Account by an Eye Witness.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4969, 7 March 1895, Page 3

Account by an Eye Witness.

Yesterday afternoon a large crowd of volunteers, headed by Sergeant McArdle, Constables Stewart, Lawler, and Smith (the latter just from Wellington), set out to search for the alleged desperado, ■pile in Wrigley's Bush a Isaovi rode up'in hot lraste to tell them that the man they sought was at Akura, and Mr Alex, Falls' brake being handy, all the policemen and several volunteers, including liessrs J. Cole, W. Osborne, H. Marsh and H. Mclsaac, jumped on :board, and at top speed proceeded to Akura till they reached the White Gate just past the pah. The brake was left standing, and the company walked along the road to the far end of the bush. " Happening to look round, the brake was seen being driven furiously towards us," (says our informant) "by the boys who were left in charge."! " The man just crossed the road to the left, as light as a feather, on his tip-toes," said one of the breathless youngsters. Of course we all rushed back to the spot and entered the hush, Constables Stewart and Smith, and Mr Mclsaac leading the van, until a ditch at the back of the bush was reached, each of the three named being about 50 yards apart. Suddenly the bush in front of jjMdsaac parted and out came the Wesperado, looking a terrible object; hatloss, bootless, and covered merely by a ragged coat and trousers. He paused one moment, and leapt the ditch, lauding five yards in front of Mclsaac. Constable Smith yelled out" Let him out of bush," and although Mclsaac could have kept the man atbay,heobeyedandlet the man past him, the chase being taken up by the same party with the addition of a young man named Osborne. Everybody yelled out "Shoot him," " Knock him over," etc, but the terrified wretch kept on without a cry or a word. He was travelling over the ground with his bare feet at a terrific speed, and seemed heedless of stumps, trees, logs or anything. He 'Mioved too good a runner for most of the f&% except Mclsaac, who, had be not turasd back to get a revolver from Constable Stewart, (the latter being in an almost exhausted condition) would have kided the man.

The chase continued to a marshy spot, covered withtoi-toifrom tlireeto four feet high, and here the hunted oreature went down on all fours with jhe object of making another effort Afthrow his pursuers off the scent. "When he was next seen he was at the foot of a small hill on the opposite side of the marsh, Osborne being thefirsttoseehim. The man was now about 300 yards away, and appeared greatly distressed, staggering along at a slow pace. Those who were after him were about pumped and did not get over the ground ■ very quickly. V It was now seen that the man was heading for a small clump of bush, and Mclsaac feeling that he could not overtake him, fired the revolver in the air, thinking the fright might faring the escaping-game to a standstill. The effect was just the opposite, for giving one leap into the air, the man put on a mighty spurt, and was lost to sight, and was not again seen by any member of the jarty. Osborne awl Mclsaac, quite fatigued, sat on the hillside, and ■waited fully half-an-liour before jjyone else showed up, Cons&bje With king the first to appear. A thorough search of the bush was made, but it proved fruitless, and about half-past five the chase was abandoned, and the tired party relumed to' Masterta." Jt is supposed that Jjie mail went a little way into the bushj ?,nd then crept through some toi-toi till ho reached ft drain w^ VUDB m^!i and south fl* Matahiwi, and thus made in tbfl direction of the Fernridge road. Anotbcv search party js out today, ' '