Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-01-17
Ballarat Sam
By nj. QUAD
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate

pocket contained dollar Tor every
wear | had lived had exactly tt
n begin life on In this colony, but was
a healthy youngster, with no fear OF
the future. Luck was with me from
the start. On the second day after
landing from the steamer | hired out
70 a sheep raiser. who had ranch on
the Murray river. near Its Junction
with the Darling, and OH the third we
started off up the country.
One evening | was building II FIRE to
cook supper by. while Mccall. the over
seer went to secure q .CIer VIA winch
TO raise wagon oil H. Vices
was thus alone for few Moments
Suddenly man burst OF OF the thick
ct and caue running UP Ia ne.
For Gods sake, young ici.tr. ave
me a bite to eat" he said as Il" TODD
before me. Don't lie afraid Of re.
I'm sheep herder who has been .'st
in the bush for three days and h".'.
| stepped to the war,' and hAr''I
him piece OF bacoa. some hard
crackers and handful OF tea. ana
after he had placed them in his poci
cts he continued:
Young Teller. DO me Il greater IA
yor still Lend me your pistol ana
knife until tomorrow. when you viii
pass my station, and, furthermore, do
not mention to any one that was
here. Do this and you will never re-
Cret It." Then he hurried away.
Just as Mccall came back with the
lever there was CHATTER of hoofs, and
| looked up to see five mounted men
ride into camp They were in the uni
form Of the patrol, and the appearance
of the men and horses showed that
they had had long eide Of it.
"Well, Captain White, what Is itT'
asked Mccall, who seemed to know
every one of the five.
Been after Ballarat Sam again
was the reply as the captain dis
mounted
"And lost him. eh?
Eyes, curse the luck! We struck his
trail near Dobney's yesterday morning,
and he led us a chase Of fifty miles
during the day We killed his horse
about dusk last night and had him sur
rounded in the scrub He got out, how
ever. and we did not get his track I'M
I'll about noon today We followed to
the creek two miles above and there
lost 1t.
We continued on up the country and
finally arrived at the ranch, and for
the next six months ! was hard at
work as a sheep herder and neither
saw nor heard much OF the outside
world. Then one day was called to
report at headquarters and upon my
arrival found a couple Of visitors there
two gentlemen who had lately arr1V-
ed from England They had come out
TO Australia TO go into the sheep bust
ness. but would leave it In care Of an
agent. They hired me and number
of others. and we began work with
them.
One evening we had finished supper
and were grouped about the campfire
when one of the DOGS parked and we
looked up TO find ourselves covered by
five rifles.
Hands MP or you are dead men!
shouted n voice. and every one or us
quickly obeycd the command.
The five advanced. each keeping
his rife leveIed and when | could
see th? man who had spoken at
once identified him as BalIarat sam.
the man whom had hcfriendel
months before. lie recognized me al
most rs quickly AMI. taking sep for
ward. he said:
We'll. hey. you did me good turn
that day and I'll not forget i. Move
over TO tie left Sow. then gents
who are YOU"
All our arrgs were in the wagon, and
we were helpless to offer any resist
ance. The first thing thcy did was t.
despoil their ,aptiveS. After theF had
robbed the two gentlemen Of every
thing they had of valae ana helped
themselves literally to our stores IN
the wagons Ballarat Sam shook hands
with me and said:
so you didn't inform the police you
had seen me that day.
mo, sir.
We'll. you were mighty kind to me.
and | am going to return the favor
Take this hundred pound note and
save 1t for rainy day. and here's the
finest pistol and knife in Australia
Probably some day you will see me
hanged. but whatever Is said Of me you
can gOuch for the fact that Ballarat
Sam never forgot Il favor or failed to
get even with an enemy"
Columns of matter were printed In
the Australian newspapers concerning
Ballarat Sam and his crew Of outlaws
during the next year and his picture
was posted everywhere and a large re-
ward offered for his capture dead or
alive The authorities were bound TO
get him. but he seemed TO bear q
| charmed life for awhile. and, although
arrested several times. he always man
aged to escape by some ruse or other
Finally be was surrounded by n patrol
numbering forty policemen and taken
prisoner. and when brought handcuffed
to Adelaide the entire population OF
tie town turned out to view the IA
nous bushranger. | happened TO be In
the city at the time and witnessed the
hanging, and probably was the only
one In the vast crowd that felt pane
Of regret he went to his doom with
a smile, and after it was over the timid
ones in Australia breathed a sigh OF
relief.
Ballarat Sam was a bad man, but he
had played fair with me.
NJ. eo.,eGaI ,,,.,, he io,,,'e Ia1a,,