The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-26
CEELONG BILLS HEART.
Though 1t Beat in a BuShranser'S
Body, 1t Was Touched Once.

Stayed His Appetite for Murder and
Won From Him, When He Was at
Last Hanged, Clew to His Hidden
Store of Plumber.
From the Chicago Times
The palmy days of Australia bushrang-
ing were the beginning of that great in
dustry which has enriched the colony by
hundreds of millions -woolgrowing. A
vast extent of country was covered by
grazing sheep, and the herders were
obliged to live alone and far from civili-
zation. The bushranger had no fear of
the solitary herder, and the latter was
forced by circumstances to become an
ally. 1t came to bn an understood thing
that the herder should permit the outlaw
the shelter of his hut and provide him
meai,and twas not exacted that he should
give any information to the police Had
he played spy as well as host, the bush
rangers would have put an end to sheep
raising by numbering all the herders.
On the D. and D. run, which embraces
many square miles north of the Murray
river, we had over twenty herders, and
the distance between some of them was
twelve miles. No two were nearer than
five. Each had rude hut of poles. and
turf, and was supplied with provisions
once month. There was fireplace in
each hut, and bunk and bedding for any
traveller who might come along. We had
storehouse eight miles north of the
Murray, and once month two carts were
sent out with provisions for the stations
As inspector for the company l had to
visit each herder at least once a week and
report on the condition of his herd If he
was i'll, which was sometimes the case,
had to replace him with another
man, and if he had become homesick
and abandoned his station, which
was not rare thing, had to keep the
saddle till a substitute was found There
was no friendship between inspectors and
bushrangers. We put the police on their
track whenever we could, and many an
inspector was tumbled from his saddle by
shot fired from rock or thicket. There
were times, however, when hostilities
were suspended. When the police were
not on red-hot trail, or the bushrangers
making foray there was not much
danger to either side. On one occasion,
in riding through the scrub, | came full
upon the camp of six bushrangers. There
was sudden alarm and a rush for their
guns, but called out was only a ranch
inspector who had lost his way, and was
not fired upon.
. WARNED OFF BY BUsHRANGERs.
On the occasion of which l write 1 had
made ride of thirty miles to reach
station IL" which was at the base of
chain of hills, with vast plain in front
of it. A creek ran along the base of the
hills, and on the bank of this stream was
! the hut. The provision cart had been
there week before and found everything
all right. | reached the hut an hour be-
fore shutdown one afternoon to find the
herder on the point of leaving. The fore
noon of the previous day he had been
visited by two bushrangers, one of whom
recognized him as witness who had
given testimony against him in a case at
Sydney three years before. The fact that
the herder had been an unwilling wit
ness now saved his life, though he was
ordered off the run and warned that he
would be killed if he returned. To re-
main in defiance of the order meant
death. He must go, and while waiting
for herder to be sent out to take his
place l must look out for his herd. 1
gave him my horse and his instructions
as TO where to report and he was off before
shutdown. He said that l would proba bly,
have a visit from the bushrangers before
l was out of it, but l must take the
chances eff that Things were very quiet
just then, and if they paid me visit they
would not be in any angry mood
IhAV yOu may uAOCA lllOI6 ClGdIlJ
let me explain that while most of the
huts had only the earth for floor, this
one was elevated three feet from the
ground and had floor of split poles. The
elevation was on account of the occa-
sional overflow of the creek, and the
herder being something of carpenter
had put in his spare hours fixing up I
had prepared and eaten supper and had
cheerful blaze on the hearth, when the
two dogs began the growl and give other
signs that strangers were near, l thought
it best to take the bull by the horns, and
after bit threw the d DOR wide open
and stood there a fair mark, while
called out to know if anyone wanted food
and shelter. Almost instantly man ad-
vanced from the darkness and saluted me
with "good evening" and stepped past
! me into the hut. 1 closed the door and
turned around to find him standing before
the fire, and | instantly recognized him
as a notorious criminal known as Gee
long Bill, who had then been bushrang-
ing for four years and had rewards
| amounting to $1,000 on his head. In his
hand he had long and heavy rifle, and
in his belt two pistols and a knife. He
was a man about 3S-years-old, weighed
about 1870 pounds, and it needed but
glance to tell you that he was all muscle.
He bad short neck, the jaw of bull
dog, and more wicked face taken from
chin to forehead, you never looked into.
NOT VERY WELCOME GUEST.
"Glad to have your company" l said as
I threw a fresh stick on the fire. "Ill
have you bit to eat in a minute or two.
Looks like a storm before morning"
Where's the herder," he growled, as l
prepared his coffee.
Gone off the run, according to orders"
And you are company INSPECTOR"
Yes, just got here this evening and
will have to stay till man comes out"
Eyes; l remember your face. How did
We dare come out here2"
IA man who minds his own business
dares to go most anywhere in this coun-
try" pleasantly answered, as put some
meat to cook.
''Mebbe so !" he growled, as he leaned
his rife against the wall and sat down
before the fire II suppose you ordered
the herder to notify the traps thatwe had
shown mp hereF"
Don't take me for fool" | replied.
"It is the business of an inspector to look
after the flocks 1t is the business of the
police TO catch bushrangers. Every man.
to his trade. If I'd been in with the traps
some of you ought to have found it out
long ago"
'Mebbe so-mebbe sop he growled,
but noticed that his face cleared up and
he seemed in pleasanter mood.
prepared him as good supper as /
had eaten myself and not a. word was eX-
l. IA 10 ut q n