. Browne, Zouch, and Bradley drove up in a buggy
+while he was thus engaged, and were ordered to dismount and take their
+places on the fence with the station hands. The robber escorted them,
+pistol in hand, from where the buggy stood to the stockyard. While
+walking across this intervening space, the bushranger inadvertently, or
+carelessly perhaps, stepped rather too near to Mr. Browne, who stood
+six feet five inches in his socks, and was proportionately strong. With
+a whoop Mr. Browne pounced on to him and held him as in a vice. This
+turned the tables completely. The men on the fence got off, and the
+bushranger was in his turn securely tied to the fence and kept there
+until the police could be brought from the nearest town, Bourke, about
+a hundred and fifty miles away, to conduct him to prison. After this,
+bushranging does not appear to have been popular in this district.
+
+On the 9th May, 1869, Mr. Henry Kidder Gillham, manager of the
+Australian Joint Stock Bank at Braidwood, returned home at eight p.m.,
+and entered by the side gate, when a man sprang out from the shadow and
+called on him to stand. The bushranger presented a revolver, which Mr.
+Gillham pushed aside, when another man struck him with a life preserver
+and knocked him down. Two shots were fired from revolvers. Michael
+Collins, a gardener living on the bank premises, was in the kitchen
+when the two bushrangers entered. One of them called out: "Not a word,
+or it will be the worse for you." The tall man had a "Northumberland
+voice--that is, he could not pronounce the r." They tied Collins, and
+went out of the kitchen. In the meantime the firing had been heard, and
+Mr. Finnigan, a teacher, with Sergeant Duffy and Constable Luke Dacy,
+ran to the bank. When they got there two men ran out of the garden, and
+after a chase, during which several shots were fired, Joseph Horne was
+captured. He had no boots on. The other man, John Bollard, escaped at
+the time, but was tracked and captured subsequently. The Chief Justice,
+Sir Alfred Stephen, said that Horne had been sentenced to seven years'
+hard labour at Maitland. He was afterwards convicted in Melbourne and
+had escaped from Pentridge stockade, having been shot in the shoulder.
+Horne said that punishment had made him what he was, and pleaded hard
+for Bollard, who was young and had been enticed from the right path by
+him. Horne was sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment and Bollard to
+ten years.
+
+John Baker and William Bertram divided their attentions between New
+South Wales and South Australia. In May, 1869, warrants were issued
+for their arrest for horse stealing from the Mount Murchison station.
+They took to the road and stuck up a number of people. In October they
+bailed up a hawker named Charles Young, who resisted and was shot
+dead. This occurred at the Barrier Ranges, not a great way from where
+the Broken Hill silver-lead lode was afterwards discovered. Bertram
+was followed and captured, and was subsequently tried, convicted,
+and hung at Bathurst. Baker escaped for the time and made his way to
+Koringa. Said the _South Australian Register_, "He showed a remarkable
+want of caution in returning to a district where he had passed his
+hobble-de-hoy years and was consequently well known." He had been
+employed as a horse-breaker at the Cross Roads Grounds, Burra Burra,
+about seven years previously and had afterwards worked for Messrs.
+Macdonald & Hockin, mail coach proprietors, on the Great Northern Road.
+On his arrival at Koringa he went into a barber's shop and asked to
+have his hair cut and dyed. The hairdresser refused to dye it. Baker
+swore at him, but could not change his determination. The bushranger
+also grumbled at the time spent in cutting his hair, and continually
+urged the barber to "hurry up." When the job was completed Baker walked
+to Redruth, and sat down in the main street opposite the Court House,
+where the police sessions were being held at the time. There were a
+number of people about, but Baker sat and cut his tobacco with all
+the nonchalance of innocence. He filled and lighted his pipe, and was
+smoking comfortably, when Corporal Smith and Constable Walker came up
+and said "You're our prisoner." "What for?" asked Baker. "Bushranging,"
+was the short reply. Baker sprang up from his seat, and raced away at
+a great rate along the road. He was speedily followed by the police
+on horseback and brought back. He struggled furiously, slipping his
+hands from the handcuffs with the greatest ease. The police, however,
+carried him into the lock-up, and put him into a cell. When questioned,
+he said he had brought a mob of horses down country for sale, and
+carried a revolver for his own protection. In the same cell was a man
+named Dobson arrested for horse stealing, who had been quiet until
+Baker came. But the door was barely closed and locked when the gaoler
+heard a suspicious noise in the cell. On opening the door he found
+that Baker and Dobson were trying to make a hole in the roof with a
+heavy board seat which they had wrenched from its mortice, and were now
+using as a battering-ram. Baker was placed in another cell and ironed.
+He was a small wiry man, very active, and a daring rider. In company
+with Bertram he had stuck up the Mount Murchison station; stuck up Mr.
+Cobham's station two hundred miles from Wilcannia, and taken money, a
+revolver, and several horses; stolen the horse he was riding from Mr.
+O'Leary, of Poolamacca; robbed and murdered a hawker at the Barrier
+ranges, and stuck up and robbed a number of people on the roads about
+Tiers, Gummeracha, and other places near the Murray River, on both
+sides of the New South Wales-South Australian border. When Bertram was
+captured, Baker endeavoured to induce a young man whom he met to join
+him, telling him that they could easily raise £200 to £300, but the
+young fellow replied that he "didn't want to be hung yet." Baker was
+extradited to New South Wales, and was tried and hung at Bathurst early
+in 1871.
+
+On May 20th, 1870, _The Queanbeyan Age_ reported the finding of a
+mail bag near the Big Hill. The bag was still locked and the seal
+intact, but the bottom had been ripped open. It had evidently, from its
+appearance, been lying in the bush for a long time, probably several
+years. It was referred to as "a relic of the bygone bushranging era in
+the district."
+
+The Muswellbrook and Cassilis coach was stuck up at Wappinguey, on
+November 1st, 1870, by two armed men. When ordered to bail up, E.
+Cummins, the driver, enquired "What for?" "You'll soon see. Drive into
+that bit of scrub," was the reply. Cummins did as he was ordered, and
+when the coach was out of sight of the road he was made to get down and
+hold his horses while the robbers went through the letter bags. When
+they had finished, they told him to gather up the letters and go.
+
+On the 3rd, Mr. Bellamy was lying under his cart asleep, about three
+miles from Forbes, on the Currajong Road, when he was awakened by
+some one calling "Come out o' that." He asked what was the matter,
+and was told to come out unless he wanted his "brains blown out." He
+crawled from under the tarpaulin which covered his cart, and handed
+the bushrangers three £1 notes. "Where's the rest? We know what you
+got for your load at Forbes," said one of the bushrangers. "I paid it
+away to a man I owed it to," replied Bellamy. "That won't do. You never
+stopped anywhere; we were watching you. Where is it?" As Bellamy still
+persisted in saying that he had paid away the money, he was compelled
+to stand with his face to the wheel and was tied there. A handkerchief
+was also tied round his head, with the knot thrust into his mouth, as
+a gag. They shook out Bellamy's blankets, searched the feed-bag of his
+horses, and hunted everywhere, until at length they discovered thirteen
+£1 notes tucked under the tilt of the cart. Having secured their booty
+they cautioned Bellamy not to move for an hour under pain of being
+shot, and went away. Two of them jumped over the track in what was
+called the road, to avoid leaving footmarks in the dust, but the third
+appeared to be stiff and walked across into the bush. After they had
+been out of sight for a time, Bellamy began to struggle. He capsized
+the spring cart before he succeeded in breaking the rope, but as soon
+as he got loose he walked back to Forbes and informed the police of
+the robbery. The robbers were followed and found in a public-house
+drinking, a day or two after the robbery.
+
+One day, about this time, a man walked into the branch bank at
+Cassilis, pointed a pistol at the head of the cashier, and ordered him
+to "bail up, or I'll blow your brains out." "Will you, by G--?" cried
+the cashier, as he placed his hands on the counter and vaulted over.
+The would-be robber was so startled by this unexpected action on the
+part of the cashier that he dropped his weapon and ran. The cashier
+immediately gave chase along Main Street, and soon captured and brought
+back the pseudo bushranger. The news spread rapidly, and in a few
+minutes the whole population of the little township was in the Main
+Street. It was soon learned that the only policeman stationed in the
+town had gone to Mudgee "on a case," the would-be robber was therefore
+treated to a good cuffing and some threats, and turned adrift. The
+revolver was found to be old, rusty, and useless, but for some time it
+hung in the bank chamber as a caution to bushrangers. It may be there
+yet for all I know. This attempted bank robbery appears to have been
+conducive to thirst, as the bars of the two "hotels" were crowded for
+the rest of the day by a laughing and jeering mob of citizens.
+
+This little comedy furnishes a very appropriate finish to the story
+of the many tragedies which were enacted during this the most serious
+outbreak of bushranging which has occurred in New South Wales. During
+the following two or three years the people were gradually becoming
+convinced that the crime of bushranging had been thoroughly stamped
+out, and a sort of reaction set in. Letters appeared in the newspapers,
+in which the writers urged that some clemency might safely be shown to
+some of the young men who were still in gaol. In spite of the brutal
+indifference which many of the bushrangers had shown for human life, it
+was almost impossible to help admiring the reckless courage exhibited
+by them. One thought was frequently expressed in various ways. It was
+that these bushrangers would have made magnificent soldiers if they had
+been properly trained and made amenable to discipline. There was in
+fact a disposition to regard them much as the philosopher regards dirt,
+as "matter in the wrong place." Although no record of the movement
+can be found in the newspapers and other publications of the period,
+there can be no doubt that the growth of the spirit of humanitarianism,
+now so prominent a characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon in all parts of
+the world, had an immense influence. The convict system, which was
+regarded as the basis of bushranging, had long since passed away.
+The convicts themselves had almost died out, and had ceased to be a
+prominent class in the community. Here and there one of the old fellows
+lingered and told stories of the barbarous times which had once existed
+in the colonies. But they were generally incapacitated by age from
+doing much harm. There had been a time when horror and detestation of
+the convicts was very general, but even these feelings had gone now,
+and there was a prevalent opinion that the convicts had been made
+worse by the brutal discipline to which they had been subjected. The
+very papers which were most strenuous in their exhortations to the
+Government of the day to stamp out bushranging at any cost, and which
+urged the police and all orderly citizens to slay and kill any person
+who interfered with the mails or who molested travellers on the high
+roads, now admitted that the bushrangers had been harshly dealt with.
+Those who had been convicted of murder, or of attempts to murder, had
+been hung or shot, while the lesser criminals had been sentenced to
+penal servitude for life or for very long periods. The juries all over
+the country had shown no leanings towards mercy or clemency, and the
+judges had treated the bushrangers with great severity. The people
+generally, it was asserted, had given ample proof that they would not
+tolerate a reign of terror such as the bushrangers had striven so hard
+to establish, and if there should ever be another outbreak, which was
+not considered probable, it would be crushed out long before it could
+possibly assume such vast proportions as it had gained during the past
+era. If there were evil-disposed persons in the colony they would be
+aware that public opinion was opposed to them and would hesitate before
+they decided to adopt bushranging as a profession. It is worthy of note
+that although the brutalities exercised under the old convict system
+were said to have tended towards the demoralisation of the community,
+and were largely responsible for the prevalence of bushranging and
+other crimes, the practice of flogging for serious offences is still
+the law in many of the colonies. The general public, however, is seldom
+logical, and therefore even the Australians still strive to abolish
+brutal crimes by punishments no less brutal, although the history of
+the colonies affords such ample evidence of the futility of these
+means. But the spirit of mercy was abroad. Public meetings were held in
+all centres of population, petitions were sent to the Governor and the
+Legislature, and the Press was full of letters praying that mercy might
+be shown to the evil-doers. The prisoner most frequently mentioned
+was Frank Gardiner. It is true that he had organised the first gang,
+and had given a vent to the evil passions of a class. But for him
+this terrible bushranging era might never have been inaugurated. But
+he had never committed murder, and had retired from the country and
+endeavoured to lead a lawful life after only a few months on the
+road. It had been said that he was engaged in sly grog selling, even
+when he was ostensibly keeping a store on the road to the diggings
+in Queensland, but if so it was for the Queensland authorities, not
+those of New South Wales, to punish him for this offence against the
+licensing laws. The Queensland authorities had, however, never made
+any charge against him, and the report might not be true. At length
+the Chief Justice (the late Sir Alfred Stephen) wrote to the Sydney
+newspapers. His letter appeared on June 23rd, 1874. Sir Alfred said
+that the end and aim of all punishment are, first, the preventing of
+individuals, and secondly, the deterring of other individuals, from
+the committing of similar crimes.... Sentences aggregating thirty-two
+years had been passed in a time of great excitement, and the punishment
+seemed to have been measured more in view of the crimes he was supposed
+to have committed than with reference solely to those which were proved
+against him.... He could not say whether the reported reformation
+was sincere, but he thought that the prisoner had been sufficiently
+punished and, therefore, recommended a conditional pardon.
+
+Emanating from such a source, this opinion carried great weight, and
+almost coincident with its publication, the Governor, Sir Hercules
+Robinson, afterwards Lord Rosmead, laid before the Executive Council
+six petitions signed by a number of well known and responsible persons
+in various parts of the colony praying for the release of the convict
+Gardiner. He said it was true that no hope of an absolute remission
+of his sentence had ever been held out to him, but in the Governor's
+minute of December 5th, 1872, it had been implied that if the prisoner
+continued to conduct himself well he might hope for remission at the
+end of ten years.
+
+Official returns were laid on the table showing the number of prisoners
+still in penal servitude for highway robbery. The prisoner whose case
+attracted most attention next to Gardiner was William Brookman. His
+parents were said to be respectable. He was only seventeen years of age
+when he was charged on January 16th, 1868, with wounding with intent
+to murder. He was convicted and sentenced to death, but his sentence
+was commuted to fifteen years' penal servitude. It was said to have
+been his first and only attempt at highway robbery, and he had never
+previously been arrested or charged with any offence against the law.
+At the time of this enquiry he had served six and a-half years of his
+sentence.
+
+The other bushrangers in gaol were:--Samuel Clarke, sentenced April
+18th, 1866. Served five years, one month. No previous conviction.
+
+Daniel Shea, sentenced November 6th, 1865. Served eight years, six
+months. Previously sentenced for two years for horse stealing.
+
+William Willis, alias Dunkley, sentenced May 16th, 1866. Served eight
+years. Three previous convictions for horse stealing, of nine months,
+eighteen months, and six months respectively.
+
+Alexander Fordyce, sentenced February 23rd, 1863. Served eleven years,
+nine months. No previous conviction.
+
+John Payne, sentenced January 14th, 1868. Served six years, six months.
+No previous conviction.
+
+James Jones, sentenced March 31st, 1864. Served ten years, one month.
+No previous conviction.
+
+Robert Cotterall, alias Blue Cap, sentenced April 29th, 1868. Served
+six years, one month. No previous conviction.
+
+James Boyd, alias McGrath, sentenced February 24th, 1864. Served nine
+years, three months. Previously sent to gaol for five years for horse
+stealing.
+
+Thomas Cunningham, alias Smith, sentenced April 9th, 1867. Served seven
+years, one month. No previous conviction.
+
+Charles Hugh Gough, alias Wyndham, alias Bennett, sentenced April 9th,
+1867, served seven years, one month. Previously sentenced to three
+years for assault with intent to rob.
+
+Thomas Dargue, sentenced March 28th, 1867. Served seven years, two
+months. No previous conviction.
+
+Henry Dargue, sentenced March 28th, 1867. Served seven years, two
+months. No previous conviction.
+
+John Kelly, sentenced March 11th, 1867. Served seven years, two months.
+Previously sentenced to two years for embezzlement.
+
+Edward Kelly, sentenced January 14th, 1867. Served six years, seven
+months. No previous conviction.
+
+James Smith, sentenced April 15th, 1866. Served seven years, one month.
+Previously sentenced to three years for horse stealing.
+
+John Foran, sentenced October 18th, 1867. Served six years, seven
+months. No previous conviction.
+
+John Williams, sentenced to death January 14th, 1868. Sentence commuted
+to fifteen years' penal servitude. Served six years, four months. No
+previous conviction.
+
+William H. Simmons, sentenced April 6th, 1868. Served six years, one
+month. Previously sentenced to ten years on two charges of larceny.
+
+William Taverner, sentenced April 5th, 1867. Served five years, one
+month. No previous conviction.
+
+Daniel Taylor, sentenced October 24th, 1865. Served eight years, one
+month. No previous conviction.
+
+John Bow, sentenced February 26th, 1863. Sentence death, commuted to
+imprisonment for life. Served eleven years, six months. No previous
+conviction.
+
+John Bollard, sentenced October 19th, 1869. Served four years, seven
+months. No previous conviction.
+
+All these prisoners were very young men, little more than boys,
+when they were convicted; and, of the twenty-three, sixteen had
+had no charges brought against them previously to their arrest for
+highway robbery. The four others who had been previously convicted of
+horse-stealing were cattle duffers and horse planters, which had been,
+a few years before, scarcely considered to be crimes by the residents
+of the districts in which these young men were born; although the law,
+when it came to be enforced in these districts, called these acts
+criminal. It was said that if Gardiner was to be released these young
+men, who had been led away principally by his example, should also have
+their sentences remitted.
+
+The reports with such comments as had been made on them by the
+Executive Council were placed before the Legislative Assembly, and on
+July 3rd a debate began relative to the cases of Gardiner and Brookman,
+it being understood that the decision in the case of Brookman should
+apply to the other twenty-two named in the reports. On a division being
+taken the vote stood twenty-six for and twenty-six against a remission
+of the sentences. The Speaker gave his casting vote with the ayes, and
+it was consequently resolved that the two prisoners should be released
+on July 8th, 1874.
+
+The Governor extended the prerogative of mercy to the others named
+above, and they were all released at the same time. In the case of
+Gardiner the pardon was coupled with the condition that he should leave
+the colony forthwith, consequently a short time after his release he
+sailed to California, and was reported to have died there about nine
+years later. Mrs. Brown, his paramour, had died in New Zealand during
+his incarceration.
+
+The release of the bushrangers was not carried without opposition,
+however. A monster meeting of diggers was held at Grenfell to protest
+against any mercy being shown them. Large meetings were held elsewhere,
+and it was said that remitting the sentences of the bushrangers
+was tantamount to encouraging other evil-disposed persons to rebel
+against the laws. The speakers deplored the action of the Governor,
+the Executive, and the Legislature, and prophesied a new outbreak of
+lawlessness. But the spirit of the opposition was less active than that
+of the persons in favour of mercy, while the majority of the population
+were more or less indifferent. And so ended the great outbreak of
+bushranging in New South Wales.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+  Bushranging in Victoria; Robert Bourke; Harry Power: He Escapes from
+  Pentridge Gaol and Sticks Up the Mail; An Amateur Bushranger; The
+  Police Hunt Power Down and Capture him Asleep; A Peacock as "Watch
+  Dog"; The Power Procession at Beechworth; The Trial of Power; His
+  Sentence; Engaged to Lecture on Board the _Success_; His Death.
+
+
+While New South Wales was the chief centre of bushranging during this
+epoch, the neighbouring colonies were not entirely free from the
+disease. In those cases in which the epidemic flowed, as it were,
+over the borders of the mother colony--as when Morgan, Thunderbolt,
+and Bertram crossed into Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia
+respectively--the inroads have been dealt with in connection with
+the careers of these particular bushrangers in order not to break
+the continuity of their stories. Having described the rise and fall
+of bushranging in the older colony, it is now necessary to return to
+Victoria and continue the narrative there. Bushranging in this colony
+during this epoch was rather a survival from the past than a new
+development, and, with one notable exception, the police dealt promptly
+with the lawbreakers. The exception will be noticed in due course.
+
+On September 5th, 1862, Mr. Ryan, the landlord of the Travellers' Rest
+Hotel at Yalla-y-poora, was at breakfast with his family and a visitor
+named Reid, when two armed men entered the room. One stood at the door,
+while the other, pistol in hand, stepped forward and cried "Bail up."
+They tied Messrs. Ryan and Reid, and took ten shillings from the till
+and ten one pound notes from under the mattress of the bed, where it
+had been hidden. They did not search the women, but they broke some of
+the furniture in the bedroom while hunting for the money. One of the
+robbers pulled the boots off Mr. Reid's feet and put them on his own,
+leaving a very much worn and damaged pair in their place. They also
+took Reid's horse, saddle, and bridle from the stable. Mr. Reid told
+them that he was only a poor man, and that the loss of his horse would
+ruin him. The robber replied, "Well, he ain't the sort we want. I'll
+leave him for you at Macpherson's as soon as I get a better one." When
+they had left Mrs. Ryan untied her husband and their guest, and Ryan
+mounted his horse and rode to Ararat to give information to the police.
+Constables Lawler and Griffen followed the bushrangers, and tracked
+them to a hut near Mount Sturgeon, in the Grampian Ranges. The police
+expected a fight, but they rushed the hut and captured the robbers
+without a shot being fired, although one of them named Regent had a
+loaded revolver in his hand. They were taken to the gaol at Ararat, and
+were convicted and sentenced in due course.
+
+In July, 1864, a sensation was caused in the Kilmore district by a
+report which gained currency, that Gardiner and his gang had stuck
+up a number of people near Yea. A party of volunteers was speedily
+organised to assist the police in hunting down the bushrangers. The
+pursuers were divided into small parties, and on the evening of the
+20th one of these, composed of Mr. Grant and Constable Buck, came upon
+three suspicious-looking characters camped on Pack Bullock Flat with
+a mob of horses. Constable Buck asked where they were going, when one
+replied "To Melbourne," and another "To the Jordan." Buck called on
+them to surrender, when one man sprang forward and clutched him by the
+throat. Another rushed at Grant, who was unarmed. Grant turned and ran
+to where they had left their horses, calling on Buck to come away, and
+Buck broke loose and joined him. Buck however lost his revolver in the
+struggle. They rode away to find help, and returned with Mr. Grant's
+brother, George Grant, and Mr. Walker. Grant shot one bushranger dead.
+Walker stunned a second with a blow on the head with the butt of his
+gun, while Buck captured the third after a smart run. The captured men
+were convicted of robbery by violence, and it was said that the horses
+they had with them had been stolen from various stations.
+
+Robert Bourke was employed as cook at Mr. Broughton's, Humewood
+Station, on the Murrumbidgee River, New South Wales, and appears to
+have been suddenly affected with the bushranging mania. He ferried
+himself across the river, and with the assistance of a young lad named
+Quinn stuck up and robbed several people in the neighbourhood. He was
+said to "know every bulga from Barren Jack to Manaro," but did not stop
+long in that district, perhaps because it had already been "worked
+out" by the Brothers Clarke and other bushrangers. In September, 1868,
+he crossed the Murray River, and stuck up and robbed travellers on
+the road near Wodonga and Wangaratta, gradually working southwards.
+On October 4th he appeared at Mr. Hurst's station, Diamond Creek,
+about fifteen miles from Melbourne, where a daring attempt was made
+to capture him. The story is that Bourke called at William Horner's
+on the 2nd, and asked for a bed. He was told that there was none to
+spare, when he drew a revolver and cried "Bail up." Horner slammed
+the door in his face. Bourke fired, and the bullet passed through the
+door panel, but did no great injury. He tried to push the door open,
+but, failing in this, he began to "parley." He said he was hungry,
+and would go away quietly if he was given something to eat. Horner
+then opened the door and gave him a pannikin of tea and some bread
+and cold meat. He sat down on a log and made a good meal. When he had
+finished he asked for some "tucker for the road" and a horse, saddle,
+and bridle. Horner said that the horses were all down the paddock, and
+he did not intend to run them in until next morning, but he could have
+some "tucker." He then gave him a large piece of bread and some meat.
+They talked together very amicably. Bourke said, "I'm a bushranger
+from New South Wales, and I've come here to see if your police are as
+clever as you blow about them. They'll never take me alive." He went
+away, and, it is supposed, slept in the bush. On the morning of the
+4th he went to Hurst's place and asked for some breakfast. Thinking he
+was an ordinary tramp, Miss Hurst gave him some bread and meat in the
+kitchen, but, as he sat at table, she noticed that he carried pistols
+in his belt. She went into another room and informed her brother Henry,
+who loaded a double-barrelled gun to be ready for any emergency. He
+walked into the kitchen, carrying the gun behind him, to have a look at
+their suspicious guest, and asked him where he came from and where he
+was going? "From Cape Schank to Kilmore," was the reply. "Then you're
+not travelling in the right direction," remarked young Hurst. Bourke
+jumped up from the table, as if in a passion, and cried "Do you doubt
+my word? Do you want to insult me?" He drew his revolver and Hurst
+brought his gun round and fired. He missed, and Bourke immediately shot
+him in the chest. Although he was severely wounded young Hurst rushed
+forward and grappled with the bushranger, while Mr. Abbott and two or
+three other men ran in to ascertain what the shooting was about. They
+secured the bushranger and carried young Hurst to bed, but, although
+every attention was paid to him, he died in a few hours. Bourke was
+identified by the police as a man who had been sentenced to three
+years' imprisonment for horse-stealing at Ararat. When he had served
+his term he was of course discharged and, as was surmised, went to
+New South Wales and obtained work on a station. He lived quietly for
+about eighteen months, when he started bushranging as related. He was
+twenty-five years of age at the date of his conviction for the murder
+of Henry Hurst.
+
+The central figure in Victoria of this era was undoubtedly Harry Power.
+This notorious bushranger arrived in Victoria from Ireland shortly
+before the proclamation of the discovery of gold at Ballarat, and
+went to the diggings. In March, 1855, he was seen near Daisy Hill, in
+the Maryborough district, riding a valuable horse, the description
+of which tallied with that of a horse which had been stolen and for
+which the police were seeking. He was stopped and challenged to show
+his receipt for the horse. Instead of producing it or saying where it
+was deposited, Power disputed the right of the police to stop him on
+the highway and drew a revolver. The police, very naturally perhaps,
+took this as a tacit admission that he could not show any right to the
+horse, and sought to apprehend him. Several shots were fired and at
+last one of the troopers fell wounded. Power put spurs to his horse and
+galloped away. A warrant was immediately issued for his arrest and he
+was followed and captured. He was convicted of "wounding with intent
+to do grievous bodily harm," and was sentenced to fourteen years'
+penal servitude. A short time before the expiration of his term he was
+employed in drawing refuse from the Pentridge Gaol to the rubbish heap
+in a go-cart. A number of other prisoners were similarly employed.
+While the cart he was helping to draw was being tipped Power contrived
+to secrete himself under a corner of the heap. He was not missed until
+evening, when the prisoners employed at this work were mustered. The
+prisoners at work with him must of course have been aware of his
+evasion, but professed ignorance in accordance with convict etiquette.
+A search was made and his hiding place was discovered, but Power was
+gone. He stole some clothes from a farm not far from Pentridge, and
+the blade of an old pair of sheep shears to defend himself with, as
+he declared that he would not be captured alive. Shortly after his
+escape, on May 7th, 1869, he stuck up the mail coach near Porepunkah
+and continued to rob in the Ovens and Beechworth districts for several
+months, when he made a raid into New South Wales, going as far as
+Adelong. He returned about the end of September to his old district and
+stayed there for the remainder of his career.
+
+Commenting on his actions, the _Ovens and Murray Advertiser_
+said--"Possessed of a thorough knowledge of the country, this scoundrel
+has made periodical descents to the settled districts, and afterwards,
+like a hunted dog, betaken himself to the ranges. _From a certain
+portion of the population he--or whoever else has been masquerading
+in his name--has received succour and information, while the police
+have been misled and deceived._" The article from which this extract
+was made was copied and italicised in the _Melbourne Argus_, and
+made the subject of a leading article, in which it was contended
+that if bushranging was to be stamped out the sympathisers and "bush
+telegraphs" must be restrained from aiding the bushranger with food and
+information. The Government was urged to pass a special Act to enable
+the police to contend with the difficulty. It was said on the other
+hand that the Outlawry Act, if strictly applied, would meet the case.
+
+William Moore, of Buffalo, was returning from a trip to Eldorado,
+where he had sold his load of farm produce, when a young man rode up
+and asked him "Where have you been?" "What's that to you?" returned
+Moore. The young fellow said "I only asked a civil question." "Well,"
+said Moore, "I've been to Eldorado, and I'm going home. Will that
+satisfy you?" The young man nodded, and cantered on. As he passed,
+Moore noticed that he had pistols in his belt, and hastily took a roll
+of notes, worth £35, from his pocket, and thrust it into an empty
+flour sack in the dray. The young man only rode forward about fifty
+yards, and then wheeled round, revolver in hand, and cried "Bail up."
+Moore stopped, and willingly turned out his pockets, displaying a
+half-crown, which he handed to the robber, who rode away. In reporting
+this robbery Mr. Moore said that he believed that this was the young
+man's first attempt at highway robbery, as he trembled violently and
+seemed glad when it was over. The _Ovens and Murray Advertiser_ of May
+7, 1870, in commenting on this case, said: "It shows the necessity of
+more determined efforts to capture Harry Power, who has for more than
+a year robbed rich and poor alike in this neighbourhood, and it is the
+immunity which he has for so long enjoyed that encourages young lads to
+imitate him."
+
+Shortly before, in April, Patrick Stanton, otherwise known as Jack
+Muck, was captured after a smart run. He was convicted of having stuck
+up and robbed a coloured man, a well-known splitter and timber cutter,
+on the Black Dog Creek. The splitter had been to town to be paid for a
+number of posts and rails, and was returning home along the Rutherglen
+Road when he was bailed up.
+
+The Kilmore _Free Press_ reported that Power had been seen in Mr.
+Dunlop's paddock at Mount William. He was firing at a mark on a tree.
+No one interfered with him.
+
+On May 2nd, Edward Kelly was arrested at Greta and was charged with
+having assisted Power in some of his robberies. He was not identified
+by the witnesses, and was therefore discharged.
+
+On the 27th Superintendents Nicholson and Hare, Sergeant Montford, and
+Black-tracker Donald left Wangaratta and made a journey into the ranges
+near the head of the King River. It was believed that they had received
+special information from a friend of the bushranger. At the head of the
+glen, near where Power's camp was, a family named Quinn resided, and it
+was said that Power would never be caught while they were there. The
+Quinns owned several dogs and a peacock, which it was believed would
+never allow any person to pass up the ravine without giving notice. The
+peacock was reported to be the "best watch dog of the lot." His screams
+could be heard far away whenever a stranger approached the hut, and
+he generally gave the first signal, and thus roused the dogs. On this
+occasion, however, the police passed without either the peacock or the
+dogs giving a sign. They came to a hollow tree with holes in the stem.
+This tree had been mentioned as "Power's look-out," and it was reported
+that he frequently went into it to survey the country round, through
+the holes, without exposing himself. There was plenty of room inside
+for more than one man, and the natural holes formed by the decay of the
+tree had been added to by augur holes bored at a convenient height for
+spying through. They examined it, but it was empty. All round was a
+dense growth of cherry and wattle scrub, which they cautiously pushed
+their way through, and peeped into a small clearing. A gunyah of bark
+stood in the middle of this space, and before it was a fire burning.
+Creeping cautiously up, the police saw a man's leg sticking out from
+under the gunyah. One of them seized it, and drew the man out on his
+back. It was Harry Power. He had been lying asleep under the impression
+that he was perfectly safe. He gave a loud howl on being thus rudely
+awakened, and then asked, "Who are you?" "The police," was the reply.
+"No fear," said Power; "you couldn't have got past Quinn's; the dogs
+and the peacock would not have let you." "We did," replied Inspector
+Nicholson; "the dogs and the peacock never saw us, but there were
+several men there and Quinn himself--they saw us." "You've given us a
+great deal of trouble, Power," said Inspector Hare, "but we've got you
+at last." "I'm very sorry I didn't hear you," remarked Power; "I'd
+have dropped some of you if I had."
+
+In the gunyah were a Government revolver, stolen from the police,
+loaded and capped; a double-barrelled gun, hanging from the ridge
+pole, loaded ready for use; and a loaded pistol lying close beside the
+sleeping bushranger. There were also a box of slugs, a powder flask,
+two boxes of caps not quite full, a carpet-bag full of clothes, and
+a saddle and bridle. The bed was a very comfortable one, with a good
+supply of blankets.
+
+The police informed Power that they had been out in the ranges for more
+than a week and were starving. They had not had a mouthful of food for
+more than twenty-four hours, and were anxious to get back to town.
+"There's plenty of tucker here," said Power. "Where?" asked the police.
+"In that tree," replied Power. They went to the tree and saw a bag hung
+up among the branches, as is common in the bush. In this "bush safe"
+they found part of a large home-baked loaf, some potatoes, tea and
+sugar, and a piece of fresh beef. "Golly, what a---- feed we'll have,"
+cried Donald, the black, when he saw the food. The police cut the beef
+into steaks and fried them and had a good meal. In their search they
+found £15 4S. 6d. in bank notes and money.
+
+They mounted Power on the horse ridden by the black tracker, while
+Donald mounted behind Sergeant Montford, and left the camp. They
+reached Wangaratta at seven p.m. on Sunday, June 5th, 1870, eleven days
+after the death of Captain Thunderbolt in New South Wales. The news of
+the capture had already been noised abroad in the district, and numbers
+of people, who were out for their Sunday evening ramble, crowded the
+streets of Wangaratta to see the noted bushranger. Power waved his
+hand in response to their cheers, and cried "They've caught poor Harry
+Power, but they caught him asleep."
+
+On Tuesday, the 7th, Power was removed to Beechworth gaol, and a
+number of men and women in carriages, buggies, spring carts, and other
+vehicles, or on horseback, went along the road to meet him and escort
+him into the town. The procession as it passed over Newtown Bridge
+was quite an imposing one, and there were collected the majority of
+the residents who had neither horse nor vehicle. Power was sitting in
+a police cart, and bowing right and left to the crowd as if he had
+been some high potentate. He wished the people "Good morning," and
+continually repeated his formula about having been captured asleep.
+On his arrival at the gaol he greeted Mr. Stewart as an old friend,
+and hoped they would never fall out. He made a short speech, in which
+he publicly thanked the police for the kind and considerate manner in
+which he had been treated since his arrest.
+
+The _Ovens Spectator_ at this time said: "Henry Power, alias Johnson,
+is a hale, hearty-looking man, although past the meridian of life, with
+grisly hair and beard, and certainly not of such an appearance as one
+would expect a bushranger to have."
+
+On October 2nd Henry Power was tried on four charges of highway
+robbery. On May 7th, 1869, he bailed up Arthur Woodside, a squatter at
+Happy Valley, as he was riding towards Bright. The robber took a horse,
+saddle, bridle, and spurs, giving in exchange a knocked-up horse, a
+broken saddle, a bridle tied up with string, and one rusty spur. While
+Mr. Woodside was giving his evidence Power exclaimed, "Speak up, young
+man. You spoke different to that when I met you on the road." The mail
+coach from Beechworth was bailed up at the same time. Power asked the
+driver, Edward Coady, to throw out the gold. Coady replied, "There is
+none." "I was told there was," exclaimed Power. "Any parcels?" Coady
+threw down two, which Power opened. There was only one passenger, a
+Chinaman, and Power asked him for the key of his carpet bag. At first
+the Chinaman said "No savvy," but, on the revolver being pointed at his
+head, he handed over the key. Power searched the bag, but took nothing
+out. This was the first case.
+
+On August 28th, the same mail was bailed up. At that time there were
+three passengers--Mr. Hazleton, Ellen Hart (a servant), and Mrs. Li
+Goon. A boy also got on to the coach at Boyd's for a ride down the
+hill. The coach had just passed the gap when the driver had to put the
+the break on and pull up, because the roadway was blocked with logs and
+saplings. Mr. Hazleton exclaimed "Who did this?" when Power stepped
+out from behind a tree and replied "I did. Put up your hands." The
+passengers were made to alight and turn out their pockets. Hazleton
+made a step forward to hand his watch and chain to the robber, but
+Power cried out "Stand back," and raised his revolver. He then told
+Hazleton to put the watch on the ground and retire, and when this had
+been done Power went forward and picked it up. Mrs. Li Goon said she
+had no money, but when Power threatened to shoot her she gave him
+fourteen shillings. "It's all I've got and I'll want a cup of coffee,"
+she said. "All right," returned the bushranger, "take this," and he
+gave her back one shilling. The robber took £2 13s. 6d. out of Coady's
+pocket-book. There was also a threepenny-piece in it, and Power told
+the coachman to give it to the boy. Mrs. Boyd came down the hill on
+horseback, and was bailed up. She said she had no money. "I don't see
+how ladies can go riding round with handsome dresses and fine saddles
+and bridles without money," cried Power. "Here, give me your horse."
+Mrs. Boyd said if he would allow her to ride home she would bring him
+some money, but he refused to trust to her promise, and took the horse.
+He stuck up several Chinamen and a white man, and took their money from
+them. He said to them "It's a cold day, but I've got a nice fire down
+there, go and sit by it;" and he pointed down the hill. He was in a
+good temper and gave the boy a shilling. The little fellow immediately
+offered to give him the shilling and the threepenny-piece for his
+sister's horse. Power laughed and gave the horse to the boy to lead to
+where his sister was sitting. This was the second case.
+
+The third charge was the robbing of John Whorouly. Power said "I don't
+like robbing a poor man, but I must have money." The fourth charge was
+the sticking up of Thomas Oliver Thomas, on the Buckland Road. When
+called on to bail up, Thomas wheeled his horse round, and Power shouted
+"If you run away I'll fire. My gun will carry three hundred yards."
+Power asked for his money, and Thomas replied "I've got none." "That's
+a lie," cried Power, "turn it out." Power repeatedly threatened Thomas
+with his revolver.
+
+Power was found guilty on each of the four counts, and was sentenced to
+fifteen years' penal servitude.
+
+Power served out his full sentence. At about the time of his discharge
+the Victorian Government sold the hulk _Success_, the _President_ and
+the other hulks purchased to supply the want of prison accommodation
+in "the roaring fifties" having been sold years before. The _Success_
+had been utilised as a training ship, and had been kept. In the case
+of the other hulks, it had been stipulated in the terms of sale that
+they were to be broken up, but this clause was omitted in the case of
+the _Success_. Consequently she was purchased by some speculators, and
+fitted up as a representative convict hulk for exhibition purposes,
+and Harry Power was engaged to add interest to the show. The ship was
+exhibited in Melbourne, and was then taken round to Sydney. She was
+visited by a number of people during the two or three weeks when she
+was berthed at Circular Quay, and she was then taken down the harbour
+to be fitted for a voyage to London. Here she sank at her moorings.
+With the appliances in Sydney so small a vessel was soon raised, but
+her immersion had damaged the wax figures intended to represent the
+prisoners who had once been confined in her, and the other exhibits.
+While these were being replaced or cleaned, Harry Power was sent
+into the country districts for the benefit of his health. He was
+fishing in the Murray River near Swan Hill, on November 7th, 1891,
+when he fell in and was drowned. At the inquest held on his body, a
+verdict of accidental death was returned. The _Success_ shortly after
+left Australia for England without any living representative of the
+bushranging times on board of her.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+  Bushranging in New Zealand; Alleged fears of the Escort being robbed;
+  The First Bushranger, Henry Beresford Garrett; The Maungapatau
+  Murders; Arrest of Sullivan, Kelly, Burgess, and Levy in Nelson;
+  Sullivan's Confession; The Discovery of the Bodies; Sullivan's
+  Release.
+
+
+The reports of extensive and rich discoveries of gold in the Otago
+Province, New Zealand, in 1861, naturally attracted the floating
+population of Australia to that quarter. In September the escort
+brought down to Dunedin for shipment a smaller amount of "the precious
+metal" than had been obtained in any previous month since the goldfield
+was first proclaimed. Several reasons were given to account for this
+falling off. One was that the weather had been abnormally cold, and the
+freezing of the rivers had for a time put a stop to sluicing. Another
+was that the gold buyers declined to pay more than £3 10s. per ounce,
+and the majority of the diggers, having come from Ballarat and Bendigo
+where £4 and £3 18s. 6d. per ounce were paid respectively, refused to
+send their gold down and were keeping it for an anticipated rise in the
+price. The _Southern Cross_, however, said that the principal reason
+why the diggers were not sending their gold forward was the fear of
+bushrangers. The guard sent with the escort was wholly inadequate in
+the mountains through which it had to pass, and therefore the diggers
+declined to entrust their earnings to its care. The _Otago Witness_
+pooh-poohed this assertion and declared that there had never yet been a
+case of bushranging in the colony, and that if a fair price was offered
+for it by the banks and other gold buyers the gold retained on the
+diggings would speedily be placed on the market. The bank authorities,
+on being questioned, said that the New Zealand gold contained a larger
+proportion of silver than either the Ballarat or Bendigo gold, and was
+therefore of less value than the gold won on those diggings.
+
+The boast of the _Otago Witness_ that there were no bushrangers in New
+Zealand did not hold good for very long. Henry Beresford Garrett, who
+was arrested in London on the charge of robbing the Bank of Victoria
+at Ballarat as already related, and who was convicted in August,
+1855, and sentenced to ten years' hard labour, was liberated from the
+Pentridge Gaol, Melbourne, in August, 1861, on a ticket-of-leave, after
+having served six years. Early in 1862 he made his appearance as the
+first bushranger on record in New Zealand. The scene he chose for his
+operations was the country between the Otago Goldfields and Dunedin.
+In one day he is reported to have stuck up and robbed no less than
+twenty-three persons near Gabriel's Gully, now known as the town of
+Lawrence. His career, however, was short if lively, for he was captured
+before the end of the year and sent to gaol for eight years.
+
+In May, 1865, footpads were said to be becoming numerous about
+Auckland. The _New Zealand Herald_ reported the story of a man being
+bailed up while walking along Beach Street towards Mechanic's Bay. A
+soldier, however, chanced to come along at the time and the robber
+bolted. These petty offenders, however, appear to have been speedily
+dealt with, and nothing more was heard about bushranging until the
+public was startled by the reports of "the horrible Maungapatau
+murders," as they were called.
+
+It appears that Thomas Kelly, alias Noon, Richard H. Burgess, alias
+Miller, and Philip Levy went to the new rush known as the West Coast
+Diggings, early in 1866, and committed several robberies there. They
+were shortly afterwards joined by John Joseph Sullivan, a recent
+arrival from Victoria. On June 14th, Stephen Owens, landlord of the
+Mitre Hotel, Nelson, went to the wharf to meet the coastal steamer
+_Wallaby_, as she arrived from the west coast, and saw four men on
+board. They were very shabbily dressed, but he gave one of his cards to
+Levy and told him that he and his mates could obtain accommodation at
+the hotel. On the following day, Sullivan and Kelly came to the hotel
+in new clothes. Sullivan gave the landlord two bank notes for twenty
+pounds each, and one ten pound note, and asked him to take care of them
+for him. There was nothing remarkable in this. Diggers were frequently
+very shabby when they returned from the diggings, and until they had
+time to buy new clothes. Sullivan and Kelly appeared to have plenty of
+money with them, as they spent it freely. They each ordered a pair of
+trousers and a velvet vest from Charles Flood, tailor, paying £4 each
+for them. They also spent £3 17s. 6d. for clothing at Merrington's
+draper's shop, and Kelly paid besides £3 5s. for a dress for a woman.
+He afterwards bought a bonnet, a mantle, and other articles of feminine
+wear.
+
+Levy and Burgess went to lodge at an oyster shop kept by Francis
+Porcelli. They were covered with mud when they went there first, but
+bought new clothes at J.M. Richardson's and other places in the town.
+
+On June 21st, the four men were arrested and charged with the murder
+of Felix Mathieu. They were remanded while the police made enquiries.
+Sullivan turned Queen's evidence, and the tale he told may be
+summarised as follows.
+
+Sullivan landed at the Grey River from Victoria in 1865 with the
+intention of digging. He was unlucky, and, chancing to make the
+acquaintance of Kelly, Levy, and Burgess, who had been sticking up
+people on the roads about the diggings for several months, he joined
+them. One day they informed him that Mr. E.B. Fox, a gold buyer, of
+Maori Gully, was expected to pass along the road, and they intended to
+bail him up, as he was sure to have some gold or money on him. Kelly,
+Levy, and Burgess hid themselves in some bushes beside the road, while
+Sullivan was stationed on the road with a long-handled shovel, so that
+those who passed along might take him for a road repairer. Owing to
+this disguise he could keep watch without exciting suspicion. He had
+not been long on watch when a man named George Dobson came along, and
+asked how far it was to the coal pits. Sullivan replied "About half
+a mile," and the man thanked him and walked on. When he was opposite
+where the other bushrangers were hidden they fired and killed him
+under the belief that he was Fox. When they discovered their mistake
+they dragged the body off the road and buried it, and as it began to
+rain heavily they all went to their tent. A day or two later they
+went to the road again, and took up positions as before, Levy giving
+orders that not a man should be allowed to pass without being searched.
+Sullivan again appeared as a road-repairer, and was pretending to be at
+work when an old man named James Battle, commonly known in the district
+as "Old Jamie," came along with a sluicing shovel on his shoulder.
+Sullivan said "Good day, mate. Where are you bound for?" Old Jamie
+replied that he was going to "look for a ship," as the diggings were
+"played out." Sullivan went to the ambush and reported that the man was
+an old whaler and not worth robbing, but Levy said he must be brought
+back. Sullivan, therefore, followed him and brought him back without
+difficulty, as he had no suspicion. Kelly and Burgess seized him,
+tied his hands behind him, and led him away into the bush. When they
+returned they said he would not trouble them any more. They divided £3
+15s., which they had taken from the old man. He had informed them that
+he had not done well at the diggings, and had, therefore, taken a job
+of cutting flax to earn sufficient money to enable him to get away.
+
+Shortly after Old Jamie had been thus disposed of, Felix Mathieu, John
+Kempthorne, James Dudley, and James de Pontius, store-keepers and gold
+buyers from the Deep Creek Diggings, passed along the road on their way
+from Nelson to Canvas Town. Two of the bushrangers stepped out from
+their ambush and confronted them, calling upon them to stand. They
+wheeled their horses, intending to gallop away, but found the other
+two bushrangers facing them, revolvers in hand. The four travellers
+then surrendered and allowed their hands to be tied behind them. Levy,
+Burgess, and Kelly led them away into the bush, while Sullivan followed
+the pack horse which had been let go, and which galloped a short
+distance along the road and then stopped and began to feed. Sullivan
+very soon caught it, and led it off the road. He took the gold and
+other valuables out of the portmanteau, which was strapped on the
+saddle, and shot the horse. Then he went to the camp to meet his mates.
+
+The four bodies were discovered by William Flett, when he was out
+looking for horses in the bush. They were lying less than half-a-mile
+from the roadway on the Nelson side of the third creek from Franklyn's
+Flat. Mathieu's body was lying in the loose ground broken up by the
+uprooting of a large tree by the wind. It was on its back, the hands
+tied behind, and the feet tied together at the ankles. It was sheltered
+and partially hidden by the upturned roots of the fallen tree. Dudley's
+body was about eighteen yards away with a handkerchief tied tightly
+round the throat. Kempthorne's body was some twenty yards further,
+lying on its back, untied. The body of De Pontius was lying some thirty
+yards further along with a number of stones piled loosely around it,
+suggesting the idea that they had been thrown at it from a short
+distance. Dr. Vickerman said that Kempthorne had been shot in the head
+behind the ear. The bullet and some paper were found in the wound,
+showing that the shot had been fired at close range. Mathieu had been
+shot in the stomach, and then stabbed. The wound was under the fifth
+rib, and had apparently been made with a large knife. De Pontius had a
+bullet-wound in the back of the head, and the right side of the face
+was smashed, as if from the blows of rocks or stones. It was supposed
+that the bullet had not killed him at once, and he was therefore stoned
+to death. Dudley had been strangled.
+
+A revolver was found in the gorse hedge at Toitoi by Constable Peter
+Levy. A gun, identified by James Street as one which had been stolen
+from his place on the Kamieri River, near Hokitiki, in the January
+previous, was also found by the constable not far away.
+
+Mrs. Mathieu identified Levy as a man who had frequently visited her
+husband's store at Deep Creek, and exclaimed when she saw him in the
+court, "Oh, Levy, Levy, how could you be such a villain?"
+
+The police ascertained that Sullivan had sold to the banks in Nelson
+gold to the value of £106 7s. 6d. Kelly had sold gold to the value of
+£76 and a few shillings, and Levy had sold another lot. These, with
+three nuggets which were sold together for £5 3s. 4d., made a total
+of about £230 disposed of by the robbers since the murders had been
+committed. It was, of course, impossible to say what proportion had
+been stolen from each of the four victims, or whether the whole of it
+had been taken from them.
+
+George Jervis, a publican at Canvas Town, said that he gave the
+prisoners permission to camp in an unoccupied hut not far from his
+hotel. When they were leaving Burgess said "Good-bye, old boy; we're
+going away from this---- country. There's nothing to be done here." The
+publican had no suspicion as to the characters of the men, but thought
+that they had not been very lucky recently.
+
+Old Jamie left the diggings a short time before, and crossed the river.
+The old man was well-known in the district. His body was discovered by
+George James Baker, of Nelson, one of the volunteers who accompanied
+Sergeant Major Shallcross and the police who started out to search for
+the missing men when the murders were first reported. There was some
+freshly-turned up earth near a fern root which attracted Mr. Baker's
+attention. A log had been rolled across the place, and on this being
+rolled aside and the earth scraped away, a portion of the clothing was
+seen. The body was buried in a shallow hole, lying on its back, and
+only just covered with loose earth. The trousers had been torn off, but
+the other clothing remained.
+
+The trial lasted for three days, Kelly, Levy, and Burgess being found
+guilty and sentenced to death on September 17th, 1866. Sullivan was
+tried separately on the 19th for the murder of Old Jamie, and a verdict
+of guilty was recorded against him. He, however, received a pardon in
+accordance with the terms of the Governor's proclamation.
+
+Felix Mathieu was well-known in Australia. He was a native of
+Marseilles, about forty years of age at the time of his death, and
+had been in the colonies about twelve years. On his first arrival he
+was employed as barman at the Union Hotel, Beechworth, after which he
+opened a baker's shop at Spring Creek. When the rush took place to the
+Snowy River in New South Wales he went there and opened a store, and
+later on he kept a store at the Lambing Flat (Burrangong) and another
+at the Lachlan (Forbes). From there he went to the west coast, New
+Zealand, where he met his death as recorded.
+
+Levy had been tried at Castlemaine, Victoria, about six years before,
+on the charge of murdering a woman with whom he was living, but was
+acquitted for want of confirmatory evidence.
+
+Sullivan had been transported to Van Diemen's Land, from whence he went
+to Victoria in 1853. He opened a butcher's shop at Ironbark Gully,
+Bendigo, where he was well known. He removed and opened the Half-way
+Inn on the road between Bendigo and Inglewood. At the time that he
+sailed to New Zealand he left his wife in charge of a store at Mount
+Korong and sold an allotment of land at Wedderburn to raise money to
+pay for his trip. He was certainly not driven to crime through want
+or poverty, and if, as he said, he was unlucky on the New Zealand
+diggings, he could without much difficulty or delay have obtained
+remittances from Victoria which would at least have been sufficient to
+enable him to return home.
+
+After his companions in crime had been executed, Sullivan was kept
+in gaol for some months, popular feeling being so strong that it was
+deemed inexpedient to release him at once. It was during this time that
+he made some further revelations about his late companions. Soon after
+he joined Burgess, Kelly, and Levy, he said he saw a young man sitting
+propped up against the butt of a tree. He was dead. Sullivan asked
+whether the body was to be buried? Kelly replied "No, better leave it
+where it is. It will make people think he died from exhaustion. I've
+put many a man away like that." It was supposed that he referred to the
+wild times immediately following the discovery of gold in Victoria. The
+young man in question had been strangled, and the robbers had taken
+from his body a silver watch, a gold chain, a compass, a few shillings
+in money, and a deposit receipt for £32, which they burned, to prevent
+it from turning up in evidence against them.
+
+Soon after his release he returned to Victoria, but was recognised at
+Bendigo and other places and boycotted. People refused to sell him
+food or to have any dealings with him whatever. The Government was
+urged to put the Criminals' Influx Prevention Act (18 Vict., No. 3) in
+force against him, but his case did not come under the provisions of
+that Act, as he had not been sentenced to penal servitude since his
+departure from Victoria. He drifted from town to town, and finally made
+his way to Sydney, from whence, it was said, he went to South America
+and was lost to sight.
+
+The story of bushranging in New Zealand further illustrates the
+intimate relationship between the colonies to which I have already
+referred. Garrett, the first New Zealand bushranger, was an old
+Victorian criminal, and the Maungapatau murderers, with whom the record
+terminates, also went to the islands from the same colony, some of
+them, if not all, having been previously transported from Great Britain
+to Van Diemen's Land.
+
+It may be advisable here, perhaps, to say a few words with regard
+to Sullivan's evidence. The point in it to which I wish to draw
+the attention of the reader is the partial exculpation of himself.
+Substantially, the confession was no doubt correct, but we have only
+Sullivan's own word to prove that the murders were committed by his
+companions and that he himself only shot a horse. We notice a similar
+effort on the part of Daniel Charters and others who have turned
+Queen's evidence to minimise the share they took in the outrages with
+which they were charged. Charters, indeed, went rather further than the
+majority of informers and stated that he was sent away to take care of
+the horses while the escort was robbed, because he was too frightened
+to "risk his---- skin." He thus openly admitted his cowardice in order
+apparently to justify himself, to himself, for turning informer. Of
+course, his evidence may have been true in this particular, but the
+constancy of this principle in informers generally of claiming that
+they merely took a very secondary share in the crimes which they are
+the means of bringing home to their fellows, tends to raise a suspicion
+that they do, as a rule, consciously or unconsciously, endeavour to
+excuse themselves to the public, and perhaps also to themselves, as a
+sort of relief perhaps to their own conscience, for turning informer.
+Their action in this respect contrasts strongly with that of men like
+Pierce, the cannibal, or John Lynch, in making confessions after they
+have been convicted. In these and other cases which might be cited the
+condemned man appears to be anxious to let the public know how very
+bad their actions have been. I do not say that they exaggerate their
+crimes, but merely that they are particular that even the smallest
+facts shall be made public. At the same time, they endeavour to satisfy
+their own consciences in some way or other for what they have done.
+Pierce, for instance, excused himself by saying that he must either
+have killed and eaten his companions or starved, although this is not
+borne out by the facts as far as they are known of his last act of
+cannibalism. Lynch, on the other hand, endeavoured to prove that he
+was the instrument of divine vengeance, that he had a mission. But,
+whatever the excuse put forward may be, the fact remains that they take
+care that their crimes shall be known to the very smallest particulars.
+This point is I think worthy of the investigation of the criminologist.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+  Bushranging in Queensland; Some Bushrangers from Over the Southern
+  Border; A Bogus Ben Hall; The Wild Scotchman; Queensland's Only
+  Bushranger; A Man of Many Aliases; He goes to Fight a Duel with Sir
+  Frederick Pottinger; He Escapes from the Steamer; Recaptured and
+  Tried.
+
+
+There was still another of the Australian colonies which was affected
+by the evil influence of the bushranging mania inaugurated by Frank
+Gardiner. This colony was Queensland. In May, 1864, Harry, the
+mail-man, was travelling along the road between Bodumba and Leyburn,
+when he was stopped by an old man and a boy, one of whom asked him,
+civilly enough, which was the road to Warwick. Harry, very obligingly,
+pulled up to tell them where to turn off, when the old man drew a
+pistol and ordered him to dismount. Harry protested against this
+outrage, and said he was a Government employé, but this only produced
+a reiteration of the order with a threat to blow out his brains if
+he did not obey. He then dismounted, and was tied very tightly, the
+robbers paying no attention whatever to his complaints that the rope
+was cutting his wrists. The robbers went through the bags, which they
+left on the ground, and, when they had finished, the old man mounted
+Harry's horse, while the boy climbed on to the packhorse, and rode
+away. Harry, who was left lying on the ground, rolled himself over and
+over to where there were some jagged rocks by the side of the road.
+Selecting the one with the sharpest edge, he wriggled about until he
+got the rope across it, and then moved his body backwards and forwards
+until the strands of the rope which bound his hands together behind
+his back parted. Having freed his hands, he soon untied the rope round
+his legs and walked to Goondiwindi, where he reported the robbery to
+the police. The _Brisbane Courier_ in reporting this robbery said it
+was the first case of bushranging that had taken place in Queensland,
+and hoped that that colony was not about to have its peace disturbed
+as that of the southern colonies had recently been by bushrangers. The
+_Courier_, of course, did not consider the convicts who escaped into
+the bush when Moreton Bay was a penal settlement as bushrangers in the
+modern acceptation of the term. Some of the more notorious of these
+have already been dealt with in Chapter XV., but if we accept the new
+meaning of the term "bushranger," the _Courier_ was, no doubt, correct
+in its assertion that this was the first case that had occurred in the
+colony. Of course a rumour was raised that the perpetrator was Gilbert
+and some of his gang, but the description given of the robbers shows
+that this rumour was absurd.
+
+About a month later a bushranger named Wright stuck up and robbed a
+number of people in the Rockhampton district. He was speedily followed
+by the police and some black trackers, and was shot, early in July,
+at Wipend, on the Mackenzie River, a few miles off of the Peak Downs
+Road. He was riding a racehorse which he had stolen from Mr. Cranston,
+a squatter of that district.
+
+In September a man entered the bar of the Shearers' Arms Inn at
+Knebsworth, and cried out "Bail up! I'm Ben Hall!" The proprietor, Mr.
+Philip Hardy, took a revolver out of a drawer under the counter. The
+bushranger, seeing him do this, fired, and missed. Mr. Hardy returned
+the fire, and wounded the bushranger. The landlord ran round from
+behind the bar, collared his assailant, and after a struggle thrust him
+into a back room. Having locked the door and made his prisoner secure,
+as he thought, Mr. Hardy ran to the police station to report. He
+returned in a few minutes accompanied by a constable, but the bird had
+flown. The window of the room in which he had been shut was wide open,
+so that the bushranger had merely to step out and walk away. It is
+probable therefore that he was making his way to the bush at the back
+of the house almost as soon as the door was locked. He lost his horse,
+however, as the animal was hitched to the verandah post in front, and
+was taken away by the constable.
+
+One or two other cases occurred, but they were all of a paltry
+character, until the Celtic blood of Alpin Macpherson, alias John
+Bruce, alias Mar, alias Kerr, alias Scotia or Scotchie, generally
+known as the Wild Scotchman, was stirred to emulate the heroic deeds
+of Hall, Gilbert and Co. Macpherson was born in Scotland and was taken
+to Queensland when very young by his father. The elder Macpherson
+worked for Mr. McConnell at Cressbrook and was generally respected by
+those who knew him. His son Alpin was sent to school in the town and
+was a favourite with his teachers on account of his diligence. When
+old enough he was apprenticed to Mr. Petrie, a stonemason in Brisbane,
+and was again well-liked by his master and the members of his family.
+Alpin was a diligent reader and a fluent speaker. He became a prominent
+member of the Debating Class in the Brisbane Mechanics' School of
+Arts. When Mr. Lilley, afterwards Attorney-General, was attacked at
+a political meeting at the Valley, with mud, over-ripe tomatoes, and
+other missiles, on account of his Militia Bill, which was strongly
+opposed, young Macpherson defended him bravely, receiving some bruises.
+Soon afterwards, without any apparent reason, he ran away from his
+apprenticeship and took to the roads. He began his bushranging career
+by sticking up Wills's Hotel on the Houghton River, after the manner
+popular with the Hall and Gilbert gang. From thence he went to New
+South Wales to "fight a duel with Sir Frederick Pottinger," the head
+of the police force in that colony. This determination he announced
+himself. The records of this portion of his career are somewhat
+obscure. It is known that he did exchange shots with Sir Frederick
+Pottinger and some troopers, and that he received a slight wound, but
+it is doubtful whether he ever joined Hall and Gilbert, and committed
+robberies in their company, as he said he did. However, he did not
+remain in New South Wales very long. He returned to Queensland and
+robbed the mails, stuck up travellers, stole racehorses, and otherwise
+endeavoured to work up to the standard ideal of the real Australian
+bushranger.
+
+He had been thus employed for some months when Mr. W. Nott, manager of
+the Manduran station, saw him in a paddock belonging to the station,
+and recognised him. Believing that he was there with the intention
+of stealing some of the horses, Mr. Nott hastily collected a party
+and started in pursuit. The party consisted of Messrs. Nott, Curry,
+Gadsden, and J. Walsh. They came in sight of their quarry about five
+miles away, as he was travelling along the Port Curtis Road. He was
+riding slowly when first seen, but, on observing the pursuers closing
+upon him, Macpherson let go his packhorse, wheeled off the road, and
+galloped down the side of a steep range. His pursuers followed. When he
+reached the level ground at the foot of the range, the Wild Scotchman
+pulled up, and began to unstrap the double-barrelled gun which he
+carried across the pommel of his saddle. Before he could succeed,
+however, Mr. Nott came close up and cried "Put up your hands or I'll
+fire." The rifle barrel was only a few feet away, and as the other men
+came up at once with arms ready for use the Wild Scotchman yielded.
+"All right," he said, "I give up." "I knew you were not policemen," he
+said later, "by the way you came down that ridge, but you wouldn't have
+caught me if my horse had not been done up." They took away his arms,
+and then returned to the station, two of the captors riding with the
+bushranger between them, while the other two rode close behind. In the
+pack on the horse which he abandoned was found a beautifully-fitted
+case of surgical instruments, with lint and other necessaries for
+treating wounds. He also carried a pocket compass, an American axe, and
+some other useful articles. The axe was required for cutting fences or
+for making temporary stockyards to catch horses in.
+
+A warrant had been issued for his arrest for his attack on Sir
+Frederick Pottinger and the police in New South Wales, and the Wild
+Scotchman was therefore extradited to stand his trial in New South
+Wales on a charge of shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
+His arrival in Sydney was coincident with the resignation of that
+officer as already related. Sir Frederick, however, was summoned to
+appear against him, and it was on his journey to Sydney for this
+purpose that the accident happened which put an end to Sir Frederick's
+life and the prosecution against the Wild Scotchman at the same time.
+
+The Wild Scotchman was returned to Queensland in charge of the police.
+He was sent from Brisbane to Port Denison, and was there committed for
+trial and remanded to Rockhampton, the nearest assize town, for that
+purpose. He was shipped on board the steamer _Diamantina_ in charge of
+Constable Maher. He was accommodated with leg irons, his hands being so
+small that he could easily slip them through any ordinary handcuffs.
+In fact he boasted freely that the handcuffs to hold him "had not yet
+been made." When the steamer reached Mackay he was seated reading near
+the galley, but he had behaved so quietly all through the earlier part
+of the passage that the constable did not think it necessary to disturb
+him by taking him below. There was, of course, the usual bustle while
+the steamer was at the wharf, and Constable Maher appears to have lost
+sight of his prisoner, and did not miss him until the vessel had been
+an hour at sea. Then a search was instituted, but no Wild Scotchman
+could be found, and as the _Maryborough Chronicle_ remarked, "Constable
+Maher reached Rockhampton minus his prisoner."
+
+How he got ashore and removed his leg-irons was a mystery which was not
+solved for some time. However, his escape did not profit him much. He
+went to a paddock on the Kolongo station with the intention of stealing
+a horse to enable him to stick up the mail coach, and "make a rise."
+But a party was organised by Mr. Hall, and he was recaptured without
+attaining his purpose. This time greater care was exercised by the
+police to whom he was handed over, and he reached Rockhampton, where he
+was tried on several charges of highway robbery and sentenced to twenty
+years' penal servitude.
+
+There can be no doubt that young Macpherson, like many other
+high-spirited young men, was led away by the glamour which gathered
+round the bushrangers Hall, Gilbert, and their young associates; and
+which appears to have appealed so strongly to the youth of certain
+temperaments as to blind them to the enormity of the crimes committed
+by these bushrangers. The quiet bush life in Australia afforded them
+no escape valve by which their desire for excitement might be worked
+off. They did not pause to realise that their fight against society
+was hopeless from the beginning, and that in taking to the bush they
+were setting themselves, almost single handed, against the whole
+force of public opinion in the colony. Had they lived in Europe they
+might, perhaps, have enlisted in the army and thus been able to do
+something to satisfy their cravings for notoriety and adventure in a
+legitimate way. In Australia, however, there was no standing army, and
+even if there had been there was nothing for it to do in the colonies,
+and no chance of its ever being employed outside, where hard blows
+were to be struck and glory won. It may be true that even soldiers
+do not always find congenial work for them to do, and that many of
+them have lived very humdrum lives, but there is always the hope that
+they may be called on to defend their country, or to fight for its
+aggrandisement, and this hope is sufficient to induce them to enlist,
+when they are brought under the control of the disciplinarian and kept
+out of mischief until their boyish enthusiasm subsides and they are
+old enough to enter into the business of life. However, Queensland's
+"only bushranger," the Wild Scotchman, was captured after a brief but
+exciting career of about eighteen months, and the colony has not been
+troubled by bushrangers since.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+  Captain Moonlite; The "Reverend Gentleman" Robs the Bank, and Nearly
+  Makes his Escape; He Breaks out of Ballarat Gaol; He Becomes a
+  Reformed Character; He Sticks Up Wantabadgery Station; A Desperate
+  Battle with the Police; Moonlite is Captured; His Young Companions in
+  Crime; Sentenced to Death; The Wild Horse Hunters Turn Bushrangers;
+  An Abortive Attempt to Rob a Bank.
+
+
+From about June, 1872, to April, 1878, or nearly six years, Australia
+was free from bushrangers. With the exception of the two or three
+robberies in the far west of New South Wales, so far west as to be
+almost out of the colony, the roads were safe; travellers journeyed in
+all directions without fear of molestation; and the public, as well
+as the authorities, began to congratulate themselves once more on
+having at length definitely stamped out the scourge of bushranging.
+Since the shooting of Thunderbolt and the capture of Power, there
+had been no sign of a recrudescence of the crime, and bushranging
+was beginning to be referred to as belonging to a past age. But this
+peaceful condition of the country was not always to continue. The old
+leaven of convictism so frequently referred to, had not as yet been
+so completely eliminated as the public and the authorities hoped and
+believed. Reports began to spread about in 1878 that robberies had been
+committed in the neighbourhood where Power had so long set the police
+at defiance, and shortly afterwards the name of Ned Kelly began to be
+associated with them. Ned Kelly is still spoken of as the last of the
+bushrangers, and as his death closes the story, it may be as well to
+deal with some other bushrangers who finished their careers before
+"the gentleman of the Strathbogie Ranges." The most remarkable of these
+was George Scott, alias Captain Moonlite. His story belongs partly
+to the former era, but I have reserved it in order to make it more
+complete than would have been possible had it been divided. Scott was
+born in the North of Ireland, and emigrated to Victoria. He went to the
+diggings at a time when agents from New Zealand were endeavouring to
+raise a corps in Victoria for service against the Maoris. He enlisted
+and fought through the war in 1861-65, being wounded in the leg. On
+his return to Victoria he showed a strong desire to join the Church,
+and as he was well educated and a good speaker he was appointed lay
+reader at Bacchus Marsh, with a view to his being ordained a minister
+of the Church of England, when the Bishop of Melbourne should consider
+him worthy of the charge. His duties as lay reader were to travel
+round the settlement, to read prayers and conduct services, his head
+quarters being in the town at Mount Egerton. His chief friends here
+were the manager of the Union Bank and the schoolmaster. He soon came
+to be respected and liked in the district. One night, however, a masked
+man walked into the living apartments connected with the bank and
+ordered the manager, who was alone, to bail up. The manager recognised
+the voice and asked him whether he thought this a suitable practical
+joke for a clergyman. Scott replied that he would soon find it was no
+joke. He threatened to shoot the manager unless he surrendered and did
+as he was ordered. He then gagged the manager, took him across the
+street to the school-house, and compelled him to sign the following
+statement:--"Captain Moonlite has stuck me up and robbed the bank."
+There was no one at the school-house, Scott having apparently timed his
+visit when he knew the school would be empty. Leaving the paper on the
+desk in the school-house, Scott took the manager back to the bank, tied
+him hand and foot, and then took about £1000 worth in notes and coin
+from the safe. The schoolmaster found the paper lying on the desk when
+he went to open the school next morning, and at first did not know what
+to make of it. He handed it to the police, who, on going to the bank,
+found the manager gagged and tied. Having heard his story the police
+considered it absurd, and arrested the manager and schoolmaster as
+having been jointly concerned in the crime. The idea of charging the
+minister, as Scott was generally called, appeared to be preposterous,
+the more especially as Scott was very active in trying to find
+incriminating evidence against his quondam friends. Being intimately
+acquainted with the lives led by the two men, he was able to supply the
+police with several facts, true or false, which were considered strong
+circumstantial proofs of their guilt. They were committed for trial,
+Scott being bound over as a witness against them. He did not wait for
+the trial, however, but went to Sydney, where he put up at one of the
+leading hotels and spent money lavishly. He represented himself as a
+wealthy visitor to the colonies travelling for pleasure, and spoke of
+his intention to visit some of the South Sea Islands. For this purpose
+he purchased a yacht, for which he paid partly in cash and partly by a
+cheque for £150. This cheque was returned by the bank on which it was
+drawn as valueless, and the man who had sold him the yacht immediately
+communicated with the police. Scott had already set sail, but the
+police followed him in a steam launch and caught him just outside the
+Heads. He was brought back and tried for fraud and was sent to gaol for
+eighteen months.
+
+Even the flight of Scott from Mount Egerton did not at first convince
+the police and others of his guilt in connection with the bank robbery,
+but without his evidence the case against the bank manager and the
+schoolmaster was so weak that it broke down, and they were discharged.
+Later on a warrant was issued for the arrest of Scott, alias Captain
+Moonlite, but he was then in gaol in New South Wales. On his release
+he was rearrested, and extradited to Victoria to be tried for the bank
+robbery. He was taken to Ballarat, and lodged in the newly-built gaol,
+a most substantial structure of blue stone (basalt). The building
+stands in a large courtyard, surrounded by a wall twenty-five feet
+high, also constructed of basalt. Looked at from the outside it appears
+to be one of the most hopeless places for a prisoner to escape from
+imaginable, but Scott had been educated as an engineer, and therefore
+what might have been impossible for another man was not so for him.
+There was a wooden partition which divided one cell into two. Scott
+was imprisoned awaiting trial in one portion of the cell, and a man
+named Dermoodie in the other portion. Scott cut through this partition,
+and with the aid of Dermoodie contrived to take the lock off the door.
+The two men walked into the corridor and hid in a dark corner until
+the warder came round, when Scott sprang on him, grasped him by the
+throat, and with the assistance of Dermoodie gagged and tied him.
+Scott then took the keys, and having shut the warder into the cell,
+with the door closed, so that any other warder in passing it would
+not notice that it had been opened, walked down the passage. With the
+keys he opened four more cells and liberated the prisoners in them.
+He made them take the blankets from their beds and follow him, after
+carefully closing the doors again. He opened the door leading into
+the great yard and went to a dark corner under the wall where he tore
+the blankets into strips and tied them together to form a rope. Scott
+then stood up against the wall. One of the other men climbed up and
+stood on his shoulders, another climbed up and stood on his, and so on
+until the last, Dermoodie, was able to take the rope and sit on the
+wall. With the aid of the rope each man was enabled to go up in turn to
+where Dermoodie was, and was then lowered down on the other side. Here
+they stood on each others' shoulders as before, to enable Dermoodie to
+climb down, then the others followed in turn, and they were free. The
+south-eastern corner of the gaol wall stands near the edge of the hill
+where the ground slopes sharply down to Golden Gully. The six men went
+down the slope to a safe distance, and then Scott said they must part,
+as they would have a better chance of getting away separately than if
+they all kept together. The four men liberated by Scott to help him
+over the wall were speedily caught, some in Ballarat and the others
+not far away, but as they were not bushrangers we have nothing further
+to do with them. Scott and Dermoodie went away together and slept in
+the bush. Scott said they must have money, and proposed to rob a bank,
+which he said could be easily done, but Dermoodie said he had only been
+arrested for a small offence, and he had made his case bad enough by
+escaping. He did not wish to make it worse. Scott called him a coward,
+a contemptible cur, and said he should never leave that spot alive. He
+gave him five minutes to say his prayers. He was in a terrible rage,
+but before the five minutes were over he said that Dermoodie was not
+worth killing, gave him a few kicks and blows, and ordered him out of
+his sight, an order which was quickly obeyed. Dermoodie went back to
+Ballarat and was recaptured a day or two after his escape, while Scott
+was found about a week later in a hut near Bendigo. He was tried, and
+was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for the bank robbery, and to
+one years' imprisonment in irons for breaking gaol.
+
+Scott behaved in the most exemplary manner while he was in Pentridge,
+and contrived to convince both the chaplain and the gaol authorities
+that he intended to live "on the square" for the future. He was allowed
+all the remission possible under the rules for good conduct, and was
+released in March, 1879. He was a forcible and fluent speaker, and he
+made a living by open-air lecturing in Melbourne on prison discipline
+and other subjects. About this time the Kelly gang was at the zenith of
+its career, when suddenly Scott disappeared from his usual haunts in
+Melbourne. Probably his imagination was stirred by the reports current
+about the Kellys; perhaps he was prompted by jealousy of their doings;
+or, perhaps, by a sudden desire for notoriety. However this may be, he
+was gone.
+
+On Saturday, November 15th, 1879, at about three p.m., six armed men
+rode up to Mr. C.F.J. Macdonald's station at Wantabadgery, on the
+Murrumbidgee River, New South Wales, and bailed up all the men at
+work there. Nineteen men were collected from various places about the
+station and marched into the dining-room of Mr. Macdonald's house. Mr.
+Miles was then ordered to unlock the door of the store, and the robbers
+selected a quantity of clothing and other goods which they required or
+fancied. They were engaged in packing these on some spare horses when
+Mr. Weir, of Eurongilly, and a schoolmaster rode up, and were called on
+to bail up. The schoolmaster refused, and one of the bushrangers loudly
+declared that he would shoot him. Hearing the altercation, the leader
+of the gang came out of the store, seized the schoolmaster by the leg,
+and dragged him from the horse, saying at the same time, "You---- old
+fool, get down and do as you're told. I'm Moonlite." He pushed the
+schoolmaster along, and forced him to go into the dining-room where the
+other men were sitting.
+
+Towards evening Mr. Baynes, the manager of the station, returned from
+a back station, and was bailed up and conducted to the dining-room.
+The women had been told that they would not be interfered with, and
+were ordered to cook dinner. When it was ready it was served in the
+dining-room, where all partook of the food, the bushrangers sitting
+down in turn, while two remained on guard. After the meal some grog,
+obtained from the station store, was served round, and Mr. Macdonald
+was permitted to retire to bed. The others remained at the table all
+night, the bushrangers taking it in turn to sleep like the others with
+their heads on the table.
+
+Breakfast on the following (Sunday) morning was taken as supper had
+been on the previous evening. During the meal Mr. Baynes said to one
+of the young bushrangers who was seated near him, "This is bad work."
+Moonlite, who was sitting on the other side of the large table, heard
+him and jumped up. He charged Mr. Baynes with trying to tamper with his
+men, and swore that he would shoot him. He seemed to be in a paroxysm
+of rage, and flourished his revolver about in a dangerous manner. The
+women, however, clustered round, assuring him that Mr. Baynes did not
+mean any harm, and begging him to spare him. In a few minutes Scott's
+rage had evaporated, and he sat down again and went on with his meal
+apparently oblivious of Mr. Baynes's presence. During the morning
+several men came to the station, and were bailed up and marched into
+the dining-room. One of these men was leading a young filly which had
+only recently been broken in. Scott admired her very much and said,
+"She'll just suit me." He led her round and then tried to mount her,
+but she was very skittish and would not let him. This threw him into a
+passion and he became violent, thus frightening the filly and making
+her more ungovernable. At length he swore that if she did not stand
+still he would shoot her, and as she continued to rear and try to get
+away he drew his revolver and sent a bullet through her head. When
+his fit of passion had passed off, Moonlite said he was sorry he had
+killed the mare, but she should have stood still when he told her. He
+then ordered Lindon, the groom, to put the horses into the buggy, and,
+taking Mr. Alexander Macdonald as a hostage, drove to the house of the
+superintendent of the station, Mr. Reid. Here he obtained a Whitworth
+rifle and some ammunition. He then forced Mr. and Mrs. Reid to mount
+the buggy, and drove away to Paterson's Australian Arms Hotel, which
+he stuck up, taking two shot guns and a revolver. He ordered Mr. and
+Mrs. Paterson to walk to the station, and, to ensure obedience, put
+their two little children into the buggy and drove away. On the return
+journey to the station he stuck up seven more men, and compelled
+them to march in front of the buggy to the station, and go into the
+dining-room.
+
+As Moonlite jumped down from the buggy he caught sight of Mr. Baynes
+standing on the verandah. He rushed across to him, and charged him with
+attempting to corrupt his men. He ordered Mr. Baynes to be pinioned
+with a fishing line, and had him lifted into the buggy, saying "I'll
+drive under that tree and you can tie the rope to the limb, and we'll
+leave this gentlemen hanging there." A rope was tied round Mr. Baynes's
+neck ready, but the women, seeing these preparations for a tragedy,
+again gathered round Moonlite and begged him to let Mr. Baynes go.
+At first he refused, saying "The gentleman does not deserve it," but
+gradually he became less violent, and finally ordered Baynes to be
+untied. Then he called a muster of all the men in the dining-room and
+counted thirty-five.
+
+After having given orders as to the custody of his prisoners, Moonlite
+mounted a horse and rode round, going for some distance along the road
+on each side of the homestead. He met a man coming from the adjoining
+station, Eurongilly, where he worked. "Hulloa," cried Moonlite,
+"where are you going with that pistol?" "To fight the bushrangers,"
+replied the man. "By G----," exclaimed Scott, "you've found them,
+here we are. Hand over that revolver and we'll try you for unlawfully
+carrying firearms." The man was compelled to obey, and was taken into
+the dining-room. Moonlite took his seat as judge, having appointed
+two of his mates and two of the station hands as jury, and the trial
+was carried out as nearly in the orthodox manner as circumstances
+would permit. The charge was read by the clerk, witnesses were heard
+and cross-examined; the judge summed up, and the verdict returned
+was "Not guilty." Scott turned to the prisoner and said, "You may
+think yourself---- lucky. If the jury had found you guilty, I'd have
+given you five minutes to live." He then ordered the prisoner to be
+discharged, and said it was dinner time.
+
+In the afternoon the vigilance of the bushrangers relaxed so far that
+Alexander Macdonald contrived to make his escape. He got a horse and
+rode to Wagga Wagga, twenty-five miles away. He informed the police
+of what had taken place, and Constables Howe, Hedley, Williamson, and
+Johns saddled their horses and started back with him to Wantabadgery,
+where they arrived at four a.m. on Monday morning. The robbers were
+still in possession, and the police hoped to find them unprepared,
+but this was not the case, and the police retreated to Mr. James
+Beveridge's station, Tarrandera Park, where they obtained fresh horses.
+By this time five more troopers had arrived from Gundagai, sixty-five
+miles away, and the police decided that they were strong enough to
+begin the attack. The people who had been detained in the dining-room
+speedily made their escape and collected on a ridge a short distance
+from the scene of battle, other persons, attracted by the sound of
+the firing, rode up from the stations round until some three hundred
+spectators of the fight were collected on the ridge, but they left the
+police to do the fighting unaided. Constable Bowen, who had already
+shot a bushranger in the Thunderbolt rising, was the first to make any
+impression, and a great cheer went up as one of Moonlite's men was
+seen to fall. The bushrangers went into the house, and the police took
+shelter in a hut some distance away. They advanced very cautiously, and
+Constable Bowen shot a second man, falling wounded himself almost at
+the same time. Some time afterwards Constable Carroll, who had crept
+close up to the verandah, in spite of the heavy fusilade which was kept
+up, shot a third bushranger, and soon after the other three came out
+and surrendered. Moonlite asked Mr. Wise to go for a doctor to attend
+to Nesbit, saying "Poor fellow! He was shot trying to save me."
+
+James Nesbit, alias Lyons, who was shot dead, was born in Melbourne
+and was twenty-three years of age. Augustus or Gus Wernicke (also from
+Melbourne), aged nineteen, died a few days after the battle. Graham
+Bennett, also born in Victoria, was twenty years of age. He was wounded
+in the arm and recovered. Thomas Williams, alias Jones, nineteen years
+old, was born in Ballarat, Victoria. Thomas Rogan was born at Hay, New
+South Wales, but had been living for some years in Melbourne, where he
+became acquainted with Scott. Scott, the leader, was thirty-seven years
+of age.
+
+Constable Bowen died of his wound on the Sunday following the fight,
+and the prisoners were tried on the charge of murdering him. The trial
+took place at Darlinghurst Court House, Sydney, and lasted for four
+days. A verdict of guilty was returned, but the jury recommended Rogan,
+Bennett, and Williams to mercy on account of their youth and the belief
+that they had been led into crime by Scott. In consequence of this the
+sentences on Bennett and Williams were commuted to imprisonment for
+life, but although some pressure was brought to bear on the Governor,
+Lord Augustus Loftus, the executive declined to extend mercy to Rogan.
+He and Scott were therefore hung in Darlinghurst gaol.
+
+One of the witnesses at the trial, named Ah Goon, said that he had been
+robbed of a gold watch and chain valued at £25. When taking these and
+some money from him, Scott said he was "a---- Chinaman who took the
+bread out of the mouths of honest workers." It is worthy of note also
+that on the second day of the trial of the prisoners at Darlinghurst,
+the _Melbourne Argus_ reported that James P. Nesbitt, father of the
+recently killed bushranger, was charged at the City Police Court,
+Melbourne, with having thrashed and abused his wife, the mother of the
+bushranger. He was ordered to be bound over to keep the peace for six
+months under a penalty of £25, and as the money was not forthcoming, he
+was sent to gaol.
+
+The gallantry of the police in breaking up this gang of bushrangers
+at so early a stage in its career was duly recognised. The police
+authorities voted a reward of £100 to Constable Carroll, £75 to
+Constable Curran, and £50 each to the other constables engaged in
+the fight. A public monument was erected to Constable Bowen, and
+a pension was settled on his wife, while the Government undertook
+the care and education of his children. The police were paraded in
+Sydney; the Inspector General, Mr. E. Fosbery, read a letter from the
+Colonial Secretary (the late Sir Henry Parkes) publicly thanking the
+police constables for their services. After this ceremony, the purses
+containing the rewards were presented and acknowledged.
+
+It is impossible to divide the bushranging of this epoch so as to keep
+the story of the different colonies concerned separate as I have in the
+previous epochs, because both the Moonlite and the Kelly gang operated
+in both Victoria and New South Wales. The small number of bushrangers
+who worked separately from these gangs are not worth dividing and may
+be dealt with here.
+
+In February, 1879, three young men who had been engaged in running
+in and capturing warrigal horses on the lower Murrumbidgee, thought,
+perhaps, that that employment was less profitable than bushranging,
+and took to the roads. Their names were Thomas Gorman (twenty-one),
+Charles Jones (twenty), and William Kaye (nineteen). They bailed up
+a few travellers on the road between Balranald and Ivanhoe, and were
+then joined by William Hobbs, otherwise known as Hoppy Bill, because
+he had a crooked leg and arm. Hobbs had been employed as cook at the
+Hatfield sheep station, and was about thirty years of age. On the 21st
+they stuck up Mr. Grainger's store at Hatfield, about sixty miles north
+of Balranald, and stole £50 worth of clothing and other goods, two
+horses, with saddles and bridles. On the following day they stopped a
+hawker, saying "Bail up. We're the Kellys," and took £40 worth of goods
+and jewellery from his waggon. On the 23rd they arrived at Till Till
+station, and bailed up twenty-five persons there. Mrs. Crombie, wife of
+the manager, was very much frightened at first, but they soothed her by
+telling her that they "wouldn't hurt any one." They took six horses, a
+quantity of ammunition, and some other articles from the store. When
+they left they said that they intended to stick up Woolpagerie station.
+
+In the meantime Mr. John Thomas Day, storeman at Grainger's, travelled
+as fast as his horse could go to Moulamein, and informed the police of
+the sticking up of the store. He was sworn in as a special constable,
+and accompanied by troopers Beresford and Powers and a black tracker,
+started in pursuit. They rode one hundred and eighty miles between nine
+a.m. on Sunday and seven p.m. on Monday, changing horses at Clare,
+where they came on the tracks of the bushrangers. On their arrival
+at Kilferra Mr. Casey supplied them with remounts, and joined in the
+chase. The tracks led down to the Four Mile Dam, where the pursuers
+came on the bushrangers in camp preparing their supper. As they went
+forward the bushrangers came to meet them, crying out, "Bail up." The
+police replied, "Surrender in the Queen's name." Both parties fired,
+and Constable Powers fell wounded in the shoulder. The bushrangers then
+threw down their arms and surrendered. They were tried on April 19th
+for shooting with intent to murder, and were found guilty. When asked
+if they had anything to urge why sentence of death should not be passed
+on them, Hobbs was the only one who spoke, and he said, "God forgive me
+if I have to die." Sentences of death were pronounced, but these were
+subsequently commuted to imprisonment for life.
+
+On Wednesday, November 5th, 1879, an attempt was made to stick up the
+Bank of Australasia at Moe in the Gippsland district of Victoria. At
+first it was supposed that the Kellys had paid a visit to this part of
+the colony. The bank was a wooden building, situated about fifty yards
+from the Moe railway station, and nearly opposite the Selector's Arms
+Hotel. The bank closed at the usual time and nothing occurred until
+about nine o'clock p.m. At that time Mr. Hector Munro, the manager, was
+sitting in his parlour behind the bank chamber reading. He was alone
+in the house, his wife having gone up the main street to the grocer's
+shop. There was a knock at the door, and on Mr. Munro opening it, a
+man with a white cap over his head, with holes to look through cut in
+it, tried to force his way in. Munro endeavoured to slam the door to,
+but the white cap individual had got his foot inside and managed to
+push his way in. "Who are you? What do you want?" cried Munro, but no
+answer was returned. Munro still held the man and endeavoured to drag
+him out of the house. The white cap drew a pistol, but Munro clutched
+him by the arm, and in the struggle the pistol went off without doing
+any damage, except to the wall. Then another white-capped man appeared
+and struck Munro on the head. At the same time several people rushed
+over from the hotel to ascertain what the shooting was about, and the
+two would-be robbers bolted. Sergeant Irwin and two constables, with
+Dr. Archibald Macdonald and several other civilians, followed the
+bushrangers. They picked up two felt hats and a serge mask in the yard,
+not far from the back door of the bank. It was, however, too dark to do
+anything further that night, but at daylight the tracks were carefully
+followed, and shortly before six a.m. Constable Beck and Dr. Macdonald
+found two men sitting on the Trafalgar railway platform. The doctor
+covered them with his rifle while the constable handcuffed them. The
+men said that the constable was making a great mistake, as they were
+unacquainted with each other, having arrived there by different routes.
+They were waiting for the train from Melbourne to go further up country
+to look for work. Constable Beck replied, "Oh, that's all right; I'll
+stand the racket. What's your names?" As they hesitated, he continued,
+"Now, no humbug; I know you. You don't live far away, and if you give
+false names you'll soon be bowled out." They then admitted that they
+were brothers, and that their names were Robert and James Shanks. Their
+ages were twenty-three and twenty-one years respectively. Two revolvers
+were found in their carpet bags, and the white caps were picked up not
+far from the platform. They were convicted of having attempted to rob
+the bank, and assaulted the manager.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+  The Kelly Gang; Horse-stealing, a Great Industry of the District;
+  Faking the Brands; Assault on Constable Fitzpatrick; The Bush
+  Telegraphs; Murder of Sergeant Kennedy and Constables Scanlan and
+  Lonergan; Sticking up of the Faithfull Creek Station; Robbery of the
+  National Bank at Euroa; A Big Haul.
+
+
+In the early years of Australian settlement bushranging was one of
+the normal conditions in the colonies, and therefore attracted little
+notice. Even the exploits of such heroes of the roads as Mike Howe,
+Brady, the Jewboy, and Jackey Jackey are very briefly related in the
+Press, and, with the exception of the first-named, about whom Mr. James
+Bonwick has written a romance, very little has been heard of them
+since the age in which they lived. In the next epoch the doings of the
+bushrangers were dwarfed in the public estimation by the sensational
+reports of the gold finds, and although in consequence of the growth
+of population and the great increase in the number of newspapers their
+actions received a wider publicity than those of their predecessors
+the accounts of them are still meagre. The sensational inauguration of
+the next era by the Gardiner gang--the sticking up and robbing of the
+Government Gold Escort--attracted wider notice to the bushrangers of
+that epoch, and some notice of them appears even in the English Press.
+But the notoriety of even the most celebrated of the bushrangers of
+that epoch was nothing as compared with that of the Kelly gang, about
+whom more columns of newspaper matter have been printed than of all
+the bushrangers together in the earlier epochs. Several histories of
+the Kelly gang have also been published, the best known, perhaps,
+being those of Mr. Superintendent Hare, who was for a time in charge
+of the police who were trying to capture the bushrangers, and Mr.
+John McWhirter, the reporter of the _Melbourne Age_, who accompanied
+the police in their final and successful effort to suppress the gang.
+Mr. McWhirter's "History" is largely compiled from the reports which
+had appeared in the _Age_, and Mr. Hare is also largely indebted to
+the same source. The Kellys have also inspired more than one drama,
+although the subject is not a favourite one with moralists, and the
+representation of bushranging dramas has not met with favour from a
+large section of the community. In this connection we may note the
+influence of modern science. The stage of the performances of the
+earlier bushrangers was confined to their own locality. They were
+rarely heard of outside the colony in which they appeared. In the
+next stage the telegraph carried news of their performances all over
+Australia, and occasionally a stray newspaper paragraph was quoted
+in England. With the Kellys, however, it was different. Notices of
+their exploits were even sent across the ocean by cable, and the
+British public naturally desired to hear more of these daring robbers,
+and therefore extracts from the newspapers of Australia appeared
+more frequently in the English Press than at any former epoch. The
+consequence is that we can reconstruct the history of the Kellys
+more easily than that of any other bushranging family. The father of
+Ned Kelly was transported from Ireland. The maiden name of his wife
+was Ellen Quinn. The eldest son, Ned, was born at Wallan Wallan in
+1854. Jim was born in 1856, and Dan in 1861. There were besides four
+daughters--namely, Mrs. Gunn, Mrs. Skillian, and Kate and Grace Kelly.
+In 1871, the second son, James, then about fifteen years of age, was
+sentenced to five years' imprisonment on two charges of horse-stealing.
+On his discharge in 1876 he went to New South Wales and stuck up a
+number of people. He was captured almost immediately, and sent to gaol
+for ten years. Edward, commonly known as Ned Kelly, was arrested in
+1870 and charged with having assisted Power in one of his numerous
+bushranging exploits, but was acquitted, as none of the witnesses could
+swear to his identity. It is said that on more than one occasion he
+took care of Power's horses while that worthy was engaged in robbing.
+In 1871 he was sent to gaol for three years for horse-stealing.
+
+Horse-stealing appears to have been the principal industry of the
+district, as cattle-duffing had been of the Wedden Mountain district,
+and of Manaro, and the Kellys, the Harts, the Byrnes, and others in
+this district, were quite as adept in "faking" brands as the Lowrys,
+the O'Meallys, or the Clarkes had been. But science had made advances
+even in these mountains since the era of the Gardiner gang. In earlier
+times the brands of horses and cattle were "faked"--_i.e._, altered
+so as to represent something different from what they were intended
+to do--by branding over them and adding to them. There were some
+expert blacksmiths among the cattle-duffers, and these would make a
+brand to fit over an old brand and completely change its character.
+For instance, a simple A brand might have a circle burned round it
+thus--(A), or it might have another letter conjoined to it thus--A-B.
+The manner in which brands might be "faked" was endless, and when it
+was impossible to "fake" a brand it was "blotched," or burned over, so
+that the original design could not be recognised. The Kellys and their
+companions in the Warby and Strathbogie ranges, however, did not go
+to the trouble of making special brands to "fake" other brands. They
+obtained the same results by the use of iodine, which burned such marks
+into the skins of the stolen animals as were desired. The plan adopted
+was to make raids into distant parts, collect a mob of horses, drive
+them into an inaccessible ravine in the mountains, "fake" their brands
+and keep them until the sores had healed and the brands looked old.
+Then the animals, having got fat in the meantime, were driven to market
+and sold without fear of detection. Horses stolen in the north--some
+even from across the New South Wales border--were driven south to
+Melbourne, Ballarat, Geelong, or some other large town, and sold openly
+in the public sale yards; while those stolen in the south were driven
+to some northern market, sometimes being taken as far as Sydney.
+
+In 1876, Daniel, the youngest of the Kelly boys, was sent to gaol for
+three months for having taken part in a house-breaking robbery in
+conjunction with the Lloyds, who were connected by marriage with the
+Kellys. In the following year, 1887, warrants were issued for his
+arrest on six charges of horse-stealing, but he could not be found.
+On April 15th, 1878, Constable Alexander Fitzpatrick, having learned
+that Dan Kelly was at home, went to the Kellys' hut at Greta, to
+arrest him. "This hut," said the _Benalla Standard_, "was a well-known
+trysting-place for the bushranger Power." The constable rode up, and
+seeing Dan standing at the door said to him, "You're my prisoner."
+"All right," replied Dan nonchalantly. The constable dismounted and
+hitched his horse to a sapling, when Dan said that he had been riding
+all day and had had nothing to eat. After some conversation the
+constable agreed to wait while Dan had some food, before taking him to
+Benalla, and Dan went in and sat down. As he did so Mrs. Kelly said
+to Fitzpatrick, "You won't take Dan out o' this to-night." "Shut up,
+mother," exclaimed Dan, "it's all right." The old woman continued to
+grumble in an undertone, while she placed bread and meat and tea on the
+table. Presently she asked the constable, "Have you got a warrant?"
+"I've got a telegram, and that's as good," replied Fitzpatrick. The
+constable was standing at the door, and Dan, who took his arrest
+coolly, as if it was a mere matter of course, told his mother not
+to make a row about it, as it did not matter, and then invited the
+constable to take some food. Fitzpatrick accepted the invitation, and
+went in. As he seated himself Mrs. Kelly remarked, "If my son Ned was
+here, he'd throw you out of the window." Dan was looking out of the
+window at the time, and he exclaimed "Here he is." Fitzpatrick very
+naturally turned to look, and Dan pounced on to him. Mrs. Kelly seized
+a heavy garden spade which had been used as a fire shovel and was much
+damaged, and struck Fitzpatrick a furious blow on the head, making a
+dint in his helmet. Fitzpatrick fell down, and several people hearing
+the noise rushed in. Among them were Ned Kelly, William Skillian
+(husband of one of the Kelly girls), and William Williams, alias
+Bricky. Ned Kelly held a revolver in his hand which was still smoking,
+and Fitzpatrick was wounded in the arm. Ned said, "I'm sorry I fired.
+You're the civilest---- trap I've seen." He offered to cut the bullet
+out and bind up the wound, but Fitzpatrick refused to let him touch
+it. Then Ned said that the constable could not be allowed to go away
+until the bullet was cut out and he had promised not to tell how he got
+wounded. "You can say your pistol went off by accident," he said. "Tell
+him if he does tell he won't live long after," cried Mrs. Kelly. The
+old woman was again told to "shut up." Fitzpatrick, knowing the men he
+had to deal with, promised not to say who had wounded him, and took his
+knife from his pocket. He cut a small gash, over where the bullet was,
+and squeezed it out. Then he twisted his handkerchief round the wound
+and said it was "all right." Ned Kelly picked up the bullet and put
+it away on a shelf, and a few minutes later the constable was allowed
+to mount his horse and go. On the following day a party of troopers
+went to the Eleven Mile Creek and arrested Mrs. Ellen Kelly, William
+Skillian, and William Williams. A search was made for Ned and Dan
+Kelly, but they could not be found. Skillian and Williams, when brought
+up for trial for their share in this assault, declared that they only
+came in after the shot was fired, and had taken no part whatever in the
+scrimmage. They were, however, sentenced to six years' imprisonment,
+while Mrs. Kelly was sent to gaol for three years.
+
+It was generally understood that Ned and Dan Kelly were in hiding
+somewhere in the neighbourhood, and some twenty-five troopers with
+black trackers were told off to search for them. Fourteen men,
+residents in the neighbourhood, were arrested under the Outlawry
+Act, on suspicion that they had harboured or aided and abetted the
+bushrangers, and were remanded from week to week for some three months,
+while the police were seeking for evidence against them. Mr. Zincke,
+who appeared at the police court on behalf of the prisoners, protested
+against this arbitrary act of the police, and urged that it was illegal
+to detain as prisoners persons against whom no specific charge had been
+made. "If the Kellys were caught," he said, "these men would be told
+to go about their business." He stated his belief that the Outlawry
+Act would not warrant these proceedings and that the law was being
+strained in a dangerous manner. The magistrates on the bench generally
+listened to his pleadings with exemplary patience and then granted the
+remand asked for by the police. There can be very little doubt that
+Mr. Zincke was perfectly justified in saying that these proceedings
+were illegal, but the magistrates of Beechworth and other parts of
+the disturbed district had learned by experience that, as long as the
+sympathisers and "bush telegraphs" were at liberty, the police had very
+little chance of capturing the bushrangers, and so, during the whole
+time that the Kelly gang was in existence, a number of people were kept
+locked up because they were suspected of giving food or assistance to
+the outlaws and, more important than all, of giving the bushrangers
+information as to the movements of the police. The number of persons
+thus held under restraint varied from month to month. Sometimes a few
+were discharged while others took their places. The largest number in
+the police cells at any one time was thirty-five. But the authorities
+after all acted in a half-hearted and inefficient manner. They arrested
+only men and boys, while the women and girls were left free to assist
+the bushrangers as they pleased, and the women were quite as active
+and quite as efficient in affording assistance and information to the
+bushrangers as the men could have possibly been.
+
+On October 26th one of the parties of police in search of the outlaws
+went into camp at Stringy Bark Creek, about eight miles on the King
+River side of the Wombat Range. Sergeant Kennedy was supposed to
+have received information from a friend of the Kellys as to their
+whereabouts, and thus to have penetrated nearly to their hiding place.
+The friend who had informed the police, however, also told the Kellys
+of their approach. The country is densely covered with stringy bark
+trees and scrub, and is almost impenetrable. Sergeant Kennedy and
+Constable Scanlan had gone into the scrub to endeavour to ascertain the
+whereabouts of the two Kellys, while Constables Lonergan and McIntyre
+were left in charge of the camp. Lonergan was employed in making tea
+ready for the two who were away, when four men on horseback came up and
+cried "Bail up! put up your hands." Lonergan made a jump to get behind
+a tree, putting his hand to his belt for a pistol at the same time, and
+was shot. He cried out "O Christ, I'm shot," and fell dead. Constable
+McIntyre was sitting down. He jumped up, but having no weapon upon
+him at the time he surrendered. Ned Kelly walked to Lonergan's body
+and examined it. Then he rose, and said, "What a pity! Why didn't
+the---- fool surrender?" He afterwards said that it was all Constable
+Fitzpatrick's fault. "He'd no right to lag my mother and brother-in-law
+for nothing." Ned Kelly ordered Constable McIntyre to sit down as if
+nothing had happened, and warned him that he would be shot at once
+if he "gave the office" to the sergeant. The bushrangers then hid
+themselves behind the trees. Sergeant Kennedy and Constable Scanlan
+rode up some time later, unconscious that anything had happened. When
+they came close McIntyre said, "Sergeant, we're surrounded. You'd
+better surrender." Scanlan laughed, and put his hand to his belt, when
+Ned Kelly fired at him and missed. Scanlan jumped off his horse and
+made for a gum tree, but was shot dead before he reached it. Kennedy
+wheeled his horse round and started at a gallop, but had gone only a
+few yards when he was brought down with a rifle bullet. His horse,
+frightened at the noise and the fall of its rider, dashed through the
+camp, and as it passed Constable McIntyre threw himself across its
+back. He got into the saddle, and urged it forward, when it was brought
+down, shot by a rifle bullet through the heart. McIntyre fell clear,
+and crawled into a patch of scrub. He found a wombat hole near at hand.
+He crept into it, and lay there, while he could hear the bushrangers
+walking round searching for him in the scrub, and swearing that they
+would "do for" him when they caught him. When it was quite dark he
+crawled out of his hole and walked twenty miles to Mansfield to inform
+the police of what had taken place.
+
+Inspector Pewtress, with a party of police, started from Melbourne
+on Sunday, the 27th, in a special train, and soon reached the camp
+in the ranges. The bodies of Lonergan and Scanlan were lying as they
+had fallen not far from where the fire had been lighted, but that of
+Sergeant Kennedy could not be seen from the camp. It was not found
+until the 31st, owing to the density of the scrub around the little
+cleared patch, where the camp had been pitched. Three bullet wounds
+were found in it, and a cloak had been thrown over the face to protect
+it from dingoes or the weather. It was said that Ned Kelly had ridden
+to his camp to fetch the cloak to cover Kennedy with, because he
+considered him to be the bravest man he had ever met.
+
+Rewards of £100 each had been offered by the Victorian Government for
+the capture of Ned and Dan Kelly. Now the rewards were increased to
+£500, while similar rewards were offered for Steve Hart (twenty years
+of age) and Joe Byrnes (nineteen years of age).
+
+It was reported that on October 31st the Kellys had stuck up and robbed
+Neil Christian and other persons at Bungowanah, near Baumgarten's, on
+the Murray River, but as the whole of that country was under water, in
+consequence of a flood in the river at that time, this was discredited.
+The police asserted that the Kellys were somewhere in the mountains,
+but they searched the "Rat's Castle" and other hiding places without
+success.
+
+On the 8th December a rough-looking bushman called at Younghusband's
+station, on Faithfull's Creek, and asked if the manager, Mr. Macaulay,
+was about? An old man named Fitzgerald, employed on the station,
+replied that the manager was away and would not return till morning. He
+asked the man if he could do anything for him? The traveller replied
+"No, it's of no consequence." He walked to the house and said to Mrs.
+Fitzgerald, "I'm Ned Kelly. You needn't be frightened, we only want
+food for ourselves and our horses." Seeing the man talking to his wife,
+Fitzgerald went to them, and Mrs. Fitzgerald said to him "This is Mr.
+Kelly. He wants some refreshments." By this time Ned had his revolver
+in his hand. Fitzgerald grasped the situation and replied "Well, if
+the gentleman wants refreshments he'll have to have them." Ned gave
+a whistle and the other three bushrangers came forward and Dan took
+their horses to the stables. Joe Byrnes took care of the Fitzgeralds,
+while Ned and Steve Hart went round and collected all the men at work
+on the station and locked them up in the store room. Shortly afterwards
+a man named Gloster, who had a store in Seymour and who frequently
+travelled round with a spring cart loaded with goods for sale at the
+farms and stations, came to the station for a bucket of water to make
+tea with, and Ned ordered him to bail up. Knowing that Gloster was of a
+determined character Fitzgerald shouted to him to advise him to "give
+in." "What for?" asked Gloster. "I'm Ned Kelly," exclaimed that hero.
+"I don't care a---- who you are," returned Gloster. At this moment Dan
+Kelly came up and threatened to shoot Gloster, but Ned forbade him, and
+Fitzgerald persuaded Gloster that resistance was useless and prevailed
+on him to surrender.
+
+When Macaulay, the manager, came home he was also bailed up. "What's
+the good of your sticking up the station?" he asked, "you've better
+horses than we have and anything else you require you can have without
+all this nonsense." Ned said he had a purpose. After some conversation,
+during which Macaulay said he had no intention of interfering with
+them, Macaulay was permitted to remain free, but was closely watched to
+prevent him from sending for the police. The bushrangers then searched
+Gloster's cart, selected suits of clothes for themselves, and made very
+free with the bottles of scent and other small articles.
+
+On the following day, the 11th December, 1878, Messrs. McDougal,
+Dudley, and Casement, in a spring cart, were about to pass through the
+gate over the level crossing of the railway, close to the station. Mr.
+Jennant, who was riding, dismounted to open the gate for the cart to
+pass through, when Ned Kelly, on horseback, cried "Surrender, or you
+will be shot." Another bushranger, Joe Byrnes, walked down quickly
+from the station to assist his mate if necessary. Mr. McDougal, taking
+them for troopers as they carried handcuffs in their hands, asked what
+right they had to arrest them in this manner, when Ned replied, "Shut
+up. I'll shoot you if you give me any cheek." "You wouldn't shoot an
+old man unarmed," exclaimed McDougal. "Not if you surrender quietly,"
+replied Ned. They said they surrendered, and Byrnes opened the gate and
+told them to drive to the homestead. As they came up a station hand who
+was standing at the store door said, "Gentlemen, allow me to introduce
+you to Mr. Edward Kelly." McDougal and his companions were not much
+surprised, as they had already begun to perceive that their captors
+were not troopers in plain clothes, as they had at first thought. The
+prisoners were taken into the store, the bushrangers telling them that
+the horses would be looked after.
+
+The store-room was a long wooden building situated about twenty
+yards from the house. It had only one door and one window, both near
+together, so that it could easily be guarded. With so many men confined
+in it the air soon became foul, and the prisoners were allowed to come
+out in small batches to obtain some fresh air. Only the men were locked
+up, the women being left free and were not molested in any way.
+
+At about three o'clock Ned Kelly asked Mr. Macaulay for a small cheque.
+Mr. Macaulay gave it to him. It was for £3. Joe Byrnes was left in
+charge of the station, while the others started away, Ned in Gloster's
+cart, Dan in McDougal's, and Hart on horseback. At about half-past
+four there was a knock at the door of the National Bank at Euroa,
+and when it was opened a man requested that a cheque might be cashed
+for him. The manager, Mr. Robert Scott, said it was after hours, and
+he could not open the bank again till morning. The man said it would
+inconvenience him greatly to have to call again, as he did not live in
+the town. He begged so hard that at length the manager consented to
+give him the money to oblige him. The manager opened the bank door,
+and as soon as they were inside the man said, "Put up your hands. I'm
+Ned Kelly." Taken by surprise, the manager was compelled to obey. The
+manager was forced to open the safe door and to hand over £1942 0s. 6d.
+in notes, gold, and silver, thirty-one ounces of smelted gold, five
+bags of cartridges, and two revolvers. There had been rumours that
+the Kellys intended to stick up a bank, and arms and ammunition had
+been sent from the head offices in Melbourne to most of the country
+branches. The National Bank at Euroa had been thus furnished, but in
+consequence of the cunning of the bushrangers the arms were useless.
+Mr. Scott had a loaded revolver on his table when Ned Kelly asked him
+to cash the cheque, but he was so unsuspicious of the character of his
+customer that he left it there when he went into the bank chamber.
+Having obtained all the money he could get Kelly turned to enter the
+private apartments, when Scott said, "If you go in there I'll strike
+you whatever the consequences may be." Steve Hart put his revolver to
+Scott's face and said "Keep back." Kelly laughed, and walked through
+the door. He went along the passage, and looked out of the back door
+into the yard. Then he returned and told Scott to go and put his
+horse into the buggy. "That's the work of the groom," said Scott,
+"but he happens to be away just now." "I'll do it myself," returned
+Ned, and went into the yard. When the horse was harnessed, Kelly said
+he was going to take the family out for a drive. He made Scott get
+into Gloster's cart, and Mrs. Scott and the child into the buggy. Dan
+Kelly and Hart came on behind. When they had gone out of the little
+street Scott asked Ned where they were going. "To Younghusband's," was
+the reply. "I'll drive," said Scott, "I know the road." "All right,"
+replied Ned, handing him the reins. "But if you try any pranks, look
+out." Ned Kelly treated Mrs. Scott with great politeness, so that she
+said that she could never believe he was the bloodthirsty villain he
+had been represented to be.
+
+The telegraph wires had been cut on each side of the station soon after
+their arrival, and while the main body of the robbers was gone to Euroa
+a train stopped close to the station to set down a line repairer named
+Watts. As the railway station was some distance away it was thought
+that the train had brought the police, and Byrnes prepared to defend
+himself. He shut all the men in the store, and charged them to keep
+quiet. When Watts came to the station to enquire how the break in the
+line had occurred and to obtain assistance Byrnes bailed him up, and
+told him that he could repair the line later on. Nothing of importance
+occurred after this until the return of Ned and his mates with the bank
+manager and the money.
+
+During their drive together Ned Kelly told Scott that he was---- sorry
+that Sergeant Kennedy had been shot. He was a brave man. "But," he
+added, "I couldn't help it. The police ought to surrender when they are
+called on." He showed Scott the presentation gold watch which had once
+belonged to Kennedy and which he had taken from the body "to remember
+him by."
+
+Soon after their return to the station they all had tea, Ned Kelly
+telling his prisoners that he would not detain them much longer. The
+meal was barely over when a train drew up opposite the station and
+whistled. Ned Kelly shouted "Hullo boys, here's a special with the----
+bobbies. We'll fight 'em. We're ready for 'em, however many there may
+be." The driver waited for a few minutes and then the train went out.
+It was soon ascertained that Watts, the line repairer, had arranged for
+the train to pick him up after he had had time to repair the break, but
+owing to his being shut up in the station store he had neither repaired
+the line nor been able to inform the engine driver of the reason of his
+non-success. At about half-past seven, the prisoners were mustered and
+told to remain in the store for three hours. Scott took out his watch
+and asked "Eleven?" "No," replied Ned, "half-past. If any one leaves
+before, I'll hear of it and make it---- hot for him. I'll track him
+down and shoot him dead. You can't escape me." Byrnes turned to Scott
+and said "That looks like a---- good watch. Let's see it." Scott handed
+him the watch and the robber put it in his pocket. This was a signal
+to the other bushrangers. One took Macaulay's watch, and another asked
+McDougal for his. McDougal took it from his pocket and said "I should
+be sorry to lose it. It is a keepsake from my dead mother." "Is it,"
+said Kelly, "then we'll not take it." Ned Kelly warned Macaulay that he
+held him responsible for the men. "If you let them go before the time,"
+he said, "I'll shoot you like a---- dingo the first time I see you."
+Shortly afterwards the bushrangers mounted their horses, which had been
+feeding in the stables during the time the station was held, and rode
+away. The men were released from the store but were kept at the station
+for about three hours. Mr. and Mrs. Scott returned to Euroa in their
+buggy and telegraphed the news of the robbery as soon as possible,
+which was not before the next morning. Gloster rode off to inform the
+police at the nearest town, and the information as to this daring
+outrage was spread about by others who had been robbed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+  The Kellys Stick up the Town of Jerilderie; Robbery of the Bank of
+  New South Wales; A Symposium in the Royal Hotel; A Three-days' Spree;
+  "Hurrah for the Good Old Times of Morgan and Ben Hall"; the Robbers
+  Take a Rest for a Year; The Kelly Sympathisers Again; The Kellys
+  Reappear; Murder of Aaron Sherritt.
+
+
+After the bank robbery the "gentlemen of the Strathbogie Ranges"
+again retired to their mountain fastnesses. Occasionally a paragraph
+in one of the local newspapers recorded the movements of the police
+or furnished a story about the black trackers, but these notices
+were necessarily very meagre, as the police declined to furnish any
+information as to their proceedings or intentions, because this would
+be of more use to the bushrangers than to any one else. For more than a
+month nothing reliable had been heard of them. Even the reports of the
+arrest and detention of numbers of "bush telegraphs" failed to attract
+any attention, and the Kelly gang had almost ceased to be spoken
+of, when suddenly the whole country was roused by the news that the
+bushrangers had stuck up the town of Jerilderie, in New South Wales.
+Jerilderie is situated on the Yanko Creek, not far from its junction
+with the Billabong, and at that time contained about 300 inhabitants,
+a bank, four public-houses, a post and telegraph office, and several
+churches, schools, and other buildings. The local police station
+and lock-up was near the outside of the town, and there were two
+officers--Constables Devine and Richards--stationed there. At midnight
+of February 8th, 1879, a man roused Constable Devine from his bed, and
+informed him that a row had taken place at Davidson's Hotel and a man
+had been killed. He exhorted the constable to "come quick." Constable
+Devine woke Constable Richards and both dressed as hastily as possible.
+When they came out they were confronted by Ned Kelly, revolver in
+hand, and ordered to "bail up." Not having their arms on them, and
+being taken completely by surprise, the two constables surrendered at
+once and were locked up in the cells. The bushrangers then compelled
+Mrs. Devine, who had also partially dressed, to hand over all arms
+and ammunition, and took possession of the lock-up, remaining quietly
+there till morning, their horses being placed in the police stables
+at the rear. It was Sunday morning, and as the Catholic church had
+not yet been finished, the court-house had been rented for religious
+purposes, and Mrs. Devine had been accustomed to clean up the place,
+set the temporary altar, and place the forms and chairs ready for mass.
+The bushrangers told her to perform her task as usual, after having
+extorted a promise from her that she would not mention their presence
+to any one, and to make certain of her keeping her word one of them,
+dressed as a constable, went with her to the court-house and stayed
+while she swept the floor and prepared the room. Then they returned to
+the lock-up, which was about one hundred yards from the court-house,
+and remained there all day, the bushrangers, arrayed in the constables'
+uniforms, sitting quietly in the guard-room. No doubt numbers of people
+passed and saw them, but no one had any suspicion that the bushrangers
+were in charge instead of the police.
+
+Early on Monday morning Byrnes took two horses to the blacksmith's
+shop to be shod, and the blacksmith, feeling some doubt as to the
+_bonâ-fides_ of the pseudo trooper, made a note of the brands on the
+horses. At about ten a.m. Ned and Dan Kelly, accompanied by Constable
+Richards, went to the Royal Hotel, the largest hotel in the town, where
+Richards formally introduced them to the proprietor, Mr. Cox. Ned
+informed Mr. Cox that he required the use of some rooms, as the gang
+intended sticking up the bank. He selected a large and a small room
+on the ground floor, near the bar, and conducted the few men about at
+the time into the large room, where they were ordered to remain until
+given permission to depart. Dan Kelly was placed on guard at the door
+to keep order and prevent anybody from escaping, and was instructed
+to shoot the first man who refused to do as he was told. On Mr. Cox
+passing his word, as a gentleman, not to mention their presence to any
+one who should come in, he was permitted to take charge of the bar as
+usual, and was given to understand that he would be held responsible
+for the discretion of the women and servants. Any one of them whom he
+could not trust was to be sent into the large room. The preliminaries
+were arranged so unostentatiously and quietly, that no rumour of the
+presence of the bushrangers had yet been heard, and as customers
+dropped into the hotel they were taken into the big room, and told to
+remain on penalty of death.
+
+Having made these arrangements, Ned Kelly walked into the hotel yard
+to reconnoitre. There was a detached kitchen here, and the rear of the
+bank of New South Wales was only a few yards from the rear of this
+kitchen. The bank faced on another street, and there was no dividing
+fence between the yard at the back of the bank and the hotel yard. Hart
+was placed on watch near the kitchen, while Byrnes entered the back
+door of the bank. Mr. Living, the teller, was in the bank chamber. He
+was not surprised to hear a man enter by the back door, as Mr. Cox
+and other customers frequently came in that way, it being a short cut
+from the hotel. Suddenly, however, Byrnes came to the counter, pointed
+a revolver at Living's head, and cried out, "I'm Kelly, keep quiet."
+Living held his hands above his head. "Where's your pistols?" asked
+Byrnes. "I've got none," replied Living. Byrnes then ordered Living
+and the accountant Mackie to "Come over to the hotel." They came from
+behind the counter and did as they were told, Byrnes following them.
+When they reached the door of the large room Dan Kelly inquired,
+"Where's Tarleton?" "In his room," replied Living. "Then go and fetch
+him and no---- nonsense," said Dan. Living went back to the bank,
+but being unable to find the manager in his rooms began to fear that
+something might have happened to him. He was about to return to the
+hotel to inform the Kellys that he could not find the manager, when he
+heard a splashing. He went to the bathroom and knocked. Tarleton had
+been for a forty-mile ride that morning, and had just returned and
+was having a wash. When he opened the door and was informed that the
+town was in possession of the Kelly gang, and the bank was stuck up,
+he laughed heartily, believing it to be a huge joke. Living assured
+him that it was not a laughing matter, but he was still incredulous.
+However, he dressed and went to the hotel, where he soon discovered
+that what he had deemed impossible had come to pass. The three bank
+officials were placed in the large room. Tarleton, who took a seat next
+to Constable Richards, whispered, "I can knock Hart down, shall I?"
+"What's the good?" replied the constable, "Dan Kelly's there, and he'd
+shoot you down at once."
+
+Ned Kelly had hitherto been walking round as a sort of
+inspector-general of the proceedings and giving orders. He now entered
+the room and ordered drinks to be served all round. Then he made a
+speech in which he blamed Constable Fitzpatrick for all that had
+occurred. "I wasn't within a hundred miles of Greta when he was shot,"
+said Ned, "and up to then I'd never killed a man in my life." He
+went on to say that he had stolen two hundred and eighty horses from
+Whitby's station, and had sold them at Baumgarten's. He took out a
+revolver and exclaimed: "This was Lonergan's! I took it from him. The
+gun I shot him with was a crooked, worn-out thing, not worth picking
+up. I shot him because he threatened my mother and my sister if they
+refused to tell where Ned Kelly was. The police are worse than the----
+black trackers. I came here to shoot Devine and Richards, and I'm
+going to do it." The men at the table began to intercede for Richards,
+who was sitting quietly among them and who did not speak, but Kelly
+exclaimed dramatically, "He must die."
+
+Ned got the key of the bank safe and took £1450 worth of notes and
+money from it. He also took £691 from the teller's drawers. While thus
+employed, Messrs. Gill, Hardie, and Rankin came in on business in the
+ordinary course and were ordered to bail up. They turned and ran. Ned
+Kelly followed and caught Rankin, but the others got away. Ned was
+furious at this escape. He said that news of their presence would be
+all over the place in a few minutes, and he swore he would shoot Rankin
+in revenge. He took Rankin to the hotel, stood him up against the wall
+in the passage and flourished his revolver about. The men in the room
+pleaded that Rankin might be spared, and urged that he could not have
+prevented Gill and Hardie from running away. While this was going on
+Byrnes came in with Mr. Hardie and said that they could not find Gill,
+the proprietor of the local newspaper, as he had not returned to his
+office. Ned Kelly then let Rankin go and declared that he would burn
+the newspaper office. Mr. Gill it is said went out of the town and hid
+in a clump of trees by the side of the river till evening. Ned then
+walked down to McDougall's Hotel and shouted for about thirty men who
+were in or about the hotel at the time. On his return to the Royal
+Hotel he was informed that Hart had robbed the Rev. Mr. Gribble of a
+gold watch. He called Hart up and asked indignantly, "What right has a
+thing like you to rob a clergyman?" He swore a good deal and compelled
+Hart to give the watch back. Complaints were made that he had stolen a
+new saddle and bridle from a saddler's shop, and some other articles
+from other places. Ned called him a ---- thief, and ordered him to
+return everything he had taken.
+
+Ned Kelly paid more than one visit to the Post and Telegraph Office
+to "see how things were going on." The robbers had cut the wires on
+either side of the town before their entry and had chopped down seven
+telegraph posts in the main street near the office. They had given
+orders to Mr. Jefferson, the telegraph master, that no repairs should
+be attempted until permission was given, and Ned took care that these
+orders were obeyed. The robbers held the town for three days, in
+imitation of the manner in which the Hall and Gilbert gang had held
+Canowindra. Jerilderie was at this time slightly larger than Canowindra
+at the time when it had been stuck up and held, but there was less
+traffic through it, and consequently less connection between it and the
+outer world than with Canowindra. The road running through Jerilderie
+leads from Conargo to Narrandera. Jerilderie is about thirty miles
+from Conargo and sixty-five from Narrandera. All round are huge sheep
+and cattle stations, with only a few men employed on them except at
+shearing or mustering time. All through the remainder of the year the
+traffic is inconsiderable. There was in Jerilderie, however, a large
+wool-washing and fellmongery establishment which employed a fair number
+of workmen. Canowindra, on the other hand, was a wayside town on the
+main road from Bathurst to Forbes, the traffic being considerable all
+the year round. There were also several small diggings settlements
+not far away, and the residents of these frequently came to purchase
+articles from the stores at Canowindra. It was far easier, therefore,
+to isolate Jerilderie for three days than it had been Canowindra in
+the earlier days of bushranging. The Hall and Gilbert gang also robbed
+everybody except the landlord of the hotel they took possession of.
+The Kellys, on the other hand, robbed no one outside of the bank.
+Jerilderie also was a much more compact town than Canowindra, the
+latter consisting of one long straggling street, with only a few houses
+outside this line, while Jerilderie had several cross streets, and at
+least two parallel with the river.
+
+The robbers held the town from midnight on Saturday, until about four
+p.m. on the Wednesday following. Shortly before the men were allowed to
+leave the Royal Hotel, Ned Kelly gave Living a paper which he said gave
+a history of his life, and the truth about what he had done. Living
+promised that he would do his best to get it published, and handed it
+to Mr. Gill, who read it and forwarded it to the Government. It was a
+long rambling statement, in some parts quite incoherent, and much of it
+false. It was never published. At about four o'clock Byrnes left the
+town in the direction of the Murray River. He was riding his own horse,
+and had the money stolen from the bank packed on one of the police
+horses, which he was leading. A minute or two later Dan Kelly and Steve
+Hart mounted their horses, and galloped several times up and down the
+main street, flourishing their revolvers and shouting, "Hurrah for the
+good old times of Morgan and Ben Hall." Then they left the town along
+the main road. Ned Kelly, mounted on his gray mare and leading a second
+police horse, left some minutes later. Before going, he rode from the
+police station to the Royal Hotel, and told the men detained in the
+large room there that they were free.
+
+The bushrangers had left the town by different routes, probably to
+prevent any information as to the road they had travelled from being
+furnished to the police, but no doubt they had arranged where they
+should meet outside at a safe distance. Late in the evening they rode
+up to Wannamurra station, about twenty-five miles from Jerilderie, when
+Ned Kelly asked Mr. A. Mackie whether his brother was at home yet? Mr.
+Mackie replied that he did not know. "I'm going to shoot him for giving
+horses to Living and Tarleton to ride to Deniliquin for the traps,"
+said Ned. They all went to the station together, but evidence was soon
+brought forward to prove that the bank employés had not obtained horses
+from Mr. Mackie, and at length Ned exonerated that gentleman for what
+he called "his treachery," but forcibly expressed his intention of
+shooting Living. "I gave him back his life policy," he said, "and I
+only burned two or three of the bank books instead of the lot to oblige
+him. He asked for them, and I treated him as fair as I could, and now
+he takes advantage of my kindness to betray me." He walked up and down
+on the verandah of the house for several minutes swearing at Living,
+and more than once said he had a good mind to go back and "settle him"
+at once. His rage, however, soon subsided, and the gang proceeded on
+their way, no attempt being made to detain them.
+
+Jerilderie lies about one hundred and fifty miles, as the crow flies,
+from where the bushrangers were supposed to have been hidden, in
+the Strathbogie Mountains, and when the news of the bank robbery
+at Jerilderie was telegraphed all over the country, wonder was
+everywhere expressed as to how the robbers had crossed this country,
+some of it thickly populated, without being perceived. The skill with
+which the robbery had been planned, the boldness and completeness
+of the arrangements, and the apparent ease with which it had been
+accomplished, made the Kelly gang the principal topic of conversation.
+The New South Wales Government issued a proclamation declaring Ned and
+Dan Kelly, Joe Byrnes, and Steve Hart outlaws, and offered a reward of
+£3000 for their capture, dead or alive. The associated banks of the
+colony supplemented this reward by another of £1000. The Victorian
+Government increased the rewards already offered to the same amount
+as was offered by the New South Wales Government, while the banks in
+that colony added another £1000; thus making the total reward offered
+for the capture of the four members of the gang £8000. Two thousand
+pounds per man was the highest reward ever offered for the capture of
+bushrangers in Australia.
+
+For some time the police of New South Wales scoured the country round
+Jerilderie and the plains between that town and the Victorian border,
+while the Victorian police were quite as active on their side of the
+Murray River, until at length it was definitely ascertained that the
+bushrangers were safe back in their mountain fastnesses. The paragraphs
+published from time to time in the Beechworth, the Benalla, and the
+Wangaratta papers, and in local papers even further removed from the
+home of the Kellys, tend to show that although the black boys failed to
+follow a trail in the mountains with the certainty and skill displayed
+by them in leveller country, they still kept the outlaws in a continual
+state of fear of capture. Ned Kelly is reported to have called them
+"those six little black devils," and to have sworn to shoot them if
+ever he "got the chance." "Those---- trackers," he cried, "I'd like
+to shoot 'em. They're no ---- good in this country. They can't track
+in Victoria. I can track as well as they can out on the plains. I
+can run an emu's trail for miles as well as them. They may be good
+in Queensland or the plains, but they're no good in the mountains."
+Nevertheless they worried him, as his frequent complaints of their
+activity prove. The district was no doubt a difficult one to track in.
+None but a first-class horseman could ride through it with any degree
+of certainty, and no one but an aborigine or a white man born in the
+district could cross the ravines and gullies without getting hopelessly
+"bushed," without a guide.
+
+The arrests and detentions of Kelly's sympathisers continued with
+increased vigour. "Wild" Wright and his brother Tom, relatives of the
+Kellys, Frank Hart, brother of the bushranger, the Lloyds and others,
+passed a considerable portion of their time in the cells of the various
+lock-ups around the district. Robert Miller was arrested and detained
+because his daughter, a daring horsewoman, was observed to go into
+the mountains at night with what were supposed to be provisions for
+the bushrangers. She was followed more than once, but contrived to
+elude her pursuers by plunging up or down a steep mountain, or across
+an almost impassable gully. She never started twice in the same
+track, sometimes going up one spur or ravine, and next time choosing
+a different one, and leading even the black trackers astray. The
+newspapers frequently urged the folly of detaining the father while the
+daughter was left free to furnish the outlaws with food and news. The
+plain fact is, that when special laws have to be applied, there should
+be no exceptions; otherwise they are valueless. In this case the women
+were far more active and reliable partisans of the Kellys than the men,
+and, as there can be little doubt that the Outlawry Act was strained,
+to put it mildly, by the police and the local magistracy, with the
+connivance of the Government, another turn of the screw would not have
+made the actions of the authorities any more illegal, and might have
+made them efficient. However, determined as the authorities were to
+stamp out lawlessness, they did not carry their own illegal acts to
+this extreme point, and probably this postponed, though it did not
+prevent, the end which was inevitable, as it always must be when a few
+array themselves against an overwhelming majority.
+
+It was about this time that the name of Aaron Sherritt was first heard
+of in connection with the bushrangers. Sherritt was the son of an
+ex-policeman. He was about twenty-four years of age and had settled in
+the district some time earlier. He selected one hundred and seven acres
+of ground on the Woolshed Creek, and the Kellys and Byrnes helped him
+to fence it in and clear part of it. He had, however, recently sold
+his farm to a Mr. Crawford, of Melbourne, and had built himself a hut
+at Sebastopol, about two miles away, until he could take up another
+selection. He was engaged to be married to a sister of Joe Byrnes, and
+was regarded as one of the family. He was suspected of having taken a
+share in some of the extensive horse-stealing raids in company with
+the Kellys and their friends, and had been in consequence an object of
+police suspicion and supervision. This was the man to whom the police
+made advances, and, by promising him the whole of the eight thousand
+pounds reward offered for the capture of the bushrangers, on condition
+that it should be through his aid and assistance that this capture was
+effected, they succeeded in winning him over to their side. He led
+Superintendent Hare and a party of police into the innermost recesses
+of the mountains, and pointed out several camps where the bushrangers
+had been; but, in each case, the bushrangers appeared to have received
+warning and to have removed before the police came. Some thought that
+Sherritt was playing a double game, and that he contrived to let the
+bushrangers know when the police might be expected to arrive, but there
+appears to be no foundation for this opinion, as it delayed his chance
+of obtaining the reward. At first he was careful not to be seen in
+company with the police, but their association could not be kept secret
+for long, and Sherritt soon became suspected by the Kelly family. One
+day Mrs. Byrnes openly accused him of trying to betray her son. There
+was a row, and Sherritt was ordered from the house, his engagement with
+the daughter being broken off. After that Sherritt appeared more openly
+in company of the police, parties of whom were constantly watching the
+homes of the four bushrangers on the chance of capturing them should
+they visit their parents or other relatives. Sherritt married the
+daughter of another settler in the district, and all communications
+between him and the families of the bushrangers were broken off.
+Sherritt instead of being a friend was considered an enemy of the
+bushrangers.
+
+During the latter half of 1879 and the first half of 1880 nothing of
+any importance was heard as to the movements of the bushrangers. More
+than once it was reported that they had left the country, sometimes it
+was said for New Zealand, and at other times for America, but these
+reports were invariably contradicted within a few days, and the Kellys
+were said to be still somewhere in the ranges. Sometimes it was said
+that the money stolen from the Jerilderie Bank must be all expended,
+and that the Kellys would be forced to leave their hiding-place
+shortly, but frequently, during the twelvemonths following that raid,
+nothing would be heard of the bushrangers for weeks, and the public
+almost forgot that there was such a gang in existence. Then suddenly
+came the news that the robbers had shot Aaron Sherritt on June 27th,
+1880.
+
+For some weeks a party of police had been secreted, as much as
+possible, in Sherritt's house, for the purpose of watching Byrne's
+mother's house, and four of them were quietly sitting in the inner
+room at the time of the murder. The particulars of the murder were
+as follows:--A German market-gardener named Antoine Weeks was living
+on the Woolshed Creek, not far from Sherritt's and Byrnes's houses.
+He was walking home on the evening of the day mentioned when he was
+met by Dan Kelly and Joe Byrnes. "Do you know who we are?" asked Dan.
+"No," replied Weeks. "Well, we're the Kellys," said Dan; "you do as we
+tell you and no harm will come to you." They handcuffed the German,
+and led him along the road to Sherritt's house. Here Dan told him to
+shout "Aaron." Weeks did so, and on Aaron Sherritt coming to the door
+to ascertain who wanted him, Byrnes shot him dead without a word. The
+bushrangers took the handcuffs off of Weeks and told him to go home.
+Then they went to the door of the hut, called Mrs. Sherritt out, and
+told her that she had better send some of the---- traps in her house
+out to bury her husband, because "We've shot him for being a traitor."
+The Kellys were fully aware that the police were in the house, and
+called on them to come out and "fight like men." If the constables
+had come out as invited they would have been courting almost certain
+death. A bright wood fire was burning in the hut and the front room
+was as bright as day, while all outside was as dark as possible. Had
+the police therefore left the shelter of the inner room and entered
+the front apartment they would have been shot down before they could
+have seen their enemies, whose whereabouts could only have been guessed
+at from their shots or from the flash of their revolvers. Going to
+the door under these conditions would have been almost tantamount to
+committing suicide. The bushrangers raged round the hut calling the
+police the most opprobious names and threatening and taunting them in
+hopes of inducing them to come into the light, but as the police kept
+quiet and made no reply whatever to their taunts the bushrangers swore
+that they would "burn 'em like rats in a trap." They fired through the
+windows and doors, but they appear to have been just as unwilling to
+enter the lighted room as the police were. In fact neither party would
+give the other a chance. The robbers remained round the hut at this
+labour of hate until two a.m., when they departed. At daybreak one of
+the troopers went to where the horses were kept, and rode to Benalla
+to give information of the reappearance of the Kellys, while the other
+three followed on the tracks of the outlaws.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+  Fight Between the Police and the Bushrangers at Glenrowan; The
+  Railway Torn Up; Attempt to Wreck the Police Train; The Glenrowan Inn
+  Besieged; Ned Kelly in Armour; His Capture; The Burning of the Inn;
+  Deaths of Dan Kelly, Steve Hart, and Joe Byrnes; Trial and Conviction
+  of Ned Kelly; His Death; The Kelly Show; Decrease of Crime in the
+  Colonies.
+
+
+As soon as the news of this fresh outrage was telegraphed to Melbourne,
+Sub-inspector O'Connor of Queensland, with his six black trackers, with
+Superintendent Hare, Inspector Pewtress, and several other officials
+of the Victorian police, a number of newspaper correspondents, and a
+few other favoured persons, started by special train for the scene of
+disorder. Eight troopers were picked up at Benalla, and at twenty-five
+minutes past three p.m. the train was stopped near the Glenrowan
+platform by Mr. Curnow, the local schoolmaster, who stood on the line
+waving a red scarf. He informed those on the train that the robbers had
+torn up the rails a short distance ahead, with a view to wrecking the
+train, and that they were waiting near to shoot the police or any one
+else who might be sent to capture them. A consultation was immediately
+held to decide as to the next step, and while this was going on,
+Constable Bracken, the local representative of the police force,
+arrived and reported that the bushrangers had taken possession of the
+Glenrowan Inn, not much more than a hundred yards distant, and that he
+had just made his escape from them.
+
+The Glenrowan Inn was built on the Sydney Road, about half-way between
+Winton and Wangaratta, shortly after the discovery of gold at the Ovens
+River, in 1853. The glen was then a camping-place for teams travelling
+between Melbourne and the diggings. A second hotel was constructed
+later, and a small village, or what the Australians call a township,
+grew up on the little flat at the gap in the hills, locally known as
+the Futter's Range, a spur jutting out from the larger Strathbogie
+Range. For some years Glenrowan was quite a flourishing little town,
+the traffic to the diggings being large. But when the Great Northern
+Railway was opened in 1873 the village began to dwindle away. The
+railway carried the trade past it to the more conveniently situated
+and larger towns on either side, and consequently the population left
+for these towns. The two hotels remained, and there was also a store,
+a blacksmith's shop, and a few other houses, and these depended for
+their support on the fruit growers, market gardeners, and farmers who
+cultivated the rich alluvial flats with which the lower spurs of the
+mountains are interspersed. The railway platform had been constructed
+by the Government to accommodate the trade in fruit, vegetables, and
+other produce which formed the staple industry of the district in 1880.
+
+The Glenrowan Inn was a long, low, weather-board building, with a wide
+verandah along the front. It stood some distance back from the road,
+with a large trough hewn from the stem of a tree in front for horses
+and bullocks to drink from. Near this was a sign-board with the names
+of the hotel and the proprietor on it thus:--
+
+[Illustration:
+
+ THE GLENROWAN INN
+ ANN JONES
+ BEST ACCOMMODATION.
+]
+
+The robbers, it appears, did not go very far when they left Sherritt's
+hut. They were aware that, when the news of the murder reached
+Melbourne and other centres, an attempt would be made to follow them,
+and they seem to have made up their minds to a final effort to conquer
+the police force of the colony. They went to the camp of the line
+repairers and roused them up. James Reardon, on coming out of his hut,
+was ordered to get his tools, as the robbers were determined to rip up
+the line and wreck the train which they expected to arrive. Reardon
+at first refused, but on being threatened with death he gave in. He
+said that the tools were locked up and that he could not get them
+till morning, but he was told that the chest would soon be broken.
+His mate, Sullivan, was also secured, and at length they agreed to do
+as they were told. They went to a bend in the road, a short distance
+north of the platform, being under the impression that the train would
+arrive from Wangaratta or Beechworth. They ripped up a number of the
+rails and piled them across the track. Then they marched Reardon
+and his wife and child and Sullivan to the Glenrowan Inn, and took
+possession. They collected sixty-two people in the township, including
+Mr. John Stanistreet, the station-master, and escorted them to the
+hotel. Among the prisoners also was Constable Bracken. Ned Kelly walked
+about telling the people that the train would "soon be here" from
+Rushworth with the black trackers and "a lot of other---- and we're
+going to kill the lot." There was some confusion owing to the fears
+of the women and children, and while the bushrangers were engaged in
+restoring order, Constable Bracken contrived to get hold of the key
+of the front door. He watched for an opportunity, opened the door and
+ran out. He reported that three of the troopers who had been hidden
+in Sherritt's hut had followed the bushrangers, and had watched all
+their proceedings, but they had not ventured to attack them, as their
+ammunition was short, and they were not strong enough. Presently a
+man came out on to the verandah, and the police, recognising him as
+Ned Kelly, fired a volley. Ned laughed, and shouted "Shoot away, you
+----, you can't hurt us." At this juncture Mr. Stanistreet came out of
+the house, and walked from the hotel to where the police were, at the
+imminent risk of being shot, as he was between the two firing parties.
+He escaped, however, and reported that Miss Jones, aged fourteen, and
+several other of the prisoners in the hotel had been wounded by the
+police fire, but none of the bushrangers had been hurt. Superintendent
+Hare had also been severely wounded by the bushrangers, the bullet
+having shattered the bones of his wrist. He was taken to the railway
+station-master's house and attended to. At about five p.m. Mrs. Jones,
+the landlady of the hotel, appeared on the verandah, wringing her
+hands and weeping. She called the police murderers, and said that
+her son had been killed and her daughter wounded. The police ceased
+firing, and the boy was brought out. He was still alive, and was sent
+off at once to the Wangaratta Hospital, where he died next day. An
+old man named Martin Cherry was also said to have been killed. Mrs.
+Jones and her children and servants, and the men and women who had
+been made prisoners by the bushrangers, left the hotel after dark
+during a truce, and firing was then kept up during the night. About
+daybreak another party of troopers arrived from Benalla, Wangaratta,
+and Beechworth, making the attacking party about thirty strong. There
+was a lull in the firing for a time, while the newly-arrived men were
+being placed in positions, when suddenly a revolving rifle and a cap
+known to have belonged to Ned Kelly were found a hundred yards from
+the hotel at the rear of the attacking party. The rifle was stained
+with blood. The police were still discussing this find and speculating
+how the articles could have got there when they were fired at from
+behind a tree. The next moment an extraordinary figure marched across
+the space between two trees. The figure looked like a tall, stout
+man, with a nail can over his head. Sergeant Steel, Constable Kelly,
+and Railway-guard Dowsett fired at it simultaneously, but the bullets
+appeared to rebound from the body of the figure. Steel then fired
+at the legs, and at the second shot Ned Kelly, for he it was, fell,
+crying out "I'm done for." The police rushed forward, but Kelly raised
+himself on his elbow and fired, howling like a wild beast and declaring
+that they should never take him alive. He continued shooting, but the
+bullets "went wild," owing, perhaps, to his weakening through loss of
+blood, and he was soon grappled with and handcuffed. The armour worn
+by Ned is said to have been made from stolen plough-shares by a local
+blacksmith. It consisted of a helmet shaped like a nail can and coming
+down to the shoulders, with a slit in it to enable the wearer to see;
+and a breastplate, very long, with shoulder plates and back guard.
+The steel averaged nearly a quarter of an inch in thickness, and the
+weight of the suit worn by Ned Kelly was ninety-seven pounds. The
+breastplate showed several dints where it had been struck by bullets,
+but it had not been pierced. Ned had, however, received two wounds in
+the groin, and one each in the left foot, right leg, right hand, and
+right arm. He was immediately removed to a safe distance, and placed
+under medical care. Notwithstanding the loss of one of their small
+number, the bushrangers kept up a brisk fire from the hotel. At one
+time a report was circulated that Joe Byrnes had been shot dead while
+drinking a glass of brandy in the bar, but as there was no apparent
+slackening in the fire this was discredited. At three p.m. Constable
+Charles Johnson, under cover of a volley from the besiegers, rushed
+up to the side of the hotel with a huge bundle of straw, which he
+placed in position and set fire to. The straw blazed up famously, but
+soon died out, and the spectators, of whom there was a goodly number,
+pronounced the attempt to fire the building a failure. It was at this
+time that Mrs. Skillian, a sister of the Kellys, rode up, dressed
+in a well-made black cloth riding habit and a Gainsborough hat. She
+advanced boldly towards the hotel, but was stopped by the police, and
+warned of the danger she was courting. She replied that she was not
+afraid, but she desired to persuade her brother Dan to surrender. A
+consultation was held as to whether she should be permitted to try,
+but before a decision was arrived at the flames burst out of the roof
+of the building. It may be as well to explain here that the wood of
+the district is principally stringy bark, and that the timber of these
+trees will not burn. It seems probable, therefore, that when the straw
+was ignited against the wall of the building, the calico sheeting, with
+which the rooms were lined and ceiled, caught fire and burned, while
+the stringy bark weather boards resisted the flames and only charred
+through slowly. However this may be, the furniture and other fittings
+burned fiercely, and the whole building was in a blaze. At this time
+the Rev. Father M. Gibney, a Roman Catholic priest from Perth, Western
+Australia, who was on a visit to the Benalla district at the time,
+walked up to the front door holding his crucifix in his hand. He was
+followed by a number of the police. When they entered the front door
+they saw the body of Joe Byrnes lying in the bar, in such a position
+as to make it probable that the report which had been spread as to his
+death had been true. The body was dragged out slightly scorched. Dan
+Kelly and Steve Hart were found dead in a small parlour off the bar.
+From the position in which they were lying it was conjectured that
+they had either committed suicide or that they had simultaneously shot
+each other. But there was no time to decide whether either or which
+of these conjectures were true. As Father Gibney was about to stoop
+down to examine the bodies, a gust of wind swept the flames towards
+him and compelled him to retire. The building was thoroughly alight at
+last, and the priest and the police and others who had entered were
+forced out by the fierce heat. In a very short time afterwards the
+house collapsed, and nothing was left but a heap of ashes, the sign
+post and trough in front, and the detached kitchen at the rear. In this
+kitchen was found old Martin Cherry, severely wounded. He was carried
+out and placed under the doctor's care, but died before night. Close
+beside the kitchen was the body of a dog, which had been wounded by the
+attacking party and had crawled between the two buildings to die. Some
+time before the attempt to fire the building had been made, a telegram
+had been sent to Melbourne to ask for a small cannon to blow the house
+down with. Now a telegram was sent to say that it was not required.
+Consequently the 12-pounder Armstrong gun with the requisite number of
+men of the Garrison Artillery which had been sent off by special train
+were stopped at Seymour and sent back. When the fire had burned down
+sufficiently for an examination to be made, the two mounds of ashes
+which were all that remained of Dan Kelly and Steve Hart were given to
+Mrs. Skillian for burial, while the body of Joe Byrnes was reserved for
+an inquest to be held. Two other suits of armour, similar to that worn
+by Ned Kelly, were found, the lightest being ninety-two pounds. During
+the fight "Wild" Wright, Tom Wright, Frank Hart, Kate Kelly, several
+of the Lloyds and the Byrneses, and other relations and friends of the
+bushrangers, had been stationed on a ridge a short distance away to
+see the fun. There was also a large number of other and perhaps more
+disinterested spectators, some of them from Melbourne or Beechworth, or
+other even more distant localities. After the inquest the body of Joe
+Byrnes was given to his friends for burial. Ned Kelly soon recovered
+from his wounds and was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death
+for the murder of Sergeant Kennedy. In conversations with Inspector
+Sadlier and other police officials before his trial, he said that
+the bushrangers had known of every movement of the police. They were
+aware that the police had been hiding in Sherritt's hut for more than
+a week, hoping to catch Joe if he visited his mother. The police had
+no right to stop a man from going to see his mother. When the special
+train arrived the intention of the bushrangers had been to rake it with
+shots as soon as it reached the place where the rails had been removed.
+"But," exclaimed Sadlier, "you would have killed all the people in the
+train." "Yes, of course, God help them," replied Ned, "they'd have got
+shot, but wouldn't they have shot me if they could?" He said that Steve
+Hart had visited his mother at Wangaratta, and "didn't we laugh when we
+saw it in the _Wangaratta News_ afterwards. It was true, too, though
+the police didn't believe it." He also said that he had been told
+that after the sticking up of the banks at Euroa and Jerilderie, all
+the branch banks in Victoria sent their receipts to Melbourne almost
+daily. They were not going to stick up any more banks. It wasn't worth
+it. What they had intended to do was to stick up a railway train, and
+they'd have done it, "only those little black devils were always about."
+
+On November the 5th, a mass meeting was held in the Hippodrome, in
+Stephen's Street, Melbourne, with Mr. Hamilton, President of the
+Society for the Abolition of Capital Punishment, in the chair. The
+principal speaker was Mr. David Gaunson, M.L.A., and a resolution was
+unanimously carried to the effect that the case of Edward Kelly was
+a fit one for the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy. The
+_Melbourne Argus_ said that "those present belonged to the larrikin
+classes," but the attendance was estimated at 4000 persons (including
+300 women) inside the building, and about 2000 outside who could not
+obtain admittance. Similar meetings were also held in Ballarat,
+Bendigo, Geelong, and other towns, but these efforts were of no avail,
+and Ned Kelly, "the last of the bushrangers," was hung in the Melbourne
+gaol, on November 11th, 1880.
+
+Within a few days afterwards, a show was opened in Melbourne, with Kate
+Kelly, one of the sisters of the dead bushrangers, "mounted on Ned
+Kelly's celebrated grey mare." A suit of the armour used in the last
+great fight at Glenrowan, several guns, pistols, and revolvers alleged
+to have been used in the various raids committed by the bushrangers,
+some handcuffs and other articles which had belonged to, or were
+used by them, were exhibited, and some particulars of their careers
+were given in the form of a lecture, but the police authorities soon
+interfered and the show was closed. It was re-opened in Sydney, but was
+suppressed there as "tending towards immorality" almost immediately,
+and the Kellys returned to the obscurity of private life.
+
+Thus ended the last act in the great tragedy which had supplied almost
+the only feature of romance to Australian history. Bushranging had been
+spoken of as "the national crime of Australia," but, as I have shown,
+there was very little bushranging outside the three colonies--New
+South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, and Victoria. It was rather an
+excrescence on, than a development of, Australian character. It has
+been estimated that the bushrangers in the colonies from the date
+of the great outbreak inaugurated by Frank Gardiner in 1861, to the
+death of Ned Kelly, with their more active partisans, never exceeded
+300 persons, and the story of their exploits shows how even so small
+a party can disturb a whole country when the rebels are reckless and
+determined. It may be said in conclusion, that crime has steadily
+decreased in Australia from the cessation of transportation. At first,
+while the gold fever raged, the improvement was very slight, but from
+the date when the population settled down to steady work the criminal
+statistics, which are very complete in the colonies, show a steady
+diminution in crimes against the person or property. There was an
+increase in the years during which the Ben Hall and Gilbert gang, and
+their imitators in New South Wales, Victoria and New Zealand, were most
+active, but even this did not materially affect the general result,
+and was speedily compensated for after the death of Thunderbolt and the
+capture of Power. In this last epoch of bushranging the Moonlite and
+Kelly gangs arrested the movement to some degree, but far less sympathy
+was exhibited with them than in the earlier epoch, and their deeds did
+not inspire so many young men with the desire to go and do likewise, as
+those of Hall and Gilbert had done. In fact, bushranging had ceased to
+be popular, so that the retrogression was small in comparison. Since
+then numbers of gaols have been closed or converted to other uses.
+There was a time when every little town in New South Wales had its
+gaol. Now many of these gaols have been converted into factories or
+stores, or are used for municipal or other purposes. In Victoria the
+gaols were fewer but larger, and several of these have been closed,
+while others once full are now almost empty. A similar story might
+be told of each of the other colonies of the Australasian group, and
+Australia as a whole compares favourably with other civilised countries
+in criminal matters. What the Irishman calls "the bad drop" in the
+blood of the country has been purged away by the most drastic remedies,
+and it is extremely improbable that there will ever again be a Frank
+Gardiner or a Ned Kelly to incite the young and thoughtless to deeds of
+violence.
+
+
+_THE END._
+
+
+
+
+INDEX.
+
+
+  Allerton, Benjamin, 195, 196
+
+  Anderson, James, 155
+
+  Anderson, see Beveridge, John
+
+  Armytage, 117, 118
+
+  Atkins, William, 165
+
+  Atterill, James, alias Thomson, 111-113
+
+
+  Baker, John, 306
+
+  Baldwin, James, 274
+
+  Bankes, Anthony, 111-113
+
+  Barry, 163
+
+  Baylie, John, 145, 146
+
+  Beavors, George, alias Berry, 108-110
+
+  Bennett, alias Wyndham, see Gough, Charles Hugh
+
+  Bennett, Graham, 349
+
+  Bermingham, George, 229
+
+  Berry, James, 79, 80
+
+  Berryman, Thomas, 278
+
+  Bertram, William, 306, 315
+
+  Beveridge, John, alias Anderson, 106, 107
+
+  Billy from the Den, see Jenkins, Henry
+
+  Bird, 44
+
+  Birkett, Moses, 186
+
+  Black Jack, 24
+
+  Black Mary, 19
+
+  Blue Cap, see Cotterall, Robert
+
+  Bodenham, Thomas, 33-35
+
+  Bollard, John, 306, 313
+
+  Booth, James, 298
+
+  Booth, John, 130
+
+  Boulton, John, 167-169
+
+  Bourke, Robert, 316
+
+  Bowe, Charles, 145, 146
+
+  Bow, John, 202-204, 256, 276, 313
+
+  Boyd, 57, 58
+
+  Boyd, James, alias McGrath, 296, 312
+
+  Brace, Emanuel, 56, 57
+
+  Brady, Mathew, 44-47, 71, 82, 353
+
+  Brannagan, Francis, 155
+
+  Brennan, see Smith, Henry
+
+  Brennan, Stephen, 123
+
+  Britton, Frederick, 207
+
+  Brookman, William, 282, 312-314
+
+  Broomfield, James, 114
+
+  Broughton, 41
+
+  Brown, 47
+
+  Brown, Harry, 274
+
+  Brown, James, 33-35, 39
+
+  Brown, William, 155
+
+  Brownlow, John, 206
+
+  Bryan, William, 166
+
+  Bryant, James, 41-47
+
+  Bryant, James, 87
+
+  Bryant, Richard, 154, 155, 158
+
+  Bull, 57, 58
+
+  Bullfrog, Jacky, 199
+
+  Burgess, Richard H., alias Miller, 327-332
+
+  Burke, 221-225, 276
+
+  Burns, John, 41
+
+  Burrow, Arthur, 166
+
+  Byrnes, Joe, 360-382
+
+
+  Campbell, Robert, 286
+
+  Captain Melville, see McCallum, Frank, alias Smith
+
+  Captain Moonlite, see Scott, George
+
+  Captain Thunderbolt, see Ward, Frederick
+
+  "Carrots," 29
+
+  Cash, Martin, 118-123, 130
+
+  Cashan, alias Nowlan, 99-101
+
+  Charters, Daniel, 202-204, 333
+
+  Cheetham, 37
+
+  Chesley, John, 155
+
+  Chinese Bushranger, The, 293
+
+  Chitty, Robert, 87
+
+  Christie, see Gardiner, Frank
+
+  Clarke, 294
+
+  Clarke, James, 269-270
+
+  Clarke, John, 269-276, 317, 355
+
+  Clarke, Samuel, 312
+
+  Clarke, Thomas, 269-276, 317, 355
+
+  Clayton, 239
+
+  Clayton, Thomas, 173-176
+
+  Clegg, James, 173-176
+
+  Connell, Morris, 48
+
+  Connell, Patrick, 270, 276
+
+  Connell, Tom, 270, 276
+
+  Connelly, Patrick, 41
+
+  Connors, John, 298
+
+  Conway, John, 115-117
+
+  Cooper, Patrick, 173-176
+
+  Cornelius, Bill, alias Kenelly, 33-35, 39
+
+  Cotterall, Robert, alias Blue Cap, 286, 312
+
+  Cowan, or Cohen, 45, 46
+
+  Cox, Thomas, 37, 38
+
+  Coxen's Tom, see Long Tom
+
+  Crawford, James, 41, 46
+
+  Crookwell, James, 232, 279
+
+  Crumsden, George, 123
+
+  Cummings, 281
+
+  Cunningham, Thomas, alias Smith, 274, 313
+
+  Curran, Paddy, 71-73, 78, 79, 80
+
+
+  Dalton, 185
+
+  Dalton, Alexander, 33-34, 39
+
+  Dalton, James, 121, 122
+
+  Daly, Patrick or Patsy, 213, 214
+
+  Dargue, Henry, 313
+
+  Dargue, Thomas, 313
+
+  Davis, 200, 276
+
+  Davis, Bill, 37
+
+  Davis, George James, alias Huntley, 106, 107
+
+  Davis, Joseph, 173-176
+
+  Davis, Michael Henry, 195
+
+  Davis, Teddy or Edward, The Jewboy, 71, 82-88, 353
+
+  Davis, William, 111-113
+
+  Dermoodie, 344
+
+  Dido, see Driscoll, Timothy or William
+
+  Dobson, 307
+
+  Donnelly, 294
+
+  Donohoe, Johnny, 55
+
+  Donovan, Daniel, 155
+
+  Donovan, John, 145
+
+  Douglass, John, 166
+
+  Downes, John, 41
+
+  Downey, James, 199
+
+  Driscoll, Timothy or William, alias Dido, 182-184
+
+  Duncan, James, 143
+
+  Duncan, William, 129, 130
+
+  Dunkley, see Willis, William
+
+  Dunleavy, John, 239-241, 276
+
+  Dunleavy, see Lynch, John
+
+  Dunn, Johnny, 241-256, 276, 304
+
+  Dunne, 41, 42, 44, 47
+
+  Dunne, William, 228
+
+
+  Edwards, William, 160
+
+  Egan, John, 281
+
+  Ehrstein, Aaron von, 195
+
+  Ellis, John, alias Yanky Jack, 96-99
+
+  Ellison, George, 161
+
+  Eumarrah, 30
+
+  Eureka Gang, The, 145, 146
+
+  Everett, John, 87
+
+
+  Farrell, Christopher, 140
+
+  Farrer, Abraham, 129, 130
+
+  Finegan, John, 145, 146
+
+  Fitzgerald, Patrick, alias Paddy Wandong, 282
+
+  Fletcher, John, 117
+
+  Fletcher, William, 270
+
+  Fogarty, Young, 96-99
+
+  Foley, Charles, 206
+
+  Foley, Francis, 217
+
+  Foley, John, 212, 216, 217, 276
+
+  Foley, Timothy, 217
+
+  Foran, John, 282, 313
+
+  Foran, Patrick, 298
+
+  Ford, Henry, 180
+
+  Ford, John, 278
+
+  Fordyce, Alexander, 202-204, 256, 276, 312
+
+  Forster, John, 236
+
+
+  Gardiner, Frank, alias Christie, 193-204, 212, 254-257, 269, 271, 276,
+  304, 311-314, 316, 335, 353, 355, 384, 385
+
+  Gardner, John, 129, 130
+
+  Garrett, Henry Beresford, 167-169, 327
+
+  Garroway, William, 166
+
+  German Bill, 259, 274
+
+  Gilbert, Johnny, alias Roberts, 205, 212, 217-253, 256-258, 269, 271,
+  276, 304, 326, 337, 339, 369, 384, 385
+
+  "Ginger," 173-176
+
+  Glanvill, Richard, 87
+
+  Goldman, 141
+
+  Goodison, Christopher, 165
+
+  Gordon, 276
+
+  Gordon, Richard, 181
+
+  Gorman, Thomas, 350
+
+  Gough, Charles Hugh, alias Wyndham, alias Bennett, 274, 313
+
+  Green, 95
+
+  Greenhill, Bob, 33-38
+
+  Gregory, 47
+
+  Griffiths, Dennis, 173-176
+
+  Griffiths, George, 115
+
+  Griffiths, John, 41
+
+  Gunn, John, 115
+
+  Gunn, William, 91
+
+
+  Hall, 59
+
+  Hall, Ben, 217, 221-253, 256-258, 269, 271, 276, 304, 337, 339, 370,
+  384, 385
+
+  Hammond, James, 160
+
+  Hampton, Thomas, 298
+
+  Hanslip, George, 170
+
+  Harrison, Samuel, 115
+
+  Hart, Steve, 360-382
+
+  Hath, see Hitchcock Anthony
+
+  Healy, John, 207
+
+  Heather, 208, 209
+
+  Herbert, William, see Jones, Charles
+
+  Hickson, 186
+
+  Hill, James, 233
+
+  Hitchcock, Anthony, alias Hath, 51-53
+
+  Hobbs, William, alias Hoppy Bill, 350
+
+  Hodgetts, 47
+
+  Hogan, 117, 118
+
+  Hopkins, 40, 41, 47
+
+  Hopkins, Jonas, 114
+
+  Horne, Joseph, 306
+
+  Houlihan, Michael, 130
+
+  Howe, Mike, 19-21, 82, 353
+
+  Huntley, see Davis, George James
+
+  Hurn, Thomas, 115
+
+  Hutchinson, William, 90
+
+
+  Jackey, Bullfrog, see Bullfrog
+
+  Jackey, Jackey, the Gentleman Bushranger, see Westwood, William
+
+  Jack, Muck, see Stanton Patrick
+
+  Jackson, James, 86
+
+  Jackson, John, 129, 130
+
+  Jack the Lagger, see Jones, John
+
+  Jack the Rammer, 57, 58
+
+  James, John, alias Johnston, 142, 143
+
+  Jamieson, George, 182
+
+  Jefferies, 40, 46, 47
+
+  Jeffs, Riley, 115-117
+
+  Jenkins, Henry, alias Billy from the Deu, 181
+
+  Jenkins, John, 56, 57
+
+  Jepps, the Vandemonian, 96-99
+
+  Jewboy, The, see Davis, Edward or Teddy
+
+  Johnson, Charley, 284
+
+  Johnson, see Power, Harry
+
+  Johnson, William, 274
+
+  Johnston, Henry, 145, 146
+
+  Johnstone, Robert, 291
+
+  Jones, 182
+
+  Jones, Charles, 350
+
+  Jones, Charles, alias Herbert, William, 233
+
+  Jones, David, 51, 53
+
+  Jones, James, 233, 312
+
+  Jones, John, 184
+
+  Jones, John, alias Jack the Lagger, 108-110
+
+  Jones, Richard, 155
+
+  Jones, see Williams, Thomas
+
+  Jones, Thomas, 118-122
+
+  Jones, William, 155
+
+
+  Kavanagh, Lawrence, 118-123, 129, 130, 132
+
+  Kaye, William, 350
+
+  Keene, Henry, 194, 196
+
+  Kelly, 185
+
+  Kelly, Bartley, 109
+
+  Kelly, Dan, 354-384
+
+  Kelly, Edward, 282, 313
+
+  Kelly, James, 154, 155
+
+  Kelly, James, 298
+
+  Kelly, James, 354
+
+  Kelly, John, 274, 313
+
+  Kelly, Ned, 320, 341, 345, 353-384
+
+  Kelly, Ted, 282
+
+  Kelly, Thomas, alias Noon, 327-332
+
+  Kenelly, see Cornelius, Bill
+
+  Kennedy, James, alias Southgate, 298
+
+  Keer, John, alias Maher, 280, 299
+
+  Keys, 58
+
+
+  Lacey, George, 41
+
+  Lambeth, William, 115
+
+  Lawler, Michael, 194, 196
+
+  Layworth, William, 161
+
+  Lee, Henry, 117
+
+  Lee, William, 279
+
+  Levy, Philip, 327-332
+
+  Lewis, Nicholas, 108-110
+
+  Liddell, John, 121, 122
+
+  Long, Tom, alias Coxen's Tom, 93
+
+  Long, Ned, 93
+
+  Lowe, see Young, John
+
+  Lowry, Frederick, 212, 219, 220, 256, 276, 355
+
+  Lynam, George, 232
+
+  Lynch, John, alias Dunleavy, 60-70, 77, 333
+
+  Lynch, Patrick, 123
+
+  Lynch, William, 93
+
+  Lyons, see Nesbit, James
+
+
+  McCabe, James, 41, 42, 44, 45
+
+  McCallum, Frank, alias Thomas Smith, alias Captain Melville, 148-156, 236
+
+  McCallum, James, 114
+
+  McCann, John, 93
+
+  McCarthy, 184
+
+  McDonald, Hector, 22
+
+  McDonald, William, see O'Donnell, James
+
+  McGrath, see Boyd, James
+
+  McGuire, John, 202-204
+
+  McGuire, Thomas, 84
+
+  McIntyre, 99-102
+
+  McKenny, 47
+
+  McLean, 109
+
+  McMahon, John, alias McManus, 195
+
+  Maberley, 186
+
+  Mack, William, 158
+
+  Mackay, Charles, 207
+
+  Mackay, James, 207
+
+  Mackie, William, 195, 291, 298
+
+  Macpherson, Alpin, alias The Wild Scotchman, 337-340
+
+  Maher, see Kerr, John
+
+  Maher, Walter, 283
+
+  Maloney, Thomas, 155
+
+  Manns, Henry, 202-204, 276
+
+  Marriott, Henry, 167-169
+
+  Marshall, John, 87
+
+  Mason, 299
+
+  Mathers, John, 33-36
+
+  Mathews, Daniel, 232
+
+  Maynard, Donald, 59
+
+  Mayne, 59
+
+  Melville, Edward, 142
+
+  Melville, George, 164, 165
+
+  Melville, Captain, see McCallum, Frank, alias Smith
+
+  Middleton, Richard, alias Ruggy Dick, 277
+
+  Miles, John, 280
+
+  Miller, see Burgess, Richard H.
+
+  Miller, see Slater
+
+  Mills, Peter, 21
+
+  Mitchell, Robert, 173-176
+
+  Moonlite, Captain, see Scott, George
+
+  Moran, 298
+
+  Moore, 122
+
+  Moore, 109
+
+  Mordecai, see Woolf, James
+
+  Morgan, Daniel, 258-268, 276, 304, 315, 370
+
+  Morgan, James, 143
+
+  Morgan, John, 91
+
+  Mount, James, alias The Old Man, 237-241, 257
+
+  Murphy, 42, 45
+
+  Murphy, Jeremiah, 164, 165
+
+  Murphy, John, 164, 165
+
+  Musquito, 23, 24, 29
+
+
+  Naisk, John, 173-176
+
+  Nesbit, James, alias Lyons, 348
+
+  Noon, see Kelly Thomas
+
+  Nowlan, see Cashan
+
+  Nugent, James, 167
+
+
+  O'Connor, William, 205, 206
+
+  O'Donnell, James, alias McDonald, William, 93
+
+  Old Man, The, see Mount, James
+
+  O'Meally, 212-216, 221-228, 276, 355
+
+  O'Sullivan, Jeremiah, 173-176
+
+  Owens, John, 279
+
+
+  Paddy, Wandong, see Fitzgerald, Patrick
+
+  Parrott, Samuel, alias Powell, 51
+
+  Payne, John, 282, 312
+
+  Peisley, John, 196-199, 276
+
+  Perry, 47
+
+  Perry, John, 52, 53
+
+  Perry, Peter, 186
+
+  Pickthorne, William, 130, 132
+
+  Pierce, Alexander, 33-39, 73, 333
+
+  Pilcock, 139
+
+  Poole, John, 51-53
+
+  Poulston, 186
+
+  Power, Harry, alias Johnson, 318-325, 341, 356, 385
+
+  Price, John, 117, 130
+
+
+  Quinn, 317
+
+  Quinn, Thomas, 167-169
+
+
+  Regan, 196
+
+  Regan, James, 111-113
+
+  Regent, 316
+
+  Rider, Charles, 41
+
+  Riley, James, 51-53
+
+  Roberts, 167
+
+  Roberts, see Gilbert, Johnny
+
+  Roberts, Thomas, 117
+
+  Roberts, William, 148-152
+
+  Robinson, 185
+
+  Rogan, Thomas, 349
+
+  Rogers, William, 161
+
+  Ross, Alexander, 205, 206
+
+  Ross, Charles, 195
+
+  Ross, Charles, 205, 206
+
+  Ruggy, Dick, see Middleton, Richard
+
+  Russell, 40
+
+  Rutherford, Charles, 298
+
+  Ryan, 238
+
+  Ryan, James, 51-53
+
+  Ryan, Jeremiah, 41
+
+  Ryan, Patrick, 281
+
+
+  Scotchman, The Wild, see Macpherson, Alpin
+
+  Scotchy, 73
+
+  Scott, Bill, 271-274, 276
+
+  Scott, George, alias Captain Moonlite, 342-350, 385
+
+  Scott, William, 140
+
+  Scrimshaw, William, 130, 132
+
+  Sears, Henry, 108-110
+
+  Seary, Michael, 232
+
+  Seymour, 278
+
+  Shanks, James, 352
+
+  Shanks, Robert, 352
+
+  Shea, Daniel, 312
+
+  Shea, John, 87
+
+  Shepherd, John, 280
+
+  Simmons, William H., 313
+
+  Simpson, William, 161
+
+  Slater, alias Miller, 284
+
+  Slattery, Michael, 279
+
+  Smart, Henry, 180
+
+  Smith, 160
+
+  Smith, 298
+
+  Smith, Henry, 155
+
+  Smith, Henry, alias Brennan, 155
+
+  Smith, James, 313
+
+  Smith, Robert, 195
+
+  Smith, Thomas, see McCallum, Frank, alias Captain Melville
+
+  Smith, Thomas, see Cunningham
+
+  South, John, 91
+
+  Southgate, John, 232
+
+  Southgate, see Kennedy, James
+
+  Stallard, Alfred, 165
+
+  Stanley, Frank, alias Wright, 233
+
+  Stanmore, Charles, 296
+
+  Stanton, Patrick, alias Jack Mack, 320
+
+  Steele, Henry, 88
+
+  Stevenson or Stephenson, Alexander, alias Telford, 106
+
+  Stroud, Thomas, 161
+
+  Suffolk, Owen, 140
+
+  Sullivan, Daniel, 294
+
+  Sullivan, John Joseph, 327-333
+
+  Swallow, William, alias Waldon, 104-107
+
+
+  Tattersdale, Thomas, 56, 57
+
+  Taverner, William, 313
+
+  Taylor, Daniel, 313
+
+  Taylor, John, 233
+
+  Telford, see Stevenson or Stephenson, Alexander
+
+  Thomson, see Atterill, James
+
+  Thompson, John, 41
+
+  Thompson, John, 295
+
+  Thunderbolt, Captain, see Ward, Frederick
+
+  Tierney, James, 41
+
+  Tilly, 47
+
+  Tracey, Thomas, 277
+
+  Travers, Mathew, 33-36
+
+
+  Underwood, Will, 55, 56
+
+
+  Vandemonian, see Jepps
+
+  Vane, 221-225, 256, 276
+
+  Vaut, Charles, 88
+
+
+  Waldon, see Swallow, William
+
+  Walker, Isaac, 41
+
+  Walmsley, 55, 56
+
+  Ward, Frederick, alias Captain Thunderbolt, 289-302, 304, 315, 322, 370,
+  341, 385
+
+  Watson, William, 194
+
+  Watts, William, alias Charles or George Williams, 106-107
+
+  Webb, Thomas, 233
+
+  Webber, 55, 56
+
+  Weekes, John, 298
+
+  Welsh, Michael, 59
+
+  Wernicke, Gus, 349
+
+  Westwood, William, alias Jackey Jackey, 71-78, 82, 127-133, 269, 353
+
+  Whelan, Thomas, 108
+
+  Whitehead, 18, 19
+
+  Whiting, Henry, 130, 132
+
+  Whitton, 73
+
+  Wild Scotchman, The, see Macpherson, Alpin
+
+  Williams, 45
+
+  Williams, Charles or George, see Watts, William
+
+  Williams, George, 22
+
+  Williams, George, 207
+
+  Williams, Herbert, see Jones, Charles
+
+  Williams, Jack, 96-99
+
+  Williams, John, 155
+
+  Williams, John, 282, 313
+
+  Williams, Thomas, 155
+
+  Williams, Thomas, alias Jones, 349
+
+  Wilkinson, John, alias Wilton, 91
+
+  Willis, William, alias Dunkley, 298, 312
+
+  Willison, George, 207
+
+  Willmore, Thomas, 178-180, 258
+
+  Wilson, 93
+
+  Wilson, 95
+
+  Wilson, George, 164, 165
+
+  Wilson, Harry, 288
+
+  Wilson, John, 182-184
+
+  Wilson, John, 277
+
+  Woolf, James, alias Mordecai, 108-110
+
+  Wright, John, 80
+
+  Wright,---- 336
+
+  Wright, see Stanley, Frank
+
+  Wyndham, alias Bennett, see Gough, Charles Hugh
+
+
+  Yankee Jack, see Ellis, John
+
+  Young Fogarty, see Fogarty
+
+  Young, John, alias Lowe, 155
+
+  Young, William, 161
+
+
+A. Bonner, Printer, 1 and 2, Took's Court, London, E.C.
+
+
+
+
+OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
+
+
+"Mr. Boxall's pages are very rich in interest and lucid in their
+information. The history of the bushrangers is a succession of fierce
+contests and sudden death. To the ordinary man bushranging centres
+in the name of Kelly, and the chapters of Mr. Boxall's history which
+describe the audacities of the two brothers--Dan and Ned--in the
+seventies, are perhaps the cream of the book. In the last of the
+bushrangers we lost a magnificent soldier; he had the blood of a
+thousand terriers, and a certain grim humour too."--_Academy._
+
+"A very full and detailed history of the origin of bushranging, its
+development, and its gradual decrease."--_Bookman._
+
+"Mr. Boxall's volume about Australian bushrangers is not always
+agreeable reading, for it concerns the exploits of some of the most
+murderous and daring ruffians whose names are to be found in the annals
+of crime. It is a book, however, from which there is something to be
+learned, for it exemplifies--in a remarkable degree--the maxim that
+rough-and-ready methods of suppressing crime are apt to create the very
+evils which they are designed to abate."--_Daily News._
+
+"The author of this deeply-interesting book states in his preface that
+he has compiled it in the hope that it may be of service to future
+historians of Australia. Quite apart from that, however, it will appeal
+strongly to those who take an interest in the annals of crime and the
+daring of celebrated criminals."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+"It is the encyclopædia, history, and analysis of bushranging life,
+and could not well be more complete. If his story is as thorough as
+an encyclopædia, it is vastly more interesting--as crime and romantic
+facts always are. Uncommonly well done; it amounts to 385 pages of
+attractive reading."--_Pall Mall Gazette._
+
+"We can cordially recommend this book as a sound book of reference
+agreeably put together."--_British Australasian._
+
+"Mr. Boxall gives us a solid and impressive, and not a catch-penny nor
+sensational, work. He tells us, in strictly matter-of-fact manner, of
+the rise and collapse of bushranging in the various colonies where
+it had its brief life--that is in Tasmania, New South Wales, and
+Victoria."--_Melbourne Argus._
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Australian Bushrangers, by 
+George E. Boxall
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58799 ***