BUSHRANGERS IN BATHURST. (FROM THE "BATHURST TIMES.")

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1954, 21 October 1863, Page 4

BUSHRANGERS IN BATHURST. (FROM THE "BATHURST TIMES.")

Tin: shrieks of a woman in terror, a cry for " Help !" tho trampling of hoises, the leport of a pistol, and the lapid galloping of a body of horsemen, whoso figures as they allot throngh the darkness looked like shadows gliding down tho main thoroughfaies of tho town, wore productive of such a bcouo of eonstci nation and amazement, on Saturday evening, as can never bo foi gotten by those who have witnessed what wo have just described. In an instant the bewildered inhabitants of the houses within the line of disturbance weie at their doors, and almost as quickly the ciy of "Bushrangers" passed fiom lip to lip. To say that astonishment or excitement prevailed does not convey an adequate notion of tho stunned and appalling affect produced, as little by httlo the fact w.is gradually aflinned thai; tho bushrangers had actually made a descent upon the town. Proceeding in the direction fiom which tho bushiangers had come, we found a ciowd assembled outbide the shop of Mr. M'Minn, the jeweller, in William btieet, and theielcaint that Gilbert and his, gang had mado a daring attempt to "stick up' that gentleman's shop. In older that the bushlaugeis' pioceedings may bo better understood, we must first inform oui readers of tho manner in which they weic disposed so as to prevent surpiise. Thoie were in all live, being, as is supposed, O'Meally, Ben Hall, Burke, and Vane — the iifth, Gilbeit, having been positively identilied. When thoy came into town, Vane appears to have been stationed in the iight-ot-way between the Chinch of England school and the Telegiaph Office, and in the darkness ho was effectually fact coned fiom view. Tho otheis roclo in a body to Air. Pediottas's shop, wheie a number of iiteaims aic displayed for sale. Gilbeit and oue of his companions, leaving their hoises in charge of the other two, went in and asked if Pcdrotta had any 1 evolving idles or double-trigger lcvolvcn. Upon being answeie 1 in the ucgativciuid shown the common kind of levolver, they said thoy were of no use and walked out. They then went down to Mr. M'Minn's shop, and, the family being engaged at tea, walked into tho room whero they were sitting, ami prosouting their revolvers, ordeied all to be quiet. Miss M'Miun, however, at the sight of tho levolveis, sci earned with fright, and though they threatened to blow out her brains if she did not keep quiet, sho did not heed them m her tenor, but .still gave expie son to her fear. Disconcerted, the two ruffians beat a retieat, piescntiug their revolvers as they backed out of the shop — one of them as he pave'l by tho counter trying to lilt the lid of a glass case, but lie was foiled, as it was constructed to open fiom tho inside of the counter. The alaim was taken up outside, in the stieet, by Mcss.lv>. Cuitis ami Ghailos White, who c.dled out for help, but betore anything could be done the bushrangers were in their saddles and going down the street at full speed. At the corner of Howick-stieet, two of them turned sharp round, but tho others appeared to be uncertain oftlien way niul gallopped on towauls the police batracks, but a shot being lned into the ail, by one of the lust two, caused them to tuui and rejoin their companions. Galloping along Howick-sticet thoy wore met as they turned the corner of Gcorge-.stieet by Vane, who had iidden down the light; of way aheady mentioned, and lapidly crossed tho square. As he came up his hoi so stumbled, when the others cased their pace, and went up George-street at a moderate canter. In about a quaifcer of an hour, a body of troopeis passed through the town in puisuit, following the duectiou taken by the bushiangeis, but as it subsequently proved they passed them on the way. From what wo afterwaids learned it appeared that the tioopers on teaching the leservc at the head of George sti eet, listened for the tramp of the bushraiigcis' horses, so as to discover what duection they had taken, and not being able to hear anything they came to a halt. Tho night was exceedingly daik, and while dehbeiating what course to puisne, they descried tho bushrangers, through the gloom, coming towaids them, — having justlettDo Clouet's. Tho bushrangers, it would beem, caught bight of them at the bamo moment, for they turned and galloped off in another direction. A hot chase ensued, when ono of the troopers named Johuson, whose horse was better than the rest, got in advance, and the bushranger* seeing this turned and filed two shots at him, which he returned. Undaunted, he kept up the pursuit, but his horse foundered, ami the bushrangers finally escaped.

Voluntkuiis from Tasmania.— The following is from the Hoharton Ma cury of September 22 : — Tho urgent necessitj' for icinfoi cements to assist tho local, military, and volunteer foices, engaged in carrying on tho war now being w aged by the Euopean settleisof New Zealand, against tho aboiigiual tiibea of that colony, has caused Tasmania, in common with the remainder of the Austuvliiui group of provinces, to bo called upon to furnish a quota of volunteers for active service in tho contest which has so unfortunately arisen. The Now Zealand authorities havo named as their agent for. this purpoio in Tasmania, Captain Chesney of tho Royal Engineers, and by that officer has accordingly been published for some timo past in tho Hobart Town and Lnunceston journals, an advertisement calling upon peisons eligible for tho performance of militiuy service, to send in applications for enrolment. In accordance with this invitation, iorue 200 applicants have up to the present time sent in their namey to Captain Chesney, and of thiso 130 hate beou accepted conditionally upon their services being actunlly icquiied, a point upon which some doubt appeal s to have arisen, which the emissary of the New Zealand government in Austialia, the lion. Dillon Bell has just opened a correspondence with hi* principals with the view o£ doming up. Of the total number of candidates who havo come fonvartt 87 are married, 79 unmaniod, and of the remaining 14 tho condition in this respect is unknown. Captain Chomey states that a considerably larger number of men could have been obtained had lie been in a position respecting certain matteis of detail, upon which Mr. Bell in now awaiting decisive instructions from the authorities at tho seat of war. Of tho entire body of applicants, 11 aro candicates for communions, viz., 5 as captains, and Gas lieutenants. Such in the existing Btate of affairs in reference to the attempt to procuio roinfoicenienta fiom Tasmania, and no further information on the point can be procured until Captain Chesnoy shall have received some further communication from the lion. Dillon Bell, who is at present in Sydney awaiting instructions from his government." 'Ike same paper oi the 28th nit., says :— "Candidates for the Auckland Militia service will be glad to learn, that the enrolment will commence At 11 o'clock this morning at the Military Barracks, Hobart Town. The enrolment will not last moie than two or three days, and candidates will, therefore, see that they have no time to lose. They will have to produce certificates.of character, and will l?e required to pass a medical examination. They must also show that the Immigration Agent has no claim on them. If married, they will have to leave an order for a portion of their pay for their wives and children during their absence. , No member of the volunteer forco,of tho colony can be enrolled. We have already said all;ijyo have to say of tho nature and prospects of this service, and , have now only to add, that what is done must be don* quickly.''