DIGITIZED BY PETER KILLACKEY THE BUSHRANGERS - HARRY HUNT James Bonwick - 1856 This was one of the last of the ancient rovers of Tasmanian story. He was for a considerable time an assigned servant to John Helder Wedge, Esq., then in the Survey Office of Van Diemen's Land. His character stood so high, that his master treated him with the utmost confidence. With a smiling face and quiet manners, tliere was nothing to indicate the blackguard, or predicate the Bushranger. According to the testimony of his overseer, Connell, he was "the whitest man on the farm." Due for the indulgence of his ticket-of-leave, there was every incentive to good behaviour and expectation of honesty. But it is not very easy to overcome evil habits. Petty thievish propensities were his besetment. At different times, on surveying expeditions, some articles were sure to be lost. Persons, at whose stations Mr. Wedge was surveying, occasionally complained of the departure of certain property. A basket of linen disappeared from one place, and a gun from another. The men's hut was searched, but in vain. The loaded dray was inspected by a constable in vain. A half-caste girl one day came into the kitchen for some grease. Being asked why she wanted it, she replied that it was for Holland's gun. Suspicion was aroused, as it was known that the man had no gun previously. The weapon was seized, and proved to be the stolen one. Holland ultimately confessed he had bought it of Hunt. Both were tried in Launceston, and Hunt was sentenced to fourteen years' transportation. It was no uncommon circumstance for a man to receive such an extension of punishment. We remember hearing of one --whose several periods of sentences amounted to nearly fifty years, in addition to transportation for life; another had three lives' sentences. The nature of Hunt seemed changed in the chain gang of Launceston. He was not long before he escaped to the bush. Conscious of the perilous situation in which he had placed himself, he determined upon going the whole hog, and be a thorough Bushranger. Murder was added to robbery. Captain Serjeantson, of the 40th, who had been engaged in the Peninsular War and Waterloo, was about returning to Europe with his family. One day in November, 1835, when riding near Campbelltown, he encountered the outlaw. Recognising him, he rushed forward to seize him. Hunt levelled his piece, told him to retire, and threatened him with instant death if he did not leave. The impetuosity of the old warrior overcame his prudence ; he still advanced to ride him down ; the bullet flew forth, and he fell mortally wounded. He survived long enough to tell his story. Pursuit was now in earnest. A reward of £300 was offered for the person of the manslayer. For several months more he was at large, succeeding in keeping out of the track of constables and soldiers. In June, 1836, his career was brought to a close. James Carr was digging in his garden on the Nile,--not the overflowing stream of Egypt, but a small tributary of the Esk river,--when he observed the prisoner Hunt. He grappled with him. They rolled over and over in the mud. The wife of the settler came to the rescue; but unable to distinguish her husband, she called out, "Which is you, Jem ?" Satisfied as to the identity, she raised a musket with which she was armed, and brought down the butt end of it so heavily upon the skull of the wretched murderer, as to shiver the stock and fracture the bone. The miserable man was borne to the hospital of Launceston Gaol. He lived long enough to confess the murder of the officer, but not to be brought to trial. The fortunate captors were established upon a snug little farm of their own.