St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-14
A REMARKABLE CAREER.
Frank Gardiner, the Notorious
STAKEHOLDER of New South
Wales.

tralian colonies, was one of varied inter-
est.
In the days before the railroads were
built through the interior of the colo
MES the only means of travelling was by
Stage-cOach, which in that country, as
i'll California, had many pleasant feat
ureS, prominent among which were UNI
expected meetings with gentlemen OF
the road.
The leader of this gentry was Frank
Gardiner, who was known as the BUSH
ranger of New South Wales, says the
San Francisco Chronicle. In company
with Ben Hail, John Gilbert, John
O'Malley and Dan Charters he dehed
the police of the colony, and levied
tribute on travellers almost as he
pleased.
The amount of plumber secured by the
robbers from the stages amounted to
over Sl50,0O0. What was done with the
treasure was until very recently mys-
terry. 1t was known that it could not
have been spent by the freebooters, as,
for fear of Imprisonment or death, there
being a reward for their bodies, dead or
alive, they seldom visited the settle
ments. 1t was supposed that the
booty was buried by the high
waymen, as frequently they were so
holly pursued that they were unable
to carry off the spoilS of the crime.
Searching parties went out over the
known routes of the outlaws, and dug
and delved for the buried treasure,
but no trace of it could ever be obtained.
The mystery was partly cleared several
months ago by the action of man and
woman in this city on their way to Aus
tralia.
After Gardiner robbed the stage on
the Landing Flat, he was pursued by
the officers and took refuge in a herd
er's dwelling, where the wife of the
sheep herder provided him with food
and shelter for number of days, and
until his purSuerS had left that section
of the country. This woman, who
proved such good friend to the high
Wayman, had sister who had lately ar
rived from England, and who was then
on a visit to her brOther-in-law, she
having gone there from Sidney, where
for time she had been domestic in
family.
GARDENERS frequent visits to this
sheep-herder's place brought himself
| and the young English woman into one
another'S company. The gentlemanly
conduct of the rObber, and his respect
under all circumstances for WOmen-it
was never known that a woman was
robbed or inSulted by him during his
whole bandit career-greatly impressed
the English domestic, and finally won
her affections. She became attached to
the daring highwayman, and followed
him from place to place, until i'll the
end, it is said that by her influence over
him, he gave up his dishonest ways and
settled down to lead an honest life in
Apis Creek, Queensland, where he was
| arrested.
The fruits of the young woman's in
timacy with Gardiner was the birth of
a girl baby. Gardiner had promised to
make her mother his wife, but his arrest
and sentence to thirty-twO years i'm
prisOnment in Darlinghurst Jail at Sgd
ney prevented this honorable intention
from being carried into effect. The az
rest and sentence had the effect of
breaking the heart of Gardeners mis-
tress, and before Sir Hercules Robin
son, the governor of New South Wales.
pardOned the outlaw, the woman died,
leaving her little girl alone in the world
with her father convict.
Gardiner, although deprived of his
liberty, kept a careful watch over his
daughter. She was all he had on earth
to love, and love her he did. AS soon as
he obtained his liberty his first visit was
to where the little ten-year-Old child
lived. The history of the child's father
and mother had been carefully con
cealed from her, and consequently she
knew nothing of herself or her cOnnec-
tons.
After visiting his daughter Gardiner
came to San Francisco and opened a sa-
loon on Kearny street, near Broad
city front, his place being
the resort of seafaring men,
more especially those plying between
this port and the colonies. He remained
on the front until his health failed him.
when he went into the interior, where
he eventually crossed the unknown
river.
During all the time that Gardiner re-
NAMED in this city his conduct was
| good, and the police nveer have had Oc-
! caSion to complain of him or his saloon.
| He was devoted to the interests of his
| daughter, who in the meantime had
grown to womanhood: About one year
| before her father died she married
young station-hand upon cattle ranch
| in Queensland.
Previous to Gardeners death he en-
! trusted d sealed package to a confden-
! tial friend, from whom he extracted
| solemn promise that when he died the
package should be forwarded to his
| daughter, in the Northampton district
| of Queensland. The confidential friend
kept his word, and shortly after Gardi-
ner's death the package was forwarded
| as directed. 1t contained certain in
structions and cabaliStic marks, which
it was thought indicated the places
where Gardiner and his companions
had hidden portions of their plumber.
s. The suppOsitiOn was strongly sup
ported by the arrival in this city few
months since of GARDENERS daughter
and her husband, Edward II. Forbes,
who changed thousands of Australian
| SoVereignS, which had the appearance
| of having been out of circulation for a
number of years, into American money.
They also disposed of quite an amount
of gold bullion. Having changed their
wealth into American money the couple
took their departure on the overland
train for New York, on their way to
England, to visit Forbes people. 1t is
said that Forbes will return to the
| United States and settle on a cattle
ranch in Montana, where he has rela-
| lions.
As near as could be ascertained, it is
almost certain that the principal portion
of Gardeners booty was buried on the
| EngOra creek, near where e14, 900 was
taken in one haul from a stage, the rob-
berry of which cost Hall, Gilbert and
| Charters their lives, Gardiner being the
only highwayman who escaped.
Modest Oliver Goldsmith.
Harpers Magazine.