Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-11-10

hats the meaning of all this ?'' she
exclaimed, rushing franticsily to unbind
him
"One moment, madame" interposed the
brigand; Il am Donahue. and your hu.-
band is being fogged by my orders
'Donahue!" shrieked the unhappy wo-
man, clasping her hands in the agony Of
despair; ''oh do not kill the father OF my
children -
You have not pleaded so, madam, fol
the unhappy convict whom your husband
would have mangled this morning.
Il have-I have! Heaven be my wit.
ness that l have - urged the lady in pas
sionate entreaty
Enough, madam - rejoined the brigand,
politely lifting his hat a less worthy
man should be spared at your request. Un-
tie Mr. Robertson. And the tyrant wa.
released, whIie bis amiable wife melted into
tears of gratitude.
Having then charged Mr.. Robertson on
tie peril Of second visitation, to treat his
| servants better in future, he once more lift
ed his hat to the lady and wa. preparing to
take his departure, when Mrs Robertson,
with genuine Australian hospitality, asked
him and his men to take some Tefreshmen,
an invitation which Donahue accepted
in the same frank spirit with which it was
offered.
Thus for four years did this formidable
brigand hold paramount sway over the
whole northwestern portion of the COLONY,
and had under his absolute control nearly
! six hundred miles of territory. He had col
lectcd under his command sixteen of the
most reckless and daring spirits in the coun
! try, each Of whom were under ban of death
so that desperation lent still greater dar
ing to their depredations.
! Donahue was bold and iudicio1s leader
By liberality priDcely in its munii
cence-he conciliated the working classes
and dealt severe punishment, as we have
seen, upon those who became obnoxious by
their avarice or cruelty. Very many of the
wealthy colonists also favored and even re
spected him on account both Of the severe
| justice-rude and lawless though it haC
been with which he visited some Of the
heartless tyrants of those days, and the uni
form and unqualified respect with which b.
treated females in all cases and under al
circumstances. He was never hirnsel
known to offer the least disrespect to wo
man; and if any OF his followers ever trans
gressed the rigorous discipline he had i
| al he Fl
punished by scourging or death, accordin
10 his guilt.
| The Government of the colony was in
timidated by his daring, and at their wit,
end how to put stop to it. In this dileu
ma the Governor convened meeting @
territorial magistrates. The meeting wa
held at Carter's Barracks, where official ex
perience in the treatment of refractory Grim
inals could be made available and Mr.. Crew
els peculiar knowledge brought into requsi
ton. After anxious deliberstion the magis
trates decided on sending the military t
fight the bushrangers. After this the
dined After dinner they drank Afte
drinking they speechifed. The bushrane
ers should be shct-.hat was the substanc
nf the speeches. they were all very brave
as people are apt to be after dinner. Co
Stanfeld. gentleman of seventy, said tha
when he was young man he would shoe
or capture the bushrangers in a week, an
this with only half dozen troopers. 1t wa
eleven at night. The gentlemen adorned
all except the Colonel who wished Mr.
CreWel and DIR. Savage, both of Carter's t
accompany him to his hotel, because-wel
because it was after dinner. Mr.. CreVe
and DIR. Savage prepared to escort the Colo
mel home. When the three gentlemen 60
outside the prison gates, the ywere set upo
by party of men who were lying in ambusl
in the dark shade OF the high prison walls
The Colonel, however, managed to max
his escape; but the Doctor and Mr.. Crewe
were pinioned and gagged. The captive
were marched of in the direction of Brick
field Hill, where they were met by ga.
cavalier in toop- boots and coat of New
market cut. The cavalier peered into th
faces of the captives.
DO you know me, gentlemen?" he said
4 They looked and were confounded-it wa
the terrible Bold Dick Donahue.
My poor fellowsp' he began, Stimulating
the tone in whico he had once been address
| by Mr.. Crewel. MY poor fellows, yor
recognize me, l see. Our circumstance
are altered. Where have you left Colope
Stanfeid? Ha, hal" The truth fasheC
on the minds of the wretched captives
| Colonel Stanfieid and Bold Dick Donahut
were one!
Never mind - said the brigand, Eve
shall have an explanation by and>by. Mean
time" be continued, addressing his men,
take your prisoners to our camp between
Penrith and Paramatta. There we shall
have something 10 say to them. " The
brigauds, who had everything in readiness
for the successful execution of their project,
harnessed a pair of blood horses to dog
cart, into which they put the captives, guard
ed on both sides by two Of their fellows, and
and then drove to their place of rendezvous
with lightning speed.
They were now in the dark recesses Of the
fora.. .b;r,y ,a;las f-on, S;dra,, 81 ,,. nv