The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-15
Methods Employed to Make Two
Rich Englishmen Disgorge
Their Ransom.
Two Impecunious Americans Escape Tor
ture by Telling the Truth-Fancy OF
the Robbers for Little Eva

Sun. his was IN t0e Gays Oh thirty years
ago. before any part of Australia was half
civilized by the English. and before the big
island had been more than half surveyed.
There we're plenty of bushrangers haunting
every highway, and every stage was usually
accompaniedaby guard. In our case five
of us, had put together and hired a private
oonveyance. It was one of the usual
stages, Bat making special trip for our
benefit. OF the five three were Englishmen
going up to the valley of the Murray to 10
cate land, the fourth was an American who
had been in the country two years, and l
had landed in Melbourne only the week be-
fore. My compatriot was named Davis.
widower, and he had his only child along
bright little girl years old. He was 60
ing up to Sheep ranch in partnership with
friend already settled, and he could not
bear to leave his child behind him in the
town.
The five of us we're we'll armed, and every
hour since leaving Melbourne We had been
ready to defend ourselves. AS we had met
with nothing to alarm us thus far, and as
we knew we were close upon station, no
one was prepared for what happened. Inc
came up on side, covered Us with revolt
vers, and a gruff voice announced:
''Now, then, the first move and off goes
yer heads! Step out here one by onev'
I was the first one out. 1t was just at
shutdown, aud on portion of the road be-
tween two ridges. The two men on that
side were rough, unkempt. desperate look
ing fellows-fair samples of the other two
and the instant saw them knew we were
in for trouble. When we were all out they
ordered the driver to turn into blind road
to the right, and We followed after the
wagon. As we were ordered to follow the
vehicle the leader of the gang said:
s'No foolishness, now! the four of us
have got our pistols looking right at YEP
After going thirty rods we were as well
ten miles and were brought to halt in a
little glade, As there were five to four,
you may wonder that we did not make a
break. The first man who had moved to
pull his revolver would have been shot in
the back. Davis could not have been e!
child took all the fight out of him. The
driver if not in league with the rangers was
at least treated as neutral. While he was
armed, took matters so coolly that we saw
he was out Of the scrape. The five of us
stood behind us the fourth disarmed us
and went through our pockets. We we've a
poverty stricken crowd. The $50 he took
from me constituted my worldly wealth,
while Davis and the others had been too
guarded. The whole did not pan out over
$50, and the bush rangers were furious.
"Why, you bloody blokev' shouted the
ECO with your
"Do you think am carrying my money
about the country for such as your" pro-
tested the ot-headed victim.
"Tm a-wishing you hadn't got blasted
pennyv' added the second.
''The idea of it! You'll all be hung for
thisv' growled the third.
Davis and had nothing to say. We
didn't see that the case could be helped by
protestations. The words of the English
men provoked our captors to white heat,
and they were knocked about numerically
for the next five minutes Then the leader,
speaking to the two of US. asked:
"You are not English2''
mo; Americans"
II thought so. Where ye bound for?''
We gave him our destinations.
swell, we're bit sorry to take your
money, small as it is, and SO delay your
three coves is rich, and we amt going to let
them off with shillings where we ought to
have pounds"
While we were held under guard one of
the men went over to the driver and held a
consultation with him, and the result was
that he turned his team about and disap-
peared in the direction of the highway.
We were then ordered to proceed in a
northerly course through the scrub, one
man leading and the Others bringing up the
d
tie Eva by any of the men. although all had
looked at her with softened expression.
She realized what was going on, but went
through it bravely, and when we started
through the scrub her father carried her on
his shoulder. We travelled for six or seven
campfire, with fifth bushranger sleeping
beside it. He was rudely awakened, and /
then saw that he had his right arm in a
sling, having been wounded or meeting with
an accident. The camp was a thicket, with
temporary shelter of brush to sleep I'M
der. The five of us were ordered to sit
down under this shelter. and then every
mans feet were tied together at the ankles
and guard took seat before us. Then
the fire was replenished, and the bushrang-
ers gave us such supper as they could af-
ford, which consisted solely of roast mutton
and -four cake baked in the ashes When
we had eaten this and been offered q drink
of water all around the leader sat down be-
fore us and said:
'.Now, gents, business is business the
We want it to convert these ERE natives
from the error of their ways and it will
take heap to do it. You first gent, who |
was 50 ready with q, your tongue, how much
''It's none O. yer blasted business, you
scoundrel, you" was the hearty reply,
swell, mebbe not. Bein' as you is SO
poverty stricken, I'll put you down for only |
I3OO. Now, you second gent?''
II could raise e1OO if in Melbourne"
"That means GOO for you them. You'll |
lie half or more. Now, you third CENT?"
"rll see you hanged for this days work,"
was the reply.
''Mebbe you will, but not until after
sees your money. You also goes down for
e300. Now, the fourth CENT?"
You've got my last dollar" 1 replied.
II landed in Melbourne only week ago"
That's bad for all of us, but guess you
tell the truth. Now, you fifth gent"
Il might possibly raise 50 If up at the
RANCH" replied Davis, but that would be
all. am poor and just making start"
is that your little girl?'
''Yes.''
"Where's the mother?'
Dead"
''Shoo! That's too bad. What's the gals
name?'
Eva"
mighty sweet. Say, gal, come and kiss
me''
She went over to him and kissed his
bronzed and bearded cheek, without the
slightest hesitation, and he held her for a
moment and looked her over and said,
Sweet as honey! I wouldn't hurt you
for all the gold in the big world
She was allowed to return to her father.
and the leader then said:
'We shall hold you three peppery gents
until you raise $500 for u.s. and as these
Americans might give the alarm we shall be
OBLIGED 20 hold them as well. Sorrv IN do