The St. Johns herald., 1889-07-04
STITCHED IN.
An Adventure with Bushrargers
 in Australia.

In the early days or the colony Ol New South Wales it was never safe to travel in the bush unless very well armed. No one was safe from the robbers-known as bushrargers-whO infested the country, and many a mail coach driver was shot dead, his coach completely sacked in search of gold, and the unfortunate passengers robbed of their money, luggage, and often left tied to trees until rescued by another traveller. @~s~
 Most of the bushrangers at that time were escaped convicts who, not daring to be seen in the town, were obliged to live in the mountain caves; and when they got to hear of a mail coach being likely to pass with gold for the bank, they laid plans to rob it on its journey to the city.
 Now these arc almost things of the past, for there arc branch banks in every part of tke colonies, and money is so securely guarded that there is very little prospect of success for a bushranger Still, now and again we hear of coaches being robbed, and farm-houses or ''shcep stations be- ing attacked by these daring men.
 Only few years ago Melbourne was thrown into a state of fright by the news of gang of bushrangers shoot ing police-trooper dead, who went to arrest them for stealing horses. They escaped, and, embarking in a career of crime, for some time were successful in evading justice by hiding themselves in caves in the Strath- bogie Ranges; but one day they were captured by some mounted po- lice. They were tracked to a small wooden dwelling where liquor was sold, kept by woman named Jones; and after barricading the doors against the police. the hut was set fire to, and they wcre caught and afterwards hanged. -''~1
 Twas living in Victoria at the time, but had been to Sydney for trip; and as it was the day after the burning of the hut, and our overland express passed quite close to the ranges, we made up a party for the purpose of visiting the smoldering ruins. When returned to Melbourne the following day. and had related our experience, my dear mother seemed highly inter- ested; and as we sat around a cozy fire that night, and I had been ques- tioned all about this gang of bush rangers, she said, in her very quiet manner: ss-&sst-
 ? II think could tell you something rather interesting in the way of bush ranging adventures. '" .s,z,.... a.s~
 Wewer all attention at once, for mothers tales of her youthful days were always liked by us; and as we gathered our chairs closer around the bright blaze that was thrown out from the huge log, she began: ess&sSEss4
 k"An of you children know how your grandfather left England and landed in New South Wales when quite young. It must have been about 1S40, as far as 1 can recollect, when he was made a sort of banker. Tom will perhaps won- der why. Well, at that time there was no bank out of Sydney, and as the lit tie town of Richmond was miles away it was not only a tedious but very ex- pensive journey to the city of Sydney for the farmers. Your grandfather was very much respected, and as he was the only magistrate then in the district his advice was asked upon various matters. -szz5aa-sRaas. .%assatsas.
 ''The event I am going to tell you about happened after an Easter Sun day. He lad attended divine service some miles away, and, as is usual in Australian country churches, there was an Easter collection. This Sunday the collection was unusally large on ac- count of the good season the farmers had had; and in addition to the collec- tion money there was about f400, the result of the sale of some church property. The trustees of the church knew that on the following Tuesday your grandfather intended visiting the city, and so begged that he would take the sum-which alto gether amounted to about f500-and deposit it in the bank. This he de- cided to do, but not without some slight misgivings; for bushrangers were doing wild deeds at that time, and the daily papers were scarcely ever without some account of dread ful murder or robbery of mail-coaches committed by them. Your grandfather took the money Gall in notes), and then began to consider what he should best do with it for its safety.
 ~'After an. hours quiet considera-