TOMMY THE AMBLER - TRACKING DOWN A LOST BUSHRANGER

                      McFarlane & Erskine, Bushrangers attack a gold escort, lithograph, 1879, NLA

Here’s a ‘boy’s own’ account of the capture of bushranger ’Tommy the Ambler’ (real name, Jones, maybe). Tommy displays proper bandit hero style – he escapes from jail, eludes the cops – for a while – rides a fine horse, carries a serious weapon and defies the police at the capture. Yet this bloke doesn’t seem to have made it into folklore. Maybe it was his nickname? ‘There was a wild colonial boy, Tommy the Ambler was his name’ doesn’t quite cut it, somehow.

However, we know a fair bit about the chequered career of Bogan Billy the tracker, see https://ia.anu.edu.au/biography/bogan-billy-30964

 ‘Wild Wright’ was a prominent sympathiser of the Kelly gang, still fresh in peoples’ memories at this time. Bushranging was a sensitive issue in the Lachlan. Long after Ben Hall, John Gilbert and the rest were dealt with, in the 1860s, the activities of this small-time crim could still be seen as threatening the community, with his ‘many friends in the district’ and a number of men allegedly seen in the scrub ‘armed to the teeth’. Or maybe it was just all newspaper talk?

 

A resident of Cannonbar thus describes the arrest of Jones, alias "The Bushranger":

When it became known that "Tommy the Ambler" had escaped from Bourke gaol, and had made his appearance in the vicinity of Nymagee, the greatest fear was entertained lest a second Kelly gang should be organised. It was known that the horsestealer had many friends in the district. Rumour after rumour succeeded each other in quick succession that five or six men had been seen in the scrub all armed to the teeth, and that "Wild Wright" was among their number. It is scarcely fair, however, to the inhabitants of either Cannonbar or Nymagee to say that they exhibited such alarm as has been described by some newspaper correspondents.

The residents of the last-named locality thought it better, if the rumour was found to be correct, to take some precaution against a sudden surprise, and prepared for the emergency. Fears, however, very quickly subsided when it was known that Mr. Inspector Granger, of Bathurst, had directed all the men available at the various police stations along the Macquarie and Bogan to go in pursuit, some of whom started from Cobar, Nymagee, and Cannonbar about the 2nd of the month, but did not proceed very far, in consequence of the contained rumours that a descent upon the Bourke banks was intended. Senior-constable Piggott, of Warren, arrived shortly afterwards at Cannonbar, in company with his two celebrated trackers and Constable Chaseling, and decided at once to take the bush for it. 

Almost from the time they started until the arrest of the principal offender it rained incessantly. The Cobar and Nymagee police worked nearer home. The bush, as has already been stated, was exceedingly boggy. The police learned, from inquiries, that the offender had been seen in various directions, which statements afterwards turned out to be false. During the time the police were out, they underwent the greatest privations. Afraid to light fires by night lest their movements would be noticed, and in a half starved condition, they followed up the tracks, till forced by hunger they retraced their steps to re-victual. Information was then given to the police that it was believed the bushrangers had been seen going north. Senior-constable Piggott discredited the whole story, and after giving his horses and men a few hour[sic] spell, again took to the bush, believing that the bushrangers were secreted somewhere in the scrub. 

They again set to work, and followed up the tracks. At the end of three days their provisions began to run short, and for the two following days the men were reduced to the greatest extremities. The rain obliterated the tracks for the most part, but where they were discernable they appeared to be getting more distinct. Senior-constable Piggott, encouraged by this, determined to push on. The trackers now began to proceed with more caution. Constables Chaseling, Cameron, and Atkinson (the latter said to be a splendid shot) kept their rifles in readiness to prevent a surprise. 

Suddenly, as if by magic, Bogan Billy, the tracker, pointed. Simultaneously the police and the escapee caught sight of each other. Tommy the Ambler was alone, there being no Wild Wright or other desperadoes, who had been spoken of as comprising the gang- only the one contemptible, small, but squarely-built individual, Jones. Contemptible, however, though he looked, he is said to be a very tine horseman and bushman, unequalled in the colonies for daring. On catching sight of the police, the offender took the bush for it. He was riding a splendid chestnut horse standing about 10 hands high. The scrub was exceedingly dense, and the offender was out of sight as if by magic. Constable Cameron fired his piece, but the bushranger was not to be intimidated by that, and when the echo of the rifle was dying out, could be heard the laugh and chuckle of the bushranger, as if mocking his pursuers. 

There was a heavy fence between them, and it was the work of more than a moment to remove it; but with a strong pull altogether, the obstacle was soon removed. The police remounted, and were soon again in pursuit. A short distance, however, and they were baulked again, by a dog-leg fence this time. Senior constable Piggott was first to take to it, finding his horse would not jump it, with him on his back, he got off and jumped the fence and was followed by his horse; then the trackers and the other constables followed. Several times were the horses bogged up to their bellies. There was this consolation, that the " Ambler" could not make more progress than the constables. 

After the lapse of half an hour, Senior-constable Piggott following the tracks of the fugitive caught sight of him, and giving spur again to his horse, was rapidly gaining upon him. But heedless of the challenge, he kept on till Piggott was within 300 yards of him, when, presenting his rifle, he again called upon him to stand. At this moment Jones looked around, and seeing that he was covered jumped off his horse. For a moment he seemed as if meditating as to whether he should fire or not, but dropped his weapon and held up his hands. Piggott was now alongside of him, and in a moment had him secured, and was in a few moments afterwards joined by his comrades.

 Piggott at once recognised Jones as a man he chased and arrested in 1878, on which occasion he followed him 1100 miles, which was very favourably commented upon at the time. The weapons the offender carried were in splendid order, and excellent ones for self defence, and he was loud in his challenges to the police to fight if allowed to do so. As has already been stated, the supposed associates of Jones were arrested almost simultaneously by the Nymagee and Cobar police. The police have started with their prisoner for Bathurst, and the excitement about the armed bushrangers has subsided, thanks to the efforts of the police. 

Wagga Wagga Advertiser, 27 June 1882, p. 2.

 

JIG DOLLS IN AUSTRALIA AND BEYOND

Musician and jig doller, Tony Smith, writes about the intriguing folk objects known as ‘jig dolls’, limberjacks’ or ‘marionettes a la planchette’. These are found around the world, but Tony is one of a small band of Australian jig dollers who busks with his own doll, ‘Henry’ (‘Henery’) in support of  Leukemia research and support.

 

Tony provides links to online performances by jig dollers in Australia and elsewhere, as well as an informative account of this folk art form, enlivened by his own experiences playing and jigging on the streets.  Read here.

AN AUSTRALIAN HUNTING SONG - 1867

 

Kangaroo hunting. No. 3, The death by S.T Gill in 1858. Picture: National Library of Australia

 

 

Here’s a little ditty from 1867 that reflects the settler fascination with shooting everything on sight. Not a great piece of literature, but an amusing sidelight on attitudes and also an indication that the bush ballad was nt the only way to write about the bush.

 

 

AN AUSTRALIAN HUNTING SONG.

[BY ONE WHO PADDLES HIS OWN CANOE.]

 

I've travelled about a bit In my time, of amusements I've seen a few.

But found all tame compared with the game of hunting the kangaroo.

Your wants are small, and you care not at all, so your dogs are but swift and true;

On your plg-skln across, you may shout till you're hoarse, as you follow the kangaroo.

 

If fond of sport of any sort, I'll try to prove to you

That there's no sort of fun can come up to a run

with an old-man kangaroo.

 

I like no strife, but enjoy this life as much as a man can do,

And don't think It wrong to spend all day long in chasing the kangaroo.

I lie down at dark, and ' rise with the lark,' and seek out a friend or two,

Who delight in the fun of a rattling good run with an old-man kangaroo.

 

Some talk of the Play, which is good in its way— that is, if it's something new,

But I think it folly, and not half so jolly, as hunting the kangaroo 

As on horse, with your dogs, over fences and logs, and swamps you go slushing through,

You care not for wet il you only can get a good run with a kangaroo.

 

If far from your home you should happen to roam, and your tucker is quite done, too ;

What need you desire but a good roasting fire, and steaks from a kangaroo?

For though hunted for pleasure, 'tis thought quite a treasure, by those who are fond of a stew,

And gourmands will stoop to a basin of soup from the tall of a kangaroo.

 

This parody's fair as far as it goes, but, better than that, 'tis true

That many men aim at less Innocent game than hunting the kangaroo.

And stories are told of those who have sold themselves and their fortunes too.

For the head of a woman— but give me the tail of a plump young kangaroo.

 

I'm fond of tales of any sort, but this is the tale that's true,

No tale you can tell will go down half so well as the tail of a kangaroo—

 

FOR SOUP.

 

 Hamilton Spectator and Grange District Advertiser (Vic. : 1860 - 1870)  Wed 17 Jul 1867  Page 3 

 

THE FIRST BUSH BALLAD – WHAT WAS IT?

Tom Roberts, Bailed Up!, 1895. Art gallery of NSW.

Can we track down the earliest bush ballad?

 

This characteristic genre of Australian folksong evolved alongside the colonial pastoral industries of New South Wales, southern Queensland and Victoria. Basically, these are songs about white blokes in the bush with sheep, horses and bullocks, often set to American popular tunes of the times, in four-line stanzas, mostly with a chorus. They quickly became established as characteristic expressions of the Australian pioneering experience.

 

But which was the first? ‘

 

The pastoral industry didn’t get underway until after the Blue Mountains were crossed and the western plains opened up and as settlers began moving north to what is now Queensland and south to what is now Victoria. So, the earliest isn’t likely to be until the 1830s, allowing a decade or two for the lifestyle, values and attitudes implicit in the bush ballad to evolve. Around this time we have a possible precursor in the form of ‘Bold Jack Donohoe’, the convict bushranger killed in 1830. It is not a bush ballad itself but is based on the British broadside ballad model, a form which also fed into the bush ballad. 

 

Russel Ward, a historian and so having an occupational imperative for establishing dates, implied (though that’s all) that ‘The Old Bullock Dray’ is from the 1840s (in his Penguin Book of Australian Ballads).

 

The classic ‘Click Go the shears’ is set to an American Civil War tune, suggesting the mid-1860s as a date, though it could  be later. By this time the bush ballad was in full flower. 

 

But by the late 1880s-early 1890s, ‘Banjo’ Paterson was collecting them, fearing they were in danger of disappearing. He eventually published his Old Bush Songs, by which time the bush ballad, at least as a song, was a bit of an artefact (though the style lived on in the reams of verse published by squadrons of bush rhymesters in local newspapers and some reciters, etc. up to World War 2 and even a little after).

 

So, I’m going for the 1840s as the rough date of the first sung bush ballad. Any advance on that?

 

GS