"KOOKY"
With this fourth issue of the Kookaburra we have reached our first
chronological milestone.
The well known motif on our cover page has now been a familiar
feature on our bookstalls a full twelve months. We are now a well
established going concern in our own right.
No members of our staff are prouder of achievement than those two
newly appointed members of our executive Kooky and his alter ego
Maggie Pie, without whose sage advise and initiative we could not
have made good our deadline of having this issue on the streets by
its due date.
Yet having said that and given due credit to these two key members
of our work force, we are not without our problems, and thing^have
not always run as smoothly as we would have liked.
While the unruffled confidence of our new recruits (they work best
as a team) has been a great comfort to us in our hour of crisis.
Many of us fear that the very success of these two, Kooky and
Maggie Pies endeavours in eliminating bottle necks in our editorial
department could have gone to their young heads, thereby increasing
their youthful tendency to arrogance. While most of us are prepared
to overlook this trifling display of callow youthfulness so long as
they get on with the job in hand. Others complain that their
enthusiasm to get things moving, Kooky and Maggie Pie often decend
to down right rudeness in their dealings with some of the less
efficient members of our senior executive.
"Cut the cackle and swallow a tranquiliser mate" was Maggie Pies
rather off hand way in dealing with one of our more senior fuss pots
on his expressing some concern about J:he _way in which she and Kooky
were handling the petty cash returns and their lackadasical approach
to office routine. "There are more ways of gettin' rid of a kitten
than drownin' it so just sling us a winfield and we'll call it quits".
This^said Maggie Pie^, swallowing the last remnants of her ice-cream
cone to.relaxed beside her^Kooky on top of the office desk.
Hereupon the gentlemany old fuss pot on sharing out the last of his
winfields, beat a hurried retreat and gently closed the door behind
him.
J
Such is life" commented Maggie Pie when this incident was brought
to her notice at a later Board room meeting. This flamin' publishin'
business is just a matter of confidence and us young'uns have whips
of that in our crow, you oldies are now the men of yesterday, why
can't you be honest and admit it. Just leave the job to us, me and
Kooky, and you'll find every thing is onkydory on publishing day,
and herewith Maggie Pie put a proposition to the meeting that hence­
forth and from this day on all the operations in the printing, news­
gathering and publishing department of the Kookaburra be left entirely
in her and Kooky's hands and thereby become their sole responsibility.
This motion seconded by Kooky was carried by a unanimous show of
hands and the first hand to be raised was the hand of the gentlemany
old fuss pot who, on doing so, whispered in an agitated voice to the
person sitting beside him, "she's a tartar that one, I"d rather walk
through a snake pit in my bare underpants than enter the precincts of
this printing office^again while this Maggie Pie person is in
possession but she has talent and I'm happy with the arrangement,
let me draw my dividends in peaceful retirement.
Many of us thought in the same way, tho ugh we were not so outspoken
about it as the gentlemany old fuss pot. The bringing out of the
Kookaburra at regular intervals had already began to impose a heavy
burden on shoulders long since stooped and we were somewhat glad
that Maggie Pie had taken the initiative and spoken the words that we
hesitated to speak^ourselves.
r \
2 s;
So beginning with the next issue, the bringing out of the Kookaburra
ill be entirely in the hands of Kooky and his devoted girl friend
aggie Pie.
In recognition of their past services our chief of staff who has
jurst returned from a news gathering trip to the sub Continent of
India, has granted them both a handsome honaranum . presented
them each with a skate board, custom designed by a Hindoo
sp ec ial ist .
LATE E X T R A ....
Maggie Pie has just this moment swept into my office to inform me
that she and Kooky intend to spend next week-end attending a barbecue
got up by the Romper Rights League in defence of Kindergarten
Cliqueness. This seminar is held on the banks of Merrie Creek, among
the many subjects proposed to be discussed at this seminar. The in­
creasing senility of parents and guardians, and does senility begin
at the age of thirty five.
Rolling
a glint
that as
on both
off this information in her sharp staccalto lisp, I detected
of malice in Maggies hazel grey eye when she informed me
guest speaker she herself proposes to take the affirmative
these subjects.
Anticipating any objection from me to her proposal she turned up her
nose and, placing her hand on her shapely rear portion as a gesture
of defiance, wriggled out the door.
JiJfd
We were at Beltana Station, one Saturday, and two brothers
Mick and Frank said there was a dance in the town of Beltan
_and they was going in, taking the utility and we all piled in
the back after we cleaned up after tea. Coming home the boys
had a few in after being at the pub as it was open late in the
night we arrived back at the station and went to bed.
A voice sang out Fire they rushed down and saw smoke coming
out of the cabin of the utility as it was by the wall some
were trying to push it from the wall and dented the mudguard
others were throwing water inside the front with buckets and
Frank was trying to take the seat out then the two brothers
started fighting. After ahile the fire was out they found out
someone dropped a butt down the side of the seat. The boys
and I went to bed, next morning they saw the utility it was
a sight. Frank the owner spent all day Sunday cleaning up the
utility we never forgot the fire a Beltana station.
Roy.
The Fight For Survival
At one time in the earlier fays of my life, I was camped
on the outskirts of a town called Ayr, in North Queensland.
They grew sugar cane mainly on the surrounding farms. There
was a large mill, Kalamia, about three miles out from the
town, which was used for crushing the juice out of the cane,
after the molasses had been seperated from the juice, and
other processes had been performed, the remaining part was
bagged in crystal form, then either shipped or railroaded
to the large cities, where it was further refined and dis­
tributed to the shops in the form we all know it as sugar.
Now I have just been sweetening you up for one of the most
unusual and seldom heard of plagues, of which I had seen.
As I was preparing a meal for myself, over an open camp fire,
the twilight was just about to begin.
I happened to look up
at the sky in the north west direction across a cleared stretch
of the land, and above the forest about a mile away, I spotted
what looked like thousands of black dots in the sky. Then I
noticed some were going into the forest, but masses of them
were still coming towards the town. Then I thought to myself
must be some sort of birds, so I went on with the job of
cooking a meal for myself.
A short time later I heard gunfire in the distance, apparently
coming from some farm houses.
Then people from some of the
houses nearby, appeared outside with guns in their hands.
There was still enought light to see several hundred yards
away, when the first waves of the flying objects appeared
close enough for me to become aware that they were large
bats. They were mammals and not birds, which I had at first
thought they were.
They were more commonly known as flying foxes, unlike mammals
that glide, they propel themselves through the air by flapping
their wings, which are formed by thin folds of skin extended
by the limbs and tail. They had a body about twelve inches
long, and a wing-span averaging about three feet.
They normally live only in the tropical regions, where fruit
is constantly ripening, and as they had apparently over pop­
ulated and had eaten themselves out of food, which consists
solely of fruit and berries. They were migrating in search
of fruit to eat, and that is why the people from the nearby
houses had their guns ready, because many of them had different
varieties of tropical fruit trees in their yards.
When the flying foxes decended upon them, they kept firing
away with their guns. But it was futile, the flying foxes
came in thousands, and with their clumsy alightment on the
trees, what fruit they did not eat was knocked to the ground
and damaged.
It was not a good night to sleep for me, because the noise
of the gunfire went on for several hours after I went to bed.
The next morning it was sad to see the damage, every tree was
stripped of fruit, and dead flying foxes lay everywhere. The
neighbours told me a lot of the flying foxes had settled .for the
the day in the trees, down along the fiver bank. So I went down
to take a look at them, like all bats they only fly in the night
time, they cannot navigate in daylight.
There was thousands of them hanging upside down asleep in the
trees. But once again as the sun set and dusk came on, they
became alert, then they started to drop from the trees, expand
their wings then fly off towards the forest country in the west.
MOst of us have seen locust, and other insect plagues, and rats,
and mice plagues. But as our almighty maker has put all creatures
and us beings on this earth, we will at some stage in our lives
come to sealise what the fight for survival means, just like the
fight for survival I had here in witnessed.
. . . David Meyer.
Once again I have been asked to write a story for the
"Kookaburra" so here goes.
When I was a very little girl I loved to eat dirt.
I know that sounds odd, but quite true.
Yes,
Sometimes I would
sit in the backyard, and sometimes out in the street and I
always had a teaspoon to eat with. My mother tried every­
thing she could to stop me, but nothing worked.
One day
my Auntie came to visit us, and up came the conversation
of my eating dirt. My Auntie said to Mum, "I have a way
to cure heri" Next time she goes near the dirt I will put
a little mustard in it." Well the next time I went to have
my favourite food (I loved dirt) I put in the spoon and put
the dirt in my mouth. Well, according to my mother you could
hear the scream right through the house. Instead of putting
a little mustard in, my Aunt had put nearly half a tin, so
guess who finished up with a very sore mouth and throat,
and guess who did not come again for a long time, of course
Auntie. It did cure me of eating dirt.
Joyce.
THE BIRTH OF THE ASHES"
CRICKET
Speaking of cricket - quite a few people either young or
elderly - know how the ashes first came into being.
It all started way back in the late 1800's when the cricket
world first began to take shape. England was the dominant
'
"
factor during that period and thus became the forunner of
>
things to come.
I played with a prominent district team during the thirties
and know from experience just what is expected. England no
doubt had a similar idea in view which was to be proved as
time went by.
Down the years however, the world of cricked faced many problems
but generally solved them amicably.
The forming of cricket board of controls by both England and
Australia, as well as India, Pakistan, West Indies, made the
game what it is today.
England never knew defeat and set about proving this point.
They played games in all colonies with almost outstanding
results.
Australia was envious of this, much so that in 1868 they sent
an aboriginal side to England, mainly to find out whether or
not there was any weakness in their team. England and her
countries defeated them quite easily winning 12 out of 15
played.
Twelve years later the Englishmen visited Australia under the
captaincy of Lord Harris, they won everything_they contested.
Leaving Australia with many more queries. They decided however,
to still use W. Murdock as their sole trump by giving him the .
honour of captaincy for the 4th successive time.
The Australian.team of 1882 consisted mostly of ex-schoolboys
namely - Bannerman, Turner - the Trott Brothers - Blackham,
and Spofforth.
All had brilliant sporting records.
Cricket
however seemed to be their main attributes.
England was also well served by cricketers like Jessop - the
Grace Brothers - Peel, Rhodes and Hirst. All were outstanding
making their presence felt especially over the last 15 to 20
years.
Australia had nothing to equal these type of players, they
were far more dominant.
Yet the ashes were originated that year.
On August 29th
Australia defeated England who was at full strength for the
first time.
• It was in this match, played at the Oval, that Murdock the
Australian skipper decided to use four fast bowlers - Spofforth
being his main trump. The ruse proved successful - Spofforth
took 9 wickets for 25. According to Grace and company he was
unplayable. Australia won by the narrow margin of 7 runs and
the following day the 'Sporting Timed' printed a mock obituary
notice written by the Editor which read
"In effectionate rememberance of English
cricket which died at the Oval 29th August
1882. Deeply lamented by a large circle of
sorrowful friends and acquaintances. R.I.P.
N.B
The body will be cremated and the ashes taken
to Australia."
The following winter the Hon. Ivo Bligh afterwards Lord Darnley,
set out to Australia to recover these mythical ashes. Australia
won the first match by 9 wickets - but England won the next two.
And the real ashes came into being when some Melbourne women burnt
a bail used in the third game and presented the ashes in an urn to
Ivo Bligh.
When Lord Barnley died in 1927 the urn by a bequest in his will,
was given to Marylebone Cricket Club and it held a place of honour
in the Long Room at Lord's until 1953 when with other cricket
treasures, it was moved to the newly built imperial cricket
memorial near the Pavilion.
There it stands permanently together
with the velvet bag in which the urn was originally given to Lord
Darnley and the score card of the 1882 match.
Since this game at the Oval, many stirring games have developed sometimes England was successful other times Australia, but the
battle still goes on for the main prize the Ashes. Many greats
have appeared on both sides since then. I wonder who will have
the last say this year when both teams will fight for test supre­
macy.
We witnessed the last onslaught when the West Indies, India,
Pakistan and New Zealand were here.
I like many others would like to know what really is in store.
Will the English men retain the ashes, or will we regain our
lost prestige and win. Only time will tell - the answer is
not too far off.
Only four months to be exact.
On paper it looks an even tussle
So nothing can be predicted at this stage but hopes can swing
either way.
Let's hope it will be a real treat for all concerned.
. R. Aitken.
THREE POEMS BY BRENDA KENYON
OLD
BENJAMIN
Edinburgh Gardens in the Spring
Trees all hung with diamonds after rain
Balconies all edged with wrought iron lace
Surround the gardens like a picture frame.
Old Benjamin comes to the park to sit.
THE
LONELY
ONE
He brings some cake or biscuits every day
And over by the slides and swings and such
He feeds the 'sparrows, while the children play.
Living in a single room
Somewhere in Fitzroy
He loves to watch the children swing and shout,
Up behind the Champion
Near the old Rob Roy.
Envying them as they climb and run.
Young mothers with their long hair swinging free
Pushing strollers, walking in the sun,
It doesn't have much furniture
A table, chair and bed
They remind him of the days that now are gone,
When his wife pushed the children in the Spring.
A gas stove in the corner
And a bare lamp overhead.
He gives a little sigh, and then he smiles
As his thoughts go oack in time, remembering.
An alcove for a wardrobe
where I hang my shirt and pants.
Old Benjamin was missing yesterday.
The sparrows looked for biscuit crumbs in vain.
A box for food just by the sink
but it's always full of ants.
The bench is vacant: no-one's sitting there.
The bathroom's down the passage
Old Benjamin will not return again.
The toilet's in the yard
But I mostly washes in the sink
And shaving's getting hard.
My hand is not as steady
As once it used to be.
And the mirror's getting cloudy
Or perhaps it's only me.
■
V
*
I've got a couple of blankets
---------------------------------!
I
So I’m luckier than most
wj n j a r
wn /
r orgets
And I've got a little radio
Tne
But it doesn't do to boast.
my j o j y
Drain
Forgets
I used to have some spectacles
c •i 3 3 r
is
sa/s
toe
nins
fo rtyn in e
uhy
ra ils
n 0f
3
jj.it
of
do t n a t ?
you
/ears
of
fat
1
Living
But I lost them long ago.
I've lost a lot of other things
But there's no-one left to know.
su't
I
idurk ■ a s
I
give
out
I'm
Then I started drinking heavily
is
a yu.<e
utuar
a1
it.
then
stop
s till
frisk y
out
as
‘c a n ' t
happend
Could
And soon lost all my pride.
nard
s till
Jhat
Before my missus died.
not
u 0 s u e e t.s and
i'iy mi n d
Once we had a little house
is
so
as
give
u0 oread
:t n a t
awful
su.eet
tne
dj
years
oetuaen
spring
a Highland
eaten
so r e a d
seventeen
a lamb .in
ost
I
folk
flin g
a passing
glance
My son and daughter left me
In
some
It
makes
s h op
window,
quite
oy
chance
I stopped drinking after that.
I suppose I could have Grandkids,
That
ms
think,
dumpy
can
figu re
t h a t , o & me
that
I
see
but I don't know where they're at.
i'iy
nun d
says
I sometimes go to Mary’s grave
I ’m re ally
In the Melbourne cemetery
Is
And I sit a while and talk to her
oust a p a rt
Of the way things used to be.
it
ily
Tna t
And I wish the Lord would take me
Where the days go on forever
Still, what's the use of grumbling.
t ni s
Knees
y
my
life s
says
I'm
Know,
I
second
■j u t
still
Hnd
so
y
sense
still
fils
honey
i t ’ s funny
or
mi ne
f o r t y _n i n e
stiff,
my h a i r
gran d ch ild 's
thougnts
there's
all
delusion
mind
re ally
1y
at
think
teenager
are
ta il
illu sio n
of
I'm
and
tnat
1 1 kg
a great
dont
■ orgets
Away from all the grief
And the nights bring no relief.
a ll
I
am s l i m
not
husband
But
I
10t
is
on t n e
are
gray,
way
young
a n u o ay
ucn
else
to
say
s till
is
tnere
I'll take things as they come,
But I wish it weren't so lonely,
In the place I now call home.
If
I
I
of
am p I u mo ,
may n u t
nut
humour
I ’ m st
look
. l i
u n -.it do
3
v s
I
care
0d a 1 s c a r t
r
/
•/
j
un
c
at
n
e3 r t
.
THE MILDURA HOLIDAY
Told By Agnes Burley to Therese Pardy.
It was absolutely lovely and I enjoyed every minute of it.
The bus driver Frank Hill was marvellous, he didn't let us
miss out on anything.
We went off to Coonella club where we spent all out money,
also visited Gemstones, a jail, and Orange World. The river
cruise was one of the highlights as well with Agnes. Sitting
cut on deck enjoying the crisp morning air and the living
Murray.
STAMPS
souvenir cover
---------------------------------------------------
Other official appearances of the kookaburra
motif appear on stamps and coins.
It was not until 1913, twelve years after
Federation, that the first Australian
Commonwealth postage stamps were issued.
The Post Office was not responsible for this
delay. There was a political disagreement
between the Royalists and the Republicans of
the day as to whether or not the Monarch’s head
should be included. Considerable anti-royalist
sentiment existed in the Australian Fisher
Government of the time and they decided upon
the kangaroo set in a map of Australia for the
first stamps. Later in 1913, when Cook led the
conservatives to victory over Fisher at the
elections, one of the first acts of the newr
Government was to introduce a full range of
George V stamps, which were used
concurrently with the kangaroos.
"ROBERT TELFORD SENIOR"
Recent Australia Post souvenir cover (top) and j
corner block of sixpenny ciaret-coioured kooka
stamps issued in 1914 (above)
Robert Telford, my father was born on Puchelbah station a
few miles from the township of Garrawonga on the 18th February
1866.
At the age of twenty two, he and his cousin Tom Rutherford with
the assistance of two other men, Jim Lloyd a cousin of the Kellys
and Walter Parry, overlanded a herd of six hundred cows from the
Murrumbidgee station Tookamby no the Thompson River in central
Queensland. Their destination being Ganburra station, thirtysix miles north of the township of Longreach, which at that time
was little more than a stock camp on the huge Mount Cornish run.
My grandfather John Barry Gill had acquired Gunburra station in
'86 and on delivering the herd of cows my father remained there
as manager.
In 1896 he married my mother - Maud Gill.
Engaged in the pastoral business for the remainder of his life
Robert Telford died in Townsville in 1952 in his eighty seventh
year.
GLENRuwajn
- THE LAST STAND
3y: Bob Telford {Senior) 1866-1952.
I am prompted to give my version of the last exploit of the
Kelly gang on reading an account of that affray at Glenrowan in a southern publication, in which the writer says the
Glenrowan incident was intended by the Kellys to be the first step
in a carefully worked out plan to takeBenalla and loot the three
banks established there.
_ Benalla at that time - 1880 - had a population of about five hundred
and was garrisoned by at least forty police.
It was the main depot
in North Eastern Victoria from which operations were conducted for
the capture or destruction of the gang.
Ned Kelly and his gang, of four or five at the most, were not so
foolhardy as to attempt such a hazardous enterprise
as to take
Benalla, in fact their whole ingenuity and bushcraft were employed
in putting as much daylight between Benalla and themselves as possible.
Their attempt to wreck the train between Benalla and Glenrowan
carrying a contingent of police and blacktrackers was unthought of
and not contemplated when the Kelly- gang set out from their stronghold
in the Strathbogie ranges. I have this on authority of two men who
were very close to the Kellys, my cousin
in the Glenrowan Hotel throughout the
Tom Rutherford who was
siege, and the "Wild" Wright
an ardent sympathiser - and for long a fiiend of the Kellys - and
as will be shown as my story progesses what began as a personal
feud between Joe Byrne and Aaron Sheritt unexpectedly developed into
a major operation and the complete destruction of the Kelly gang.
After their last exploit, the hold-up of the township of
Jerilderie - a town with a population of three hundred personsand the robbing of the bank there from which they took 2700 pounds
in gold and bank notes, the Kelly gang went
on twelve months.
into "smoke" for close
They had received word through their "bush telegraph"
that a contingent of Queensland blacktrackers under Inspector O'Connor
had-been stationed at Benalla - blacktrackers were unkown in Victoria
in those days and the Kellys held these Northerners in almost
superstitious awe - Ned had remarked on this event in his Gerilderie
letter to the press.
Then came the discovery that Aaron Sherritt one of their most trusted
bush telegraphs" was in the pay of the police and was about to lead the
Queensland blacktrackers on to their trail.
Aaron Sherritt a boyhood friend of Joe Byrnes
was previously believed
by the Kellys to be their most trusted sympathisers.
This intelligence
so enraged members of the gang, Joe Byrne in particular, that he Joe
decided on the receipt of this
information to set out for Aaron
Sherritt's home to settle the matter with his treacherous one-time
mate.
The gang left their hideout behind them on the afternoon of 24th.June
1880 and arrived at Sherritt's hut, about 8.0clock in the evening.
Aaron Sherritt had only recently married a local girl Dolly Rowan.
He, his wife Dolly and Dolly's mother,Mrs.Rowan,were sitting before
hhe fireplace on this chilly June evening when a knock came to the door
"Who's there"
called Aaron - "I've lost my way" came the reply, in the
voice of a local identity Jim Schute, a man whom Joe Byrne had apprehended
on his way and compelled to perform this task "Will you come and put
me on the right track Aaron"?
Aaron walked to the door; opened it and stood against the background
light, when Joe Byrne stepped forward and shot him dead!
Standing over Aaron's dead body Joe Byrne spoke - "I wanted to kill
treacherous hound, now I have got him I'm satisfied .
The young
wife screamed - "Why did you shoot Aaron Joe-?
Still standing over the body, Joe Byrne answered, "Aaron
was in the pay of the police and would have led the Queensland
blacktrackers onto our trail", to which Dolly replied between
sobs, "Aaron would never have done that Joe, he was only fooling
the
police, had it not been for Aaron drawing them away on a
false trail, Inspector O'Connor and his black police would have'
got you two weeks ago".
Whether that was so, and Aaron Sherrit while accepting money
from the police was at the same time doing his utmost to frustrate
their attempts to capture the Kellys will never be known., but
having known Aaron and Dolly personally I should say it was highly
probable Aaron was always loyal to his old mates, the Kellys, and
doing his best to protect them.
Joe Byrne and Dan Kelly then
galloped off into the night, leaving behind the two women alone with
their dead.
The gang arrived at Glenrowan about two o'clock the following
afternoon Sunday the 25th.
There was no necce.ssity.for the gang to pass through •Glenrowan
township to reach their hide-out in the Strathbogie ranges, but
it is probable their enforced seclusion caused by their fear of
the Queensland blacktrackers for so many months - a life so
intolerable to young men of their habits and spirit had led them
to take a risk of a few hours of fraternising with their mates,
particularly as they were aware that the greater majority of the
inhabitants of Glenrowan were in sympathy with them.
V
i■ .
Mrs. Jones the proprietor oi the hotel1 received them with
1 >
courtesy, if nor with open arms- she had little alternative..
Later Mrs. Jones leading Ned aside informed him that the news
of Aaron Sherritt's murder had reached police headquarters in
Benalla, and that a special train would shortly be leaving Benalla
for Glenrowan carrying a contingent of police and blacktrackers.
Ned's reaction to this information was that it was no news to him
and his followers, and seemed inclined at that moment to suggest to
his mates that they saddle up their horses and leave the hotel
immediately - when Joe Byrne overhearing the conversation, called
out "Good, we've got these sons of Irish landlords and these
Queensland cannibals where we want them - Let's tear up the railway line
where it enters the cutting, wreck the train and shoot the survivors
down as they scramble from the wreckage.
It was at this moment and only then in Mrs. Jone's hotel that the scheme
for the wrecking of the train was born in the mind of Joe Byrne.
The Kellys were not murderers - that is to say - murderers who killed
for the pleasure they derived from killing.
They looked upon themselves
as members of an oppressed people warring against the English authority
and the lower ranks of the police
force who were mostly Irish lead by
British Army officers as traitors to the cause - Ned Kelly said as much
in his
Jerilderie letter.
Ned approved of Joe Byrne's plan to wreck the train carrying the police
and Inspector O'Connors blacktrackers to Glenrowan.
So they then set
about rounding up all the townships inhabitants, about fifty in all,
to make sure that no news of their intentions reached police headquater.s
in Benalla.
Among those taken into the safe custody of the hotel, was first the
two police constables, then the Station Master and finally the school­
master, a Mr. Curnow, all who were considered dangerous by Ned and unlikely
to be sympathetic to their cause.
On the town residents being placed under guard in the hotel dining
room by Joe Byrne and Dan Kelly, Ned ordered a railway worker named
Reardon to come with him and accompanied by Steve Hart the three men
set off along the railway in the direction of Benalla.
Some four hundred yards along the line at the beginning of a steep
embankment on the Benalla side the party halted, and here Ned ordered
Reardon to remove the fish plates from the rails, at a place where
the wrecking of the train would cause the most damage.
There would
have been little prospect of survivors had this diabolical plan materialised.
This job completed the three men returned to the hotel.
Cn arriving back at the hotel Ned found everything in order.
The
fifty or so captives appeared to be enjoying their enforced
stay at the hotel.
Some had already entered into the spirit of
things by organising card
games,
some sat around tables sipping
drinks, while a few of the more high spirited of the younger set
twirled their girlfriends around the floor of the dining-room
performing the latest dance, which at that time was the "Boston".
There was a holiday air about it all.
Ned appeared pleased at this sight that met his eyes as he re­
entered the hotel and walking up to the bar he placed
his purse
upon the counter and called for drinks and a meal all round.
He then noticed that Joe Byrne and Dan were sitting apart from
the rest of the group engaged in a conversation with Mr. Curnow
trie Schoolmaster.
Joe Byrne called out " Here Ned this chap is of the same opinion
as us, that it is wrong for the police to employ blackfellows to
hunt down white men, and he says these blacktrackers in their own
country Queensland are cannibals and eat their own children."
Mr. Curnow then spoke. "Yes,Ned,I have heard many stories about
these blackfellows disgusting cannibalistic rites - I believe matters
have come to a sorry state when blacktrackers are employed by police
to hunt down white men in their own comtry - you have my sympathy
Ned, you have been wronged.
I can see
you and your boys are good
fellows".
During the next hour or so Mr. Curnow grasped every\opportunity
to engage Ned in conversation and so gained his confidence.
"That Mr. Curnow is
-a good fellow" said Ned to Joe Byrne, within
the hearing of my cousin
Tom Rutherford.
Later when Mr. Curnow asked
Ned to allow him to take his sick wife and child home to bed, Ned
consented.
Seeing the Cumows to the door Ned, advised Mr. Curnow not to
allow his wife to talk in her sleep.
replied Mr. Curnow.
"I'll see to that Ned",
They shook hands and the Curnow trio went
on their way.
As the night drew on Ned entered into the spirit of the thing
himself, by playing the mouthorgan - he was an above average
performer in this department, it has been said, and doing several
rounds of the dance floor with Mrs. Jones'pretty niece ,the night
wore on.
Later Ned, who had a flair for prolific speaking addressed the
assembled gathering.
His theme being a tirade of abuse against
the police and the wrongs he and his followers had suffered at their
hands.
His speech being interrupted by the shrill whistle of an
approaching locomotive, and the rumbling of the approaching train.
A silence now fell upon the gathering and an air of expectancy
pervaded the room.
The special train carrying police re-inforcements
and Inspector O'Connors blacktrackers, was now approaching Glenrowan.
The outlaws now began to don their armour - Ned was stern-faced,
and the festive air of a few minutes past was no more in evidence.
"We've got the coppers where we want them"explained Dan, who was
inflamed by the drink he had consumed- but the onlookers observed
that Ned's face bore an expression of apprehension as if the event
was not unfolding according to plan.
the break in the line by now -
"That train should have reached
something has gone wrong" Ned spoke
aloud as if addressing an audience.
His followers standing by were also alarmed when again over the
air came the screech of hastily applied brakes - "Close the bar"
called Ned "and all the doors - that bloody C u m o w has betrayed us".
Mr. C u m o w had betrayed them - on arriving at his home with his wife
and child, Mr. Curnow took up his wife's red scarf and a kerosene
lantern
break
and hurrying along the railway line till he reached the
in the line, stood there as a warning signal to the
approaching train - his effort proved successful.
When the train came to this unexpected halt - Captain Hare who
was in charge of the police party, unaware of the emergency that had
brought about this sudden stop, marshalled, his constables -with..-...military precision and the entire contingent alighted from the
carriage with rifles at the ready, fearing it to be a ruse by the
bushrangers, to halt the train and shoot the occupants down before
they had time to take cover.. But Mr.Curnow was quickly on the scene
to explain the situation and what was taking place at the hotel.
Captain Hare, a retired Imperial Army Officer, but sadly lacking
in the quality of leadership this occasion called for, proved hopeless
when opposed to such a wiley customer as Ned Kelly, ordered his force
to form in line four deep and advance on the hotel at the double.
It never occured to him to throw a cordon around the hotel to intercept
an attempt by the gang
to escape or to approach the hotel under the
cover of scattered forest of trees that surrounded it, but led
his
men up towards the building at a quick march as if storming a Citadel.
The outlaws manning the Windows of the building were presented
with an easy target.
Holding his fire until the police were within
forty yards of the Hotel with Captain Hare well in advance of his troops,
Ned Kelly walked onto the verandah and promptly shot Hare down.
Fortunately for the Captain, when he saw Ned open the door and walk
onto the verandah he had raised his rifle - this act saved his life,
the 'bullet struck him on the wrist and arm, otherwise it would have
penetrated his heart - the bullet from the Captain's rifle struck
Joe Byrne, who was standing beside Ned, on the foot.
At this point the police discharged a volley at the windows
of the building, receiving a fusillade from the Bushrangers in
reply, but no one was hurt on either side.
Captain Hare retired to the railway station where his wrist and
arm both badly shattered were bound up, and his force left
without a leader did the most sensible thing they could do,
by scattering themselves behind the' gum trees which were there
in plenty for anyone with the nouse to take advantage of their cover.
On returning to the dining-room Ned called out "Come on boys
there are too many coppers outside for us to handle - I'm off
there are no police at the back - lets get our horses".
It was at this critical moment in the engagement that Ned Kelly
strode casually into the back-yard of the hotel unchallenged by the
police;
he could not have done so later, as will be shown.
Ned
could see that there was no possibility of the four of them defending
the hotel against so many police - about fifty all told - but his
pleas to "get going" were unheeded by his mates", who continued discharging
shots into the night, aimed at nothing in particular.
As was stated earlier, Captain Hare retired to the railway station
to have his wound dressed.
That attended to, he ordered the driver
of the special train to take him back to Benalla,
receive medical attention, as he was losing
there he could
a lot of blood.
On leaving
his force behind him at-Glenrowan, Captain Hare had neglected to
appoint a junior officer
to take his place, so until the arrival of
Sergeant Steele with his force of eight constables from Wangaratta
about 2 pm. the following morning, Captain Hare's force remained
leaderless.
Immediately on taking charge and assessing the situation, Sergeant
Steele ordered the placing of a cordon of police around the hotel to
prevent escape - Steele was unaware that Ned Kelly had already escaped
from the building and as it is believed that Joe Byrne had died from
a gunshot wound in his groin before Sergaent Steele took cover this left only two men Dan Kelly and Steve Hart to defend the
hotel - but the number of shots still coming from the building
seemed to indicate there were more than four rifles defending it.
Sergeant Steele said later that he believed that some Kelly
sympathisers had joined the
gang in defending their fortress at
the time of his arrival on the scene.
As dawn began to break,a squad of police on guard at the rear
of the hotel
observed a figure of immense height, clad in a long
grey overcoat stalking steadily towards them and firing bullets
from four revolvers he carried with him at any one of them that
presented a target.
The four men in the
squad opened
fire in
reply - the only effect of their fire being a loud ringing sound
as the bullets struck, and the grey clad figure apparently unimpeded
in its progress by the bullets that struck it continued moving
in the direction of the hotel.
Once or twice the figure halted striking its sides 'with the stock
of a revolver, and a hoarse rumbling laugh issued from what appeared
to be an inverted nail can covering its head - then it would begin
firing its revolvers again at any of the police who dared move from
behind their shelter of gum trees and fallen logs. •
There were cries of "he is a madman" and one policeman was seen
to make a bolt for it crying out as he fled - "Look out boys he's
a bunyip".
The figure paused when it reached a fallen tree, behind the stump
of which was posted railway guard Dowsett,armed with a Martini Henry
rifle guaranteed to kill at one thousand yards.
Dowsett was not more
than thirty yards from the figure when he fired his first shot - the
figure staggered, but kept moving, Dowsett fired again, the bullet
struck but still the figure continued on its way.
"It's the devil for sure" cried Dowsett and dropped his Martini
Henry to the ground.
At that moment Sergaent Steele appeared on the scene and called
out "I'ts no devil but Ned Kelly wearing armour, fire at his legs",
and to set an example let drive both barrels of his twelve gauge
shotgun at the outlaws legs, wounding*trim in-the thigh and groin.
Ned staggered, fell to the ground, whereupon Steele rushed forward
and gripped~the two revolvers Ned still held In his “hands as he fell.
Removing Ned's nailcan helmet - Sergeant Steele said "I've got you
Ned".
Replied Ned "If I had got you first, things would have been
different".
Ned then went on to express his disgust that some of
the police, including Sergeant Steele were armed with shotguns.
"I am peppered all over" said Ned and you were lucky to bring me
down".
Ned was stripped of his armour and carried to the railway station.
He had two bullet wounds in his left arm, one in his right foot and
two in his right leg.
On being laid on a stretcher in the station house Ned collapsed, «
those about him believed he was about to die.
The only restorative
available at the moment was whisky - on a few applications of this
Ned rallied.
There was no sign of resistance from the hotel now, their situation
was hopeless.
As was learned later, Joe Byrne was already dead and
Dan Kelly and Steve Hart were both severely 'peppered' by gunshot
wounds.
About nine AM. Inspector Sadlier who had now arrived on the scene
with'a further contingent of troops
from Melbourne, decided to order
the captives to come out of the hotel.
There was no reponse to this message which the Inspector had
delivered over the lound hailer, so the Inspector took up a position
behind a large tree about twenty-five yards distance from the front
verandah
-
all was quiet for some time.
Presently the Inspector
saw the front door open and an object appeared crawling from the
open door on hands and knees.
Captain Steele from another direction
called out "Who goes there?- answer or I'll fire"
The object rose
and rushed back through the door - Steele fired and the object fell
back into the room - it was then that Reardon, the Fettler, the
man who on the demand of Ned Kelly had helped to tear up the rail
line on the embankment received a severe wound.
Sergeant Steele later stated that when the door opened to admit
Reardon back into the room, a voice which he recognised as Dan Kellys
cried "You dogs"and fired directly at him, but the shot went wide
of its mark.
About 4 am Superintendent Sadlier's re-inforcements arrived
from Benalla and he as the senior officer took charge and ordered
that the firing at the blank wall of the hotel should cease
appeared to have had little effect.
as it
Though they did not know it at
the time, as the result of tat indiscriminate shooting, three'civilians
lay dead in the hotel - Mrs. Jones three year old son, an old man
Martin Cherry and one other person whose remains
were never identified.
Presently a figure appeared stumbling towards the police lines it was Mrs Jones carrying in her arms the body of her dead son.
At this moment a Constable Johnston volunteered to set fire to
the building - his offer being agreed to by Superintendent Sadlier,
Johnston set oat under a heavy covering fire from the police - whi oh
was replied to from the hotel, and ran forward carrying a bundle of
hay and a tin of kerosene.
Placing the hay against the building
and emptying the kerosene over it Johnston applied a match and in a few
moments the old weatherboard wall was alight and the flames had reached
the thatched roof.
Just then someone called out "Old Martin Cherry
is still in the hotel".
A Catholic priest, Father Gibney from Benalla-
he later became Bishop of Perth, W.A. - rushed
carrying a crucifix in his hands
towards the hotel
and such is the force of example
a general move by those assembled was made towards the building including in the number was Kate Kelly - crying loudly - "I must
save my poor brother Dan".
Not a shot came from the hotel - the building was gutted
and so ended the three year reign of the "Kelly Gang'.
T n ev 1r e Ttet Be::', T eoole ftaal l y
TYicy're n o t b o j p se p ie r e a l ly ,
I nean,
Anyone who loves docs, cars and children
That much,
-
Can lt be all bcid.
They're quite pleasant,
Sometimes,
I mean,
All that classical music,
Official Kookaburras
The next stamp, issued on 26 August 1914,
was the sixpenny claret coloured Australian
Commonwealth stamp featuring a kookaburra
on the branch of a gum tree. No further stamps
were issued for another thirteen years. An
unused mint condition 6d claret kooka is worth
about S150 today.
Other Philatelic kookaburras are:
1928
threepenny blue
1932
sixpenny brown
1937-56 sixpenny brown
The kookaburra motif of our third national
stamp was not used again until the 1978
National Stamp Week Commemorative Issue
reproducing the 1928 threepenny blues.
Recently it was also used on the Post Office pre­
stamped envelopes.
Broadens the soul.
Talk about your video, contact disc player.
Its all richt if you're not Jewish,
P/'C - word processor,
Vietnenese, Turkish,
fringe benefits tax,
(Greek and Italian are almost accepted these days)
And Social Security frauds who skim
They treat you like one of the family,
Your hard earned dollar,
(Nuclear of course,)
Let them eat MacDonalds.
-You're accepted-,— — ------------- ---- .
—
.--------—
Working in a respectable job,
but decent people,
(None of this blue collar stuff,
Youself and your friends for instance.
31oo5v trade unions are running toe country,
Know what's good for the country;
And people from welfare agencies
Big business in charge, maximum profits
Barely scrape through,
And. money in the pockets,
Might vote Pinko, Picnko
After all,
Burning a good set up,)
Its their own fault they can't get jobs
Let them work for their money like we have to
If you go to church,
.
(But acr.'t splash your religion on mol)
As long as its C cf E
And you only attend once in a blue moon.
Give tre country a bit o f backbone,
Send the unenployed off to earn their keep,
There are no poor in Aust r a l i a .
(loci: at Ethiopia)
Nobody starving here.
Don't talk about religion or politics,
Although, sen is tetter accepted now, everybody does it-
But they're the people who keep this country going,
And you'll get on alright
(Wherever that is.)
Talk about the job,
T r e y 're the ones who matter
The kids, toe wife and/or mistress,
Ask them,
And the three beuroor.mdouble-fronted-brick veneer
And they'll tell you,
In the suburbs
They'll help you,
with the two care in the garage.
They're not bad people really.
The story of Possum.
told by Agnes Burley, Joyce Drury and
Bob Tovey.
On our holiday we came across a bronze monument in honour of
Possum, in a park at Wentworth, and this is how the story came
about.
Possum came over from New Zealand sometime between 1934-1935,
before the War. He never got paid work due to some bad luck.
The only work he did was going around fixing fences for people.
He lived on what he could rumage at the local dump and from
the land itself. The bad luck began when he didn't have a
ticket for the union so was unable to start as a shearer.
Then he tried for "susso" but got knocked back. This caused
him to be bitter with the human race and from then he went bush
until his death in 1982.
He avoided human contact as he felt as he had failed and remained
very independent causing himself some alienation.
At one stage he got 3 months for vagrancy and the Law tried to
make him take the pension but he refused as he said it wasn't
owing to him as he never paid taxes.
This man had many friends with the wildlife, and animals, but
also must have suffered a loneliness.
He lived under the canopy of Heaven, with someone up above
keeping a watchful eye over him.
The story of this man all had an impact on us in that we live
in the city and rely on so many modern conveniences and this
man found all he needed in the bush along the Murray.
A territorial confrontation with some magpies by
Neville Cayley Senior (1853-1903). He was one of
the most celebrated painters of kookaburras
THREE Cs continued.
Sam took up one ingot and on balancing it in his hand guessed
its weight to be about four pounds. He recalled that he had
once heard that the weight per volume of lead was very close
to that of gold. The Inspector was now explaining what he
wished to be done. Sam replaced the ingot on its pedestal.
"You can toss this into the lumber room, Sam", he said,
indicating the model. "It is just so much rubbish, no one
ever looks at it these days". The Inspector then directed
Sam to make a few minor alterations in the layout of the
furniture and was about to leave when Sam asked, "What's goin'
on here?" "A big shivoo Sam, Dig Amphony will be present,
so we have got to make everything ship shape for him. Mr.
Digby Amphony is our boss, Sam, so we must put everything in
order for his arrival".
Sam, detecting a note of sarcasm in the Inspector's voice
as he spoke, continued, "An'I'll bet the booze will be flyin'".
The Inspector chuckled, "Reckon so Sam", and walked off.
Sam knew there was bad feeling between Inspector Errol
Brassington and his Ministerial head Digby Amphony, that
was common knowledge. It was even rumoured that Errol Brassington
was already marked for the axe and to be transferred back ro
West Australia.
The Inspector gone, Sam first turned his attention to the
ingots, testing their weight with great interest and- depositing
them apart from the other lumber in the room, close beside the
entrance door. In a few more minutes the rest of the job was
completed. Sam taking one final survey of his handwork to make
sure he had not overlooked one single instruction, blurted out
"That will do that bastard Dig Amphony and his fancy mob." He
then raced off to clear the chute and collect his bottles. This
done, his Combie Van standing close by, he took off in a whirr of
skidding wheels to keep his appointment with Emma at her brick
veneer home in Fitzroy.
Emma was atanding by her open doorway when Sam's Combie drew
up in front of her home. Fossicking through her large open
carryall, as though she had mislaid somearticle of importance
at the last moment, expressingTflo surprise, not amotion at Sam's
approach, she merely remarked with-out looking up, "Cutting it
a bit fine, aren't you Sambo, I've been standin'here in all this
cold for the last five minutes. Where have you been?"
>V>
With these remarks, not waiting for an answer from Sam,
who as yet had not spoken, Emma returned through her
doorway. A few minutes later Emma was back on the doorstep,
still jumbling through her carryall, "I,ve got it" she said
I thought I'd done me tram pass, it was in me bag all the time."
"Come on Sambo, shake a leg, what are you standin' there for?"
Emma marched off towards the Combie.
Sam, who so far had not
spoken one word, trailed on behind. Sam was single minded, as
they raced along to Emma's appointment there was one thought
uppermost in his mind, the fabulous treasure in golden coins
he had seen at the Mint that morning and he was dying to tell
her about it.
The two were well along the road in the Combie van when Sam
began to relate his story of the Big C, but Emma was in no
mood for listening just then. Always haunted by the fear of
being late for any appointment her eyes were constantly glued
to the hands of her wristwatch.
Towards the final stage of
the journey, when Emma had succeeded in grasping a little of
the gist of Sam's story, she remarked, "Those Big C's are not
yours Sam, why don't you take a pull and get some for yourself?
Wake up to yourself Sam, and give
them horses away'.'"
Sam was a born loser, "It looks as if a
bloke can't win" he mumbled to himself once Emma was out of
earshot, " but there's never no harm in keepin' on tryin'"
Sam drove straight home.
Emma's apparent coldness and her
trivial remarks about the Big C's had depressed him.
Having
no appetite for lunch, he again set off at noon to have a few
bets. His horse ran nowhere.
Gazing at Emma's enlarged photograph above his bed as he
arose early next morning, Sam smiled grimly and began to
face a few realities. Emma was beaut, but Emma was out of
his reach. That to him was clear, darn it all, he laughed
sadly. He might be better off without a woman, if they were
all so particular and as hard to get as Emma.
Sam found his display room on C level only a little more
disorderly than he had expected to find it when he arrived
for his last shift before the weekend, at 4.30 Friday morning.
Empty bottles littered the floor, and many stains still damp
showed up on the expensive carpet, ample evidence that Dig
Amphony and his friends had celebrated only too well.
This state of the room concerned him little as bottles to Sam
meant money and herethey were in abundance, but there were
articles other than bottles to be found in the litter, two
ladies monogramed handkerchiefs Sam was quick to spot, then
came his discovery of one solutary ladies shoe on the large
lounge settee. This caused a raising of his eyebrows when
he saw that both cushions belonging to the settee were also
missing. His search for the second shoe proved fruitless.
,v
«?’
,.
...
.,
...
,•
Sam's response to these discoveries was, " gosh , I'll bet that
that bludger Dig Amphony and his hangers-on had a better time
than I did last night."
Sam discoveries had not come to an end. In the course
of collecting his bottles, in order to stow in bags separate
from the rest of the rubbish ready to be slid down the chute,
he came across one bottleof particular
interest, it was as
yet intact and labelled amost expensive Brandy. This he
opened, and on taking twolarge sips from the mouth of the
bottle his eyes began to sparkle. It was the genuine stuff,
The hang-dog expression he had been wearing all the morning
miraculously gave way to one of cheerfulness.
He now set to work with a will to straighten out the mess,
and in a speace of less than two hours, had his room once
more in order. Glancing round in approval at all he had
performed in such a short space of time, he decided he had
done enough for one morning and gathering his bottle he sat
himself down on the settee, from which the two cushions were
missing.
Bottle in one hand Sam had just placed himself in a position
of comfort, when his left hand fell on an object that obviously
did not belong to the furniture and should not have been there.
It was- a man's waTlTetj bearing~TheT'in itlals D.AT~in gilt letters
On closer investigation a drivers licence in the name of Digby
Amphony was disclosed. Furthermore, in the note folder were
twenty fifty dollar Commonwealth bank notes and sixty dollars
in lesser denominations. In all one thousand and sixty dollars.
There was no question in Sam's mind how the wallet had got there
But the disappearance of the two cushions yet puzzled him.
Actually, at this moment Sam, was in no frame of mind for the
solving of riddles, and lay himself back comfortably recounting
the notes again and again, and always coming up with the same
total.
The liquor in the bottle had now been reduced to below the
halfway mark, Sam took one more swig. The problem of what
to do with the find now no longer troubled him.
"A feller
could do a lot with this sort of dough", was his final
remark as he placed it in the inner pocket of his jacket
and forgot it.
There was only one nip left in the bottle now, and Sam
glancing at his watch, observed he had yet thirty-five
minutes to go before finishing time of 9 a.m. Then began
the long weekend, he wondered what he would do on those
three days.
Take Emma for a drive through the Dandenongs, or along
the Great Ocean Road. No, he decided he would do neither
of these things. He would take a run up to the Golden Gully
and pay a visit to old Jasper and Mum.
He hadnot seen them for quite a time, perhaps stay over the
weekend. He felt he might be finished with Emma after yest­
erday,
He was finding it ever more difficult to get through
to her these days. Emma never seemed to be interested in what
he had to say. So darn
it, what was the use of wasting any
more time on Emma.
At this point, Sam's reverie was suddenly interrupted.
He stood erect on legs slightly unsteady and moved closer
towards the display case. There was something wrong here,
and why had he not noticed it before. Approaching yet nearer
Sam saw that the heavy shatterproof glass shutter remained
unlocked and was hanging loosely on its hinges. The shutter
was a self-locking type. The last person to open it had
accidently neglected to push it home firmly enough to secure
the catch.
This person could only have been Dig Amphony or one of his
junior side kicks from Security showing off with their girl
friends. They were
Sam as he' was about
order to secure the
hesitated, overcome
all bloody show
to apply a firm
catch. But, at
by curiosity he
offs that lot.' So mused
jolt to the shutter in
the last moment, he
opened the shutter wider.
Gently at first, but then wide enough for him to view the
whole display without interruption of the thick glass. Presently,
reckless with impatience his arm moved in and his fingers closed
upon a coin. Withdrawing his hand, he placed the coin in his
trousers pocket without glancing at it. But Sam liked the feel
- big and smooth - real yellow stuff for sure.
There was no going back from here. The signal was right
ahead, and do the job properly. Without the slightest
hesitation Sam turned sharply and made off in the direction
of the lumber room.
Returning, carrying four of the gilded lead ingots he had
previously placed so carefully beside the door inside the
lumber room on dismantling the old model. This exercise he
performed several times until he had the entire twenty-five
ingots ready placed beside him. "These will do the trick."
Sam was quite confident now, though once, on imagining he
heard an unfamiliar sound in the passageway outside, he
glanced nervously in the direction of the main door. But
convinced the sound arose more from his hightined imagination
than any material source, he carried on.
It was a smooth operation.
In the short space of 20 minutes
Sam had substituted the twenty-five gilded lead ingots for
an equal volume of Big C's, being careful to place the base
metal on the bottom of each of the five cases from which he
had subtracted the Big C's, leaving each case, to all outward
appearance, exactly as it had been when last inspected.
Getting the loot out and away off the premises presented no
problem to Sam. It would be all too easy, just slide it
down the chute with his bottles. It would add additional
weight to the bottle bags, so to make sure nothing went wrong
in the execution, he would reinforce the bags by slipping one
inside the other, doubling the strength of each bag and every­
thing would be O.K. His final surprise was to discover the
security door on the chute to be unsecured.
On peering down, the whole scene of what went on the previous
night lay unravelled before him. There lay the two missing
cushions right at the bottom and that matching ladies shoe.
He now had the complete pair. The appearence of the chute
also presented a sight unusual.
It bore the appearance of
having been recently polished.
Sam peered more closely
at those cushions wedged closely together at the bottom.
He saw that they both bore the distinctive impression of
the human posterior upon them. All was plain now, two persons
had slid down the chute on those cushions. The most likely to
do so would be Dig Amphony and his girl-friend Mercy Glower.
Sam reckoned they both must have been pretty well boozed not to
have noticed the loss of Mercy's shoe.
The operation completed without a hitch, Sam descended below
to load his bays into his Combie van. By no irteans nervous,
believing he had convered his tracks quite professionally, he
stiffly saluted the staff members who were now filing in as
he approached the main door leading to the car park, with his
usual offhand "Good morning - fine day."
waiting for a response.
Marching on without
Both bags lay at the bottom of the chute, one wedged tightly
against the other. Sam tossed the two cushions aside and
tested the top bag, it was pretty weighty. He knew from the
position which ir. lay he would have some difficulty lifting
it into his van without making a mess of things by spilling
the whole contents, the extra weight made all the difference.
Sam was about to commence his struggle with the top bag when
he was aware of someone approaching from the father side of
his Combie van. It was Inspector Brassington. Sam knew before
he saw him. The Inspector was now standing quite close and
looking directly down at the bag which Sam was about to lift
"Nice haul, eh Sam, having some trouble." he said, observing
Sam's efforts to prise the bags free. Sam made no audible
reply, just nodded, he was out of breath.
The sudden appearance of the Security man in no way embarrassed
Sam, he had forseen this when working out his plan.
the usual time of his arrival 9.05a.m.
This was
The Inspector's routine
was to acknowledge Sam's presence, then pass on. Such had been
his previous practice, but now the Inspector appeared to be
taking an unwanted interest in this particular operation. Sam
began to feel nervous and wi,shed he would pass on. Sam stood,
the bag resting between his legs, observing a complete silence
and staring blankly.
"Heavy? I'll give you a heave" and before
Sam could realise what was taking place, the Inspector had hold
of one end of the bag and into the Combie van it went.
"Heavy",
repeated the Inspector, "Heavy for bottles, must have them stacked
tight 1 "
Sam agreed and the second bag followed the first into the Combie,
as it did the flimsy, plastic burst, exposing the inside. Sam did
•. £ }
jj
not flinch, though the Vxtra bhc.containing the Big C coins could
be clearly seen bulging outwards like £ green balloon. "Nice
haul" repeated the Inspector, as h^S' eyes lit on the label of
one bottle that rolled out of the £>aq, it was an expensive imported
label.
-’
0
To be continued..
/