BUSHRANGER JACK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7788, 6 November 1886, Page 3 (Supplement)

BUSHRANGER JACK.

ENTERTAINING REMINISCENCES OF

THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH. . Reading in your journal an article headed "A Bushranger Interviewed," says a writer in Chambers',« recalls to my memory a strange incident which occurred some years ago to my own brother, when on his way from Sydney to the goldfields, and for the accuracy of which I can vouch.

At the time of his arrival in Australia the country was in a state of panic; a reign of terror existed, caused by the daring outrages committed on parties on the journey to and from the diggings. Robbery with violence, escorts shot down, and large consignments of gold carried off, were of daily occurrence. The bush was infested by a gang of desperate bushrangers, whose leader, under the cognomen of " Jack," seemed to bear a charmed life. For years he had evaded all the effort* made to capture him, though the military had scoured the bush. No sooner was an outrage perpetrated than all trace of the perpetrators was lost, as if the ground had swallowed them. He had a perfect knowledge of the most secret movements of the partieß he attacked. He seemed übiquitous, outrages occurring in such rapid succession and so far apart. Such an air of mystery hung about him that a superstitious feeling mingled with the mortal terror be inspired. He was represented by some persona who had seen him as a fine, powerful-looking man, with nothing forbidding in his appearance. Even the mad thirst for gold could not induce the bravest person to undertake the journey alone. The gcld-seekers travelled in large cavalcades, well armed, and determined to fight for their lives and property ; one of these parties my brother joined. He was a handsome young fellow, all fun and love of adventure, and he soon became a general favourite. The " track "—for there were no roads at that timeran for the greater distance through the bush, some parts of which were so dense as scarcely to admit daylight. Every roan was well armed. My brother had brought with him a first-class revolver, purchased in London. This he kept, with other valuables, carefully hidden on his person, his other belongings being stowed away in one of the waggons. When they bivouacked for the night care was taken that it was an open space, where a good lookout could be kept to make sure against a sudden surprise. The waggons were placed in the middle, sentries posted and scouts placed- so that the flight of a bird or the fall of a leaf could not pass unnoticed. ; All were on the qui vive. For some days all went well, nothing unusual or alarming occurring. They were then well into the bush, and consequently, if possible, more vigilant, believing that even a mouse could not intrude itself among them. One morning it was found that during the night they had been, spite of all their vigilance, mysteriously and unaccountably joined by a stranger who stood in their midst as if one of themselves. No one could imagine how or whence he came, and utter astonishment prevailed. He was a fine, portly man, from 35 to 40 years of age; with an open, prepossessing countenanca and good address —one who, under other circumstances, would have been an acquisition to the party. Not in the least taken aback or abashed by the scant welcome he received or the undisguised surprise his presence created, he came forward and told a most plausible story to the effect that he was a stranger on his way to the goldfields; that notwithstanding the stories he had heard in Sydney of "Jack" and his comrades, he had ventured so far alone, but as he got further into the bush he lost heart, and determined to join the first party he met. It looked strange that he had no luggage of any kind, not even provisions or anything to indicate that he was bound for a long journey. He made no attempt to account for' his mysterious appearance, - entered into the arrangements of the cavalcade, and made himself quite at home. Every man among them with the exception of my brother, believed that no one but " Jack" himself could have so taken them by suprise, the general belief being it conld only be from personal experience the terrible bushranger derived the perfect knowledge he displayed when making his raids. The party agreed that the wisest course would be to await the progress of events, watch his every movement, and let him see that they were prepared to sell their lives dearly, if driven to do so. The stranger seemed to have an unlimited supply of money, and to bo generous about it, paying his way freely. He took at once to my brothers, and the liking was mutual; in diggers' parlance, they became mates, chummed, walked, and smoked together. My brother found him a well-informed, agreeable companion, a vast improvement on their rough associates, and he seemed thoroughly to enjoy the society of the jovial young Irish gentleman. A sincere friendship sprung up between them, notwithstanding the disparity in years.

The other members of the party became very anxious, fearing the man would take advantage of my brother's unsuspicious, trusting nature to obtain information that would be useful to him when forming his plans for the attack, which was hourly expected—in fact, looked upon as imminent. Nor were their, fears allayed when, after a little, he would leave the beaten track, and. walk into the bush, remaining away for hours, and returning at the most unexpected times and places, showing a thorough knowledge of the bush and all its intricacies and short cuts quite inconsistent with the story he had told on joining. ; ■

One thing struck my brother as strange, but without exciting any suspicion on his part. When walking together he would suddenly stand, becoming quite excited, and say, " Oh, it was here • such an outrage occurred. It was on the spot on which we are standing that the escort was shot down, and a large consignment of gold carried off. They did fight like demons." He seemed to take the greatest pleasure in giving minute details of the different outrages as they had occurred, and always spoke as if he had been an eyewitness. Bat so thorough was my brother's belief in his new friend that even this did not shake his faith.

When within a few days of his journey's end the stranger suddenly and quite unexpectedly declared his intention of parting company. He offered no explanation as to his reason for doing so, though all through he had seemed anxious to impress it on« them that he intended to go the entire way to the diggings with them. No' questions were asked.

After a general and hearty leave taking, which, however, did not inspire much confidence, as they were still within range of a possible attack, he asked my brother to take a last walk with him, and led the way into the bush farther than he had ever brought him before, and a long distance from the beaten track. The first words the stranger - said were, Mate, don't you carry a revolver?" The answer was," " Yes, and a first-class one—not such as is got oat here. 1 brought it from home." \ .

"Show it to me," said the stranger, "I love a real good weaponand' without the slightest hesitation my brother handed' him the revolver, which he examined carefully, and saw that the chambers• were loaded. He remarked that it was the " prettiest weapon," he had handled for a long time,

He walked a few atepa in advance, and,torn* ing round suddenly, he presented the revolver at my brother's head, and calling out in a commanding tone, Stand !" his countenance so changed as scarcely to be recognised. At last my brother felt that he stood faoe to face with the terrible bushranger, but did not lose his presence of mind. For a moment there was a profound silence, first broken on the stranger saying, "Is there anything on earth to prevent my blowing out" your brains with your own weapon, placed in my hands of your own free will i The wild bush is round us : I know its every twist and turn. The man is not living who could track my footsteps through its depths, where I alone am master. Speak, man! What is there to prevent me?"

With a throbbing heart and a quickened pulse, my brother answered, " Nothing but your sense of honour." . 5 The man's face brightened, and his voice resumed its friendly tone, and, handing back ; the revolver, he said, " We stand now on an equal footing. You hold my life in your hands, as I held yours a moment ago—yes, boy, and your fortune, too. But I trust you, as you trusted me. I will not hurt a hair of your head, and I have spared others for your sake. How, you will never know; but they owe you a deep debt of gratitude. You are a hearted fellow, and through the rest of my stormy life I will look back with pleasure on the time we have passed together. But, mate, you are the greatest fool I ever met. I brought you here to-day to give you a lesson, which I hope you will bear in mind. You are going amongst a rough, lawless crew ; never, as long as you live, treat any man as you have trusted me to-day* 1 Where you ate bound for, your revolver will be your only true friend ; never let it out of your own keeping, to friend or foe. You; are far too trusting. There was not a ' man but yourself among those from whom I hive just parted who did not believe from the moment I joined that I was Jack th% bushranger Well, mate, I am not going to tell you who or what I am, or how or why I came among you ; but of this rest assured, that yfcu have no truer friend. 'You will never knoiff what I have done for your' sake. .Now*, mate, good-bye for ever. We will never meet again in this world, and it is best for you it should be so." Then leading him back to the track by which he could rejoin his party, he wrung my brother's hand, turned, and walked quickly into the bush, leaving no doubt upon my brother's mind that the friend he had so loved and trusted was indeed the dreaded bushranger. They never did meet again. My brother came home to die; and, unless' my memory deceives me, Jack was shot dead in * skirmish with the military.