STICKING UP A MINE MANAGER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11243, 12 December 1899, Page 6

STICKING UP A MINE MANAGER.

ARMED ROBBERS IN DISGUISE, £1566 SECURED. A case on all fours with the bushranging of earlier days occurred near Rutherglen, Victoria, on Saturday, December 2, and set the town and district in a whirl of excitement. Mr. David Visick, managnr of the Great Southern No. 1 gold mine, which is situate three miles from the town, on the main Howlong Road, was the object of tiie attack. Mr. Yisick came into Rutherglen on Saturday, as ho had come regularly every second Saturday for a long timo past, to obtain the money to pay the fortnightly wages of the men omployed at the mine. He went to the local branch of the Bank of Australasia, and by cheque' on the company's account drew out £1566. At about half-past ten o'clock Mr. Visick, accompanied by his clerk, Mr. Alfred Geddes, set out for the mine in an ordinary single-seated buggy. No arms were carried.

All went well till they wore within 500 yards of the mine. Suddenly two mounted men, one from each side of the road, dashed out in front of the vehicle driven by the mine manager. They both woro crapo veils and false beards. Ono of them intimated that their object was plunder; then levelling a .rifle at the horse's head, fired, following the shot as the poor animal swerved and staggered with a second and a third shot, which dropped the animal between the shafts. Both robbers then drow big Bulldog leavers, one covering Mr. Visick, the other Mr. ucddes, and they dared either to stir cn penalty of having his brains blown out without a further warning. Having obtained assurance that the manager and his clerk were unarmed, ono of the robbers, with his revolver still covering the former, commanded him to hand over the monoy-bag. Wholly helpless to offer any resistance, Mr. Visck, iipo is a man advanced in years, complied with the request, passing over to the robber a Gladstono bag containing the £1566. rccketmg his revolver, the man strapped the bag to the pommel of his saddle, while his companion kept the occupants of the buggy under revolver cover. The robbers thereupon galloped off across an unfenced paddock, and were lost sight of among somo gum trees and scrub.

Mr. Visick succeeded in borrowing a horse m the neighbourhood, and rode into Rutherglen with all possible speed, making first for the police station. Senior-Constable Alwood, after taking a liuried report of the crimo! and despatching the necessary telegrams to Mr. Connolly, the district police superintendent, and officers at other stations, rode to the scene of tho outrage. He was followed by other constables. The robbors had, of course, obtained a start of many miles, and to track them was a task which presented much difficulty, especially as the direction which they may havo taken after they were lost sight of was purely a matter for surmise. According to statements made by Mr. Visick and Mr. Geddes, the black veils and bushy, false boards which the robbers wore disguised them completely, and it would bo imposible to swear to their identity. The police, following the direction taken by the highwaymen across the paddock, found a wig, with black veiling, used as a mask, attached, and not far from it a revolver. At the point on the Howlong Road, opposite to where the dead horse lay, a conStable picked up a swag, which is believed to belong to the robbers. When opened it was found to contain twigs and leaves. It is thought the men, when going on foot, carried this in order that they might pass for sundowners. It is understood that after j they had thrown off their disguise, and were •cantering across country, they were seen by ! two boys, who 'may be able to recognise j them. Heavy - and continuous dust storms

described as lon jy> ~ .- , recently pass conveyances, , ant L o (,bc'ry was committed « lo «;S e^' d S the occupants of in front, of dweu & an( there which were' in the neighbourhood, are many ot.he:r , favourable on Tl " ft «mA torf «ll« threeSe W ScKUuthe f township to, the Great. Southern ° non ymous letter was Some> weeksag f nf a mining cornreceived bj"' VnlVey, warning him pany in the Ghiltern y had ten that two P." 30 ""' hhim wl'ile he was on heard plottJUg t k th m ; ne with the the way from the tank to andgaoUuthoriwages money. 1" F. ... there were tie* wore com—ted with, W o{ ascertainobvious difficulties Dlot had really been ,' n ? i W d et Koor C three'highway robbery men, hatched, two or us P en tridge, includwho I,a a sentence of 10 years, ing one at°large and are accounted likely ?o e be Tdontical with the Rutherglen robberß.