AUDACITY OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES BUSHRANGERS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 54, 4 November 1863, Page 3

AUDACITY OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES BUSHRANGERS.

the gang In bathurst.

(From the Bathurst Times.)

The shrieks of a woman in terror, a cry for " Help!" the trampling of horses, the report of a pistol, and the rapid galloping of a body of horsemen, whose figures as they shot throtigh the darkness looked like shadows gliding down the main thoroughfares of the town, were productive of such a scene of consternation and amazement, on Saturday evening, as can never be forgotten by those who have witnessed what we have just described. In an instant the bewildered inhabitants of the houses within the line of disturbance were at their doors, and almost as quickly the cry of " Bushrangers" passed from lip to lip. To say that astonishment or excitement prevailed, does not convey an adequate notion of the stunning and appalling effect produced, as little by little the fact was gradually affirmed that the bushrangers had actually made a descent upon the town. Proceeding in the direction from which the bushrangers had actually come, we found a crowd assembled outside the shop of Mr. M'Minn, the jeweller in William-street, and there learnt that Gilbert and his gang had made a daring attempt to "stick up" that gentleman's shop. In order that the bushrangers' proceedings may be better understood, we must inform our readers of the manner in which they were disposed, so as to prevent surprise. There were in all, five, being, as is supposed — O'Meally, Ben Hall, Burke, and Vane—the fifth, Gilbert, having been positively identified. When they came into town, Vane appears to have been stationed in the right-of-way between the Church of England School and the Telegraph Office, and in the darkness he was effectually screened from view. The others rode in a body to Mr. Pedrotta's shop, where a number of firearms are displayed for sale. Gilbert and one of his companions, leaving their horses in charge of the other two, went in and asked if Mr. Pedrotta had any revolving rifles or double-trigger revolvers. Upon being answered in the negative and shown the common kind of revolver, they said they were of no use and walked out. They then went down to Mr. M'Minn's shop, and, the family being engaged at tea, walked into the room where they wore sitting, and presenting their revolvers, ordered all to be quiet. Miss M'Minn, however, at sight of the revolvers screamed with fright, and though they threatened to blow out her brains if she did not keep quiet, she did not heed them in her terror, but still gave expression to her fear. Disconcerted, the two ruffians beat a retreat, presenting their revolvers as they backed out of the shop—one of them as he passed by the counter trying to lift the lid of a glass case, but he was foiled, as it was constructed to open from the inside of the counter. The alarm was taken up outside, in the street, by Messrs Curtis and Charles White, who called out for help, but before anything could be done the bushrangers were in their saddles and going down the street in full speed. At the corner of Howick-street two of them turned sharp round, but the others appeared to be uncertain of their way, and galloped on towards the police barracks, but a shot being fired into the air by one of the first two, caused them to turn and rejoin their companione. Galloping along Howickstreet, they were met as they turned the corner of George-street by Vane, who had ridden down the right-of-way already mentioned, and rapidly crossed the square. As he came up his horse stumbled, when the others eased their pace and went up George-street at a moderate canter. In about a quarter of an hour a body of troopers passed through the town in pursuit, following the direction taken by the bushrangers; but, as it subsequently proved, they passed them on the way.

About half-an-hour after, while the townspeople were gathered in knots, talking excitedly of the events we have described, a rumor began to circulate that MrDe Clouet's public house had been visited by the gang, who had robbed the inmates, and but just left. This proved to be true, for, on enquiry it was discovered that the bushrangers on passing Piper street, in which Mr De Clouet's house is situated, had turned off George-street, and made for the rear of the premises. Here they dismounted, and tearing down two rails of the fence leading into the stable-yard, four of them went to the stable door, leaving one behind in charge of their horses. Just at this moment a man named William Bromley, a horse trainer, stopping in the house, crossed the yard, whep he was bailed up The ostler, Mark, almost at the same time, was coining up with a lighted lantern, and he was quickly pounced upon, and asked for the keys of the stable. Mark told them the keys were kept by Mr De Clouet, and in answer to another question, told them he did not know what money there was in the house. Leaving the

two prisoners to be guarded by the others, Gilbert and (it is supposed) Ben Hall went into the house, and made their way into the bar parlor, where Mr De Clouet and a lodger, Mr John Hunter (a compositor engaged in out own office) were seated reading the newspapers. In the bedroom leading from the parlor, Mrs. De Clouet was engaged washing and putting the children to bed. Hall went up to Mr De Clouet and demanded his money, and after receiving a £1 note, took a watch from his waistcoat pocket. Mr Hunter was then compelled to hand over what money he had (£2), and while Gilbert remained to keep them quiet, Hall passed into the bedroom and asked Mrs. De Clouet for the " cash box but that good lady, thinking he was some drunken man, at once ordered him out of the house. He soon undeceived her, and as she declined to say where the cash box was placed, he proceeded to a chest of drawers and commenced to turn over its contents. He told her it would be better not to give him the trouble and save him disturbing all her things, if she would tell him where the cash box was kept at once. At this she asked if he would desist upon her placing the cash box in his hands, when he promised that he would. She had a child in her arms, and unthinkingly asked the fellow to hold it while she was getting the box, but he showed her the revolvers in his hands and laughed. The box having been produced and opened, he took out what notes it contained, and in doing so dropped half-a-sovereign, which rolled under the bed. He stooped down and hunted for it, turning over the carpet, and not being able to see it said it must be found, for he " couldn't leave that behind." Mrs. De Clouet at length picked it up and handed it to him, when he returned to the parlor. Gilbert, on being left with Mr. De Clouet, made himself known, he having at one time been engaged by that gentleman as a jockey; and a long conversation is described as having taken place, and Gilbert's manner is spoken of as being extraordinarily cool and self-pos-sessed. He asked for the keys of the stable, as they had come expressly for the racehorse Pacha, and must have him, and added that they should not have come at all had it not been that Machattie and Battie had dared them to do so, and had tauntingly told them that they had not the " pluck" to come in and take Pacha. Mr. De Clouet begged him not to take the horse, as it was only a colt, and would be unable to do the work they required of him. Gilbert then went to see what money there was in the till, and finding it contained nothing but silver, shook his head, and said they only dealt in gold, at the same time putting his hand into his pocket he pulled out two shillings, which he told Mr. De Clouet he would give him. Mr. De Clouet came into the bar, and Gilbert stood with his face fronting the door, talking without the slightest trepidation of by-gone times, saying once that he and his companions might as well stop there for an hour or so as anywhere else. Hall now came out and asked Gilbert if he had the keys of the stable, when Mr. De Clouet told them that the ostler kept them. Hall said they must have the horse, and went out to the ostler. While he was away Mr. De Clouet begged Gilbert to leave his horse, and prevailed on hiin to go out and speak with the others. He heard Gilbert in conversation and then he heard a brutal suggestion to " blow out somebody's brain—you'll soon have the keys then." Almost immediately Gilbert returned, followed by Hall, driving in the ostler. He (Hall) threatened to shoot him if he did not give up the keys. The man, however, still persisted in saying that he had not got them. A parley ensued, in the course of which the ostler told them the police had just gone by, when one quietly answered, " Two of us are enough for four of them any day." Shortly afterwards they ordered all present to come out at the back of the house, but on receiving a promise that no one would go into the street, they took their departure without any further attempt to obtain possession of the horse, having remained altogether about twenty minutes. After the lapse of a quarter of an hour, two foot policemen came in and expressed their astonishment and disapproval of Mr. De Clouet's conduct in allowing himself to be stuck up. From what we afterwards learned, it appeared that the troopers, on reaching the reserve at the head of George-street, listened for the tramp of the bushrangers' horses, so as to discover what direction they had taken, and not being able to hear anything, they came to a halt. The night was exceedingly dark, and while deliberating what course to pursue, they descried the bushrangers through the gloom, coining towards them -having just left De Clouet's: The bushrangers, it would seem, caught sight of them at the same moment, for they turned and galloped off in another direction. A hot chase ensued, when one of the troopers named Johnson, whose horse was better than the rest, got in advance, and the bushrangers seeing this* turned and

fired two shots at him, which he returned. Undaunted, he kept up the pursuit, but his horse foundered, and the bushrangers finally escaped.