Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-12-16

concerned as to his future. he would listen
for moment and then laughingly say;
No more of that, please l thoroughly
enjoy this sort of life, but no matter how
much hated it there would be no chance
for me. | shall live while live When |
am dead, there may be few to speak well
OF me.
One day Captain Charlie and his band
appeared at the house of a settler named
Albright with information that the blacks
were out on raid and would attack the
premises. Mrs Albright, her daughter
and one OF the farm hands Were the only
persons about the place. They knew that
the men We're bushrangers, but welcomed
them nevertheless. While the house was
being put In state OF deftrse a judge
from Sydney, who was up the country on
business, arrived, and a few minutes later
lieutenant of police and one of his men,
who had been down the country to give
testimony in case, also put in an appear
ance. 1t was an embarrassing position,
at least for the judge and police, but they
had the good sense to make the best of it.
The blacks gathered in strong force, but
were beaten off with great loss. But for
the presence of the bushrangers they would
have wiped out everything.
When the fight was over, the Judge took
Captain Charlie aside and had a long and
earnest conversation with him. He warned
him that it was only question Of weeks
or months when he would be shot down III
the bush or captured and hanged If the
bushranger would surrender, every inllu,
ence would be brought to bear to shorten
his sentence and secure full pardon. The
lieutenant of police added his arguments to
those of the judge, but Captain Charlie re-
spectfully replied that he had decided on
his course and nothing could change him
1t was wild, adventurous life he had al
ways craved, and the fact that his life was
at stake added additional charm.
An adventure much talked of through
out New South Wales was the "bailing
up'' of band of 16 mounted police, who
had followed Captain Charlie and three OF
his men into the hills. Worn out with 81
hours of hard riding, the entire band OF
police fell asleep at night in their camp
The bushrangers crept in on them and run
off their horses and removed every firearm
and then vanished. Every one could have
been killed as he slept, but no one was
harmed.
On another occasion Captain Charlie
learned that two bushrangers who had
lately set up in business in his territory
had made prisoners of three men and their
wives, who were travelling by stage, and
were holding them in the hills for ransom
He made ride of 40 miles with his mer
and finally found the captives As the
bushrangers refused to give them up with
out ransom the captain paid over to them
the sum Of 81, 900 in gold and escorted the
grateful people to the nearest farmhouse
He then returned and warned the two tres.
passers to leave his territory, and while
making their way north thew were can.
tured by the police
In only one instance did this chevalier
of the bush betray a spirit of revenge. A
settler whom he had several times be-
friended put the notice on his track. and
in escaping pursuit be rode his fayorite
horse to death. Later on he captured his
betrayer on the highway and tied him to
tree and gave him terrible whipping.
A police captain boosted that if he ever
got sight of the outlaw he would shoot
him down instead of trying to capture
him. One day Captain Charlie rode up to
the police station when the officer was
there with two of his men and drove them
into a room and turned the key. Before
doing SO he took the officers pistols, badge
and cap, and these relics were afterward
exhibited to many settlers and travellers.
In holding I'D stage passenger who was
carrying a large sum of money for another
party was relieved of it. The messenger
was arrested as having embezzled the
money, and his reputation as an honest
man was in fair way to be ruined when
Captain Charlie read of the case in the
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