ALLEGED BUSHRANGER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 212, 6 September 1911, Page 2

ALLEGED BUSHRANGER.

EXCITEMENT IN VICTORIA. Victoria has not seen the last of the hiishranging days, says 'the Castlemame correspondent of the Sydney " Times." It is now 32 years since the last gang of desperadoes was wiped, out, and ioi' many years people have found comfort and satisfaction in' the belief that the days of armed rebellion against law and authority had passed for all time. This idea has been exploded, in a startling manner, by the fact that a man named Sanger for whom the polk* here have been searching for several days on suspicion of being the author of a multitude of robberies, has taken to the bush, and is now defying his pursuers in the ranges. Sanger is well and unfavourably known in the district. He has made the most desperate threats as to what he •will do to the police should they come across him. And he is known to 'be armed with two Winchester repeating rifles. The man is a noted and fatal shot, and the people who know him best ftnnJy believe' thj.t unless he is taken unawares and overpowered before he can use his weapons, there will be serious bloodshed. A strong force of mounted police, well aimed, id searching the' ranges for Sanger but their task is a hard one. Thert is an immense area of very difficult country extending from here almost to Bendigo. The bunted man is a good bushman well able to live where another might starve, and he need not go B*hort of food because the country is overrun with rabbits and it would be no difficult matter for him to secure mutton now end then. Water is also plentiful. The police have met with some success —-< that is to say they have found four of the camping places of the fugitive. But that is all the progress they have been able to report up to now. Possibly a different tale might be told by a party of clever bushnien, who could work un- j trammelled by the hindrances which impede police work hj) this State. Meantime, the whole district is j alarmed. People living in the more re- I mote parts are apprehensiv that th< suspect will levy upon them by violent means for anvthin? he mav find himself in need of. Several applications have been received by the police for special protection. j