Sequel to a Bushranging Story.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6436, 4 January 1889, Page 4

Sequel to a Bushranging Story.

«, '•'■ FRANK GARDINER'S BURIED BOOTY. The sequel to tlie story of Frank Gardiner, the bushranger, has (according I to a Melbourne journal) just been told by ' a Calif ornian papex. Before, lais- capture \ he bad been intimate with, a young girl, fresh from England, who bora him a daughter. It was his intention to have married the mother of his child, but his trial and lengthened term of imprisonment prevented him from doing so. Before hiu release she died, and the first thing he did on quitting prison was to visit his daughter and make suitable provision for her future •welfare, but left her in ignorance ag to hia own antecedents. He quitted these Colonies for San Franciscoi where he opened a saloon in JKearny street, near Broadway, whence he moved to tho city front, hia place being the resort of seafaring men, more especially those plying between that port and tho Colonies. Ho remained on the front until his health failed him, when he went into the interior, where he eventually crossed the unknown river. During all the time that Gardiner remained in San Francisco his conduct was good, and the police never once had to complain of him or his saloon. He was devoted to the interests of hia daughter, who in the meantime had grown to womanhood. Eventually she married a station hand in Queensland. This was about a year before her father's " death. A few days prior to his passing away Gardiner entrusted A SEALED PACKAGE to a confidential friend, from whom he extracted a solemn promise that when he died that package should be forwarded to his daughter in the Eockliampton district of Queensland. The confidential friend kept his word, and shortly after Gardiner's death, the package was forwarded as directed. It contained certain instructions and cabalistic marks, which it was thought indicated the places where Gardiner and his companions had hidden poi'tionß of their plunder. The supposition . waa strongly supported by the arrival in San Francisco a few months ago of Gardiner's daughter and her husband, Edward H. Forbes, who changed thousands of Australian sovereigns, which, had the appearance of having been out. , of circulation for a number of years, into American money. They also disposed of quite an amount of gold bullion. Having changed their wealth into American money tho couple took their departure on the overland train for New York, on their way to England, to visit Forbes' people. It is said that Forbes will return to the United States and settle on a cattle ranche in Montana, where he has some relations. As near as could be ascertained it is almost certain that the principal portion of Gardiner's booty was buried on the Engora Creek, near where .£14,000 was taken in ono haul from a stage, the robbery of whicli cost Hall, Gilbert and Charters their lives, Gardiner being the only highwayman who escaped.