Page:Banking Under Difficulties- Or Life On The Goldfields Of Victoria, New South Wales And New Zealand (1888).pdf/101

92 four or five horsemen. “The bushrangers!” they exclaimed simultaneously. However, on getting nearer to them, Cohen, in great glee, said, “It’s the police.” As they drew near them they saw the police uniform, heard swords clinking, &c., and were just about speaking to them when the foremost of the supposed policemen drew a revolver, and ordered the party to “Bail up.” Mr. Cohen now had an opportunity to distinguish himself, but his courage, like Bob Acres, had “oozed away.” The bushrangers—for such they were, some of Gardiner’s crew, John O’Meally and others—ordered the party to dismount, and relieved them of all the cash they had in their possession, took away Cohen’s revolver, and not satisfied with that, his poncho and breast-pin. He begged them to return both these articles. The first, he said, had cost him 30s., and the last had been given to him by his grandmother. They would not listen to him; his tears and entreaties were unavailing. From Murphy they took a watch—a family relic, one that had been in the family for years. This he tried to get back; but no, not a thing would they return. Meantime the saddles and bridles had been taken off the horses, and the beasts let loose. Having possessed themselves of all they possibly could, they remounted their horses, wished their victims “Good-day,” and away they went. To account for their appearing in police uniform, the police camp at had been stuck up a few days previously, at a time when the police were looking after the bushrangers. On the return of the storekeepers to town, information was given to the police, who did not succeed in capturing the robbers. Poor Cohen got chaffed unmercifully, so much so that for some days he showed out as little as possible.

31st August.—Mr. Barnes, storekeeper at Murramburrah, shot dead by O’Meally, the bushranger. It seems O’Meally had been pretty hotly pursued by the police, who had got possession of his horse and saddle. He soon got another horse, but was at a loss for a saddle. Barnes happened to ride by, and he went after him. Barnes put spurs to his horse, O’Meally followed, firing four shots at him, some of which took effect. The poor old man fell a corpse within a short distance of his own house.

The following are extracts from the papers of the day:—

“Gardiner, the leader of the band, is a native of the Lachlan district, New South Wales. After serving some years in Cockatoo Island for cattle stealing, he received his ‘ticket,’ and established himself as a butcher on Lambing Flat; there he was arrested again for cattle stealing, got two parties to bail him out, and leaving them to settle with the authorities, took to the highway. He is a man of dauntless courage, has numerous cuts and scars