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M. QUAD’S STORY. BUSHRANGER BILL | [Copyright, 18U3, by Charles B. Lewis.] The palmy days of Australian bush ranging were the beginning of that great industry which has enriched , colony by hundreds of millions —wool- growing. A vast extent of country was covered by the grazing sheep, and the herders were obliged to live alone and far from civilization. The bushranger had no fear of the solitary herder, and the latter was forced by circumstances to become an ally. It came to be an tin —•'.Serstood thing that the herder should , permit the outlaw the shelter of his hut Wa, *4 11 * ** T * ( F A KUSH FOR THE GUNS. and provide him with a meal, and it was not exacted that he should give any information to the police. Had he play ed spy as well as host, the bushrangers would have put an end to sheep raising by murdering all the herders. ‘ „ 1 On the D. and D. run, which em braced many square miles north of the Murray river, we had over 20 herders, and the distance between some of them was 12 miles. No two were nearer than five. Each had a rude hut of poles and logs and turf and was supplied with provisions once a month. There was a fireplace in each hut, and a bunk and bedding for any traveler who might come along. We had a storehouse eight miles north of the Murray, and once a mopth two carts were sent out with provisions for the stations. As inspect or for the company I had to visit each herder at least once a week and report •n the condition of his herd. If he was ill, which was sometimes the case, I had to replace him with another man, •* and if he had become homesick and abandoned his station, which was not 1 rare thing, 1 had to keep the saddle till a substitute was found. There was no friendship between the inspectors and bushrangers. We put the police on their track whenever we could, and many an inspector was tumbled from his saddle by a shot fired from rock or thicket. There were times, however, when hostilities were suspended. When the police were not on a redhot trail or the bushrangers making a foray, there was not much danger to either side. On one occasion, in riding through the ■k —scrub, I came full upon the camp of six bushrangers. There were a sudden alarm and a rush for their guns, but I called - out that 1 was only a ranch inspector who had lost his way and was not fired upon. On the occasion of which I write I had made a ride of 80 miles to reach “station 17,’’ which was at the base of a chain of hills, with a vast plain in front of it. A creek ran along the base of the hills, and on the bank of this stream was the htrt. The provision cart had been there a week before and found everything all right. I reached the hut an hour before sundown one afternoon to find the herder on the point of leav ing. On the forenoon of the previous day he had been visited by two bush rangers,one of whom recognized him as a witness who had given testimony against him in a case at Sydney three years before. The fact that the herder had been an unwilling witness now saved his life, though he was ordered off the run and warned that he would be killed if he returned. To remain in defiance of the order meant death. He must go, ahd while waiting for a herder to be sent out to take his place 1 must look ", out for his herd. 1 gave him my horse and his instructions as to where to re > port, and he was off before sundown. He said that I would probably have a visit from the bushrangers before I was out of it, but I must take the chances of that. Things were very quiet just then, and if they paid me a visit they would not be in an angry mood. That you may understand more clear ly let me explain that while most of the huts had only the earth for a floor this one was elevated three feet from the ground and had a floor of split poles. The elevation was on account of the oc casional overflow of the creek, and the herder being something of a carpenter had put in his spare hours fixing up. 1 had prepared and eaten supper and had a cheerful blaze on the hearth when the two dogs began to growl and give other signs that strangers were near. I thought it best to take the bull by the horns, and after a bit I threw the door wide open and stood there a fair mark, while I called out to know if any one wanted food and shelter. Almost instantly a man advanced from the darkness and saluted mo with a “good evening” and stepped past me into the hut. I closed the door and turned around to find him standing before the fire, and I instantly . recognized him. as a notorious criminal THK WEEKLY TRIBTIYE known" as Geelong Bill, who had been bushranging for four years and had re wards amounting to £I,OOO on his head. In his hand he had a long and heavy rifle, and in his belt two pistols and a knife. He was a man about 38 years old, weighed about 180 pounds, and it needed but a glance to tell you that he was all muscle. He had a short neck, the iaw of a bulldog.. and a more wicked tace, taKen from cnin to forehead, you never looked into. ‘Glad to have your company, ” 1 said as 1 threw a fresh stick on the fire. "I’ll have you a bite to eat in a minute or two. Looks like a storm before morn ing.” “Where’s the herder?” he growled as I prepared his coffee. "Gone off the run, according to or ders’.’ “And you are a company inspector?’’ “Yes. 1 just got here this evening and will have to stay till a man comes out. ’ ’ “Yes. - I remember your face. How Bd ye dare come out here?” “A man who minds his own business dares to go most anywhere in this county,” I pleasantly answered as I put on some meat to cook. “Mebbe so!” he growled as he leaned his rifle against the wall and sat down before the fire. "I suppose you ordered the herder to notify the traps that we had shown up here?” “Don’t take me for a fool!” I replied. “It is the business of an inspector to look after the flocks. It is the business of the police to catch bushrangers. Ev ery man to his trade. If I’d been in with the traps, some of you ought to have found it out long ago.” “Mebbe so—mebbe so!” he growled, but I noticed that his face cleared up. and he seemed in pieu’pnter mood. 1 prepared him as good a suppe? as 1 had eaten myself, and not a word was exchanged between us while he ate. He was not overhnngry, and when he had finished I handed him a pipe and tobacco and my flask of whisky. He took a moderate drink, lighted his pipe and smoked for awhile, and I was feel ing a bit nervous over his sullen de meanor when he turned on me with: “I’d have been a different man if they’d given me a fair show. When I think of it, how I’ve been hounded and hunted like a wolf, I feel like killing everybody within reach!” "You were transported of course,” 1 replied as I sat down facing him. "Aye, and what for?” he fiercely shouted. "Out of thousands of hares 1 snared one—a wretched little animal, hardly worth the salt to season it. It was the first poaching I had ever done, but the gamekeeper perjured his soul, and 1 was given penal servitude. I was a man before that. I have been a devil since. On board the ship I was treated like a wild beast, and at the settlement they were determined to finish me off as soon as possible.” “I have heard how you escaped,”! said as he rose up and began walking to and fro. "Then you know that 1 left three dead guards behind me. They had starved and beaten and insulted me till I was desperate. They were torturing me up to the point when I should make a break and they would have due ex cuse to finish me off, but they did not know what a desnqrate man could do. ' PERHAPS YOU* LL CH ANGE YOUR MIND. ” Had they let me aione, had they given me a fair show, I would have done my work and obeyed all the rules. They drove me to murder and robbery, and may they be accursed for it!” "You were badly used, as the story goes,” I answered as he stood looking at me with a savage expression of coun tenance, “but were you driven to this sort of life?” “What else could 1 do?” he shouted. “As an escaped convict 1 could not get out of Australia. How long could 1 have escaped detection if I had not taken to the bush, and how was I to live without becoming a ranger? The government has outlawed me and set a price on my head, and if taken I’d get the rope in short order. There’s no show for me but to keep right on till the end comes.” “ You see the papers now and then?” "Yes, and I see that every murder on the road is laid to me. I’ve got enough of them to answer for without any extra, but they pile ’em on. I saw by a Sydney paper the other day that the reward is up to £1,000.” “That’s the figure, I believe.” "And wouldn’t you like to earn it?” "No. I want no blood money. From what I have heard your trial and trans portation resulted from perjury. I have been told that they used you brutally at HOME GA., Till BSdaY, DECKM BEK2J, tne settlement. 1 <ion t oiame you for escaping, nor yet for feeling as you do, but you deserve hanging for some of the murders you have committed.” “Yes, 1 have shed a great deal of blood,” he said as he sat down again. "Sometimes 1 am glad of it and some times sorry. I have killed to get even with the world, and the world must balance accounts by taking my life. It won’t happen soon, however. I’m good for five years more of bush life and at the end of that time may find a chance to get out of the country.” “You’ll not last that long in this part of the country. I have never given the police any information about bushran gers. and it’s hardly fair to post vou as io ineir uomgs, our 1 may say tnat two new stations are to be established, and the governor says he will clear out the last one of you at any cost.” "That’s the game, eh? Well, if it gets too hot, we’ll have to move on, 1 suppose, but we’ll give them a try for it. Do you know why I came here to night?” "To see if the herder had gone, prob ably.” "That’s it, and I was hoping he had not, so I might shoot him. I saw you through the chinks and had my finger on the trigger twice. I should have shot you if you hadn’t come to the door.” “A man must be a fiend to go about murdering people in that way,” I said as I looked up at him. "You are right,” he replied, though he first scowled fiercely at me. “There are times when even the worst of my men gets afraid of me and skulks away. I was in such an ugly mood this morning that all of them left camp. Even up to the time you gave me a pipe I in tended to do for you. Can you guess what my plan was?” "I have no idea.” “I was going to tie you up in a par cel and roast you before the fire.” “Well, I'm much obliged to you for changing your mind, as I prefer to live on and earn £8 per month. It’s only fair to state that I have had as many as 10 good opportunities for shooting you since you entered the hut, but I don’t want your blood on my hands.” He looked at me for a minute in a queer way and then the belt containing his on a hook and started to in the spare bunk. The floor well carpeted with sheepskins, but at one spot there was an opening caused by warpage and shrinkage, and he had the luck to set his foot down and go through with a crash. His right leg not only went down to his hip, but the splintered poles caught it in such away that he could not pull himself up again. Not a weapon of any sort was within his reach. He was more helpless than any of the victims of his thirst for blood. He made three or tour tremendous ef forts to free himself and then quietly said: “Perhaps you’ll change your mind about that £I,OOO reward now. All you’ve got to do is to slip out and fas ten a rope around my ankle, or it will be an easy job to knock me on the head with the ax.” I got a stick of wood from the heap, and by using it as a lever he was soon enabled to draw his leg clear. He sat and rubbed it for three or four minutes and then limped over to the bunk and stretched himself out. Not a word was said by either of us. I sat for half an hour to post up my report book and then turned into the other bunk, and 1 don’t remember to have ever slept more soundly in my whole life. I was up and had breakfast ready when the bush ranger turned out. Outside of a “good morning” and a word or two about the weather, we had no conversation until we finished breakfast and went outdoors with our pipes. Then I said to him: “Look here, Bill, 1 want that herder to return hereand continue in charge.” “I’ll see that no one bothers him,” he replied. “And you might hint to the boys that I don’t care to be shot at as I ride over the run.” “They won't waste any lead on you. ” “It’s against the law for me to help you along in your career, but in case of accidentor sickness you'll find the herd er willing to do what he can. He’s pretty handy at a broken bone, and I guess he knows how to break up bush fever. ’ ’ “Would ye shake hands with me?” gruffly queried the man as he turned on me. “Yes, 1 would, but with the hope that no more blood may stain it. Good by to you.” He started off along the base of the hill and had gone perhaps 20 rods when he halted, turned about and retraced his steps. He came right up to me, placed his hand on my shoulder, and in a voice which quavered a bit and was low and soft he said: “I shall never be quite as bad again as 1 have been. If you hear of my be ing captured, try and get to see me. ’ ’ He walked away, and I never saw him again. lam sure that he did not cease to rob, but there were fewer mur ders in his district after that. He re tained his liberty for nearly a year and was then captured and his band dis persed. He was promptly tried, con victed and sentenced to be hanged. 1 made an effort to see him, but the au thorities would not pennit it. Through his lawyer, however, I got a letter which worked a sudden and wonderful change in my career. It told me the spot where Geelong Bill had buried the bulk of the treasure he had secured as a freebooter, and a month after his death I was in possession of it. Some of the colonial papers estimated that he must have left £15.000. The police put it at xzo.oou. ine sheep neraers insisted that it was nearer £50,000. As a mat ter of fact, after I had restored every thing 1 could find an owner for, the “swag” amounted to only £2,800, and much of that was in gold nuggets, which he had picked up in the moun tain streams and earned in an honest way. A SISTER’S DEVOTION. Niuo Years of Hard Work to Secure the Release of a Michigan City Convict. A touching story of sistc~ly devotion has been brought to light by the visit of Miss Kate L. Kennedy to her brother, Charles Kennedy, a life term convict at Michigan City. Kennedy was received at the penitentiary in 1884, convicted for murder. Nine years have elapsed since Miss Kennedy entered upon what she declared to be the mission of her life. There has been apparently no obstacle too great for her to overcome, no sacri fice that she would not make in the cause to which she has already devoted the best years of her young life. With tears in her eyes she has appealed to gov ernors, United States senators and con gressmen. There was none who did not give heed to her sorrowful plea, but the letters which she has obtained in support of her appeal for executive clemency have apparently been without effect. Her purpose has been persistent ly pursued through every administra tion since that of Governor Gray. Hope long deferred has only given her strength to continue her efforts. Her travels have taken her to Wash ington, where, in the capitol building, she found many who were touched by her simplicity of manner and the ear nest prayer which she breathed for as sistance to swing open the prison gate and bid a disgraced brother once more enjoy liberty. Senator Hill was visited at Albany by the youthful petitioner. From New York Miss Kennedy traveled to Harris burg, where Governor Pattison freely granted her an interview. Thence she went to Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky and other states. Prominent newspaper men, preachers and lawyers have supplement ed her pleading for mercy. Her belief in her brother’s innocence has prompted work in other directions. Soon after Kennedy entered upon his term of imprisonment Miss Kennedy adopted masculine attire, and for weeks tramped about the slums and frequented the gambling houses of Cincinnati in search of evidence which could be made the basis for an application for a re hearing. She found it a hopeless task to establish her brother’s innocence, though her faith never wavered. Governor Mat thews has promised careful considera tion of the case.—La Porte Cor. Chicago Record. -w THE LIBERTY CAP. 11l Origin and Significance and Those Whs Have Worn It. The liberty cap, that bag shaped headgear so often seen on the head of the Goddess of Liberty, and which sur mounts the national colors on nearly all of our silver coins, owes its origin to the Roman empire, where it was given to slaves as a sign of their manu mission. The principal significance of the liberty cap to the American mind is not, however, its Roman origin, but rather its use as the official cap of the successive doges of republican Venice— that “model of the most stable govern ment ever framed by man.” In the doge's palace at Venice there is a gal lery full of portraits of the men who ruled the republic for 700 years, and the conspicuous place occupied by the liber ty cap in these portraits shows its im portance as a national symbol of free dom. It rather heightens the significance of this ancient symbol in the minds of good Americans when it is remembered that the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa humbled himself before a wearer of the liberty cap, and that Andrea Dandolo wore it on the fourth crusade and at the conquest of Constantinople. It occu pied a place in the forefront of the ad vancing hosts that in the early part of the fifteenth century swept the Dalma tian towns and conquered the entire coast from the estuary of the Po to the island of Corfu. While Columbus was discovering America the wearers of the liberty cap were acquiring Zante and Cyprus, and when the first half of the half starved settlements on the Massachusetts coast were battling for existence the republic from which we borrowed our liberty cap, having successfully resisted a league cf all the kings of Christendom, was at the zenith of its glory. The liberty cap is not as conspicuous in our national signs and symbols as it was in those of the rulers of the Adri atic, yet in a modest way it immortalizes the greatest republic of early times. — Philadelphia Press. A Carious Ffocession. A curious procession once took place at Brussels. One part of the display consisted of a car containing an organ played by a bear. There were no pipes to the instrument, but a number of cats, each inclosed in a narrow cage, an swered the purpose. They were so ar ranged that when the bear touched the keys of the organ the cats’ tails were pulled, and the result was anything but choice music, to say nothing of the cru elty thus practiced on the poor ani mals. —Brussels Correspondent. “What do you call an all round literary man?” was asked of Author A. C. Gunter. “An all round literary man,” answered he, “is a gentleman who can write almost anything except checks.” Illinois State Grunge, in session at Springfield, elected officers yesterday. POLITICAL CHAT. GEN. EVANS IN THE LEAD. Special to the Tribune. Atlanta, Dec. 19. —Speaker Atkinson was in the city yesterday and his pres ence natuially gave rise to governorship talk. The Speaker has not yet an nouncedjhis candidacy but that means nothing except that he is waiting for what he considers the most favorable time to make that announcement. That Atkinsou is in the race there can be no doubt and that he will have a consid erable following is also true. He won’t have as strong a following as Steve Clay, perhaps for he lacks Clay’s personal popularity. The sentiment among the younger politicians that the young men ought to be chosen may assist him very materially. There is no doubt that such a sentiment does exist and it is not only the young men who hold it. Senator Corput for. instance was talking last night at the Kimball about the race. “I will never vote in primary at least for a man who has not taken active part in the aid of Democracy iu the last few years when the struggle has been so bitter. Last year when every man who could talk at all volunteered to do what he could on the stump, that is every patri otic democrat, Gen. Evans was not heard from. While Clay was my first choice I shall vote for Atkinson whose splendid services to the party are unquestioned and who is a brainy, progressive young man.” Os course that is only one man but I find a great deal of this talk. Just now Gen. Evans seemed to have the inside track and all Atlanta hopes that he will win. There is not a better man in Geor gia, a man more thoroughly, liked by everybody [who knows him and be is a splendid handler of men, too. He made many warm friends where he was a fre quent visitor and if anybody doubts that he is a very strong man they are going to find themselves badly mistaken. President of the Senate, I have heard very little talk about the senate presidency which is of course the same as lieutenant governorship. I un derstand there is a strong effort going to be made by the Augusta people to get Hon. W. H. Flemming to make the race for the senate, and if he does he will doubtless be chosen to preside over that body. Bill Fleming is one of the "brainest men of bis years in Georgia. Yes, and the expression of his years might be eliminated. He is undoubtedly one of the strongest men in the state, and would make a splendid running mate for Gen. Evans. The Georgia Code. Just dow there is a good deal of talk among lawyers especially, about the probable appointments as codifiers of the laws. It will be remembered that the governor and the supreme court judges are to appoint three lawyers to that posi tion. The bill has not yet been signed but as soon as it is the appointments will be made. It is the intention of the gov ernor and the judges to select three of the most eminent lawyers in Georgia and tender the position to them. Who they will be, of course nobody has any ides, but I have heard mentioned such men as Col. Nat Hammond and Judge Jno. L. Hopkins, of Atlanta, Capt, Rowell, of Rome, Walter B. Hill, of Macon, who were among the last revisors, with Col. Little and Lewis Garrard, of Columbus, Majir Joe Cumming, Hon, W. H, Fleming and Hon. Joe Lamar, of Augusta, and others of equal prominence. It i« not seemed to be generally known but there has been no codification of the laws of the state since 1853 when the original code was published. Three re visions have taken piece but they have been done by private parties. This mak ing of a new code is one of the most im portant acts of the last legislature. For Commissionerjof Agriculture. The announcement comes very direct that Hon. Martin Calvin will be a candi date for commissioner of agriculture at the election next year. President Wad dell, president of the State Agricultural society, was a candidate, but I am in formed that he will not be in the race, but will do what he can to assist Col Calvin. Cok Calvin is one of the ablest men who have represented Georgia on the fl ior of the general assembly in the last few years. He has been in the lower house for several terms, and Richmond county would send him just as long as he would consent to take the place. He has, how ever, had strong influences to make the race against Captain Nesbitt, and I loam has definitely decided to go into into it. They will make the race lively. A DEFAULTER. The Late Charles Arnold, of Atlanta, the Man. Special to The Tribune. Atlanta, Dec. 19.—Charles Arnold, whose death a few days ago brought out the most flittering notices from the newspapers, was a defaulter to the ex tent of many thousand dollars. This has just been discovered, and has created a sensation here. At the time of his death Mr, Arnold held three positions in which he was the trustee of fund’. He was the secretary and treasurer of the Georgia Hedge com pany ; the secretary and treasurer of the Piedmont Exposition comp ny, and the secretary and treasurer of St Philip’s Episcopal church. He had also been secretary and treasurer of the temporary company which gave the Indian summer carnival last year. With the Georgia Hedge company his shortage is something over $1,090. With the church not over SIOO. The books of the Piedmont Exposition company have not been examined, but it is thought the shortage will amount to several thousand dollars. There are rumors now that his sudden death may have been ciused by himself. He had many friends here who are draw ing the mantle of chanty over the faults of the old man. LOST HIS HAND- Charlie Johnson’s Unfortunate Accident Sunday Morning, Charlie Johnson lost his left hand by an accident Sunday morning. He was at his mother’s place up the river when the accident occurred, and had just dressed to go to ch uh. Satur day night his gun had been returned by a friend who had borrowed it, and Char, lie left it lying m the hall. Sunday morning he picked it up to move it into his room. As he did so both barrels fired, and his left hand was shot to fragments. Exactly how it occurred neither he nor any one else knows. It is thought he struck the hammers against a chair. Dr. Lindsay Johnson and Dr. G; ffin attended to the injuries. Nothing could be done to save the hand, and it was am putated just above the wrist. Many of Charlie’s friends have called on him since, end sympathized with him in his trouble. He is in no great pain, but is naturally troubled over the loss of his hand. Only a short time ago he took out a policy with the Fidelity Car nality Co. for $5,000 By the loss of his hand he gets $1,666.66—a third of the total risk. Mr. Johnson is well known, and is a member of the coal firm of Patton A Johnson. BILL Reported to Congress Yesterday—Demo crats Support it Cordially. Washington, Dec , 19.—“ the Ameri can people after the fullest and most thorough debate ever given by any people of their fiscal policy, have de liberately and rightly decided that the existing tariff is wrong in principle and grievously u»just in operation.” Such is the opening paragraph of the mej >rity report today, submitted by the demccratic members of the ways and means committee. The full committee report wai written by Chairman Wilson. It was laid by him before the democratic associates last night and received their cordial approval. The bill declares for revenue only. MRS- HENRY DOSS Died Monday at Her Home in the Fourth Ward, Mrs. Henry Doss died Monday morn ing at 3:30 o’clock at her home in the Fourth ward. For many months she has been a mar tyr to consumption, and her death was not unexpected by her friends. She was a young woman of many high character istics, and her death is thecause of much mourning among those who knew her. Her husband is left with a young child to grieve over the loss. She will be buried at Pleasant Valley this morning. MARRIED THIRTY-THREE YEARS Governor and Mrs. Northen Have a Quiet Celebration. Special to the Tribune. Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 19.—Governor and Mrs. Northen celebrated the thirty third anniversary of their marriage quietly tod iy. The governor was at bis office all the morning, but in the after- Uvuu had a family gathering at tho man sion. BANK BURGLARY. Fort Valley's Bank Lost S’!,OO Night Before Last. Special to The Tribune. Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 18.—Burglars blew the safe of the Dow Law bank of Fort Valley last night and stole $2,000, all the cash on hand. They did not take any checks, bonds or papers. They left a kit of fine tools. A Third Star. Now the political equality clubs are busy sewing on to their equal suffrage flags a second star for Colorado, besides the star of Wyoming. While they are about it they may as well prepare a third star for Kansas, to be added next fall.—Woman’s Journal. John Goff was arrested at Deepwater, Mo., yesterday on the charge of murder deriag Rodney Drake, of Warsaw.