BUSHRANGING DATS.—A REMINISCENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1895, 16 March 1888, Page 31

BUSHRANGING DATS.— A REMINISCENCE.

Happily, it may be stated, without fear of contradiction, that life and property are quite as safe in Australia as in any part of the old world. In bygone days, however, depredations were at times committed by escaped prisoners, and. other lawless des-

peradoes, who were attracted by a wild life, and vied with one another, either singly or in gangs, in perpetrating robberies and mur» ders of the most daring and sanguinary character.

When in New South Wales, over 20 years ago, the writer had occasion to visit some friende in the Mudgee district, and before leaving Sydney was warned that the road was somewhat unsafe, owing to tho exploits of a gang of ruffians— Hall, -Gilbert, and Dunn by name— two of whom were eventually shot dead in encounters with the police, while the third was hanged at Darlinghurst. The railway then terminated at Penrith, from which place Cobb's coaches ran westward across the Blue Mountains, which are now traversed by Pullman cars, and whose lofty ridges look down upon weird and chasm-like depths that awe the beholder. It so happened that Sir Frederick Pottinger, a well-known police inspector, who had been engaged in many an affray with bushrangers, lay ill at Penrith, having a few days previously received what proved to be his death wound from the accidental discharge of hii own revolver.

The vehicle in which I was allotted an inside seat was of the ordinary American type, and hung on leather springs, which, though passably efficient on a smooth road, caused an intolerable jolting motion when we came to a bad bit. Outside rode the Yankee driver — as usual, a first-rate whip — and a police constable, who was armed with a revolver and revolving carbine, for the protection of the mails. My fellow passenger* pointed out many places where coaches had been robbed, from which it was made apparent that attacks were carefully planned, so that even well-armed passengers could be taken unawares, and ordered to " bail up " before they had a chance of acting in selfdefence. Furthermore, these lawless ruffians were well supplied with information by their friends and sympathisers, while the police were put on the wrong scent, so that in many instances they were enabled to ply their trade with impunity for lengthened periods. A Sydney friend kindly placed his revolver at my disposal for the journey, and, as it was a handy little weapon, the offer was gladly accepted Fortunately, however, there was no occasion to use it, except in one instance, and then in quite a bloodless way.

I chanced to make the acquaintance of a fellow passenger, and we walked up a steep, ascent for the sake of exercise, and to relieve the horses. After a brisk walk of some duration along a well-worn track, a stone quarry brought us to a full-stop ; and, on retracing our steps, we, to our consternation, saw the coach bowling rapidly along an elevation considerably below us, on its way westward. We ran and shouted until out of breath, vainly endeavouring to arrest attention, and there seemed every prospect of our being left to camp out for the night, when it occurred it me to fire my revolver in the direction of the coach, a proceeding which speedily brought it to a standstill. At the junction with the Bathurst road I parted company with my new acquaintance, who, seeing that I was a strangei to the disIrict, took me into his confidence, and told me his plans. It seems that he had been attracted from a neighbouring colony, in the hope of earning a reward of £1000, which the New South Wales Government had offered for the apprehension of each member of the Ben Hall gang. He claimed to be a first-rate shot and a skilled tracker, and was then on his way to the scone of operations. I afterwards heard the result, which was tragic in the extreme. Having been left one night in charge of the camp, he was aroused by hearing sounds of approaching horseman ; his challenge not being answered immediately, and suspecting the presence of bushrangers, he fired, and, in the uncertain light, mortally wounded one of his own comrades. 1 n my own case I had reason to be thankful for a narrow escape from what might have been a similar disaster. One night, when my bones were aching from the cramped position o£ an inside seat while travelling over a rough piece of natuiul road, I excited the compassion of the good-natured guard, and persuaded him to change places for a stage. Warning me that, in the event of our being stopped, I should assniedly be made a target, Le handed me his carbine, and I mounted tiie coveted box seat. All went well for a while, until a mysterious figure suddenly emerged from the thick bush that bordered i he road, and advanced towards us with uplifted arm. The driver promptly pulled up his team, while I made ready my borrowed c\irbine and gave the alarm to the insid* passengers. Fortunately for himself, howover, the apparition was heard to inquire in drunken tones the direction of the nearest public-house, and escaped with no more serious consequences than a volley of imprecations for raising a false alarm. Thu* terminated a journey which, though in itself uneventful, recalls to recollection a phase of colonial life which happily may now be regarded as a thing of the past.— J. S O'Hallojran, in the Field.