SYDNEY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1760, 30 August 1862, Page 3

SYDNEY.

STICKING-UP THE ARALUEN ESCORT, A deal of excitement was caused in town on Monday last, by the non-arrival of the escort from Aval u en at its usual time, but the reason was soon ascertained by the arrival of Mr. H. Cobb, storekeeper to Mr. Bla tub ford, of Crown Flat, escorted by Corporal Walmsley.and from whom we obtained the following "particulars. The escort, consisting of one man, Corporal Walmsley, started from Araluen, at its time, en route to Braidwood, via Majoi's Creek, and when nearly at the top of the mountain the trooper in charge was fired at three times by several armed men who had their faces blackened, Happily, however, the shots did not take effect, and Corporal Walmsley and the joung man from Blatchford's store who accompanied him, at once galloped back to Araluen, preferring to do that to running the gauntlet past a number of armed men. The bushrangers managed the attack in a very bungling manner. They first fired the ineffectual shot referred to, and then sung out " stop " which order Corporal Walmsley did not feel inclined to obey, but going upon the principle that " discretion was the best part of valor, " he wisely retreated, and by so doing saved something like fifteen hundred pounds worth of gold. Upon his return to Crown Flat lie at once communicated the intelligence to Mr. Cobb, who inimedi itely started with him for Braidwood by the Dirty Butter Track, there* hy avoiding the road near which the bushrangers hud located themselves, and arrived safely and deposited the gold in the Oriental Bank at a little after two o'clock. The greatest praise is due to Corporal Walmsley for his conduct, for had he been fool-hardy enough to have attempted to proceed he would in all probability have lost the gold, and his own life into the bargain. Of late there hare been many suspicious chitracteis about this town who are suspected of being connected with the different robberies that have been carried on, but time will bring that ail to light. Id the meantime the Government should at once send reinforcements bere to protect the people of this district from such lawless vagabonds, for in addition to the escort these freebooters sometimes fly at smaller game, as was instanced last week by the sticking-up on the Clyde road, and, if report says true, by the slopping of several parties on the Araluen Mountain on Sunday; one of whom— Mr. John M'Mahon, of Reidsdale — was stuck up on Sunday night near the top of the Dirty Butter Mountain by armed men, who robbed him of £10 and tied him to a tree, where he remained until he was released on the following day. We may add that when the escort did not arrive at Major's Creek, Mr. Blatchford naturally became anxious about it, and started for Araluen in company with two troopers ; and upon arriving at Crown Flat, having ascertained the cause of delay, they returned to the creek, and the gold was forwarded to Braidwood. We may add that the police have not yet been out to look after these rascals, Mr. 'Wiltshire being tied by orders from head quarters, and moreover there is not a troop horse fit to do the journey ; but we should think that " extraordinary occasions demand extraordinary measures. — Braidtoood Dispatch, 6th August.