Australian Tales and Adventures.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2030, 25 February 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

Australian Tales and Adventures.

No. IC. *

BROOMBIE SHOOTING

By BUNYIP. 11 Mister' ” said my Lachlan river friend, at whose station I had just arrived en my way up to the Bogan river, ‘‘l can promise you some sport out on my back blocks broorabie shooting—if you would like to rest your horses for a few days. The broombies sre beriming to play sad havoc with my water holes, and as there is every prospect of a dry season we are going to drive them out.” 11 And what are 11 broombies 7 ” the reader wiilask? They ate wild horses, which run in thousands out on the almost boundless plains constituting the back country ot the Licblan and Murtnmbidgee, at the time I am writing of nnfenoed, and to a very large extent ■mstocked, save perhaps for a few months in the winter, when the owners of stations on .be frontage used to take advantage of tbe crab-holes and cowals ot swamps being full ot water to send their sheep out to spell their fronts) go. I thanked my host (or his kindness, and as my saddle and packhorse (for I followed the occupation of a drover) would be none the. worse (or a few days test and feed before facing the long journey before them, I gladly accepted his invitation. “ You’ve been over my back country 7 ” inquired my host with a knowing 10-k. Now ho, being an old ovcthicdet himself, and much given to fossicking about for free grass when travelling with his stock, naturally concluded that I was troubled with a similar weakness. “Well," I said, “1 must admit the soft impeachment. I have been over your back country when bringing ehcep across from the Darling to the Murtnmbidgee in the winter,” “ I thought so,” he replied with a smile, in which there was much meaning. “ Old stagers like you and I don’t always keep the road, dc we 1 ” Now, my friend was a keen end shrewd man of business in hia own partiular way, and I web a drover, getting my living by driving stock from stations to market, so I replied it was my duty when in charge of slock on tha road to do the beat I could for thdm, and deliver them to tha Melbourne agents in creditable condition. “ Q dta right,” rejoined my host. Well, you know the Boree water hole? I’ve made a trap there, and as most of the smaller holes nro failing, the horses are beginning to come in pretty thick, and as it is my main stand by for the summer, I must thin the broombies out as much as I can. It is a pity, mister, to see such fine horses shot down and left for the dingoes, hawks, and erows to fatten upon, bat what can you do with them 7 “ I quite agree with you I replied,” I once tried my hand at trapping, and breaking some of them in, bat it was a failure. The next morning at daylight all hands were astir, and after breakfast, blackboya were despatched on horseback to the neighbouring stations, some of them thirty miles away, with invitations to the hunt. The stockmen, with their blackboya started out on tbe run to bring in the horses, and select those wanted (or tbe back blocks, and my host and I had a quiet ride out to see some blacks who were shepherding some stud sheep of hie. “ Hood day Nanny,” said my friend to the gin who was looking after the flock for her lord and master, “ whereabout Tommy 7 “Tommy yan-away look outj’possum”replied Nanny, “ bye-and-bye coma back.” We looked over the sheep which were in splendid condition, when my friend asked Nanny if she wanted anything. Gentle reader, did you ever ask a blackfellow or his better half if they wanted anything, without receiving an answer in the affirmative 7 Nanny did want a good many things, rations, tobacco, calico for a dress, and numerous other articles.

“All right,” said the master’ 41 1’l tell the storekeeper. At the name of that station 0(11oial, Nanny ottered but one word and that was gammon ! She viewed her master’s promise to tell the storekeeper in the same livht as a deputation to a cabinet minister does bis promise to consult his colleagues—as a quiet way of shelving the question. However, we said good bye to Nanny and returned home, but my host did not forget his promise to his lady shepherd, and the storekeeper despatched the necessaries to Nanny forthwith much to her delight, and more to her surprise at her master's thoughtfulness. Meanwhile, preparations were being made, dampers baked, bee! boiled, rations of tea and sugar weighed out by the storekeeper, horses selected, rifles cleaned and bullets oast. In the evening friends began to arrive and everything was ready for an early start the following morning. Most of those invited were informed of the rendezvous and as all were concerned in the destruction of the horses the master oat back was likely to be well attended. That evening the house was full of visitors, mostly young men—native Australians—and great was the yarning, of coarse, about horses, the one topic uppermost in everyone's mind. Great were the feats narrated about buck-jumpers, and more about country races. Pedigrees were traced, and as many points discussed as might have evolved another Godolphin Arabian. Those social bush gatherings are always pleasant, this one was particularly so. There was much quiet good humoured chaffing, all taken in good part, with the average amount of 44 blow.” Anthony Trollope bad not visited Australia in those days, so the colonial propensity to blow had not received the prominent publicity it did after his arrival: but our visitors, and, in fact, most young bush horsemen, could generally perform with perfect ease on horseback all the feats they 41 blow ” about. We all went early to bed as the start had to be made by daylight, the Boree water hole being fully twenty miles back. Next morning, long before sunrise, the cook bad breakfast under weigh, the blackboys had the horses in the yard, everyone was gathering his traps together, and shortly after sunrise a start was made. It was in the month of November, and very hot, but there was a full moon ; our object in starting so early was to get out to the Boree before the heat of the day and spell our horses for the night's work. The trap was a strong stookyard fence, made of young pine trees on forks, with a long wing running out at an angle from the water hole. We camped for the day some little distance away. By dinner time our party was largely increased, and we numbered some thirty odd horsemen, blacks and whites. We had to keep back in some scrub as much out of sight as possible. The time was passed lounging about, sleeping, talking, and smoking until sundown, shortly after which the horses usually come out on to the plains. Our horses were saddled and tied up to trees, and our blankets and provisions pat together in a heap. The day before, the bullock driver was despatched with a dray and tour steady old bullocks to the Boree to drag away the slaughtered burses into the scrub, and cart their tails and mains into the station, for our host was a careful man, and never let anything go to waste. Shortly after dusk, as 44 the broad moon was circling into sight,” the wild horses were showing ont on the plain from the opposite tide. Ws

waited silently for nearly an hour, when the whole mob appeared to be there. “ Headed by rno black irb.btv steed, Vno eoerae.i the pstriarc'i ct lira breed. Without a tingle t>p l 'ok or hair Of while upon hia shag;> hide." Unfortunately through the glneminp. I could rot take such particular iv. iiic in this instance, nf (he leader of the mob, a' Byron's hrro “ Maz-mpa" had tha Uhure to do vben lying lightly bound on the back of the vend wild steed in (he forest of tha Ukraine. Tire leader of the mob was evidently ill at hi- case ; endowed as all wild animals i.re wilh bun instinct, he gr.ufled the air, piu«c 1, and with his troop nolle a sort of recoin .i'siin.' tour round the plain, but the pangs o' thirst overcame iheir discretion, and they once more wheeled and made for the trap, where they bad been accustomed to water tir.raolct-tedfor some time previously. Too leader scented and snuffed about, following the edge of the lagoon around, until the mob were well within the wing and inside the trap, when the horsemen silently and ae quietly as possible came out from the scrub. There was no burry, or bustle, as that would have «poilt all, until we got within the wing of the trap. The horses by this were trying to break away,but the pour victims|wern secure; a volley of etookwhips kept the terrified creatures jammed in towards the other end of the enclosure, while long pine saplings were fixed up at the entrance in such a manner as to render any attempt at escape hopeless. By the time all this was done, the moon was high in the heavens—a clear cloudless night such ns is only experienced in those warm districts. Leaving some mounted black boys to watch the gateway, we hobbled our horses some distance away and set about getting tea. This finished, we made preparations for shooting the horses. Some three or four crack shots of the party undertook the office of executioners. “And then, began a murder grim and great.’’ At almost every crack of a rifle a horse fell; few were but wounded; the marksmen were cool and collected and in no hurry, and in leas than two hours, every horse was down—upwards of forty The slaughter over, we lay round the camp fire, some yarning, others who could, sleeping, and so passed the ehort remainder of t hat summer night. At daylight breakfast was speedily discussed ; then wn a commenced the work of cutting oiT the hair from the manes and tails which was put into flour bags brought out by the bullock dray. This done the burses were dragged away by the bullocks into the scrub some distance away, an occupation which took the team the beet part of the day to perform, and the battue was over. There were really some magnificent horses shot; it seemed wanton destruction, but what was to be done 7 They increased so rapidly in those free pastures, untrammelled by (cnees, enjoying the range of the country, and destroyed u much valuable water not by merely drinking it, but by pawing and rolling in it, and were too wild to attempt to drive them to market. Many of our visitors started direct for home, the rest returned to the station where wo spent another pleasing evening during which more yarns were told, until bed-time. Early next morning after breakfast, the visitors departed for their several homes and I resumed my journey to the Bogan. Jogging along for a few miles I called at a elation on the Lachlan the owner of which I knew well He had (or bis guest a “ Bash Missionary"— and invited me to stay for dinner ts hi.i visitor was travelling in the same direction as myself, and he said lie was good ccmpany. I thankfully accepted his kind invitation, and hobbled my horec out in a bend of the river, and going inside the house, was introduced to the family and missionary. After dinner we saddled up and my clerical acquaintance and I started on our journey. Now a bush missionary is usually, (00 I have found him) very good company on a journey ; full of varied experiences gained during r,met ant travelling and meeting with all cle .-. iln keeps his theology for proper oeeasir ns, and does not introduce it into travellin ; conversation. Thus, we travelled on together f>r several days, always finding a ho-ph -.'da wi-1-some, till we came to a wayside I o' I on the Belar Creek, called the •' Ihne It d kept by a Frenchman. Thi.* hotel had he n a day or two before the scene 0? .a tragic I’cr.-mvc resulting in tha death of a notorious bushranger of the name of Rutherford, who had f. r some time been the terror of that purl of the country, and whose rfli-ty now (tragi.- th- ). 11 of the wax-works in Melbourne. T man, after being hunted c(T the Muqu'iU- I 'err by the Police, wbg making across to ti.«- B mu. and at mid-day, called at tbe Pins i: , 1:-.: g his horae up at the rail in front 0? (h- bon , and walking into the bar, asked the lan’lnt 1 (or a glass of brandy. After he had dr.vi; U, he eaid 11 Have you any money in the plac ? “Oh, yes,” said the Isndh rd quite unsu- ■< ting who his visitor was, any amount." 11 Tin n shell out,” said Rutherford, at the pair.;: im: drawing a revolver which he had concealed. “ I’m Rutherford." “Glad to see you ’said the Frenchman quite politely and unconcerned, but my wife has the key of the cash box: I’ll go h-v hj.” “I’ll go with you,” paid Hit' rd. wilh revolver in hand bo accompanied th. landlord through tbe bar to the hack door. They had to cross a small yard to tbe kitchen where the wife wap. Along one side of this yard was a sapling fence, upon which was hanging a saddle and bridle. Xo sooner had they stepped outside the doer than tbe landlord suddenly exclaimed, “ Whose new saddle is that Rutherford turned to look, and in an instant the Frenchman had his arms round him. They were both powerful men, ami in the souffle Rutherford’s revolver uvnt oft, whether intentionally or otherwise was never known, and the ball lodged in his own stomach. Ho dropped instantly and the Inmilord who was joined by his wife and a boy ?•*..?_ he was mortally wounded, and carried him into the. bar. The boy was at once d.-sp.M !o .! on Rutherford’s horse to Can.i.'i-har 0:1 . th.- Da.-k Crock, twenty five wiles . , for .hj ' v lie- ■ and the next morning the p-dic" l mag who rcHded there accompanied hy.'‘ t- '-vm-r arrived. Rutherford db-d r r, tr--- uLht of the day bo was shot. The mr.-i f. b* Id an inqueet and ordered his burial and Urn Frenchman received £.‘-00 reward ■ ff-n d by the Sydney (iovernmnit for Rutherford's arrest, bepid-'r. (lie timid 3 of the (1 m rnuient and ooramuiiiiy at lave. fur the pro-nut and pltickv manner in which he had acto-h The bushranger lies buried on the sandhill not tar from the b.ot-1. He wire tbe li'-V of that class of miscreants in thiipait of the country. Shortly after leaving the hj h.l the mUuioiiary and 1 parted comp ny ; he rae-kin-; across to J the Macquarie River, while I wi ut on to | Cannunbar, and tha next day completed my | journey.

What Afghans Fight With The Afghan matchlock or jv/.ail has do parraihl on the face of the earth. It is ab.-ut nine feet long, an! is fitted near the mu ,zb with a prong which supports it on the -round when it in about to be tired oil. It is cu, l with a powder pan and a catch for holding a fuse. An Afghan marksman has to ihji.nl the state of his fuse, and therefore he is bv no means a certain shot. During the last Afghan war it used to be a joke among tho British soldiers that an Afghan would poise his jazail upon a rock, caiculsto when his enemy would bo 'ikely to arrive in front of his muzzle, fix his fa«e, and then ,ft t., m little distance and sit down a~; , if the enemy arrived in front d the n : rcM-ek just as it went off, why then h- v...uM ,n.., s likely be killed ; la: then if ne biin [ and the weapon went off a quarter o! an hj. or after I- • bad passed it, then no harm was done, end the owner would philosophically ‘•set’’’ tig jazail again, 512