The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-05-05
BY Charles q. Lewis.
Copyright, 1898.

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1t happened in the palmy days of the
bnshrangers, when | went ''up coun
try in Australia to try sheep herding
for change. The station to which
was attached had eight hcrders out
and after couple of weeks spent in
learning the ropes" l was put out fol
the ninth. My hut was erected on the
banks Of a creek 20 miles frcn1
headquarters and seven miles from any
other herder, and | had no dog to as.
sist me. My duty was to guard herd
of 500 sheep as they fed OIL the plains
by day, and round them up near the hut
ut night and turn out every hour or two
to see that they were all right. The
solitary life, poor fare and hard worl;
were bad enough, but added to this was
the peril from the bushrangers. 1t had
come to be a custom that a bushrang.
er should take what mutton nc wanted
without interference, and in return he
should not meddle with the herders. 1t
was also tacitly understood that the
herders should give the police no in
formation. There were herders on our
station who had given shelter to "Big
George BLACK Bill" and the "Red
Knight and our orders from head
quarters were to make friends with
them and give the police no informa-
ton. This was in one sense selfish
policy, and was greatly complained of
by travellers, farmers and those whose
duty it was to hunt down the outlaws,
but if it had not been practiced no sheep
station could have put out herders.
They would have been killed and the
flocks scattered. was warned that I
should probably receive a visit from
"Bg George" within a week. and was
.ssE11th curious and apprehensive.
Just at daylight On the fifth day of
my herding, as was making my coffee
on fire outside, a rider wearing the
uniform of Il policeman came galloping
up and asked Inc if anyone had passed.
l replied in the negative, and he ex-
planned that on the night previous a
force of 90 officers had surrounded a
camp of five bushrangers at spot
about ten miles away, and mad killed
four of them. The fifth had dashed
through their lines on horseback and
had come in my direction. The man
questioned me very shar arply, and though
l answered truthfully he was not salts
fed. He said it was my duty to stand
by the police. and that if it could be
ascertained that / gave aid or comfort
to the bushrangers | should be brought
TO grief. lie continued to speak angri-
ly and doubt my word, and | finally
lost my temper and gave him back as
good as he sent. He thereupon an
nounced that l was under arrest and
undertook to slip the irons on my
wrists. In the fight which ensued he
got the worst of it, and finally rode
away swearing vengeance. Half an
hour later n man in rough clothes rode
up and asked for cup of coffee, and
after a bit recognized him as the
policeman. 1t was big George" him
self and that was the way he took to
test me. in the fight he had given me
Il bloody nose and | had given him
black eye, but he bore me no ill-will,
Aad was rather proud of having been
too much for him in a roughand-tum-
tle. He was in good-natured mood
and inclined TO be talkative. and in
going away he assured me that Il
should come to no harm as long as
stood neutral between the outlaws and
the police. This band of five men had
their headquarters In the neighborhocd
for three months, and | got to know
every man by sight. They took sheep
from my flock whenever they desired,
and sometimes cooked meal at my
fire. and in return they often left me
tea, coffee and canned provisions-the
spoil of some transfers hauling. After
awhile three Of the gang were killed
while attacking farmhouse 20 miles
away, two others were captured in |
camp after being wounded, ard one
night Big George" aroused me from |
sleep to say that he was the last of the |
band and had bullet in his shoulder
and wanted my assistance.
To the west of my hut was deep
'avlne which l had explored to find
safe retreat in case | was ever run off |
py the natives. l descended into it |
IN company with the outlaw. fixed up
shelter and made a bit of fire for him,
and then attended to his wound and
cooked him some food. He was in low
spirits. All his men were dead or cap
tured, he had no horse, and he was in
no condition to travel and take care of
There was a reward of
sz,ooo on his head. but had It been ten
t,mes as great | should have had no
,nougnt of betraying him. For three
uays and three nights the outlaw was
my guest, and no one came near to dis
.ufo US. Sleep and rest were getting
u.m IN shape to travel when, on the
alternoon of the fourth day. a body of
ponce arrived. They knew the man
was wounded and on foot, and were
osa'lng up The country for him. was
xs-s1ioned and threatened, but posi-