Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/480

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BUSHRANGING IN VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.

practise."[1] Towards the close of Collins' career in 1810 he endeavoured to establish a newspaper, but it did not prosper. In Davey's time (1814) it was temporarily revived, but sank again, and was only fledged for lasting life in 1816, with the title of the Hobart Town Gazette and Southern Reporter.

Nevertheless there were stirring events in the little community. Bushrangers—runaway convicts who had become robbers—exercised a reign of terror in the sparsely inhabited districts. The columns of the Sydney Gazette furnish a picture of Van Diemen's Land. Macquarie, in May 1812, subjected the Port Dalrymple settlement to that at Hobart Town. In May 1814 it was announced that the late Actg. Dep. Surveyor of Lands at Port Dalrymple, and another man, late Actg. Dep. Commissary of Stores and Provisions at the same place, had "unlawfully absconded into the woods," "and put themselves at the head of divers profligate and disorderly persons, convicts, and others." Twenty-seven were named. Amongst them was Michael Howe, afterwards a notorious ruffian.[2] All were required to

  1. ↑ Bigge's Report. Judicial Establishments. House of Commons Papers. Feb. 1823.
  2. ↑ It would be unprofitable to record the exploits of bushrangers generally, but as much has been written about Howe, a few lines may be necessary. He had been a sailor. Having been convicted of highway robbery, he was transported to Hobart in 1812. He joined the band spoken of in the text. His thieveries were numerous. He was assisted in some of his escapes by an aboriginal girl who accompanied him. A scouting party, led by an owner of a schooner, attacked Howe and his numerous comrades. Five of the assailants were killed. Soldiers were sent to garrison the homestead of the unsuccessful owner of the schooner. When the bushrangers in their turn attacked, they were beaten off with loss. Their leader, Whitehead, was shot; and Howe, in pursuance of a compact, cut off his comrade's head to prevent its falling into the hands of the Government. Howe became the captain of the band, and called himself the "Governor of the Ranges." He took the life of any member of the gang who offended him. A convict, Worrall, who yearned for the free pardon offered for the capture of Howe, was zealous in aiding the soldiers. In a race for life, the black girl, following Howe closely and guiding his flight to intricate fastnesses, could not keep up with him. The rascal urged her to speed, but her strength was exhausted. He shot her, and escaped in a ravine. She was not killed, but her affection for him was quenched. She aided his pursuers. At last Howe was alone. He was once captured, but slipped from the cords which bound him, killed one of his captors, and, wounding the other mortally, escaped. But Colonel Sorell's measures were effective. William Pugh, an intelligent and daring soldier, concealed himself with
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