This post was originally published on May 19. Troden was sentenced on 25 September. He was very lucky to avoid the gallows- his saving grace, if it may be called that, was that his victims were inconvenienced rather than harmed. At 4 pm on 30 July 1868, four men were on the road to theContinue reading “Podgy The Bushranger is sentenced- 25 September”
Category Archives: Newspaper stories
The French Escapees – 22 September 1887
In 1831, a group of Moreton Bay convicts seized the schooner Caledonia, took the Captain hostage, and set off on a murderous rampage through the islands of the South Pacific. More than fifty years later, a group of French convicts from the penal settlement at Noumea returned the compliment. The twelve escaped convicts from the penal settlement at New Caledonia,Continue reading “The French Escapees – 22 September 1887”
“Quack-quack-quack,” 21 September 1858
The spectators at the Brisbane Police Office, on Tuesday last, witnessed a singular exhibition of a respectable man, (a resident in the western suburbs) being brought up before that august Bench, under warrant, for using offensive language in the hearing of one of our majestic Beaks, (the usual process of issuing a summons to appearContinue reading ““Quack-quack-quack,” 21 September 1858″
An Actor Hounded Down – 20 September, 1890
Australia was going through the worst industrial unrest in its history, with agitation for a national general strike. In September 1890, a group of comrades decided to rock up to the Opera House, and give some serious stick to an actor who had fraternised with the enemy. Trouble was, they weren’t sure which actor had workedContinue reading “An Actor Hounded Down – 20 September, 1890”
Murder at Moreton Bay – 18 September, 1849
On 18 September 1849, Owen Molloy went to the gallows in Sydney for the murder of James Leonard. He died penitent, admitting his guilt and warning the large crowd gathered for the gruesome spectacle, to avoid the demon drink. There was a sensational coda to Molloy’s story, but more of that later. James Leonard wasContinue reading “Murder at Moreton Bay – 18 September, 1849”
“Like the discharge of distant artillery.”
Earthquake at Toowoomba, 17 September, 1875 On 17 September 1875, residents of the Darling Downs city of Toowoomba, were shaken by an earthquake. No better explanation of the incident and its aftermath can be found than that of the Toowoomba Chronicle: No event that has occurred in Toowoomba for many years past created so muchContinue reading ““Like the discharge of distant artillery.””
On this day – September 04
1880 – Pedestrianism On September 04, 1880, a famous pedestrian named Baker walked 115 miles in 23 hours and 40 minutes in the old Brisbane Theatre. Pedestrianism was a popular pastime for participants and spectators in the 19th century. Baker had been involved in some promoted events before – including a challenge against a wire-walkerContinue reading “On this day – September 04”
Brown the Bushranger and Mr Wenzel – August 29
On August 29, two German men were executed, six years apart, for crimes committed on the Darling Downs. The sentences on both men were hotly debated in the letters pages of Queensland’s newspapers. 1870 Brown the Bushranger. In 1870, a 20 year old German bushranger with many aliases, lost his short and extremely colourful lifeContinue reading “Brown the Bushranger and Mr Wenzel – August 29”
A frightful accident – August 28 1879
1879 – FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT. A frightful accident (says the Warwick Argus), resulting in the death of one man, named William John Burton, and injuries more or less serious to seven others, occurred at the Big Tunnel, on the Stanthorpe railway works, about half-past 11 on Thursday morning. From particulars gleaned from trustworthy sources, we learnContinue reading “A frightful accident – August 28 1879”
The killing of a hawker and the destruction of a church – August 27
1865: Murder of a young German hawker On this day in 1865, a young German hawker named Henry Bode went to collect some debts from farmers on the Logan River. He was not heard from again. Bode was quite young, only 21, and made his living in his new country by walking long distances, sellingContinue reading “The killing of a hawker and the destruction of a church – August 27”
Moreton Bay and More 