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| Portrait of Gardiner, The Bushranger From a Portrait by Freeman Brothers 25 April 1864 |
As a stimulus to extra exertions on the part of the police, and as a temptation to one or other of the many residents of the district who were known to be on friendly terms with Gardiner and his "boys", the following proclamation was issued while the trial of those of the escort robbers who had been caught was proceeding:–
Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, 6th February, 1863.
£1000 REWARD. FOR THE APPREHENSION OF FRANCIS GARDINER ALIAS CLARKE, AND JOHN ALIAS JOHNNY GILBERT.
Whereas the abovenamed Francis Gardiner alias Clarke, and John alias Johnny Gilbert, are charged with the commission of numerous and serious offences, and have hitherto eluded the efforts to apprehend them, principally by their being harboured, assisted, and concealed by parties resident in the districts they frequent: It is therefore notified that the Government will pay a Reward of Five Hundred Pounds for such information as will lead to the apprehension of either of them: And should such information be given by any person charged with the commission of any offence, his case will receive the favourable consideration of the Crown.
All parties are also hereby cautioned against concealing, harbouring, assisting, or maintaining the abovenamed offenders, as by so doing they render themselves liable to be dealt with by law, as accessories to the crimes of which the offenders so assisted may be found guilty.
CHARLES COWPER.
DESCRIPTION OF FRANCIS GARDINER, ALIAS CLARKE.
Native of Goulburn, New South Wales, 32 years of age, 5 feet 8 1/4 inches high, a labourer, dark sallow complexion, black hair, brown eyes, small raised scar in left eyebrow, small scar on right chin, scar on knuckle of right forefinger, round scar on left elbow joint, two slight scars on back of left thumb, short finger nails, round scar on cap of right knee, hairy legs, mark on temple from a wound by pistol ball or whip.
DESCRIPTION OF JOHN ALIAS JOHNNY GILBERT.
Between 22 and 24 years of age, boyish appearance, 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, between 9 and 10 stone weight, slight, light brown straight hair, worn long in native fashion, beardless, and whiskerless; has the appearance and manner of a bushman or stockman, and is particularly flippant in his dress and appearance.
It is pretty well known that Johnny O'Meally and Ben Hall were, to use an expressive bush phrase, "up to their necks in it" with Gardiner; but for some reason best known to themselves the authorities did not put a price upon them—that piece of official work was reserved, as will shortly be seen, for a future occasion.
Meanwhile Gardiner and his mates continued in active pursuit of their calling. After the rescue of Manns and Darcey, Gilbert rejoined Gardiner, O'Meally, and others in the neighbourhood of the Weddin Mountains; and while the police of the district were engaged on the trials at the Special Commission in Sydney, they carried on their depredations, still pursuing their old plan of dividing forces and appearing alternately on the Lachlan and the Goulburn sides.
The district police had some difficulty in regulating their movements, so many and various were the reports received, and it was only occasionally that they could get upon the freshest tracks. When they were brought by accident into something like close quarters with the Knights of the Road, they invariably came off "second best"; if they did make a capture it was of some raw recruit only, the men chiefly wanted getting clean away. While the bushrangers were in the Goulburn district, three troopers—Hughes, Gall, and Bacon—who were out in the hope of meeting with them, saw several mounted men in the bush off the Tuena-road, and, judging them to be suspicious characters, took steps to make their closer acquaintance. In compliance with the semi-military character of the force, the order was given to extend, so as to hem the suspects in. The bushrangers, quietly watching the operation, kept together, and, as soon as the troopers were properly extended, thundered down in a body on Trooper Hughes. Shots were exchanged, and the trooper was wounded in the arm before his companions could come to his relief. Satisfied with having winged the leader, the bushrangers wheeled their horses and galloped away, while the discomfited force, abandoning all thought of further pursuit, made haste to return to quarters with their report.
Another encounter between some of the gang and the police took place between Forbes and Lambing Flat a few days afterwards. Sergeant Sanderson, with detectives Lyons and Kennedy, had left the Lachlan in charge of three prisoners by the coach for Lambing Flat. On reaching Brewer's shanty three horsemen with two led horses were observed. Two of the horsemen bolted; the third, Davis, stood his ground and received four shots from detective Lyons, all of which took effect—one in his thigh, one in his wrist, and the other two in his head. Davis fell, and was immediately pounced upon by the detective, Lyons; the prisoners assisted in securing him, and he was brought to Brewer's shanty. Davis was one of the latest recruits in Gardiner's gang, and had been present at the sticking up of Crowther and Croaker's stations a few days previously. At the former place Gardiner, with seven accomplices, stuck up Mr. Pring's servants. One of the bushrangers played the piano while the rest danced and drank brandy and water at Mr. Pring's expense. At Mr. Croaker's station one of the bushrangers played a concertina, and sang "Ever of Thee" to the host.
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| Coo-ee in the Bush (Samuel Thomas Gill 1818-1830) |
Just about this time the following communication, which throws a little light upon the operations of the gang, appeared in the "Yass Courier" from the correspondent of that paper at Marengo:–
In my communication of the 30th ultimo, I stated that I was sanguine as to the result of the expedition in search of the bushrangers, but I am sorry to say that the police were unsuccessful, and from circumstances I have since ascertained the cause of this bad luck is explained. It seems in consequence of the gold escorts being strongly guarded, and the money order system being introduced by the postal authorities, that General Gardiner finds it expedient to change his tactics. I am informed that this captain of the "free companions" has divided his band into two parts, viz., the "neophytes" and "men-at-arms", and the modus operandi of his last raid was as follows: Eight or nine of the neophytes, or apprentices, headed by Johnny Gilbert, were dispatched as a decoy to beat up the enemy's quarters (that is, the surrounding stations), to make plenty of noise, etc., and then to securely "plant" for a few days. The news soon reaches Lambing Flat, and the commanding officer there, with his usual impetuosity and zeal, arms and musters all his available force, consequently leaving those diggings contiguous to the Flat quite unprotected (for the foot police are only of use to the town itself)—the very thing aimed at and required by the ubiquitous captain of "free lances", who instantly musters five or six of his most stalwart and unscrupulous men-at-arms; in broad daylight they ride up to one of the largest stores in Spring Gully (one mile from the Flat), coolly tie up their horses, and leaving two men outside to prevent awkward intrusion, march in, "bail up" the inmates, and obtain considerable booty, including ammunition, revolvers and about £60 in cash. Of course they experience no interruption from the authorities, as the villains were well aware that the police were on a wild-goose and previously cut-and-dried chase miles away—which was the case with the exception of one unfortunate constable, who happened to be serving a warrant in the neighbourhood; he was ordered by the taller of the two rogues outside the store to "stand and deliver."...The station owners about here have been so often plundered that they now keep scarcely anything on their premises that would be available by the bushrangers, therefore when they are visited by robbers the attack is only a ruse of the junior part of the rascals, to draw or decoy the police away from a wealthier place previously spotted.
And another thing that greatly counteracts the strenuous efforts of the mounted police is the system of "bush telegraphy", which I will explain. Of all the numerous settlers on the Fish River, Abercrombie Ranges, or the Levels, scarcely half are true subjects; only five settlers on the Levels are considered by the police to be truly loyal, and free from the taint of harbouring and, directly or indirectly, encouraging bushranging. For instance, about three or four months ago the patrol were on the Bland Plains (the Levels) in pursuit of some well-known desperadoes, who they knew were not many miles off, and they called at a slightly suspected station; being unsuccessful, they proceeded to the next station, the residence of a truly loyal man—a gentleman, though boasting of no great birth or education—no scion of aristocratic tree, yet still a gentleman; "for honest men are the gentlemen of nature." He gave the officer in command all the information in his power, but while doing so he suddenly exclaimed, "Haste or you'll be too late; for, by Jove, there goes the 'telegram' from Mr.———'s place, you passed last." The officer looked in the direction pointed out, and there saw straight across one of the highest ranges, at a stretching gallop, a finely mounted youth. No time was lost by the patrol, but when they got to their destination they found the residents calmly waiting their arrival, having been evidently on the look out for some time. Of course everything was found correct and square; so that the police had to return sadder, but in slightly one sense (i.e., bush telegraphy), wiser men. There is a strong suspicion that a "bush telegram" exists in every township; for upon the day that Gardiner dispatched his junior corps upon the above mentioned strategic expedition to Bentick Morrell, and some other stations, after the plundering they camped in the evening in a secluded part of the bush, near Marengo, not very far off the old sheep station, and were visited by some two or three members of a certain family here. This I have been told as a fact, and if, upon further inquiry, I find it to be so, I will, through the medium of your columns, regardless of consequences (notwithstanding their social position), thoroughly expose them; for I consider it the bounden duty of all loyal subjects of her Majesty to do everything in their power to check the wholesale atrocious depredations now carrying on; and until every one of these dens of refuge and "bush telegrams" are absolutely exterminated, all efforts of the authorities to put down bushranging will be futile and abortive.
Just about this time a letter was published in the Lambing Flat paper, purporting to be from Gardiner. Many persons doubted its authenticity, but the editor of the paper invited inspection of the MS., with the envelope, post-marked and stamped, and declared his belief in its genuineness. The following is a copy of the letter:–
(To the Editor of the "Burrangong Miner", Lambing Flat.)
Sir,—Having seen a paragraph in one of the papers, wherein it is said that I took the boots off a man's feet, and that I also took the last few shillings that another man had, I wish to make it known that I did not do anything of the kind. The man who took the boots was in my company, and for so doing I discharged him the following day. Silver I never took from a man yet, and the shot that was fired at the sticking-up of Messrs. Horsington and Hewitt was by accident, and the man who did it I also discharged. As for a mean, low, or petty action, I never committed it in my life. The letter that I last sent to the press, there was not half of what I said put in it. In all that has been said there never was any mention made of my taking the Sergeant's horse and trying him, and that when I found he was no good, I went back and got my own. As for Mr. Torpy, he is a perfect coward. After I spared his life as he fell out of the window, he fired at me as I rode away; but I hope that Mr. Torpy and I have not done just yet, until we balance our accounts properly. Mr. Greig had accused me of robbing his teams, but it is false, for I know nothing about the robbery whatever. In fact, I would not rob Mr. Greig or anyone belonging to him, on account of his taking it so easy at Bogolong. Mr. Torpy was too bounceable or he would not have been robbed. A word to Sir W. F. Pottinger. He wanted to know how it was the man who led my horse up to me at the Pinnacle did not cut my horse's reins as he gave me the horse. I should like to know if Mr. Pottinger would do so? I shall answer for him by saying no. It has been said that it would be advisable to place a trap at each shanty along the road, to put a stop to the depredations done on the road. I certainly think that it would be a great acquisition to me for I should then have an increase of revolvers and carbines. When seven or eight men could do nothing with me at the Pinnacle, one would look well at a shanty. Three of your troopers were at a house the other night and got drinking and gambling till all hours. I came there towards morning when all was silent. The first room I went into I found revolvers and carbines to any amount, but seeing none as good as my own, I left them. I then went out, and in the verandah found the troopers fast asleep. Satisfying myself that neither Battye nor Pottinger were there, I left them as I found them, in the arms of Morpheus.
Fearing nothing, I remain, Prince of Tobymen, FRANCIS GARDINER, the Highwayman.
Insert the foregoing, and rest satisfied you shall be paid.
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| Flight of a Bushranger (Samuel Thomas Gill 1818-1830) |
As indicative of the widespread notoriety gained by the "King of the Road", it may be mentioned that the authorities in Sydney kept their brethren in Victoria fairly posted in his movements, suspected or ascertained; and the latter ordered a good look-out to be kept on that side of the Border, anticipating that Gardiner would sooner or later seek refuge in Victoria. One rather ludicrous instance of over-zeal by the Victorian police is recorded. A gentleman named Garrett, member of a respectable business firm, had gone into the country with one of his men; when nearing his destination, a place called Raglan, he was accosted and catechised by a policeman, and having given satisfactory answers was allowed to proceed on his way. On arriving at a public house, towards evening, he found the house shut up, and it took some parleying with the landlord before he could be reassured and the tired travellers admitted. Mr. Garrett retired to a bedroom to perform his toilet while supper was getting ready, and his man sat down at the table Shortly afterwards two troopers arrived, took the landlord on one side, and informed him that Mr. Garrett was the desperado Gardiner; they then entered, and, placing two revolvers at the head of the man, asked where his mate was. The man replied he had no mate, but his master was in the bedroom. Mr. Garrett just then opened the door, and was coming out candle in hand, when the revolvers were pointed at him, and he was threatened with a bullet through his head if he dared to stir. Seeing that the constables had evidently lost all nerve, and were trembling from head to foot, Mr. Garrett thought it best to be calm. He answered every interrogation as calmly as possible and allowed himself to be searched, the documents on him fully bearing out what he had stated. The police professed themselves satisfied that he was not Gardiner, but insisted on taking him into custody, right or wrong, on suspicion of horse stealing, and ordered him to come with them at once. Mr. Garrett, being hungry and tired after a day's ride, insisted on having his supper first; and, although the search had proved that he had no weapon of any description about him, his gallant captors sat during supper with their revolvers pointed at him within an inch or two of his head, in so great a fright that their pistols were shaking in their hands, and he almost expected to be shot every time he moved his hand with the fork to his mouth. The man could eat nothing under the novel circumstances. After supper, Mr. Garrett made a virtue of necessity and allowed himself to be handcuffed, or his captors would have murdered him. The party reached Raglan about eleven o'clock, and master and man had to submit to the indignity of being confined in the "logs" all night. Next morning the telegraph was set to work and Mr. Garrett's identity established, when he was set at liberty with the assurance that he had no remedy.
Somewhat suddenly, the talk about Gardiner changed to one simple inquiry to which nobody was in a position to give a satisfactory reply; and that enquiry was, "Where is he?" The newspapers no longer contained thrilling accounts of heavily-laden coaches, honest carriers and travellers "stuck up" by the King of the Road. Others were doing that sort of work, and to some purpose, too; but Gardiner—the father of bushranging, the man who boasted that he "never did nothing dishonourable", the chief of the gang the record of whose exploits had made the colony shiver with excitement—Gardiner, the handsome, the daring, the ubiquitous, had suddenly vanished. Had he been shot by any of his followers in some heated brawl when dividing the spoils? or was he in hiding in some gully among the mountains, such as formed the bushrangers' favourite resort? or had he escaped from the colony with the accumulated wealth gotten by his repeated robberies? Never an answer came. Gardiner had disappeared—vanished as completely as though the earth had opened and swallowed him up. And it was all in his favour that the gang he had formed remained unbroken and active; for well-organised search could not be made while Hall, Gilbert, O'Meally, and Co. held the roads, and kept the whole police force of the western and southern districts running hither and thither.
There was another person who was missing at the same time—the Mrs. Brown, near whose house Sir Frederick Pottinger had allowed Gardiner to slip through his fingers, after having gone there with a young army of police to capture him. This woman proved her liking for the bushranger by forsaking a comfortable home to share the dangers of his flight and exile. When and how the pair got away together was not known until long afterwards, and where they had gone to appeared likely to remain an unsolved mystery. The only thing definite known was that Gardiner and Mrs. Brown had both disappeared from the district. But although they had managed to escape from New South Wales, they had not crossed the sea to any of the rogues' refuges in the Islands or in America. They were almost within hailing distance; and the colony was very much astonished one morning in March, 1864, by the discovery and arrest of the notorious bushranger and the woman who for him had left a comfortable home.
This news was at first not credited. For a long time people believed that some mistake had been made and that the man who had been arrested was not Gardiner; but in due course every doubt was set at rest, and then men marvelled greatly that the arrest had not been sooner made. The story of the arrest is a simple one, and may be told in few words.
Sources:
- The Bushrangers (1915, May 21). The Farmer and Settler (Sydney, NSW : 1906 - 1955), p. 6.
- The Bushrangers (1915, May 26). The Farmer and Settler (Sydney, NSW : 1906 - 1955), p. 7.
- Portrait of Gardiner, The Bushranger (Gardiner, The Bushranger) (1864, April 25). The Australian News for Home Readers (Vic. : 1864 - 1867), p. 6.
- Coo-ee in the Bush (Samuel Thomas Gill 1818-1830); Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
- Flight of a Bushranger (Samuel Thomas Gill 1818-1830); Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
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