PURSUIT AND ESCAPE OF DUNN, THE OUTLAW.

West Coast Times, Issue 99, 11 January 1866, Page 3

PURSUIT AND ESCAPE OF DUNN, THE OUTLAW.

Considerable excitement has prevailed in this district for some time past, caused by the rumor that the notorious scoundrel and double-dyed murderer, Dunn, was acting in conjunction with Thunderbolt in tho numerous robberies which have lately been committed in this neighborhood ; and for somo time past Inspector Zouch, with a detachment of tho Bourko constabulary, has been patrolling the lower portions' of the Gulgoa, Bemo, and Bokira Creeks ; while Sergeant Flynn, with the Walgctt police, has exercised a strict surveillance over tho upper parts of them ; but their efforts to discover tho whereabouts of tho gang proving unsuccessful, and horseflesh failing them, the search .was relaxed, and each party returned to their respective barracks, very naturally ilitigucd by the harassing nature of the duty performed* and worn out by tho jaded and clumsy horses they were mounted upon. Additional information, however, having been received, Sergeant Flynn and Constable Drake again renewed tho search on the 4th inst., and, after riding sixty miles that day, encamped within sight of M'Phoil's station, upon tho Wammerawa Creek. In justice to Mr M'Phail and his family, it must here be stated that these precautions were observed not because their assistance was doubted, or their conduct mistrusted, but merely to preclude tho possibility of Dunn being made acquainted with their proximity through the medium of any " telegraph," which, it was surmised, he might have upon tho watch ; and subsequent events proved tho correctness of these suspicions. It may be necessary to explain that the police, believtng Dunn to bo upon the creek, and making downwards, expected that he would dismount at this station as ho passed, when their intentions were to secure the outlaw's horse, and then to act as occasion required. Pursuing this course, they remained concealed until midday, keeping a vigilant watch upon the hut tho whole time. During then* concealment they had their suspicions aroused by observing a man leave the hut with a colored handkerchief around his hat, and carrying a small bundle in his hand, lie returned about twenty minutes afterwards, wearing a white turban, and without the bundle. Deeming it inexpedient to remain longer in ambush, and fearing their movements might have been detected, they proceeded to tho hut, whore they introduced themselves as cattle buyers, both being disguised in bush attire. They found Mr Hector and Mr Alexander MThail present, together with the man who first attracted their attention. In a few minutes the same man again slipped quietly out, when the sergeant, confident of M'Phail's support, disclosed tho naturo of his business, intimating at tho same timo the result of their observations in the scrub. His suspicions were confirmed whon the M'Phail's expressed their ignorance of the circumstance, and explained that the man was a complete stranger to them further than ho had been engaged as horse-breaker to them for it short time, and gave his name as Blueford. After a short time Blueford again returned to tho hut, whon Spiv gomrt Wyntt questionod him about the pxohwgt Qi \w\im\ w<\ umuM him i

of carrying victuals from the hut. Tho confusion ol' tho man was palpable, and he at once urrcbtcd him for withholding information from the police, informing him of the heavy penalty he incuYcd by misleading then), and urging him to disclose tho locality ho had convoyed the provisions to. Blueford wavered for a short time, but upon the Felons Act being road to him his resolution was staggered, and ho replied sullenly, " Dunn is camped close here." lie then agreed to lead the police to his camp, and tho Messrs. M'Phail having mounted, it was pro-arranged that upon surprising tho camp Mr. A. M'Phail should keep Bluoford in custody, whilst tho soygcant, constable Drako'and Mr. 11. M'Phail endeavoured to secure Dunn. They approached to within one hundred yards of tho camp unobserved, and then it was apparent that tho " telegraph" had done its work. There stood this precious specimen of colonial villany holding a fine bay horse saddled, with tho reins in one hand and with a revolver in the other, waiting for his companion to adjust tho pack upon the loading horse. The moment ho detected the police he uttered a hasty imprecation upon the tardiness of his mate', and vaulting into the saddle assumed a menacing attitude, and challenged them to " come on." The challenge was speedily responded to, but the issue depended upon tho superiority of tho horses ; and unfortunately for society and tho courageous fellows who followed him, Dunn possessed the best. For six long miles the chase was tenaciously maintained ; Dunn keeping just out of pistol shot, displaying a soat which proves him a perfect horseman, and nursing his horse in a manner that indicated he meant a long run for life. Throughout the chase it did not appear that Dunn desired to outstrip his pursuers, but rather to exhaust them, and for this purpose ho frequently waited upon them until they approached within three hundred yards of him, and then lie would gradually increase tho distance again, leading them through tall wire bush ten feet high, across broken swamps and plains, and lastly through a dense pino scrub known as tho Monkey. It was in tho latter place that the pursuers wero reluctantly compelled to relinquish the pursuit, their horses being entirely oxhaustcd and winded, while the matchless animal that the outlaw bestrodo evinced no symptoms of fatigue. After losing sight of Dunn they retraced their course to the hut as speedily as circumstances would permit, fearing that ho might double upon them and rescue the prisoner from Mr A. M'Phnil, but no attempt of the kind was made. When the rush was made upon tho camp, the companion of Dunn throwing up his arms, exclaimed, " I surrender ; " but in tho emergency he was not heeded, and has not been heard of since. Blueford was safely lodged in the Walgctt lock-up on the 7th inst., charged with aiding and abetting Dunn. Thus has this desperado once more eluded tho grasp of tho law, and his escape may bo traced to tho inefficient manner in which the police aro, mounted. When information was received of Dunn's whereabouts there was not a bruto fit to ride in the yardful of carrion called police horses, and a galling rcbuko was administered to the authorities by tho troopers being actually compelled tO mount thoir own private horses. Dunn was fully identified by constable Drake, who is a native of tho same place (Fish River), and was at one time his fellow servant. — Walgctt correspondent of tho " Maitland Mercury."