AUSTRALIAN BUSHRANGING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12472, 1 October 1902, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN BUSHRANGING.

JTHE EARLY BAYS. Br CHARLES WHITE. . [AH ttightu Koaerrcd.] PSHE xSARLY DAYh-IN' NEW SOUTH WALES. DONOHOE, UNDERWOOD, AND WEBBER. Donohoa «nd ins gang were the most prominent bushrangers of the .olden time, •net tney kept the country in the vicinity ©J Liverpool, Windsor, and Penrith m a lever of alarm for about four years. John JJonoho* was. a native of Dublin, and arrived to, a prisoner in the colony ui 1825, being at tho time quite a young man. Shortly after his arrival he escaped to the bush, and was joined oy ten or a dozen kindred spirits, who .ormed a formidable band. They committed most daring deprudatiom,, somotimes simultaneously in different districts, the gang separating into three which would turn up in unexpected places. Donohoe was a man of atno« prepossessing appearance, somewhat effeminate {« features, having flaxen hair <md blue eyes; but he was strongly built, sft 4in in height,'and a veritable savage when roused to .oiget- by anything like resistance. His chief mates were Walmsle'y, Webbor, ».•)<! Underwood, those three being the first x> join him. They were all convicts, wifcn ..ne exception, it is said, ov Underwood, who was native born, and had joined the others from sheer love of adventure. But ne bad one adventure which be did nor Dargain for. After the quartet bad "been out* for .jome time, his companions ascertained thai Underwood was keeping a diary of their proceedings, and without furt-hei ,aao they {«>> an end &t-,once to his ambition as a chronicler of interesting events and to his life by doliberately murdering him. During four years the country *ang with reports of their desperate deeds, to nan-Ate which in detail would fill a volume. Cases of " sticking up " on the road or in noimes ■were of daily occurrence. Settlers and others wero robbed, completely .stripped, and .left in the bush to make their way home as best they oould. Nor did the ladies even escape, for thero were several instances in which it was related-thai the robbers had taken the earrings from their ears and the rings from liheir fingers—oh«sse. outrages being committed olose to Sydney. They had frequent figiws with the police, with ,-osults usually indefinite.

Here is a story told oy one who subsequently became mixed up a good deal with crime and criminals, having been appointed a detective under the Government of both. New South Walos and a neighbouring colony -. — '■".At this time I was m toe employment of Mr Wilfred, who hnrf a station near Brmgelly, about 30 inile-j from Sydney. One beautiful summer «no.*ning along with Mr Wilfred I started from jJringeti?, -n chaise and pair, driving tandem. » lecoflec; that m we were aboui to leave, » geutle man connected with Vne Union Bank .-o marked, 'Now, Mi Wiltred, mind you do not fall in with those boys in the bush.' ' Oh, no fear," replied .<*»> Wilfred, " '. nrfve travelled the road for years, and nave never met with a bushranger.' JBu* *ve know the proverD of how often vno pitcher may go to the well befoie it i 3 broke*.. All went well until we got t. ,<iile a-id a-half belong Liverpool. This hani'.ei-, wnitA was dignified by being considered u town' ship, and borrowed vhe name c£ *no snipping metropolis of Britain, consisted then, whatever ft may be now, of about a doaen little huts or shantie*, inhabited by tfnaft were termed "Dungaree"' or " String'• bark" settlers. These people had a sma'.l patch of ground, on which they grew and this grain constituted almost their onjy article of diet, for they considered it k luxury, if they could obtain a lew pints of flou. in the course of a year >,o mix with the maize meal. They would indeed some •times grow wheat, but Jiey could no* afford to consume it. They brough-i i%, to market, and one of the principal puronases whioh they made with the proceeds of the sale was a lceg of rum, necessary for the annual re--joicing which they had .at the end of vest, whon the/ drank the spirits from the pannikins, and for a few days ihe equanimity and monotony of their simple mone of life would be disturbed by unusual revelry. Well, we had not got two miles liasb the settlement oi then enterprisingband of colonists, when in a- piece of thick ironbark scrub, at a sharp turn of the road known as Stamford Hill, we were stopped by thret noted bushrangers mounted on horseback.. One appeared on. either side, and o»,e a. short distance in front, and each presented a fowling piece. Of course, reMMance was out of the question; we were ■out two to three, and we were covered hj their muskets. They ordered us to 'stand,' and we had no alternative but to obey.' Mr Wilfred then, in obedience to theii furthei commands, stepped out of the chaise, when they not only robbed him of his watch, money, and jewellery, but also tjompletely stripped uim of his clothes, leaving -him with nothing on save liis shirt. "'Now, Mr Flunkey,' said one of the worthy trio to me, 'it's your turn.' I was subjected to a dose search, but as I had only a few shillings in my possession, they allowed me to retain the money, and I was anticipating that I would be permitted to go ' soot free,' when the attention. of one of the men whom I afterwards recognised as Webber, was attracted by a pair of strong kip boots which I wore. They were colo-nial-made, and rare in those days, and were much prized by bushmen. 'Oh,' said Webber, just as I thought they were done with ine, 'but I must have his boots; they will just suit mo.' Accordingly, I had to denude myself, however unwillingly, of my onvied boots, when Webber put them on, and deolared th'em to be a 'deuced good fit.' ~ ' "The chaise was next made the subject of their delicate attentions. As luck would have it, we had in the vehicle some 121b or 151b of powder, which we were taking to Mr Lowe, a magistrate, who lived about two miles from Briagelly, to be used in duck and kangaroo shooting. The freebooters (the name seems specially appropriate when I consider how they treated my pedal coverings) were exceedingly pleased with this prize, which they deolared was ' just what they wanted'; and, having tied the whole of their plunder on their horses, they bade us good day, .*nd disappeared, in the greatest good humour. "I had to drive back to Liverpool and obtain eome clothing for the denuded Mr Wilfred, after which we continued our journey, and arrived with no further casualty at Briugelly." A Mr Eaton was proceeding from Sydney' towards Liverpool on horseback when Donohoe or one of his gang fired at him from the side of the road and severely wounded iiim. After he had fallen two members of the gang robbed him of his money and valuables and a portion of his clothing and then decamped, leaving hi*t bleeding on the .road. Before nightfall, however, some settlers on their way to town picked Mr Eaton up and carried him home. Next day a young man who had gone up to inspect some cattle at Liverpool was deliberately shot in the neuk and chest when on the road, and as Donohoe and Underwood were then in the neighbourhood they received credit for the outrage. No attempt was made to rob the viotim, who was left lying on the road. The Australian, a Sydney newspaper, published the following paragraph about this timo: — "Donohoe, the notorious bushranger, whose name is a terror in some parts of the country, though we fancy he 'has more credit

given to him for outrages then he is deserv ing of, is said to have been seen by a party well acquainted with his person, in Sydney, enjoying, not more than a couple of days ago, quite at ease apparently, a cooling beverage, derived from the contents of a ginger-beer bottle." As a commentary upon this it may be stated that no less than six oases of " stick-ing-up" occurred on tho Parramatta- road during the ensuing week. So great became the alarm that travellers' joined on the road for mutual protection, and a newspaper of the day offered the following comments: — "For the past few days there have been fewer instances of robbery than there were during the last week or two; yet travelling is far from safe—even between Sydney and Parramatta many persons rather than venture alone still jog along .in sixes and sevens, or keep tin, for protection, with the coaches. Some half dozen constables or so, we bolicve, have been packed off along the Parramatta and Liverpool roads, but have returned to town, as usual safe and. sound, but empty-handed. Not so in Van Diemon's Land—when the bushrangers, were playing their wonit pranks, the Lieutenantgovernor himself set forth in search of them, and even now Colonel Arthur threatens to pursue the refractory aborigines in person through the island. But here, with a mounted police and a. police establishment, which if not effeotivc is not for want of expense, and a strong garrison of armed soldiery, the bushranging gentry seem to carry on their pranks almost without molestation. If the constables cannot bo depended upon or spared in sufficient numbers, there is tho horse-police; and surely out of POO soldiers, 40"or 50 nicked men might bo dubbed constables, pro tempore, and despatched to scour the roads of those marauders who, though comparatively few and weak in number, by the comparative impunity they are allowed to enjoy, carry terror and devastation into tho huts of the lonely .settlers. Some effective measures should be taken, B<nd that speedily, to suppress this alarming evil." One evening in September, 1829, Donohoe and Underwood entered the hut on Sir J. Jamieson's estate, and having tied up the inmates, proceeded to cook supper for themselves. Donohoe actually made preparation to bum -tho hut with its inmates, but was prevented by his companion from carrying out his cruel design. Going.to the other extreme, he then forced the unfortunate victims in the hut to drink a largo quantity of rum, and having further secured their hands and feet, the robbers walked off with everything they could cany. At this time a reward of £100 was offered by the Government for the capture of .the two men. If the captor was a conviot, ho would receive a ticket-of-leave as well as the money. Them they went tip the mountains, well mounted and armed, Fish River and Mount York being reported as their camping'grounds. Just at this time the Governor was making an official visit to Bailmrst, attended by a strong body-guard, and a hope was expressed that they would fall in with the bushrangers, but that hope was. not realised. The fallowing is the full text of a letter written from Windsor shortly after, the occurrence therein narrated took place: — " On Thursday, 14th inst., as two carta laden with divers property belonging to JYJr M'Quade, shopkeeper, Windsor, were returning from Sydney, and when within two miles of Windsor, three armed men rushed out from the hush and ordered the carters tt, stand. They pulled up, and then found the three men to be Donohoe, Walmsloy, and Webber, the* bushrangers The bandits commanded them to drive into the bush about 40 rods, and arrived* at the spot Donohoe questioned them as to the owners of the stores in tho cart, and also sought information as to the movements of the chief constable and police magistrate at Windsor. Walmsley was then placed to keep the carters under cover while the other two proceeded to ransack the carts, making one of the carters assist. In one cart was a crate of earthenware, a large quantity of print and calico pieces, and two bag's of sugar. The bushrangers removed all the print pieces, etc., but left the earthenware, and cursed the drivers for not having some tobacco on board. Donohoe said j he would give all the rest of the stuff • for half a basket of tobacco, and one of the carters innocently I said, ' If you let me know where I shall j leave you some I will in less than two j hours deposit two poinds for you amy- j where.' Donohoe answered rather angrily, ' What a flat I am.' Just then another vehicle was hoard passing along the .road, and Donohoe said if thoy were not busy they would bail up tho oocnoants, but they could not do it just then. It subesquently transpired that the travellers were the : police magistrate and Mr Richardson, the ! surveyor. There was a crate of rum in one oart among the other things, and this Webber broached, the men expressing regret that there was not a small crook or •keg to put the liquor in. ' Donohoe and J Walmsley drank very little, but Webber ' drank so much ros to call forth a reproof i from his leader, when he replied, ' I .wish { I could get some of this when under the gallows'; then, Donohoe replied, ' I would rather meet my death by a ball than the gallows.' Donohoe is represented a« being lame in the left arm about the shoulder, but remarkably active nevertheless. On one occasion, rather than go rotind the oart. he put one hand on the. horse's rump, and sprang to tho other side with remarkable ease and agility. One of the three proposed to take a- baa- of sugar amongst the other articles, hut Do->iohoe objected, oaying that lie would not be burdened; but he made one of the carters hold,tho bag wbilo he cut it open and emptied some of the i contents into a small corn bag. I " They conversed rather freely with one of , the carters, acknowledging that they had been harassed of late, and that they were rery short of bread. In rejoinder to something the other carter said, Donohoe assured him angrily that they were not afraid of tho ohicf constable and all his bloodhounds, and dared him to send them all out after thorn as foon as ho got into Windsor. 'Tell him,' said he, 'to send us half a dozen flannel shirts, as the nights are sold; tell him' somebody else> knows the bush as well as him. and that we know he_ has been after us three weeks at a time; if you have any mind to keep any part'of these things in the cart do so, and lay it all on us and welcome; we've got enough.' Boyle (tho carter) turned all his pockets inside out to convince the hush . rangers that he had no tobacco, and Dono hoc, looking at the spirits, said, ' D the riim; I'd sooner have a loaf or some tobacco than all the —— stuff.' Quinn. the carter, said that the affair would go hard with him, as he was only just free and would be made answerable for the -goods. 'Ah,' said Webber, 'what would I give if I were free!' Donohoe then made two packages of the 50 pieces of print and fine ' pieces of calico, and a third package of the sugar, and .tied them with a strand of the cart rope so that they would fit over each man's shoulders and leave the arms free. They were all well armed, having each a brace or more of pistols slung before them by leather belts around the body, and holsters to hold them. In addition to the pistols Donohoe and Webber each had an excellent fowling piece. They all presented a remarkably clean anpearance, and wore j dressed as follows:—Donohoe—black hat, supej-fine blue cloth coat lined with pilk, ! surtout fashion, plainted shirt (good laced boots rather worn at the toes, and snuff-coloured trousers: Walmsley—black hat, shooting jacket with double pockets. ' blue cloth trousers, plaited shirt, and laced boots; Webbor—black hat, blue jacket, olaited shirt, with very handsome-' silk handkerchief round the neck, blue trousers, I and laced boots. " After shaking hands with the carters the ' bushrangers rode away, Donohoe savin? that if it were not for the large reward offered for him he would go to Sydney, ' fence the swag.' and leave the country. " Quinn and Boyle immediately reloaded what was left into the carts, and went into Windsor and reported the matter to the chief constable, who proceeded himself with the .horse police in search of the desperadoes. Black Jemmy also went out and tracked the footstena of three men until darkness came on. The constabulary then watched for fires during the m'nrht, but Donohoo was no novice, and doubtless travelled during the darkness and rested in the day. From the fact of the bushrangers being able to find a market for so much calico and print there can be no doubt that they have some receivers, and consequently friends who supply them with comforts and information concerning the movements of the, police."' So the game went on. Mr Lawrence Dulhnnty, who had helped to capture Mustin, was caught, and stripped naked m revenge, and narrow!v escaped having hi? ears out off. Mr Blaxland, of Newington, was stopped in his own drive, and only saved from their brutal treatment by the bravery of his daughters. One day the gang weuld be heard of as robbing a traveller within a few miles of Sydney, and the next up having stuck m> a store or station a, hundred miles from the quarter whera thoy had been last seen. Donohoe was, indeed, once arrested, but while being brought from the* prison to the court he succeeded in effecting his escape. A hero before in the estimation of the isfneraaifc and tainted portion of the population, he wa-s now regarded as possrssimr a. charmed life. At one time he was said to be at the head 1 of *±~Wst a score of bushrangers, and all the

efforts of the constabulary to, break tip the ' gang proved un: laTng. At last the residents rose in thck. own i protection. A number of genileme-n rormed ; thorn-selves- mto a. corps io clear tne country k of the band of desperadoes, and they arranged axnd carried out kheiv. .plans «ffes- > tively. Wisely detorminins; that it would ■ be futile to chase the marauders dhrough t . the country, the volunteers took post xiear ~i Bringelly, which wa* ono of Donohoe a I' favourite resorts, it was not long before ■ : the banditti paid a visiu to this locality, ■ \ and made their headquarters La a peculiar | rooesa in the bush, which was known to their l pursuers. Thither tho volunteer corps, to i the number of about a dozen,' '.epaired, ;n ; tho hope of being able to surprise the [ bandit camp. The feet of one of the horses, however, dislodged a stone, which, i rattling down a precipice, alarmed tho i bushrangers, and they prepared to give theur , assailants a warm, reception. Being abarjt i equally matched, a sharp action took place, i in which several rnon and horses on both sides were wounded, but none fatally. At length, tho assailants, finding they could i secure no deoided superiority, feigned an • attack, when the bushrangers fell back, and the volunteers, taking advantage of the I opportunity, turned and retreated, in order i to obtain a reinforcement of mounted > police, who were in tho neighbourhood ! Joined by the troopers, the volunteers 1 renewed tire fight. Both parties fought best j under cover, concealing themselves behind trees and firing on <any opponent who ox- . posed himself. There was among them an' old soldier, <& good marksman, who selected the bandit chief for his victim. He watched for his opportunity when Donohoe was looking from behind the tree at which he had token his stand, and fired on the instant; both the bullets with which the musket was loaded 1 took effect in tho bush- , ranger's head. Their leader slain, the bushrangers took to flight, and moot of them succeeded in effecting their escape. On the person of Donohoe there was found a small . pistol, loaded, with which it was said he intended to commit suicide if at any time he ! should find escape impossible. Walmsloy and 'Webber, tho other two leaders, held out a little longer, until the , former, it is believed, betrayed hie commie. While they were in tho met of sticking up a. gentleman and his carriage on the Western road, they found themselves in an ■ .instant surrounded by a body of police, who convoyed them to Sydney. Walmsley | turned King's evidence against' Webber, and caused great consternation among his old friends in the bush by giving full information as to how they disposed of the whole proceeds of the robberies. The houses- of eome 50 different people were searched and a : large amount of valuable property was"re--1 covered. Webber was convicted and hanged, while Walmsley was transhipped to Van Diemens Land. Tho r e . ceivera of the stolen property, against ■ whom Walmsley gave information, wero sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, i and the reign of terror in the New South Wales bush was brought to a close. (To be Continued.)