The New South Wales Bushrangers.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 671, 8 April 1879, Page 2

The New South Wales Bushrangers.

Referring to the capture of a gang of Bushrangers, reported m our telegrams a short while since, we take the following from the South Australian Register : — When Grainger's store was stuck up atHatfield, Day, a storeman, effected his escape although shot at twice. When he reached Balranald he was sworn m as a special constable, and m company with Constable Beresford and Power started m pursuit of the gang. On Sunday morning at half-past 9, a start was made by the police, who conducted the pursuit with commendable rigour. The gang were tracked to Clare, where the services of black trackers were procured, and the pursuit was continued to Klifern, two hundred miles from Balranald, when the police encountered the

gang. At sunset on Monday evening the bushrangers were encamped m a lignum scrub near the Wilandra Creek when the police came upon them. They were surprised no doubt, as they had their horses hobbled at a short distance, where supper was m course of preparation. Upon seeing the police the men rushed and secured their arms. The police called upon thorn to surrender, whilst they m turn called on the police to bail up, and followed the command by firing on the troopers. The police returned the fire. In the encounter the firing on both sides was without effect Finding the police determined to make a good stand the bushrangers deemed it well to make an effort to secure their horses. These had, however, become alarmed at the firing and decampted to some distance, where they were rounded up by Special-constable Day, at whom Gorman fired Beveral shots, and m return he met with a warm response. Finding it impossible to secure their horses the members of the gang opened a sharp fire upon the police, to which bo good a response was made that the bushrangers found it necessary to surrender. During the last firing the miscreants partly succeeded m their design, and sent a bullet through the right shoulder of Constable Power, but the wound was not of a serious nature.

The men, whose names are Thomas Gorman, W. Kay, W. Hobbs, and Charles Jones, were taken to Balra'nald yesterday afternoon about 4 o'clock m charge of the officer and safely lodged m the local lockup. When arrested the desperadoes were found well armed, and plentifully supplied with ammunition, so that their arrest may be looked upon as highly satisfactory. The police succeeded m recovering eight horses and property and money, with the exception of £12, stolen by the gang during its short career. The residents m the back country rendered all the assistance they could, supplying the police with horses, &c. The police did their work well, and deserve the best thanks of the community for their prompt action. They travelled 200 miles m some thirty hours, out of which they had only two hours' rest.