Clarke gang: Peter C. Smith's book breathes life into bushrangers' tale

"I'm obsessed with bushrangers," admits Peter C. Smith whose book The Clarke Gang: Outlawed, Outcast and Forgotten, the culmination of more than 50 years of research into the notorious Clarke brothers and their associates, is to be launched on Saturday, May 23.

Smith's self-confessed fascination with Thomas and John Clarke and other bushrangers of the Monaro began when he was a teenager. In fact, tucked away on page 294 of his hot-off-the-press voluminous tome is a black and white photo of Smith, taken in April 1967 at the centenary re-enactment of the bushranger's raid on Nerrigundah (inland of Bodalla). "At the time I was just 18, so to play the part of a butcher who was robbed I had my hair sprayed grey, drew on some wrinkles and added a false moustache," reveals Smith.

But his fixation deeper than make-up and shoot-outs, Smith was genuinely interested in digging up the truth about the Clarke brothers. "Basically I found that what was written in the past was mostly garbage and through my own research, uncovered much more factual information," explains Smith, who started writing regular articles about the bushranging brothers for an historical journal, which he hoped to one day collate and turn into a book.

However, in 1973, when Smith had a first draft of The Clarke Gang almost ready to send to the printers, he had the wind taken out of his sails, when John O'Sullivan's The Bloodiest Bushrangers (Rigby, Adelaide, 1973), which also documented the Clarke Gang, was published.

Thankfully, Smith quickly regained his passion and went on to add even more chapters and layers to the colourful tale of what the bushranger buff refers to as "the worst and most troublesome bushrangers of all time".

At 664 pages, this is a door-stopper but it's also a choose-your-own-adventure, with the behind the scene stories of many of the real-life protagonists presented in extraordinary detail. At one point Smith even feels compelled to say sorry to readers for what on first glance are tangential storylines. "Apologies to my readers for detailing such a convoluted and complicated explanation of the family, but I believe knowing who is who is important to understanding ensuing events as they unfold in the following chapters," he pleads at the end of chapter three.

But he needn't apologise for it. Through these comprehensive chronicles we learn just as much about life on the convict ships, hardships of early Sydney-town and the gold rush days around Braidwood (can you believe in 1864 there were 48 licensed publicans in Araluen, and who knows how many unlicensed were documented in Araluen!) as we do about the crime spree of the bushrangers.

Appreciatively, the text is interspersed with helpful sub-headings, and the extensive use of maps (many with property and town names around our region that you'll recognise), a mix of rare historical images and illustrations, along with recent photographs of locations make what could otherwise be a hard slog, easy to read.

While many fictional tales climax amid a melodramatic storm or tempest, so does this real-life account of the notorious Clarke gang. It's the breaking of a long drought in 1867 that eventually brings to an end the reign of the Clarkes. "The floods of early 1867 made it more difficult for the Clarkes to move around between their networks of harbourers and sympathises, and indeed they were seeking shelter when they eventually surrendered," explains Smith. Although the capture of the Clarkes is presented as a mix of historical quotes interspersed with Smith's commentary it makes for riveting reading, especially for an event that happened almost 150 years ago.

Unlike other NSW towns like Forbes and Binalong which "celebrate" their bushranging history, there are a lot of deep wounds in Braidwood dating from the bushranging era which Smith confesses he "isn't keen to stir up". Smith is also quick to point out he's "not promoting the bushrangers as heroes, just presenting the story level and as unbiased as possible". And on that promise he stands and delivers in volumes.

The Clarke Gang: Outlawed, Outcast and Forgotten is not only set to become the authoritative reference on the Clarke brothers, but it sets the bar very high for anyone brave enough to pen such a meticulous, yet still entertaining account of any of Australia's other outlaws.

Fact file

Launch: Peter C. Smith's The Clarke Gang: Outlawed, Outcast and Forgotten (Rosenberg, 2015) will be launched on Saturday, May 23, at 2.30pm at the Braidwood Servicemens Club. All welcome. A cabinet of memorabilia including one of the actual double-trigger Tranter revolvers issued to a party of Special Police will be on display. Copies of the book available at the launch, all good bookstores or via rosenbergpub.com.au. RRP: $49.95.

Clarke gang haunts

Although many of the ambush settings, hideouts and other significant sites relating to the Clarke Gang are on private land, there are still a number of locations which can be readily visited (or viewed). Here are five of the most easily accessible.

1. Clarke's Lookout, Majors Creek-Araluen Road

Many locals believe this was the vantage spot where the Clarke brothers watched for travellers on the valley below so they could plan their next ambush. However according to Smith it is actually best-known for the botched robbery of the Araluen Gold Escort by the Hall Gang on March 13, 1865, when a lone stand by Constable Byrne, one of four police escorting the gold, thwarted the gang's attempt to rob the escort of its 1900 ounces of gold. Smith notes the bushrangers fired at the brave trooper for "over a three-quarter hour period, but couldn't dislodge him". Fearing they would be cut off from their horse they "had no alternative but to retreat up the mountain, leaving Byrne victorious", explains Smith.

The decision by the bushrangers to flee turned out to be a wise one, for just minutes after they rode off, "some 200 irate and excited diggers rushed up the road" from Araluen and another 30 residents from Majors Creek [from where they had heard the gunshots!], also arrived, armed to assist the police.

2. Hibernian Inn, Monaro Highway, Michelago

When travelling south along the Monaro Highway, on the left-hand side of the road, just before the turn-off to Michelago village is "Soglio", a derelict house. Due to its abandoned appearance, over the last couple of decades this Monaro landmark has earned a reputation for being a "haunted house".

During the reign of the Clarke gang, it was the Hibernian Inn and located directly opposite was Levy's store (all that remains now is the chimney) which the Clarke gang raided on June 1, 1866. Their haul, which included a large assortment of clothing, food and tobacco, filled 12 three-bushel bags and demonstrates that many bushranging raids were as much for their need of essential supplies as they were for more glittering bounty.

Further, Smith reports the needs for their network of supporters was also being considered in choosing what to plunder from Levy's Store, "for it is unlikely the bushrangers had any personal need for five pairs of lady's gloves, and eight pairs of lady's white stockings, or the scarlet petticoat, silk spencer and pair of stays".

After the raid, the bushrangers headed across the road to the inn where "the publican and barman claimed the bushrangers forced them to drink," while the gang "relieved all hands of their cash and valuables."

3. Squatters Arms, Monaro Highway, Bunyan (7km north of Cooma)

On March 22, 1866, the Clarke Gang raided John Cullen's Squatters Arms Hotel hoping to relieve Cullen, who was also a well-known Cooma bookie, of his takings from the Cooma races held earlier that day.

Despite missing out on their intended loot (Cullen had cunningly given his takings to a servant to transport home), the bushrangers instead "stole ham, turkey, tongue, beer and a variety of alcoholic drinks" and rode down to a nearby creek, where, according to Smith they "enjoyed a jolly good feast."

Although the circa 1841 stone building is now a private residence, it is only metres from the busy Monaro Highway (right hand side when travelling south), and easily viewed from a passing vehicle.

4. Braidwood Museum, 186 Wallace Street

Taking pride of place in the Braidwood's old school style museum is the beautifully restored Araluen Gold Escort wagonette involved in the failed robbery outlined at No. 1 above.

The design of this wagonette was different to most gold escort coaches which were two wheeled vehicles. To allow it to pass up the treacherously steep track to Majors Creek, the Braidwood coach had four heavy wheels and a lightweight dog-cart style body, making it fast and stable. The bullion safe was concealed in the back compartment.

The museum is open Friday to Sunday 11am-2pm or by arrangement. Ph: 02 4842 2310. Admission: $5 adults, $1 children.

5. Monument for the Special Police, Braidwood Cemetery (Uabba Road)

In a desperate attempt to bring to an end the reign of terror in southern NSW, in 1866 Henry Parkes, Colonial Secretary established a "Special Police" to target bushrangers, including the Clarke Gang. Smith reports "they planned an expedition that would be the equivalent to the later showdown at the OK Corral in the American Wild West". However, the Clarke Gang had other ideas and on January 9, 1867, they ambushed a squad of four of the special police near Jinden (to the east of Michelago), killing them all.

According to Smith their murders were "the worst act committed during post-gold rush bushranging era". From subsequent medical evidence it had been clear that they had been shot while in the kneeling position only a few yards from their killers. "Whether they were pleading for mercy or saying their prayers is speculation," explains Smith.

Being mid-summer and with no means of refrigeration, following a post-mortem at a nearby outhouse, the bodies of the slain police were enclosed in sheets of bark lashed with greenhide and hastily buried. Not impressed with what many thought was "the disgraceful manner in which the bodies had been disposed of", Parkes responded by ordering the bodies be exhumed and reinterred in Braidwood.

"The unpleasantness of the task was made worse by the fact the party had to spend a night out in the rain and the bodies, now over a week old, were in an advanced state of decomposition, emitting a most offensive odour," reveals Smith.

A four-sided monument which bears an inscription representing each of the police was subsequently erected and still stands.

Where in the region?

Clue: Traversing the "gap" late 1990s.

Degree of difficulty: Medium

Last week: Congratulations to Lynda McPadden, of Hackett, who correctly identified last week's photo as the sports field opposite RMC Duntroon, near Addison Road as viewed from Fairbairn Avenue. Surprisingly, it proved one of the most difficult photo quizzes in more than a year with Lynda not submitting her correct entry until Sunday morning. It wasn't that hard was it? The clue of "Lasseter" related to this column's recent expose (Lasseter's Reef Solved, March 21, 2015) about Harold Lasseter of lost gold reef fame in which it was revealed that Lasseter lived for a brief time in nearby Campbell and even masterminded a gold hoax on the slopes of Mount Ainslie. The photo was taken by Chris Blunt of Macarthur who reports "the soccer field is the home of the ADFA Vikings Football Club", adding, "and as you can see by the photo the 'Socceroos' were there training."

How to enter: Email your guess along with your name and address to timtheyowieman@bigpond.com. The first email sent after 10am Saturday, May 20, with the correct answer wins a double pass to Dendy cinemas.