In June 1865, James Alpin McPherson escaped the custody of a not particularly observant constable whilst being transported from Bowen to Rockhampton, where he was supposed to take his trial over a violent armed robbery the previous March. The bushranger pinned his shackles to a tree with the file he had used to remove them,Continue reading “The Wild Scotchman – Life on the Run – 1865-1866”
Author Archives: Karen B
Amateur historian and writer.
A brief history of Queensland bushranging: the Wild Scotchman
In outback Queensland in the late 19th century, everyone had a Wild Scotchman story. How he escaped from police custody and pinned his fetters to a tree with a file. How he eluded recapture time and again. How he was shot by Sir Frederick Pottinger in New South Wales. How he sent Governor Sir GeorgeContinue reading “A brief history of Queensland bushranging: the Wild Scotchman”
A look back at bushranging from 1912.
Chronicles of Queensland in the early days: Some Early Bushrangers— Race Meeting on the Condamine— Knocking Down Big Cheques— A Hot Time— Sticking up the Mail— A Good Bit of Tracking — A Pigeon-toed Horse —Capture of the Criminals— Kirk and Grey— A “Green” Police Sergeant (BY “OLD CHUM”). No. 71 Many years ago, aContinue reading “A look back at bushranging from 1912.”
A Brief History of bushranging in Queensland. Part 3.
1865 – The year that everything changed. We cannot omit to notice a very happy result of the advantages likely to accrue from telegraphic communication, adverted to by a gentleman who charged himself with what may be deemed the representation of the moral and religious aspect of the question. This gentleman stated that he foresawContinue reading “A Brief History of bushranging in Queensland. Part 3.”
The Cranky Cobbler of Brisbane Town
James McAuliffe was a native of Carlow, Ireland. A compact 5 ft 3 ¼, he had brown hair, hazel eyes and a ruddy and freckled complexion. He was educated enough to read and write and was married with two sons and a daughter when, out of desperation or foolishness, he stole some clothing. Brought beforeContinue reading “The Cranky Cobbler of Brisbane Town”
Mr Baynes buys The Courier, 04 November, 1873
Today the oldest existent newspaper in Brisbane, together with the whole of the capital and interest therein, including the Queenslander, issued in connection therewith, and copyright, book-debts and stock, with the plant, stock and book-debts of the Courier General Printing Office, were offered for sale in one lot by Mr. Simon Fraser, this morning, byContinue reading “Mr Baynes buys The Courier, 04 November, 1873”
The indictment of the bushranger “The Wild Scotchman”
Before I publish the third part of A Brief History of Queensland Bushranging, I wanted to share the indictment of James Alpin McPherson, alias The Wild Scotchman, who bailed up and stole from the mails relentlessly in the mid 1860s. He did not injure any of his victims, and this is why this particular bushranger was ableContinue reading “The indictment of the bushranger “The Wild Scotchman””
The Flying Pieman performs at Ipswich, 03 November 1848
Ipswich News: The Flying Pieman performed here yesterday the feats which he proposed performing at Brisbane, viz.: wheeling a barrow half a mile, running forward half a mile, running backward half a mile, walking one mile, picking up fifty stones one yard apart and placing them in a basket; as a gig could not beContinue reading “The Flying Pieman performs at Ipswich, 03 November 1848”
November 1, 1849 – the arrival of the Mount Stuart Elphinstone.
The Mountstuart Elphinstone arrived in Moreton Bay on 01 November 1849, with transported convicts and convict exiles on board. The local burghers went out to meet the ship, and selected the best (or least worst) of those on board to work on stations and in businesses about South East Queensland. The convicts were then disembarked,Continue reading “November 1, 1849 – the arrival of the Mount Stuart Elphinstone.”
“Silence that dreadful bell!”
During the trial of the cause of Beauchamp v. Waller and another, in the Banco court yesterday, May 17, a funeral knell sounded persistently from the adjacent tower of St. James’ Church, to the evident discomposure of the leading counsel for the plaintiff, who complained angrily of “that dreadful bell” to the Chief Justice. HisContinue reading ““Silence that dreadful bell!””
Moreton Bay and More 