Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-02-28
STITCHED In.
An Adventure with Bushrangers
in Australia.

An Adventure with Bushrangers
in Australia.
In the early days of the colony OF
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 bushrangers-who
infested the country, and many 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.
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 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 are almost things of the
past, for there are branch banks in
every part of the 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 'tsheep stations be-
ing attacked by these daring men.
Only few years ago Melbourne was
thrown into 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 q
career of crime, for some time were
successful in evading justice by hiding
themselves in caves in the Strath-
boyle 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 were caught and
afterwards hanged.
l was living in Victoria at the time,
but had been to Sy dney for a 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
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 q coy
fire that night, and l had been ques-
toned all about this gang of BUSH
rangers, she said, in her very quiet
manner:
Il think 1 could tell you something
rather interesting in the way of BUSH
ranging adventures
We were 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:
'Al of you children know how your
grandfather left England and landed in
New South Wales when quite young.
1t must have been about 1910, as far as
l 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 a 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.
1.-The event l am going to tell you
about happened after an Easter Sum
day. He hal 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 &C
count of the good season the farmers
had had; and in addition to the collec-
ton money there was about fAOO,
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 E5OO-and
deposit 1t 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