Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-02-20

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4(&6&etltt has described b mo now, on ONO
occasion, where the plains were smaller
and the clumps of timber more frequent,
they were able tn get within ri6e.sh0t,
and he was sorely tempted to show them
as little consideration asethei had shoFn
the poor sergeant, and 6re;! but Zoufh,
who, before he came to my employ ment,
had been q sub-inspector of police, aud
had had much experience in hunting
down bushrangers, was bent on taking
them alive, and would not risk the
chance of a long shot. These cooler
counsels prevailed, and they steadily and
stealthily followed on. They were
doomed to disappointment in the end ;
for, almost incredible as it may seem,
with q wounded man to endure such
heat and fatigue, these hardy despera-
does made no halls. Al night came on
our men, on the other hand, were obliged
to camp, as they could no longer follow
the hoofmarks of the fugitives' horses
|. without risk of losing them altogether.
SO soon, however, as the moon was up
they were again on their tracks, and fol.
lowed them till soon after daylight,
when, worn out with thirst and fatigue,
they reached Mr.. Vincent Dowling's
Yantabulla station, on the CuttabuIra
river. Here they were mortified to find
that the bushrangers had again been too
quick for them, had run the station
horses into the yard, helped themselves
to fresh ones, and were away with some
hours clear start. It was then decided
to abandon the pursuit. There were at
that time few stations further west, and
sooner or later starvation would compel
the runaways to return to inhabited
parts. The troopers were left to watch
and endeavor to pick up further infor-
nation, while McNall and Zoach had re.
luctantly to return and look to their sta
ton duties.
X X \ 4
At the time when bushranging was
rife in Australia there were parts of the
country where, among a certain class of
small farmers and publicans, sympathy
was shown. for bushrangers, and what
the police had to encounter before they
ultimately succeeded in extirpating the
evil was the great difficulty in getting
reliable Information of the movements
of these marsuders, who on the other
hand were themselves kept posted in the
movements Of their pursuers, and the
"ohice" being given, were harbored OF
assisted to escape by secret allies, who
seemed above suspicion. In the far in
terror, where we lost sight of Pearson
and Rutherford, this was fortunately not
the case; here they would find no
! "cover" either from the nature of the
country or the disposition of the inhab-
itants. They could not hold ont long
outside the occupied country, and when
forced to return, the population: was 80
scattered and sympathizers none, that
hopes of escape we're slight. Added to
this, the excellent police force of the
colony was on the alert, and border
patrols active and vigilant. Notwith:
standing, for upward of month, there
was no sign; till one day Pearson was
sighted on foot in a range of hills neal
Fort Bourke. He was easily captured,
and, when brought before the bench, was
haggard and worn out with fatigue.
This unfortunate man was of com
paratively gentle birth, had been a med.
ical student in England, and being sent
out to the colony to seek his fortune, had
as is too often the case where a young
fellow is shipped off without friends, in
terest or capital, lost caste, got among
dissolute companions, until, attracted
by what weak.minded boys would thin}
q dashing life, had come by rapid step
to this terrible depth of crime. -,
The case was simple-his only car
seemed to be to clear himself of the &C
tual murderof McCabe. The law, how
lever, could take no cognizance of thi
whether he fred the shot Or not IN
was equally guilty of the murder. III
was committed, tried and sentenced t.
be hanged. Subsequently his sentence
was committed to imprisonment for life
and when last heard of him he wa
still an inmate of DarGnghurst Jail.
An extraordinary statement Of his wa
that on leaving the public house, he ha'
to be helped on to his horse in an almos
fainting condition, and yet held VI
through that exhausting escape; that,I
day later, by his directions, his mate ex
tracted the ball from his shoulder witt
bis knife; and yet when taken, though
weak and ill, no trace of wounds saw
the scars remained. He had rarte'
from Rutherford, as his enfeebled stat
was danger to both, and; he had no
had the hardihood to attempt to max
his way through the GORDON formed y,
the vigilant guardians of the peace.
But to his companion he was true q
steel, and would give no clue to tn
direction Rutherford had taken.
The latter, who was much more e4
perienced bushman, and in stronge
health, was successful in evading hi
!. fate for some time longer. As was after
ward ascertained, he had contrived t
elude the police, ahdSmades bib way +
the McQuarle river, some Three handre
;. miles nearer Sidney than the scene O
his late terrible outrage. He was
smart young fellow, a native Australian
though of English parentage, and O
good address. Arriving in a distric
where he was unknown, he had no diff
Guilty in getting employment, and wa
for some time engaged bIeaking-in horse
" Q e"c'Ao SSosAon' q uuCy Ac Wos HS!!
able to perform. y
Had he been contented to remain q
,, honest work he might have long escape
detection. but it was not to be-. 81
! was soon at his old work, and one da
|, walked into The Pine Ridge hotel nea
Canonba, kept by Frenchman name
j Beauvais, and unceremoniously al
nounced: II am Rutherford. Bail up.
The process was without exeitemen
orderly and business-like, and Beauva;
!. knew there was no alternative but I
submit. / e: i
He pleaded that he was not rich pull
lican, and begged moderate terms, offe
: ing any refreshment he demanded. Rutl
erford wanted money and nothing else
,, "that or your life" With his revolve
! at the head of the unhappy Frenchma1
: he marched him into, the private roo1
: where the cash box was kept, and stoo