Bushranging in South Australia; The Robbers Captured in Melbourne;
A Remarkable Raid in Port Phillip; Going Out for a Fight with
Bushrangers; A Bloody Battle; Cashan and McIntyre; The Fight with
the Mail Passengers; Cashan Escapes from the Lock-up; Is Recaptured;
McIntyre Caught at Gammon Plains.
Three bushrangers named Wilson, Green, and another, robbed the settlers
in the vicinity of Lyndoch Valley, South Australia, and extorted
heavy contributions from their victims in the latter part of the year
1839 and the beginning of 1840. These robberies had been going on for
some months before news of them reached Adelaide. The colony had been
only founded a little more than three years before, and communication
was difficult and very irregular. There were no roads and the police
provisions were not yet of a character to enable the authorities to
cope effectually with such an outbreak as this.
The robbers called at Mr. Read's station and knocked at the door of the
house. The woman opened the door and was immediately knocked down by
one of the robbers without any notice being given or question asked.
Another robber fired his musket at her at so close range that the
wadding of the gun bruised her cheek, but the slugs with which it was
loaded did not injure her. Immediately on hearing of this outrage,
Mr. Inman, superintendent of the police, left Adelaide with a party
of mounted troopers, and as he proceeded on his way, news of other
robberies were spread about. The movements of the police, however,
appear to have been known to the bushrangers, as they were fired at
when passing through some scrub. Not knowing how many men there might
be in the gang, Mr. Inman intrenched himself, and sent to Adelaide for
more men, and in a few days parties of mounted police arrived from
Gawler and Mount Barker. The district was thoroughly searched, but
without success. About the middle of February, three men on horseback
arrived in Melbourne, Port Phillip. Their principal place of resort
was the Royal Highlander Inn, in Queen Street, where they spent money
freely and drank heavily. One of the men was recognised by the police
as a convict from Van Diemen's Land, free by service. He was arrested
on suspicion of having stolen the horse he rode, from Mr. Cox, but
as Mr. Cox's superintendent could not swear to the animal, although
he bore the station brand, the man was discharged and immediately
left Melbourne. On Sunday, February 23rd, Wilson was arrested for
drunkenness and rowdyism, and was fined 5s. next morning at the police
court. While there he was seen and recognised by two South Australian
policemen who had been to Sydney with some prisoners, and were on
their way home. Wilson and Green were both arrested that evening and
charged with the robbery at Mr. Read's station, South Australia. They
were detained until warrants could be obtained from Adelaide, when they
were sent there and convicted. The robbers had travelled from South
Australia to Melbourne, _via_ Portland Bay, and had probably stolen
the horses and perhaps some other property on the road. The third man,
whose name is not given, was searched for, but was not found, and it
was supposed he had crossed the Murray into New South Wales.
What is generally said to be the first highway robbery in the Port
Phillip district took place in April, 1842. A gang, composed of John
Ellis, _alias_ Yanky Jack, Jack Williams, Young Fogarty, and a "Van
Demonian" named Jepps, bailed up Mr. Darling and a friend as they were
riding to an out-station on the Dandenong run to brand cattle. The
robbers took £2 and a silver watch from Mr. Darling, and one shilling
and sixpence from his friend. Mr. Darling was riding a thorough-bred
horse, and Jack Williams remarked that he was a fine beast, and ordered
Mr. Darling to show off his paces. This was a blunder on the part
of the bushranger, who should have tried the horse himself, and Mr.
Darling was not slow in taking advantage of it. He did not wish to lose
his horse, and therefore jerked the bit, rolled about in the saddle,
and pretended that he had as much as he could do to keep his seat while
the horse was cantering. Williams watched as the horse went past him
a couple of times, and then said, "That'll do. He seems to be a----
rough 'un." He contented himself with the horse the friend was riding,
giving him his knocked-up horse in exchange. The bushrangers handed Mr.
Darling his watch, asked for it again, and returned it a second time
after passing it round for each to look at. Then as the gang was going
away Williams turned back, asked Mr. Darling to let him see what the
time was, and when that gentleman again showed him the watch he took it
and put it into his pocket. He then produced a bottle of rum, and after
having taken a swig himself passed it to Mr. Darling and his friend
with the remark that "a drop of grog was good on a cold day." Then
he took five shillings from his pocket, gave this also to Darling to
"drink their healths with at the next public-house," said "good day,"
and rode on after his mates. The gang went along the main road up the
Plenty River robbing the stations on either side of the road as they
came to them. They stuck up Messrs. Serjeantson, Peet, Bond, Langor,
Marsh, Fleming, Rider, Bear, and Captain Harrison, collecting a goodly
assortment of watches and chains, mostly silver, and some money. It was
after dark when they finished at Mr. Bear's house, and they camped by
the creek within sight of the house for the night.
Early next morning the gang took to the road again and robbed Messrs.
Sherwin, Roland, and Wills. At about nine o'clock they reached Mr.
Campbell Hunter's station as the family was sitting down to a breakfast
of roast duck, kippered herrings, and coffee. Williams walked into the
room pistol in hand and cried, "Put up your hands." He was immediately
obeyed. Then looking round he said "Gentlemen, you must make room for
your betters." Those present were Messrs. Campbell Hunter, Alexander
Hunter, Streatham, Rumbold, Boswell, and Dr. Grimes. They were made to
stand up against the wall while the roast ducks and other good things
were removed to a slab hut used as a store room. The bushrangers had,
however, only just begun their breakfast when a large party of armed
men galloped up.
News of the robberies of the previous day had reached Melbourne in the
evening, and Messrs. P. Snodgrass and H. Fowler, of the Melbourne Club,
had resolved to "go out for a hunt." They got their arms and horses,
and started, and were joined by several other gentlemen, among whom
were Mr. Serjeantson, and others who had been robbed, to the number
of about thirty. The bushrangers hastily made the Messrs. Hunter and
their other prisoners promise not to take part in the coming fight,
and then took up positions behind the fence. Undeterred by this show
of resistance, Mr. Gourlay jumped his horse over the fence, alighting
close to Jack Williams, so close, in fact, that the flash from the
bushranger's pistol, which was fired immediately, singed his whiskers
and burned his cheek. The bushranger dashed his pistol down on the
ground with an oath, and drew another, but Mr. Snodgrass, leaning
over the fence, shot him in the head before he could make use of it.
Thinking he had killed his man, Snodgrass turned to Yanky Bill, when
Williams jumped up and fired point blank at Gourlay, who shouted,
"Tell my friends I died game," and fell. Mr. Chamberlain shot Williams
through the head and killed him. Much to the surprise of those near,
Mr. Gourlay jumped up again almost as quickly as he had fallen, and it
was soon discovered that the pistol bullet had smashed his powder flask
and glanced off, inflicting only a severe bruise.
On the death of their leader the bushrangers rushed to the hut, and
took shelter there, pointing their pistols through the openings between
the slabs, and a fierce fusilade took place, during which Mr. Fowler
was severely wounded. Then there was a pause. It was believed that
the ammunition of the robbers had been expended, and a horse dealer
residing in the neighbourhood, named John Ewart, but usually known as
Hoppy Jack, volunteered to go in and speak to the bushrangers. At first
this was objected to as being too dangerous, but Hoppy Jack insisted,
and said it would be "all right." He advanced towards the hut waving
a white handkerchief, and after a few words at the door was admitted.
The result of this embassy was that the bushrangers agreed to surrender
provided that their captors would sign a petition to the judge to deal
leniently with them. This was readily agreed to, and the men came out
and gave themselves up just as a party of mounted police appeared on
the scene, and the prisoners were handed over to them.
This raid was principally remarkable for the boldness and rapidity with
which it was executed. The bushrangers travelled directly from one
station to the next, taking the shortest route, which was generally
along the main road. The robberies were effected in very short time
at each station, the bushrangers contenting themselves with money,
watches, rings, and other property carried on the person. There was
no time wasted in breaking open boxes or drawers, and there was no
necessity to spare their horses, as a knocked-up horse could be
exchanged for a fresh one almost whenever the robbers pleased. Mr.
Gourlay was little the worse for his bruises and burns, although the
powder marks on his face remained, but Mr. Fowler died a few days after
the fight. The prisoners were tried and convicted, and in spite of the
recommendation to mercy duly signed by their captors and forwarded to
the judge, were sentenced to death for the murder of Mr. Fowler. Jepps
confessed that it was he who had fired the fatal shot, but he also said
that he had refused to join in an attempt to murder Judge Willis, the
resident judge in Port Phillip. They were all hung in Melbourne, in
May, 1842.
During the following two years there was little bushranging in any part
of New South Wales, but in 1844 McIntyre and Cashan, alias Nowlan,
held the roads between Hartley, Bathurst, and Mudgee for several days,
robbing all who passed. On December 2, 1845, they stopped the mail at
Bowenfels, on the main Sydney road at the foot of the Blue Mountains,
on the western side. They called on the passengers to hand over their
money and valuables, but two of them resisted and drew their pistols.
A fight took place, and the bushrangers were worsted, Cashan being
captured, while McIntyre ran away into the bush. Cashan was taken
to Bathurst, tried, convicted, and sentenced to be transported for
life. He was being taken to Sydney, in April, to be sent to Cockatoo
Island, when the escort stopped at Weatherboard Hut for the night,
Cashan being lodged in the lock-up. He broke out during the night,
and could nowhere be found. He travelled to Gundagai, where he stuck
up Mr. Nicholson's station, taking clothes, provisions, horse, saddle,
and bridle. Mr. Andrews, who was in charge of the station, and who
was absent when Cashan called, on hearing of the robbery followed the
bushranger. He rode to Charles Simpson's station, but was told by
Messrs. Edwin and Alfred Tompson, who resided there, that no bushranger
had been seen. While they were talking a man on horseback came in
sight, and Andrews recognised him as the robber from the description
that had been given of him and the horse he was riding. Andrews
retreated into the house out of sight, and Cashan rode up, dismounted,
and asked for refreshments, but he was immediately seized by the
Tompsons and told that he was a prisoner. He asked, "How dared they
insult a gentleman in that manner," and struggled hard to escape; but,
finding that this was no use, he became quiet, and said he was ready
to go wherever they wished him to. They took him towards the house,
which was only a few steps distant, when suddenly he broke away with a
laugh, ran down the bank, and plunged into the Murrumbidgee River. The
river was in flood at the time, and was therefore twice its ordinary
width, and running strongly. Cashan, encumbered with a great coat, and
perhaps with other stolen property, could make no headway against the
current. He sank at once, rose some distance lower down, and succeeded
in grasping the pendulous branches of a swamp oak (_Casuarina_) hanging
over the water. After a severe struggle he contrived to haul himself
out of the water, and took a seat in the fork of the tree. He was still
on the same side of the river as Simpson's station, and at no great
distance from the bank, although the flood waters prevented Alfred
and Edwin Tompson from getting close to him. However, Edwin Tompson
covered him with his pistol, and threatened to shoot him if he moved.
They talked for some time, and the bushranger, seeing no chance of
escape, agreed to give himself up. He dropped into the water, swam to
the bank, and walked quietly to the house, where he was tied and made
secure for the night. The next day he was taken to Yass by the Tompsons
and Andrews, and in spite of his frequent attempts to break the
handcuffs and make his escape, he was safely lodged in the lock-up.
He was identified as one of the men who had burned Dr. Bell's house at
Braidwood, and robbed the Braidwood mail. When robbing the Braidwood
mail in company with McIntyre, he nearly committed murder, one of
the passengers having been dangerously wounded. He was convicted and
sentenced to be hung.
In the meantime, his former partner had not been idle. On the 21st
April, 1846, the two brothers Cutts were travelling towards Sydney with
a number of horses, when they were stopped at Meadow Flat, less than a
quarter of a-mile from Howard's Inn. They were compelled to dismount,
place their money on the ground, and retire. They deposited £3 18s.
in notes and silver and a watch on the ground, and then stepped back
several paces as they had been ordered to do. William Cutts begged
that a seal attached to his watch might be returned to him, as it
was a present from his dead wife, and he valued it accordingly. The
bushranger, who was supposed to be McIntyre, told him that "if there
was any more palaver" he would get his brains blown out. The robber
took up the money and watch, mounted his horse, and rode away. As soon
as information of the robbery was received in Bathurst the mounted
troopers started in pursuit of the bushranger.
On Monday, August 11th, two men went to the Golden Fleece Inn, Gammon
Plains, and remained drinking till Friday. On that day the landlord,
Mr. Perfrement, received his copy of the _Maitland Mercury_, and saw
in it a list of the numbers of the bank notes recently stolen from
the Singleton mail. He compared the numbers with those of the notes
he had received from his two guests, and finding that some of them
corresponded, he went to the police station and gave information. The
inn was not a large building, but there were several out-houses and
the bushrangers were in some of these. Perfrement and the police went
to one of these huts at the rear of the inn and found McIntyre there.
Perfrement put his hand on the bushranger's shoulder and said "You're
a prisoner." "Am I," exclaimed McIntyre jumping backwards, "Come on."
Constable Barker rushed in and a fierce wrestling match begun and
lasted for some minutes. Then McIntyre got on top and tried to get
his pistol out from his belt. Mr. Perfrement, who had snatched the
other pistol from him when the wrestling first began, now threatened
to shoot him if he did not surrender, but as the bushranger took no
notice Perfrement endeavoured to twist the other pistol out of his
hand. While this struggle was going on Barker wriggled from under the
bushranger, got up, and struck him so heavily with his fist as to
stun him. McIntyre lay still for several minutes before he regained
consciousness, and by that time his hands were tied. His companion
was found fast asleep in another hut and was easily captured. They
were tried in Maitland, and McIntyre was subsequently hung, while his
companion was sent to penal servitude.