THUNDERBOLT AND THE TAILOR.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1141, 14 March 1884, Page 4

THUNDERBOLT AND THE TAILOR.

"Moses,” m the 'DU. UazeHe,’ relates the following :—“ In Llie good old times when the gold mines in the Northern District of New Somh Wales were lining the pockets of ninny « poor devil who had trudged for many a long day in seaich of the coveted biff, miners who had struck it rich had to swag ’t to [Newcastle to catch the old steamer Shamrock, to cany them to Sydney, where they could sell their gold There being no coach or train in those days it was an inducement to idle dishonest scoundrels who are always to be found on goldfields to hang around the liveliest roads in order to waylay successful ■diggers and rob them of their gold. time we write Thundeiholt and his half caste mate were terrors between Singleton and Armidale, and many rob'cries with or without violence were laid at their door. One night, finding themselves short of rations, Thunderbolt sent his mate to M ‘Canley’s farm, situate about two miles outside Tamworth, to steal a sheep, while he himself chose, as the safest place to wait, an old monument in the grave yard. It was also at f this time some potvaliant spirits were talking ofcapturing bushrangers, per- , sonal courage, etc., the loudest in his iDutch courage being a diminuiive tlaine tailor rejoicing in the cog. of Larry M‘Kay. Larry had been boasting of what Sie would do if he .met Thunderbolt, when a stalwart blacksmith, jeeringly t©marked his , courage was a myth, and dared him to go to the cemetery and pluck a blade of grass oft King’s grave. The tailor retorted that he was so lame he . couldn’t walk, but would go if the blacksmith carried him I his was agreed to, and they set out and reached the grave on which 1 hundet- ' bolt eat, and thinking it was his man returning with the sheep, the robber jumped up and asked “is he fat 1 ” The blacksmith, hoi ritied at what he believed was a ghost, stuttered out * hlowed if I know, but here he is,’ at ■the same time throwing the lame 'tailor over his shoulder. He made tracks in a bee line for home, but the most remarkable thing was that fast ms the blacksmith ran, the lame tailor reached home before him.”