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Bushrangers at Abercrombie Caves

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Bushrangers at Abercrombie Caves Having escaped from the caves, the fugitives headed for the hills and at a spot now known as Bushrangers Hill, about 3 kilometres to the West of the caves, they Bushrangers at encountered a group of soldiers. Although greatly outnumbered, the gang put up quite a fight, but were Abercrombie Caves finally surrounded and arrested. Tried and Hanged Entwistle and his men were escorted back to Bathurst, where they were charged with murder, bushranging and horse•thieving. The trial was held by Special Commission led by Chief Justice Francis Forbes. Other Bushrangers Of course, in those days, all of those offences carried at Abercrombie Caves the death penalty. On November 2nd 1830, ten members of the Ribbon Boys, which included Entwistle There are many stories about Bushrangers hiding in the were hanged in Bathurst for their crimes. Another two caves. For instance, it is rumoured that in the 1860’s had died of wounds before reaching Bathurst and a Ben Hall, Frank Gardiner and Jack Piesly also used the further three had even managed to escape capture. This Abercrombie Caves as a refuge. Whilst it is possible was the first and largest public hanging in Bathurst. that the caves were visited by members of the Gardiner/ Hall gang, it seems very unlikely that the gang ever The site of the hanging is used the caves as a hideout. After all, in the early 1860’s now marked by a lane in the caves and surrounding areas were being used by Bathurst known as hundreds of gold miners, and any outlaws hiding in “Ribbon Gang Lane”. these caves could have easily been discovered and arrested. Killed or injured in the line of duty. A member of Ben Hall’s gang, John Vane was known to The Ribbon Gang · James GREENWOOD, Overseer, Murdered visit the caves during his Bushranging days. The book, The Story of The Bathurst Convict Rebellion of 1830 · Two unnamed Troopers were killed “John Vane, Bushranger” by Charles White, has a · Constable GEARY and two mounted Police were chapter in which the ex•bushranger describes how he Back in 1830, the Ribbon Gang Bushrangers used wounded narrowly escaped capture during a visit to Abercrombie Abercrombie Caves as a safe place to hide. This was · Lt. Lachlan McALLISTER shot and wounded Caves. long before the more well known Bushrangers like Ben Hall or Ned Kelly were active. Hanged at Bathurst 2nd November 1830 The Mines Department Annual Report of 1892 records that “a bushranger who has recently served his term of Ralph Entwistle was a young Englishman who had imprisonment returned to act as a guide at the caves ... Ralph ENTWISTLE, aged 25, brickmaker from Bolton been sentenced to life transportation to Australia for ” This possibly refers to John Vane who was one of the Thomas DUNNE, 35, shepherd from Kildare stealing clothes. On arriving at Botany Bay on board few bushrangers who survived his bushranging days. Domonic DALEY, 32, ploughman from Armagh “John •1” he was assigned as a convict servant to James DRIVER, 22, brickmaker from Boston DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE (NSW) landowner John Liscombe, near Bathurst. PARKS & WILDLIFE DIVISION William GAHAN, 24, ploughman from Tipparary Patrick GLEESON, 28, labourer from Tipparary ABERCROMBIE CAVES In November 1829, Entwistle and another convict Michael KEARNEY, 23 ploughman from Tipparary Goulburn Road via Trunkey Creek NSW 2795 were entrusted with the task of transporting a bullock dray full of wool to the Sydney Markets. They had to John KENNY, 22, carter from County Cork Phone: (02) 6368 8603 Fax: (02) 6368 8634 John SHEPHERD, 24, boatman from Wiltshire return with the proceeds together with some supplies. Robert WEBSTER, 28, waterman from Wapping. Written by Abercrombie Caves Historian, Barry Cubitt 1998 Arrested for “Skinny•dipping” was getting too heavy to carry and had to be dumped. be a part of the rebellion, from this point the gang On their return, they paused for a while beside the cool began to fall apart. Entwistle and about 14 followers waters of the Macquarie River at Bathurst and decided The Rebellion Grows now split from the masses and called in at the to strip off and go for a swim. Unfortunately, they had The gang also “persuaded” other convicts to also escape Mulgunnia property (near Trunkey Creek) and chosen the wrong time and place to cool off! and join the gang. In only two weeks the rebellion had stumbled on Grove Creek. They are believed to have grown. There were about 50 in the gang! (Although at followed the creek for a while and then quite by The Governor, Ralph Darling, was in the area to inspect least one Sydney newspaper was reporting a full scale chance discovered the Abercrombie Archway. It is the new settlement of Bathurst and whilst the two rebellion of more than 500 escapees marauding around thought that the gang used Stable Arch for their convicts were enjoying their “skinny•dip” the Governor the bush!) horses. and a party of soldiers were about to cross the river. One early newspaper report written by a local citizen of Public meeting called in Bathurst Hoping not to be spotted, the two convicts hid amongst Bathurst, Mr. George Suttor, mentioned that the leader Meanwhile, back at Bathurst, a public meeting had the reeds. After the soldiers had crossed, Entwistle and of the gang was wearing “a profusion of white been called at the Bathurst Courthouse to try and get his mate came out from behind the reeds and began to streamers in his hat” and that “some call them the some volunteers to help the six troopers who were get dressed. They had not noticed that there were two ribbon boys”. stationed in the town. Twelve citizens came forward. groups of soldiers and so were immediately arrested by The troopers also called for military re•enforcements. the leader of the second group, who just happened to be Many of the convicts in the Ribbon Gang were of the Bathurst Magistrate. Irish decent. Perhaps, by tying ribbons in their hats The 39th Regiment were marched out from Sydney they were copying an Irish secret society known as and the 48th Mounted Police were sent up from The charge was: “..causing an affront to the Governor the “Ribbon Men” and using this as a sign of Goulburn. and his party ..” The sentence was a public flogging of rebellion. 50 lashes of the whip! Today, people who feel they are fighting for a cause After resting at the caves for a while, Entwistle and will often display the Eureka Stockade flag in much his men continued to follow Grove Creek until they This incident is a good illustration of the harshness of the same way. got to the top of Grove Creek Falls. While they were the times, when convicts were handed out severe camped there, looking for a way down, the Troopers punishment for relatively minor offences. This action, and volunteers caught up with them. understandably, contributed to Entwistle becoming a Overseer Murdered. very bitter man. This together with similar incidents let Early one morning the entire gang of fifty men turned A battle took place at the top of the falls resulting in to the first major rebellion of convicts west of the Blue up at the magistrates property (which is near the modern injuries on both sides and the gang loosing their Mountains. day village of Wimbledon), seeking revenge for the way horses. that they had been treated as convicts. As the Magistrate About nine months after the flogging, Entwistle was not on the property, the gang stormed up to the The rebels retreated on foot, back to the caves, induced a number of other convicts to take up arms and overseer’s hut and demanded that all the convicts on the possibly hiding in Bushrangers Cave. join him in the bush. Magistrates property had to join the rebellion. The overseer was then shot and killed because he refused to The attackers followed and on reaching the caves Entwistle Escapes allow any of his men to join. decided to search through the passages and flush out On September 23rd 1830, nine men, led by Entwistle the criminals. It is thought that one of the Troopers escaped from their masters property and roamed the Under threat of death, the convicts who belonged to the who searched Bushrangers Cave, dropped a set of country side in the Fitzgeralds valley area, just south Magistrate also joined the gang, swelling the convict leg irons. Sixty•four years later, the first west of Bathurst. At each property that the “banditti” membership to about 130! caretaker of the caves, Sam Grosvenor, discovered a visited, they stole food, horses, guns and ammunition. set of leg•irons buried in the mud floor of One newspaper account mentioned that after only a Bushrangers Cave. These leg•irons are still on display Gang Leaders find the Caves at Abercrombie Caves. short time the gang had stolen so much booty that it Since many of those in the gang did not really want to.
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