THE BUSHRANGERS AGAIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 203, 2 May 1867, Page 4

THE BUSHRANGERS AGAIN.

Aboub six o'clock on Friday morning, two men, of whom there is little or no doubt that one was the bushranger Cummings, and the other John Forau, .entered the bar of Mr.E. Lock's public house at. Dirty Swamp. Cmnmings asked for a glass of port wine, and was served by Mr Lock, who left the breakfast table; to attend upon them. Cumnriugs then asked For-an what he would have, and he said, "Port wine, also." Mr Lock turned to serve him, and in an instant found himself covered with revolvers, Foran holding one in each hand, and Cummings presenting one at him. They then ordered him to throw up his arms or they would shoot him. Cummings remained on guard. Foran went to the door of the dining room, and ordered every one at the table to come out. There were present three travellers, besides Mr Ridge and Mr Inglesolc, who were all compelled to go outside the house, where they were bailed up against tho fence. Cummings then ordered Mr Lock to come out from behind the bar, saying, " Your'e a great fellow I believe, to resist bushrangers. If, you make .any resistance now, I'll riddle you." Lock replied, " Its all very well for you to bounce that have arms, while I have nothing. If you'll give me your revolver I'll fight either or both of 3 T ou, either with my hands or a revolver." " Oil !" said Cummings, " that's it, is it ?" and prodded Lock in the mouth with the barrel of his revolver, loosening one of his front teeth. Lock instantaneously struck at him with his lists, on which Cummings said, " Come on outside, I believe you're a good man. aud I'll fight you." "Yes," said Lock, "but will you fight with your revolver or with your hands?" " Oh, with my hands," said the robber. " But if I fight with you with my hands will yon not use your pistol?" asked" Lock. « No," replied Cummings, "I'll be cut- in pieces first." He than handed his revolver to his mate, Lock pulled off his coat, and a regular set-to was commenced. An indescribable scone of excitement ensued, Mrs Lock coming out, "and screaming and imploring the combatants to desist, and. the men who were bailed up continuously shouting and begging the bushrangers not to use their fire-arms;' At length a well-delivered blow by Mr Lock under Cumming's ear caused him. to stagger, whereupou Foran called to him to stand aside while he took means to " quieten the b " at the same time presenting a revolver at Mr Lock with the evident intention of firing. The bystanders implored the 'ruffians "for God's sake" not to shoot, as Lock had only used his fists. Mr Lock seeing that any display of his powers would be useless, and fraught with too much danger, determined to fight no more, and sat down on a stool. Cummings went to him and raised him up two or three times, striking him each time on the temple and back of the head, saying, " You wretch ! you lagged some men before, didn't you ? I'll pay you." In this manner he punished Mr Lock till he was..- almost stupified. Mr i Itictge remarked .tQ^unimings that he I ought to have -S;~be® * ? |f' his revolver, |fcta|^^ f tljaA ho ji^3

"just propped up theMudgee mail," aud | had the bags for a belt, and pointed to the bags which he wore doubled round his body in the manner of a belt, the sealing wax of one of the bags beingvisible. In reply to Mr Lock he said it was the down mail he had robbed. He then said to Lock, " You have a good horse, and I must have it ; I came ex pressly for it." Lock said, the horse was hi the bush, and was told to find it, which he positively refused to do. Foran then said, " Burn down the place, he'll soon find it then." Cummings, however, turned to Mr Ridge and said. " Where are your horses, old man V Mr Ridge replied, "In the stable.''' Cummings went to the stable and brought out a horse, of which, as it was walking a little stiffly, Foran said " Oh, that b horse is no good, he is lame." " I know what's the matter with him," said Cummiugs ; " he's only been standing" iv the stable. I can't keep the horse I brought, as ho belongs to a poor man ; but I know (to Mr Ridge) by your head, old man, that you can afford to lose a horse." It happened that the horse belonged to Mr Inglesole, who said to Foran, " I know you ; if your brother was here he would not take a. horse belonging to me." " Who are you, then V asked !Foran." Inglesole made no reply, but Mr Lock told him. Foran then again wanted Cummings to compel Lock to fetch his horse, which Lock positively refused to do. Cummin.«fs now began, systematically to search all the men's pockets, which he did very adroitly, and appropriated all the money he could find, which amounted to a few pounds. Mr Lock refused to be searched, but held out six shillings to the ruffian, saying it was all the money he had about him, but he would not allow any man in the country to search him. Cummings did not press, him, nor did he take the silver offered, but went inside iv order to search the house, where he obtained three or four pounds in silver. ; He came back in a few minutes with Mr Lack's riding hoots iv one hand and a pair of spurs iv the other. Throwing the boots to Foran, he said, "There, Jack, put them on ; I never had a pi-en-tice before so badly shod." Cummings then stood guard over the prisoners while Foran put on the boots, which he found to be " a good fit, only a little too long." Throwing his own boots to Lock, Foran said, "Take these, exchange is no robbery ; and you may as well take this coat, it will fit you better than the one you have," and he took from Mr Lock an expensive seal-skin cloth lined cloth, which he had only very recently bought. Gummings then began to put on Mr Leek's spurs, re marking that they were sharper than his own, which, though blunt, were quite .sharp enough to enabie Mr Lock to go and give information to the police. The robbers then ordered all their prisoners into the house and " shouted for them. On teudering money for the drinks, Mr Lock said, " What is the use of paying for the drinks when you have robbed the house ; you may as well keep the money." "Oh no," replied Cummings, -'I never call for drink without paying for it." He then demanded three bottles of whisky off the shelf, and, putting them into his pockets went out, followed by Forau, aud rode away, having stayed at the house between two i and three hours. They went straight, it would appear, to Mrs Webb's store at Hutton's Fall, where they arrived about 10 o'clock.— "Bathurst Times," April 17. '