History of the Australian BushrangersBoxall, George
History
History of the Australian Bushrangers
Boxall, George
Bushrangers -- Australia
Jackey Jackey did not long maintain his freedom, however. He one day
went into Gray's Black Horse Inn on the Berrima road, called for some
refreshments, went into a sitting room, and threw himself on the sofa.
He was served by Miss Gray, and while he was drinking she pounced on
him and screamed. Her father and mother came to her assistance, but
Jackey Jackey fought with so much determination that he would no doubt
have got away. A carpenter named Waters was working near, however, and
hearing the noise he rushed in and struck Jackey Jackey on the head
with his shingling hammer. Knocked senseless, the noted bushranger
was easily secured. It will be remembered that Gray's Black Horse Inn
was about three miles from Mulligan's farm, and was the place where
Lynch had bought the rum to treat Mr. and Mrs. Mulligan just before
he murdered them. The capture of Jackey Jackey was effected for the
purpose of securing the reward of offered for him dead or alive. He
was tried for the robbery of the Boro store, and was sentenced to
penal servitude for life. He was first confined in Darlinghurst Gaol,
Sydney, but being detected in an attempt to escape, he was transferred
to Cockatoo Island at the mouth of the Parramatta River. While here
he organised a band of twenty-five prisoners, and made a desperate
attempt to escape. The gang overcame and tied a warder, and then jumped
into the harbour with the intention of swimming to Balmain. The water
police, however, were apprised of the mutiny and captured the whole
gang. It has been asserted that no prisoner has escaped from Cockatoo
Island. The distance from the island to the shore is not very great,
certainly less than half-a-mile to the nearest point, but all who have
tried to swim it have either been retaken by the police or eaten by
sharks.
The gang was tried for this attempt at escape and were sentenced to be
sent to Port Arthur, Van Diemen's Land. Being such a desperate lot of
scoundrels they were chained down in the hold of the brig, in which
they were forwarded, for safety; but, in spite of this precaution, they
contrived to get loose and were only prevented from capturing the brig
by the hatches being put on and battened down. They reached Port Arthur
in an almost suffocated condition, and were nearly starved, as they
had had no food for several days; the captain of the brig not daring
to remove the hatches, either to let in air, or to pass food to the
prisoners.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account