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ORIGINAL REMINISCENCES.(From the Files of the Manilla “Express * of 4/3/*99.)New gangs took the place ofthe old.There came young Rutherford arid company on the scene; Mae-phTson alias the wiM Scotchman, who used to send graphic accounts of his stieking-up deeds through the post to the newspapers; and the desperate t'larke gang, who committed Mich dread fill murders on the Braid wood side; and any other meu who have darkened the pages of our history.Rutherford had been making tilings pretty willing; with the result that a goodly reward was offered for liis rapture—dead or alive. A Frenchman tand a bnv* handsome man at that) was keeping a pul* at a place called Pine Ridge. His name was Charles Beauvais. One Sabbath afternoon, just as the sun was sinking in the west and the birds were chirping forth valedictory notes to the declining day. a horseman rode up wearily to the hotel, dismount .*«!, hung his jaded steed up to the or-thordox rail, and entered. Charlie was stationed behind the bar and obeyed Rutherford s call far huh. After the bushranger had drunk the liquor and paid for it they entered into a firendly diet about the engrossing topics of the day—the daring deeds of bush rangers chiefly.At length Rutherford invited tin- Frenchman to till them op again, and just as the sauve boui-face stooped down, th*» out Paw covered him with a revolver, and ordered him to turn out his cash.So sudden and serious was the change, that Beauvais was disposed to treat the matter as a joke, but the stern look of he fellow. and the nasty feeling engendered by the sight of the loaded tir-anns soon suggested the true position.’ * So you want money, eh?“Yes, and roust have it!”“Well. I haven’t any in the bar. it is all in my bedroom.’*“Go and get it; 1 “IP follow you.”“Put down vnur shooter then; the d d thing migfit go off ““I'll put it away when I get“I did nut shoot He shot himself.characteristic the poor fellow.I do not want blood money, and will nut have it.”Some time after this occurrence the Justice Department though* it was a gross dereliction to duty not to recognise Ilea in a is’s brave conduct, and sought to eclipse itself in deeds of magnamity. It got a larg-* bronze medal struck, ind had it inscribed with gushing sentences, and forwarded to the worthy Frenchman, with a request that he shouAl wear it on a •.•onspicuoUN part of hie body. When he receiv d it, Beauvais'* first inclination was to chop it up and throw it behind the fir*. Other counsels prevailed. He too* it to Sydney, secured an audience with Sir Ilenry Parke*, ami after thanking him for the medal, told him to place it on his nether part, ami left. Beauvais is reapeeted in Morec to day, where he is prosperous and happy.]v hat I want—not before; so. go on.Beauvais started for a room at the extreme »*nd of a narrow passage. which, in the evening shadows. was now aim nut dark Rutherford followed close mi hi-, heels, with the revolver presented. When they bad almost gained the room B-auvais turned suddenly and seized the robber’s hands. Both men were thick-set muscular fellows, and both wee-desperate. A terrible struggle ensued in that lonely narrow wav. and the strength of the men being ;|* evenly matched as possible neither seemed able to gain advantage tor several second*. Hii-uiately Beauvais forced the revolver round so that the muzzle pointed towards the bush ranger’s face. The struggle 'till continued with dreadful determination, when suddenly the firearms wen* off. and ilie bullet entered the outlaw's neck, and lie fell into Beauvais’s arms.Beauvais placed the body in a sitting position against the wall for life was not extinct, auj went for brandy and bandages. When he returned Rutherford held out his band and tried t » speak, but Ills life's blood which was copiously oozing away rhok-rI he speech. Whal w-r** t,, i..* (the !.«st words of the ill-advised • young fellow . .whether a prayer |• •t forgiveness, either at thein rev ot Almighty G«»d or man~j will not be known, for be entered I into the presence of death soon af-1 ler.About lialf-an-hour after Ruin ••rford died, a mounted trooperrode up u» the pub, and after refreshing bis nerves, he said. Well, •'barley I bad a cut at Cut he rford since morning. I got on bis tracks, but bin hor^e had !lt;•«• mueh pace for me, an.] I lost• .in at Mingo lt;’re*k. I ll catch him yet. ”“You max easily do that.”I don't know s., mueh hImiuI it. 11*- has a slashing blood horse •an ride through the hush like lightning, and knows the country to an inch.”All Ih-- same I say you eoiibl get him easily if you really wan* him -t«. night, too.*’“Why, how. •‘Harley: I don't understand \ oil.”Follow me and I'll show you his dead body.”The officer was dumb founded when be saw the lifeless form of tin outlay* stretched on tin* floor.Then there Was much excitement, and the printing-press s Burly groaned beneath their weight of senaxtional heading**. Through Beauvais being -i , foreigner ;,„d not bothering more about the ease, imf only did | £ie polieeiiian gain pro motion |• He part that he took in pursuiie' I Rutherford, f.iit incredible though its may seem, he aU.. got i|,0 reward Blt;*auv.*iisfriends tried fiieir utmost i„ In;ik,. j,jIn , ,vM*r l:* ust ngida. His reply wis(t
Newspaper Details
Manilla Express
Manilla, New South Wales, AU
Tue, May 20, 1924
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Paul F.
AU 18 Jan 2023
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