MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXX, Issue LXXX, 14 February 1920, Page 8

MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER

DIES AT AGE OF 80. Lachlan Cochran, who is declared to be the hero of Banjo Patterson's 'Tne lvlan from bnowy River," has just cued, after a lingcrous illness, in the Cootamimdra hospita.:. 11l the eaify days he was a jockey and buckjump rider. He served through the South African War. His brother, Mr Ntfcl Cochran, or ionak Estate, Adaminaby, rode 8U miles over mountainous * country on horseback in 14 hours to say a last good-bye to the dying man. The ride involved traversing the Great Dividing Range in the darkness through Kiandra. and Yarrangobilly and is regarded as the finest ride on horseback of late years. When the Man from Snowy River saw the Last Fence straight ahead, And the Race of Life for liim was nearly run. What thousand shapes of memory were crowded round his bed Of old-time races lost and races won? ihe sick man stirred a little and the watching nurses bent For the whisper that upon the silence thrills, And the Man from Snowy River, though his strength was nearly spent baid: "I d like to see my brother from the hills." Then out to Adaminaby the word was quickly sped Of a horseman who was dyinc fa>away, Who was ?onging for a message from ' r i • kinsJ!olk mountain bred, lo bring the mountain air to where he lay; And a . horse was swiftly saddled of the stout Monaro breed, ' That can journey from the dawn to set of sun, And keep in the darkness where „,.„ *], le hardest roads may Jead lill the longest ride an I weariest is done. They were sleeping in Kiandra and he barely saw a 3ight As he trotted past the watchdog's lonely bark, And lie battled through the mountains in the middle of the night And ho passed Yarrangobilly in the dark. He was running down the ranges when the daylight came again, And when the sun was climbing in the sky, They had locked their hands together had the two Monaro men ' And the Man from Snowy Riven ?ail Good-bye. • —Sydney Sun.