Bushranging in Victoria; Robert Bourke; Harry Power: He Escapes from
Pentridge Gaol and Sticks Up the Mail; An Amateur Bushranger; The
Police Hunt Power Down and Capture him Asleep; A Peacock as "Watch
Dog"; The Power Procession at Beechworth; The Trial of Power; His
Sentence; Engaged to Lecture on Board the _Success_; His Death.
While New South Wales was the chief centre of bushranging during this
epoch, the neighbouring colonies were not entirely free from the
disease. In those cases in which the epidemic flowed, as it were,
over the borders of the mother colony--as when Morgan, Thunderbolt,
and Bertram crossed into Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia
respectively--the inroads have been dealt with in connection with
the careers of these particular bushrangers in order not to break
the continuity of their stories. Having described the rise and fall
of bushranging in the older colony, it is now necessary to return to
Victoria and continue the narrative there. Bushranging in this colony
during this epoch was rather a survival from the past than a new
development, and, with one notable exception, the police dealt promptly
with the lawbreakers. The exception will be noticed in due course.
On September 5th, 1862, Mr. Ryan, the landlord of the Travellers' Rest
Hotel at Yalla-y-poora, was at breakfast with his family and a visitor
named Reid, when two armed men entered the room. One stood at the door,
while the other, pistol in hand, stepped forward and cried "Bail up."
They tied Messrs. Ryan and Reid, and took ten shillings from the till
and ten one pound notes from under the mattress of the bed, where it
had been hidden. They did not search the women, but they broke some of
the furniture in the bedroom while hunting for the money. One of the
robbers pulled the boots off Mr. Reid's feet and put them on his own,
leaving a very much worn and damaged pair in their place. They also
took Reid's horse, saddle, and bridle from the stable. Mr. Reid told
them that he was only a poor man, and that the loss of his horse would
ruin him. The robber replied, "Well, he ain't the sort we want. I'll
leave him for you at Macpherson's as soon as I get a better one." When
they had left Mrs. Ryan untied her husband and their guest, and Ryan
mounted his horse and rode to Ararat to give information to the police.
Constables Lawler and Griffen followed the bushrangers, and tracked
them to a hut near Mount Sturgeon, in the Grampian Ranges. The police
expected a fight, but they rushed the hut and captured the robbers
without a shot being fired, although one of them named Regent had a
loaded revolver in his hand. They were taken to the gaol at Ararat, and
were convicted and sentenced in due course.
In July, 1864, a sensation was caused in the Kilmore district by a
report which gained currency, that Gardiner and his gang had stuck
up a number of people near Yea. A party of volunteers was speedily
organised to assist the police in hunting down the bushrangers. The
pursuers were divided into small parties, and on the evening of the
20th one of these, composed of Mr. Grant and Constable Buck, came upon
three suspicious-looking characters camped on Pack Bullock Flat with
a mob of horses. Constable Buck asked where they were going, when one
replied "To Melbourne," and another "To the Jordan." Buck called on
them to surrender, when one man sprang forward and clutched him by the
throat. Another rushed at Grant, who was unarmed. Grant turned and ran
to where they had left their horses, calling on Buck to come away, and
Buck broke loose and joined him. Buck however lost his revolver in the
struggle. They rode away to find help, and returned with Mr. Grant's
brother, George Grant, and Mr. Walker. Grant shot one bushranger dead.
Walker stunned a second with a blow on the head with the butt of his
gun, while Buck captured the third after a smart run. The captured men
were convicted of robbery by violence, and it was said that the horses
they had with them had been stolen from various stations.
Robert Bourke was employed as cook at Mr. Broughton's, Humewood
Station, on the Murrumbidgee River, New South Wales, and appears to
have been suddenly affected with the bushranging mania. He ferried
himself across the river, and with the assistance of a young lad named
Quinn stuck up and robbed several people in the neighbourhood. He was
said to "know every bulga from Barren Jack to Manaro," but did not stop
long in that district, perhaps because it had already been "worked
out" by the Brothers Clarke and other bushrangers. In September, 1868,
he crossed the Murray River, and stuck up and robbed travellers on
the road near Wodonga and Wangaratta, gradually working southwards.
On October 4th he appeared at Mr. Hurst's station, Diamond Creek,
about fifteen miles from Melbourne, where a daring attempt was made
to capture him. The story is that Bourke called at William Horner's
on the 2nd, and asked for a bed. He was told that there was none to
spare, when he drew a revolver and cried "Bail up." Horner slammed
the door in his face. Bourke fired, and the bullet passed through the
door panel, but did no great injury. He tried to push the door open,
but, failing in this, he began to "parley." He said he was hungry,
and would go away quietly if he was given something to eat. Horner
then opened the door and gave him a pannikin of tea and some bread
and cold meat. He sat down on a log and made a good meal. When he had
finished he asked for some "tucker for the road" and a horse, saddle,
and bridle. Horner said that the horses were all down the paddock, and
he did not intend to run them in until next morning, but he could have
some "tucker." He then gave him a large piece of bread and some meat.
They talked together very amicably. Bourke said, "I'm a bushranger
from New South Wales, and I've come here to see if your police are as
clever as you blow about them. They'll never take me alive." He went
away, and, it is supposed, slept in the bush. On the morning of the
4th he went to Hurst's place and asked for some breakfast. Thinking he
was an ordinary tramp, Miss Hurst gave him some bread and meat in the
kitchen, but, as he sat at table, she noticed that he carried pistols
in his belt. She went into another room and informed her brother Henry,
who loaded a double-barrelled gun to be ready for any emergency. He
walked into the kitchen, carrying the gun behind him, to have a look at
their suspicious guest, and asked him where he came from and where he
was going? "From Cape Schank to Kilmore," was the reply. "Then you're
not travelling in the right direction," remarked young Hurst. Bourke
jumped up from the table, as if in a passion, and cried "Do you doubt
my word? Do you want to insult me?" He drew his revolver and Hurst
brought his gun round and fired. He missed, and Bourke immediately shot
him in the chest. Although he was severely wounded young Hurst rushed
forward and grappled with the bushranger, while Mr. Abbott and two or
three other men ran in to ascertain what the shooting was about. They
secured the bushranger and carried young Hurst to bed, but, although
every attention was paid to him, he died in a few hours. Bourke was
identified by the police as a man who had been sentenced to three
years' imprisonment for horse-stealing at Ararat. When he had served
his term he was of course discharged and, as was surmised, went to
New South Wales and obtained work on a station. He lived quietly for
about eighteen months, when he started bushranging as related. He was
twenty-five years of age at the date of his conviction for the murder
of Henry Hurst.
The central figure in Victoria of this era was undoubtedly Harry Power.
This notorious bushranger arrived in Victoria from Ireland shortly
before the proclamation of the discovery of gold at Ballarat, and
went to the diggings. In March, 1855, he was seen near Daisy Hill, in
the Maryborough district, riding a valuable horse, the description
of which tallied with that of a horse which had been stolen and for
which the police were seeking. He was stopped and challenged to show
his receipt for the horse. Instead of producing it or saying where it
was deposited, Power disputed the right of the police to stop him on
the highway and drew a revolver. The police, very naturally perhaps,
took this as a tacit admission that he could not show any right to the
horse, and sought to apprehend him. Several shots were fired and at
last one of the troopers fell wounded. Power put spurs to his horse and
galloped away. A warrant was immediately issued for his arrest and he
was followed and captured. He was convicted of "wounding with intent
to do grievous bodily harm," and was sentenced to fourteen years'
penal servitude. A short time before the expiration of his term he was
employed in drawing refuse from the Pentridge Gaol to the rubbish heap
in a go-cart. A number of other prisoners were similarly employed.
While the cart he was helping to draw was being tipped Power contrived
to secrete himself under a corner of the heap. He was not missed until
evening, when the prisoners employed at this work were mustered. The
prisoners at work with him must of course have been aware of his
evasion, but professed ignorance in accordance with convict etiquette.
A search was made and his hiding place was discovered, but Power was
gone. He stole some clothes from a farm not far from Pentridge, and
the blade of an old pair of sheep shears to defend himself with, as
he declared that he would not be captured alive. Shortly after his
escape, on May 7th, 1869, he stuck up the mail coach near Porepunkah
and continued to rob in the Ovens and Beechworth districts for several
months, when he made a raid into New South Wales, going as far as
Adelong. He returned about the end of September to his old district and
stayed there for the remainder of his career.
Commenting on his actions, the _Ovens and Murray Advertiser_
said--"Possessed of a thorough knowledge of the country, this scoundrel
has made periodical descents to the settled districts, and afterwards,
like a hunted dog, betaken himself to the ranges. _From a certain
portion of the population he--or whoever else has been masquerading
in his name--has received succour and information, while the police
have been misled and deceived._" The article from which this extract
was made was copied and italicised in the _Melbourne Argus_, and
made the subject of a leading article, in which it was contended
that if bushranging was to be stamped out the sympathisers and "bush
telegraphs" must be restrained from aiding the bushranger with food and
information. The Government was urged to pass a special Act to enable
the police to contend with the difficulty. It was said on the other
hand that the Outlawry Act, if strictly applied, would meet the case.
William Moore, of Buffalo, was returning from a trip to Eldorado,
where he had sold his load of farm produce, when a young man rode up
and asked him "Where have you been?" "What's that to you?" returned
Moore. The young fellow said "I only asked a civil question." "Well,"
said Moore, "I've been to Eldorado, and I'm going home. Will that
satisfy you?" The young man nodded, and cantered on. As he passed,
Moore noticed that he had pistols in his belt, and hastily took a roll
of notes, worth £35, from his pocket, and thrust it into an empty
flour sack in the dray. The young man only rode forward about fifty
yards, and then wheeled round, revolver in hand, and cried "Bail up."
Moore stopped, and willingly turned out his pockets, displaying a
half-crown, which he handed to the robber, who rode away. In reporting
this robbery Mr. Moore said that he believed that this was the young
man's first attempt at highway robbery, as he trembled violently and
seemed glad when it was over. The _Ovens and Murray Advertiser_ of May
7, 1870, in commenting on this case, said: "It shows the necessity of
more determined efforts to capture Harry Power, who has for more than
a year robbed rich and poor alike in this neighbourhood, and it is the
immunity which he has for so long enjoyed that encourages young lads to
imitate him."
Shortly before, in April, Patrick Stanton, otherwise known as Jack
Muck, was captured after a smart run. He was convicted of having stuck
up and robbed a coloured man, a well-known splitter and timber cutter,
on the Black Dog Creek. The splitter had been to town to be paid for a
number of posts and rails, and was returning home along the Rutherglen
Road when he was bailed up.
The Kilmore _Free Press_ reported that Power had been seen in Mr.
Dunlop's paddock at Mount William. He was firing at a mark on a tree.
No one interfered with him.
On May 2nd, Edward Kelly was arrested at Greta and was charged with
having assisted Power in some of his robberies. He was not identified
by the witnesses, and was therefore discharged.
On the 27th Superintendents Nicholson and Hare, Sergeant Montford, and
Black-tracker Donald left Wangaratta and made a journey into the ranges
near the head of the King River. It was believed that they had received
special information from a friend of the bushranger. At the head of the
glen, near where Power's camp was, a family named Quinn resided, and it
was said that Power would never be caught while they were there. The
Quinns owned several dogs and a peacock, which it was believed would
never allow any person to pass up the ravine without giving notice. The
peacock was reported to be the "best watch dog of the lot." His screams
could be heard far away whenever a stranger approached the hut, and
he generally gave the first signal, and thus roused the dogs. On this
occasion, however, the police passed without either the peacock or the
dogs giving a sign. They came to a hollow tree with holes in the stem.
This tree had been mentioned as "Power's look-out," and it was reported
that he frequently went into it to survey the country round, through
the holes, without exposing himself. There was plenty of room inside
for more than one man, and the natural holes formed by the decay of the
tree had been added to by augur holes bored at a convenient height for
spying through. They examined it, but it was empty. All round was a
dense growth of cherry and wattle scrub, which they cautiously pushed
their way through, and peeped into a small clearing. A gunyah of bark
stood in the middle of this space, and before it was a fire burning.
Creeping cautiously up, the police saw a man's leg sticking out from
under the gunyah. One of them seized it, and drew the man out on his
back. It was Harry Power. He had been lying asleep under the impression
that he was perfectly safe. He gave a loud howl on being thus rudely
awakened, and then asked, "Who are you?" "The police," was the reply.
"No fear," said Power; "you couldn't have got past Quinn's; the dogs
and the peacock would not have let you." "We did," replied Inspector
Nicholson; "the dogs and the peacock never saw us, but there were
several men there and Quinn himself--they saw us." "You've given us a
great deal of trouble, Power," said Inspector Hare, "but we've got you
at last." "I'm very sorry I didn't hear you," remarked Power; "I'd
have dropped some of you if I had."
In the gunyah were a Government revolver, stolen from the police,
loaded and capped; a double-barrelled gun, hanging from the ridge
pole, loaded ready for use; and a loaded pistol lying close beside the
sleeping bushranger. There were also a box of slugs, a powder flask,
two boxes of caps not quite full, a carpet-bag full of clothes, and
a saddle and bridle. The bed was a very comfortable one, with a good
supply of blankets.
The police informed Power that they had been out in the ranges for more
than a week and were starving. They had not had a mouthful of food for
more than twenty-four hours, and were anxious to get back to town.
"There's plenty of tucker here," said Power. "Where?" asked the police.
"In that tree," replied Power. They went to the tree and saw a bag hung
up among the branches, as is common in the bush. In this "bush safe"
they found part of a large home-baked loaf, some potatoes, tea and
sugar, and a piece of fresh beef. "Golly, what a---- feed we'll have,"
cried Donald, the black, when he saw the food. The police cut the beef
into steaks and fried them and had a good meal. In their search they
found £15 4S. 6d. in bank notes and money.
They mounted Power on the horse ridden by the black tracker, while
Donald mounted behind Sergeant Montford, and left the camp. They
reached Wangaratta at seven p.m. on Sunday, June 5th, 1870, eleven days
after the death of Captain Thunderbolt in New South Wales. The news of
the capture had already been noised abroad in the district, and numbers
of people, who were out for their Sunday evening ramble, crowded the
streets of Wangaratta to see the noted bushranger. Power waved his
hand in response to their cheers, and cried "They've caught poor Harry
Power, but they caught him asleep."
On Tuesday, the 7th, Power was removed to Beechworth gaol, and a
number of men and women in carriages, buggies, spring carts, and other
vehicles, or on horseback, went along the road to meet him and escort
him into the town. The procession as it passed over Newtown Bridge
was quite an imposing one, and there were collected the majority of
the residents who had neither horse nor vehicle. Power was sitting in
a police cart, and bowing right and left to the crowd as if he had
been some high potentate. He wished the people "Good morning," and
continually repeated his formula about having been captured asleep.
On his arrival at the gaol he greeted Mr. Stewart as an old friend,
and hoped they would never fall out. He made a short speech, in which
he publicly thanked the police for the kind and considerate manner in
which he had been treated since his arrest.
The _Ovens Spectator_ at this time said: "Henry Power, alias Johnson,
is a hale, hearty-looking man, although past the meridian of life, with
grisly hair and beard, and certainly not of such an appearance as one
would expect a bushranger to have."
On October 2nd Henry Power was tried on four charges of highway
robbery. On May 7th, 1869, he bailed up Arthur Woodside, a squatter at
Happy Valley, as he was riding towards Bright. The robber took a horse,
saddle, bridle, and spurs, giving in exchange a knocked-up horse, a
broken saddle, a bridle tied up with string, and one rusty spur. While
Mr. Woodside was giving his evidence Power exclaimed, "Speak up, young
man. You spoke different to that when I met you on the road." The mail
coach from Beechworth was bailed up at the same time. Power asked the
driver, Edward Coady, to throw out the gold. Coady replied, "There is
none." "I was told there was," exclaimed Power. "Any parcels?" Coady
threw down two, which Power opened. There was only one passenger, a
Chinaman, and Power asked him for the key of his carpet bag. At first
the Chinaman said "No savvy," but, on the revolver being pointed at his
head, he handed over the key. Power searched the bag, but took nothing
out. This was the first case.
On August 28th, the same mail was bailed up. At that time there were
three passengers--Mr. Hazleton, Ellen Hart (a servant), and Mrs. Li
Goon. A boy also got on to the coach at Boyd's for a ride down the
hill. The coach had just passed the gap when the driver had to put the
the break on and pull up, because the roadway was blocked with logs and
saplings. Mr. Hazleton exclaimed "Who did this?" when Power stepped
out from behind a tree and replied "I did. Put up your hands." The
passengers were made to alight and turn out their pockets. Hazleton
made a step forward to hand his watch and chain to the robber, but
Power cried out "Stand back," and raised his revolver. He then told
Hazleton to put the watch on the ground and retire, and when this had
been done Power went forward and picked it up. Mrs. Li Goon said she
had no money, but when Power threatened to shoot her she gave him
fourteen shillings. "It's all I've got and I'll want a cup of coffee,"
she said. "All right," returned the bushranger, "take this," and he
gave her back one shilling. The robber took £2 13s. 6d. out of Coady's
pocket-book. There was also a threepenny-piece in it, and Power told
the coachman to give it to the boy. Mrs. Boyd came down the hill on
horseback, and was bailed up. She said she had no money. "I don't see
how ladies can go riding round with handsome dresses and fine saddles
and bridles without money," cried Power. "Here, give me your horse."
Mrs. Boyd said if he would allow her to ride home she would bring him
some money, but he refused to trust to her promise, and took the horse.
He stuck up several Chinamen and a white man, and took their money from
them. He said to them "It's a cold day, but I've got a nice fire down
there, go and sit by it;" and he pointed down the hill. He was in a
good temper and gave the boy a shilling. The little fellow immediately
offered to give him the shilling and the threepenny-piece for his
sister's horse. Power laughed and gave the horse to the boy to lead to
where his sister was sitting. This was the second case.
The third charge was the robbing of John Whorouly. Power said "I don't
like robbing a poor man, but I must have money." The fourth charge was
the sticking up of Thomas Oliver Thomas, on the Buckland Road. When
called on to bail up, Thomas wheeled his horse round, and Power shouted
"If you run away I'll fire. My gun will carry three hundred yards."
Power asked for his money, and Thomas replied "I've got none." "That's
a lie," cried Power, "turn it out." Power repeatedly threatened Thomas
with his revolver.
Power was found guilty on each of the four counts, and was sentenced to
fifteen years' penal servitude.
Power served out his full sentence. At about the time of his discharge
the Victorian Government sold the hulk _Success_, the _President_ and
the other hulks purchased to supply the want of prison accommodation
in "the roaring fifties" having been sold years before. The _Success_
had been utilised as a training ship, and had been kept. In the case
of the other hulks, it had been stipulated in the terms of sale that
they were to be broken up, but this clause was omitted in the case of
the _Success_. Consequently she was purchased by some speculators, and
fitted up as a representative convict hulk for exhibition purposes,
and Harry Power was engaged to add interest to the show. The ship was
exhibited in Melbourne, and was then taken round to Sydney. She was
visited by a number of people during the two or three weeks when she
was berthed at Circular Quay, and she was then taken down the harbour
to be fitted for a voyage to London. Here she sank at her moorings.
With the appliances in Sydney so small a vessel was soon raised, but
her immersion had damaged the wax figures intended to represent the
prisoners who had once been confined in her, and the other exhibits.
While these were being replaced or cleaned, Harry Power was sent
into the country districts for the benefit of his health. He was
fishing in the Murray River near Swan Hill, on November 7th, 1891,
when he fell in and was drowned. At the inquest held on his body, a
verdict of accidental death was returned. The _Success_ shortly after
left Australia for England without any living representative of the
bushranging times on board of her.