George Seymour

  General Notes:

Transcript of letter written to The Editor (of which newspaper I can only guess as either the Wagga or Gundagai local) by Claude MacDonald, Oriental Club, Hanover Square London dated 30/5/1939 upon hearing of George's death.

"George Seymour was 2nd Stockman under W. Peters in 1879 when I bought Wantabadery. He remained as Head Stockman until 1912 when he retired to his own farm "Eringoarra".
One of the proudest moments in his life was having taken two hunters to Sydney Show and annexed a couple of prizes he was presented by Messrs. David Jones & Co. with a handsome fitted dressing bag as "The best Gentleman Rider at the Show".

OUR EARLY DAYS
(Copies from the Gundagai Independent, November 1925)

"In a series of articles to be produced in these columns, Mr. Geo. Seymour of Wantabadgery, with the snow of 80 winters upon his head, will tell of the early days of the Murrimbidgee, from Gundagai to Wagga, and relate the most startling adventures of his career, from his wonderful rescue from a big Murrimbidgee flood to the doings of the Moonlite gang at Wantabadgery".

MY EARLY DAYS.

I am a native of The Oaks, Appin, and in years I am 80 'off'. My father was a stockkeeper at Araluen in the early days, long before it became famous as a mining field, and often have I heard him relate how he had galloped at breakneck pace, after bolting mobs of cattle, over fortunes that would have made King Midas envious, for out of the Araluen field came tons of gold. In these days horses were almost priceless - nothing in the way of a hack could be bought under 50 pound. I smile when I think of the people of today who think it a great feat to ride a bullock. Why the early settlers often used them, and when my dad removed from Araluen to the coast, my own mother rode on a bullock. Think of the women of today who ride in Rolls Royces, and picture them if you can, going through dense bush, mounted on a bullock and carrying a baby.

My parents were guided through the forest by a black of a mountain tribe, but he would go no further than the ranges, fearing the coastal blacks, who in those days had a hatred for the sable dwellers of the hills. My parents made up the coast and settled at Burragorang, where my dad secured a farm just a 100 years ago. That farm was handed down to my eldest brother, and eventually I bought it from him, and still retain it. I wonder if there is any other man in this district who has a similar claim to mine?

Well, to get on. I was a mere boy when I struck out for myself, and at fourteen years of age I was a shopboy in a bootstore at Brickfield Hill, Sydney, in Wilshire's buildings, but I longed for the outdoor life so I took a job in a market garden at Botany. Queensland was to me a land of mystery - I longed to go there. One day I got aboard a steamer and sailed northward. At this time there was only 24 miles of railway constructed in the Northern state. The railroad ran from Ipswich to Bigg's Camp, so called because a Mrs Biggs kept a hotel there. I was at Toowoomba the day the railway was opened to that place. What a day we had, with great bullock roasts, speeches by the Governor, and a wild time amongst the men off the cattle stations.

I got a job at Gowrie, near Toowoomba, and it was there that I first saw and tasted prickly pear. Yes, tasted it, for prickly pear was then cultivated in gardens and turned into jam - a beautiful condiment it was too. There was not a fence to be seen anywhere, except around small horse paddocks on the stations, and shepherds were employed to mind the stock. How I first came to take on breaking-in horses was owing to an incident which occurred one Sunday. The boys on the place were going to yard a mob of wild horses and asked me to go with them. The station owners wouldn't let their employees ride station horses on Sundays, so I borrowed a neat little mare I had sold to a Scotch storekeeper named Fraser. He wasn't game to ride her himself, and he would lend her to nobody but me. Well off we went - the mob was sighted, and before I could get a pull on the mare she carried me right into the mob and it was split. However we yarded a good few, one of which was reckoned to be a veritable devil. The stockmen knew I could ride a bit, and they dared me to ride this equine cannibal. I was then only a kid - 16 years old, but I took up the challenge, and when I got into the saddle, I confess I was a bit scared - it was the only time in my life I ever felt afraid when on a horses back. But I mastered the outlaw and rode him back home. No the wild horses of the early days were not of the same class, as gallopers as the ordinary stable 'cuddy'. In the words of the old bush song -

"The wild mob's bolting now,
But 'twas never in their hides
To show the way to well trained nags,
That are rattling by their side."

The Queensland climate was a healthy one and I never had a toeache while there. Strange to say, one of my sons now has a holding at Crow's Nest, near Toowoomba, close to where I rode my first buckjumper nearly 64 years ago. After my riding exploit I was put on as a ration carrier to the shepherds away on the back parts of the run, and for some years continued at the game. But the homing instinct was in me and back to sunny N.S.W. I wandered, and just 57 years ago I had my first look at the Murrimbidgee River. I came to these parts in charge of a bullock wagon for the late Angus McKinnon, of Glen Mary, and my load was made up of timber for the first court house built in Wagga. I started from Picton - the railway terminus at the time - and had as mates 'Long' Jim Green and Bob Black (a driver who could punch bullocks like a tradesman). We came by way of Cootamundra, cutting in through Eurongilly, and on to Wagga. There were no roads and the journey took us two months - nowadays flying men can do the trip in two hours - wonderful, the changes I have seen - from bullock teams to horse teams, then to railways, next to motors, and now they are flying through space. I'd like to give another 25 years - perhaps they'll be breeding a race of winged men and women then.

But to get back. In the 'sixties' all the carrying was done by bullock teams - the country was too boggy for horses. Fifty seven years ago there was no Cootamundra, only a few huts, and between that place and Wagga there were only a few farms. The whole country-side looked to me beautiful and when I first saw Wantabadgery, it seemed to me that no land was so fair. No fences except bush ones on the boundaries of the big runs, and with kangaroo grass covering the hills, and the river hemmed in with rushes, I pictured it as the most favoured spot on earth. That was 57 years ago and I've never altered my opinion. The kangaroo grass was not eaten out by rabbits as some people think, the sheep killed it.

Steve Fennell in those days owned Eringorah, which used to be part of Oura and part of Wantabadgery, which in the time I speak of was owned by Mr. Windeyer, uncle of Judge Windeyer, who came so prominently into public view over the awful Mount Rennie case. Windeyer owned within three miles of the present town of Junee, and joined Eringorah on one side, and John Jenkins' Nangus Station on the other. Adjoining Jenkins was Collins, on Kimo, now owned by the Robinsons. When Windeyer sold Wantabadgery Estate to Dangar and Macdonald Bros. it contained 60,000 acres. Later the Macdonalds bought out Dangar and the estate was divided, Falconer Macdonald taking one half, and Claude the other. Fifty-seven years ago McGlede was hotel keeper at Wantabadgery, and his pub building was an historical one. McGlede had it built at Lambing Flat - it was of light timber - when he went to Spring Flat rush at Gundagai, McGlede put his hotel on a dray and carted it there. later he removed to Eurongilly, and from there, he sold the building to Mr. Windeyer.

The main drink at hotels in those days was rum and the old pioneers never used to suffer from headaches as the present generation does, with its cocktails and gin slings. The first woolshed Windeyer had - by the way his manager was Mr. John Beveridge - was on a site near where the Wantabadgery Public Hall now stands. It was made of bark and there were pens for fourteen shearers, who used to have about 18,000 sheep to put through. Windeyer also owned Big and Little Mimosa Stations, and he used to send his stock there in winter time, and out to Tomorroma in summer. It was in the year 1870 that a new shed was built out in the direction of Junee, with provision for 22 shearers. Shearing was done at various prices in the district - from 15s to 25s per 100 - Mr. James Beveridge paid the latter price, but he was very particular and his sheep had to be shorn very closely - he used to say the extra 5s he paid over the ruling price more than came back to him in the way he got his sheep shorn. We had no crossbred sheep in these parts in the early times, the first man to introduce the cross was Mr. Jas. Beveridge, who brought along a line of Lincolns. I've mentioned the country between Wantabadgery and Gundagai, so let me tell you of the places on the other side. Oura was owned by John Rand, Sinclair owned Euronyhareenyah, S. White had Merribindinyah; Joe Morris Goralambeth and Hammond North Junee. All these were cattle runs, except Hammond's, it was a sheep run. Collins' Kimo was all cattle - the old homestead used to be on the river, at a site opposite where Nr. Robinsons' Nargoon residence now stands. A big bush fire burnt out this old station homestead. On Nangus station Jenkins went in for sheep and cattle.

DROUGHTS, FLOODS AND PESTS

For the first ten years I was at Wantabadgery the seasons were just glorious, and we had no droughts of any great importance. In the early 'seventies' things took a bad turn, but it was in 1875 that Wantabadgery Station received its biggest bump. Besides the Merino sheep which Mr. Windeyer had, he also had some thousands of head of cattle. They were all beautiful beef, Shorthorns bought in Goulburn from the state's recognised champion breeder of this class of cattle, Mr. Chrisholm. Well, the '75 time of tribulation struck us, and Wantabadgery became a land of desolation. The thousands of beautiful bullocks perished in droves, and all hands were kept busy skinning and burning the carcases. My tally was 500 head skinned and the herd was almost wiped out. Mr. Windeyer sold the skins to a Wagga buyer named Fishburn for 8s to 10s per skin. I can remember the old gentleman standing at the station gate as the first cartload was taken out. There were tears in his eyes - "My beautiful beasts - my beautiful beasts" he cried. And they were beautiful - the bulls and cows from which the herd was built up had been bought at prices from 20 guineas upwards.

While it was the '75 drought which financially rocked Windeyer, it was the 1870 flood which practically ruined Collins of Kimo, for it swept his cattle past Wagga. A strange thing occurred in this flood. When I was passing Kimo a year before the flood, Collins took a fancy to a big bullock I had in my team, so he swapped me for a younger but smaller bullock. I willingly agreed as my bullock was hipped and blind of one eye. But the bullock evidently had an eye on me, as in the flood to which I refer, he was washed out alive right close to my house. It was in this flood I saw 30 wild pigs being carried in the rushing water through what is now Johnson Street in Wagga. Out on Eringoarah Steve Fennell and I had a great time hunting wild pigs brought down by this flood. They were in droves and we essayed to yard one lot of about 200, but we failed to do so - everyone of them took to the water and got away. Pig-hunting was an exciting as well as a profitable pastime - we used to get 10s per head from Chinamen for the pigs we caught. I never liked the taste of their flesh it was too fishy.

The great pest of the early days was the kangaroo. Their worst offence was breaking down fences. The station used to pay 1s per head for destroying them, and it was not until about 10 years ago that they disappeared from round here. When the Mulhollands were at Oura no man dared to destroy a kangaroo - the Mulhollands had a wish to preserve them. Snakes were a terrible trouble to us 50 years ago and I've killed thousands of them - they were huge 6ft chaps and were usually in marshy ground. I was only bitten once - on an occassion when I was out duck shooting. I took out my pocketknife and cut a piece out of the spot bitten, bound my leg up with my whip and rode home. I never liked to leave my wife for any length of time in the snake season for at night-time you could hear the noise made by the reptiles as they passed our place to water.

But the worst pest that we ever had was the rabbit. Snakes, 'possums, kangaroos, wild pigs and wild horses cannot be put in the same boat as the rabbits. I caught the first rabbit ever known in these parts, my catch being affected at Eurongilly over 40 years ago. I ran bunny into a split rock and brought him home alive, he was a nice plump yellow and white fellow. There was great excitement at the homestead when I exhibited my catch, which I presented to the manager. The rabbit was duly killed and cooked, and the dinner at which it was served was a big event - bigger even than a Christmas spread. The big army of rabbits hit these parts from 18 to 20 years ago, and as settlers right through the district know, they did more damage than all the fires, floods, droughts and pests put together. They ruined many people and put others on the financial rocks, and they not only cleared thousands of acres of grass, but destroyed trees by ringing them. I've seem them like mobs of sheep on my place waiting for the leaves to fall off the trees. I tried to get rid of them by trapping and dogs, and although I've killed thousands, two rabbits used to appear where one previously had been. The man who really showed the way down here to get rid of the rabbits was Mr. Mat Sawyer - he used the only effective means - that is digging out. I followed his lead and I always look on him as one of the best friends I ever had. I dug out and destroyed cover, and today there is not a rabbit on my place.

Mr Sawyer told me that he spent 3000 pounds getting rid of the pest on Eringoarah, but said he got a return for his money in less than 3 years by the increased number of stock he could run on his place. And I know his statement is correct for his tale is my tale. Since I got rid of the rabbits on my holding it is of double carrying capacity. Having seen the rabbits at work for over 40 years and knowing the damage they have done, my advice to all landholders is to use the only effective implement - the shovel and mattock.

DAYS OF CHEAP SHEEP.

When I first came to Wantabadgery, the sheep were all washed before being shorn - in order to save freight on their wool. As we used to repeat in school -

"The sheep are taken once a year
And dipped in water clean and clear"

In earlier years we used to wash the sheep in a lagoon, by swimming them across, but later we adopted another method. First they would be steamed. The sheep would be put into an enclosure, packed closely together and jetted with water. In a short time the vapour from them would be almost suffocating. Then they were shot out and put under a jet of water and would come out snow white. Many tons of lanolin went in waste in this process. The work of washing was mainly done by Aboriginals. There was always a big camp of blacks near Merribindinyah Station.

Steve White was a good man to the blacks, he treated them well, and they were fond of him. In certain times of the year big mobs of blacks would come down to the Murrimbidgee and engage in hunting and fishing, and we never had any trouble with them. The Macdonalds did not persevere with the washing of their sheep before shearing - they carried out the old practice only once. Fifty years ago Wantabadgery and adjoining stations used to drove cattle to Melbourne where they would get 7 to 8 pound per head for them - the routes were well grassed and it was easy to fatten a mob on the road. Sheep at this time were a drug on the market - old ewes were sold at 1s per head, and it was considered a good price. I've seen them sell for as low as 9d. per head, and it was considered a good price, 7d per pound was a good price for wool. When Jenkins left Mangus Station he sold his sheep as low as 6d and 9d per head - they were taken to Wagga and boiled down. My first load of wool from here I took the second day of my arrival - 30 bales, and Marulan was my destination. My last load of wool was in 1870. A mob of fat sheep was being travelled from the Lachlan, and as hot weather was coming on it was decided to shear them at Euronyhareenyah. I took the wool to Goulburn and brought back a load of merchandise for Toohey, a storekeeper at Tumut. I crossed the Murrimbidgee at Sandy Falls near Coolac, and had an eventful trip. I brought back 2 tons of flour from Tumut, returning by the marked tree road. I had one spare bullock and it was lame so I turned him on the flat at Gundagai and lost him among the high thistles, taking a whole day to discover his whereabouts. The thistles were monster ones - 12ft. to 14ft. high - and to this day we call this class of growth "Gundagai Thistles".

The lame bullock to which I refer continued to give me trouble, so I took a pair of Wellington boots I had with me and put them on his forefeet, and drove him that way from Gundagai to Nangus. It's a bullockies job to care for the feet of his team. I've mentioned some of the bullockies who were contemparies of mine in the old days, and they were real artists at the game - there was none of that


"Navvy Jack has broke the yoke,
Knocked out the leader's eye."


in their treatment of these teams. Martin Dwyer, of Tumut once piloted a team with 54 bales of wool aboard from Dubbo to Echuca - 200 miles journey. I give Martin the palm as the best bullock driver I ever knew. He was unorthodox in his methods - no long handled whips and cruel thong used he, but he was always armed with a piece of rope. When bullocks tried to shirk their job Martin would roar at them - his roar was like a roll of thunder - and to see the team strain and pull often made me wonder if a big bassoon voice was mightier than a bullocky's whip.

In the days of Martin, Yarabee was owned by Peters, and he had a huge scope of country and many thousands of sheep which it took 52 shearers many weeks to put through. The plains out that way were covered with wild oats - in season the miles of country looked like one huge wheat field.Then on the river frontages was a mass of trefoil, and wild turkey and black duck were in vast armies, while emus were in plenty.

My helpmate of all these years says she now feels tired of the landscape, but I can't get away from the place where I put in so many good days, running wild horses, cattle and pigs. One day I went as far as Coolac looking for stray cattle, and out in the bush came across a man fencing his selection. I found out that he was Peter Sullivan, the father, grandfather and great-grandfather of the Sullivan clan at Coolac. It was while talking to him that we saw a monster wild pig. I confess it was the biggest pig I ever gazed upon, being more like a bullock than a pig.

I didn't find the bullocks at Coolac so I pushed on to Gobarralong, and received hospitality at the hands of the Crowes and the Quilters. By the way, I remember when Quilters selected on the Wantabadgery - 47 or 48 years ago, on Claris Creek, in a corner adjoining Oura and Euronyhareenyah. When I came to Wantabadgery, only a little wheat was grown - a Mr. Hurst had a crop in on the halves with the estate. There were no wire fences on the place until Mr. Windeyer erected one in 1870. Mr. Windeyer's first wife was buried on the station at Wantabadgery - the site around her grave was afterwards converted into a cemetery. In the early days the toll-bar system was in vogue on the Murrimbidgee, both in Wagga and Gundagai - 1s per wheel for dray wagon, 4d per head for bullocks, 1s per head horses and 2d per man, so the cost of crossing the river in those days ran the bullocky into close on 10s. Nowadays people curse the shire if there is a bump on the bridge over which they pass, without paying any toll. At Narrandera, Darlington Point and Gillenbah we used to cross the river by means of a punt. To cross the river at Echuca a punt also had to be used.

TAMING BRUMBIES AND RIDING HUNTERS

Next to man the greatest animal in all creation is the horse. While most dumb animals are guided by instinct, the horse, I really believe, possesses reasoning power. That's my opinion after having broken in and ridden thousands of them during a period exceeding 70 years. I've told about my Queensland equine experiences. Now let me relate incidents of early happenings in the horse line in this district.

When I came over half a century ago, I gave up carrying and took up horse breaking. The hills around Wantabadgery were full of wild horses, and they ran from here to the other side of where the town of Junee now stands - Junee in those days was a wattle scrub. These horses were a great nuisance, and we had to shoot hundreds of them. The pest extended right past Gundagai, and to the other side of Cootamundra and Hurley. The owner of the station there gave a man 3 years run to get rid of the wild horses, which were shot and their hides were sold. Often the poundkeeper at Wagga would come out to muster and run in both tame and wild horses, and among the latter were some good sorts. We used to erect long wings made of calico, the flapping of which would scare the wild horses into the yards we had waiting. We would pick out the best sorts and send them to Melbourne for sale, the rest we would shoot and skin.

One of the best hunters I ever rode was Don Juan, which I ran out of a mob of wild horses. In 1886 I took him to Sydney and won the high jump with him. He was a big bay, a bit coarse and draught-like but he could jump. I won the high jump at Tumut with him for 4 or 5 years in succession, and also won with him at Gundagai and Wagga. At Wagga I took several prizes with him in the hackney section. I had many other hunters and won the big 40 pound prize at Wagga one year.

The best racer I ever had was a mare called Vanity - she was a great performer at country meetings. With her I won several races at Wagga and other country places, and the first race meeting held at Temora, then a calico town, she won the flying handicap. The stamina of the old type of horse was superior to what we have today.

At the time the Kelly gang was out, I rode a pony by Snowden a big journey. I started from Wantabadgery one morning, rode through Wagga, where I got the pony shod, and camped at Albury. It was the day Mr Windeyer was buried there. Then I went to Culcairn - 110 miles in one day. Mr. Claude Macdonald afterwards got this pony and used her as a hack when on Wantabadgery. When she died he had one of her hoofs made into an inkstand. A horse we had on the station, a five year old, broke away one day and joined the wild mob on the station at Cootamundra. Fourteen years later we got word that the poundkeeper at Cootamundra had yarded the missing gee. I was told I could have the horse if I could bring it back home, so I took on the job. We had to throw the animal in the yard, and when it got on its feet it cleared the rails round the yard, but the poundkeeper and I held on and we got the rope round a tree, and put a strangle hold on the horse. I started back home with it - I wasn't game to let go till I reached home. There was only one gate on the way and I pondered as I came to it how I would get through, for I feared that once the horse got a chance he would break away. Luckily the late Mr. Steve White was at the gate and opened it for me. I got home just at dark and within cooee of Mr. Steve Fennell's place the brute sulked - nothing would shift him. Mr. Fennell heard me shouting, ran out with a stockwhip and we got the brute into a yard, and then stabled him for the night. next day I got the horse to Wagga and sold him.

Yes I have ridden thousands of buckjumpers in my day, and although I'm nearly 80 years of age I can sit a young 'un still. Riding a bucking horse is the best of all sport - it is a case of the man pitting his knowledge against the horse, and using his balancing power properly. Give me a good horse with a bit of fire in him, and you can have all your other joys. My first ride at a show was 45 years ago in Wagga. I've often ridden at Tumut and at Gundagai I won the high jump seven years in succession.

My first knowledge of Gundagai was when it was a very little place with Paddy Ryan as poundkeeper. Wagga was only a little better - a couple of hundred of population, and only three houses on the lagoon side of the town. But, I'm digressing. We used to hold race meetings at Wantabadgery in the old days - 46 years ago. Mc Mahon the publican there was the promoter. Three years in succession I won the hurdle race at these fixtures with different horses, all of which I rode. The oldtime sports used to attend these meetings and the late Joe Gormly and Jerry Leary were frequent visitors. On the Wantabadgery course were run many big races - one year a 100 pound contest took place between a horse owned by a Gundagai man and one belonging to a Victorian - both were shearing down here. The Gundagai horse had carried all before him up to date but he met his Waterloo when he bumped into the Victorian, which we afterwards discovered was a crack galloper taken from shed to shed in this state.



I MEET MOONLITE (an infamous bushranger of the time).

I met Captain Moonlite without being introduced. The daring Captain was a smallish man, fair complexioned, and he would assume a theatrical air when spoken to, posing as a mixture of Dick Turpin and Napoleon. His proper name was George Scott, and he was a North of Ireland native. He fought with honor in the Maori War in 1861-65 and was wounded in the leg. Afterwards he 'found religion' and went on as a lay reader at Bacchus Marsh (Vic.). His greatest friend there was the Manager of the Union Bank and Scott (or Captain Moonlite) started his bushranging career by robbing this bank of 1000 pounds. Mostly everybody knows his subsequent career, and I will only tell of what I had to do with him.

It was on Saturday, November 15th, 1879 - just 45 years ago, that Moonlite at the head of a band of five young fellows (one of them a mere boy) rode up to Wantabadgery Station. Moonlite collected all the people he could find at the station and put them into Mr. Macdonald's dining room. The bushrangers had the storeroom opened, and selected such clothes and other things from the station supply as they fancied. About this time Mr. Weir of Eurongilly rode up accompanied by the schoolmaster. The latter refused to bail up when called upon and the bushranger threatened to shoot him. But Moonlite saved him, telling him he was "a d----d fool".

I wasn't there on the Saturday, but on the Sunday came into the picture. I had been out breaking in a young horse, and I rode up to the station to see about some sheep. As I rode to the house I heard a sharp "Bail up" and very soon was looking down the barrel of a revolver. I thought someone was having a joke, but when I looked around I saw a second man with a rifle on his shoulder. The bushrangers took me inside, and Moonlite asked me if my horse was a good one. I told him that I had only ridden it three times and it would not stand tying up. Moonlite said "I'll show you how to tie her up". He tethered her among some other horses and when she pulled away, Moonlite drew a revolver and shot her dead.

My blood boiled because the mare was a beautiful galloper and full of life. Moonlite must have noticed my agitation for he remarked "Well, I'm sorry I did that". This mare I had run out of a wild mob, and I called her Vanity - (she was the original Vanity. The one I had later of the same name was not in the same class).

Well, the bushrangers kept us locked up all day Sunday and also at night, one man with a loaded gun standing at the door. We were given plenty to eat and were well treated. Both Messers Falconer and Claude Macdonald were among the prisoners. Moonlite ordered the groom, Linden, to put the horse in the buggy, and taking Mr. F. Macdonald as hostage drove to the house of the superintendant, Mr. Reid, from whom he took a Whitworth rifle and ammunition. He put Mr. & Mrs. Reid into the buggy and drove to Patterson's Hotel - The Australian Arms. It was there that Moonlite made the slip that was his undoing.

Patterson was not at home, so Moonlite left the wife there to warn him on his return not to shift, and took the publican's two children back to the station in the buggy, saying to Mrs. Patterson, "If you or your husband stir, or warn the police, we will shoot the two kids". Shortly after the bushrangers left the hotel my brother called and Mrs. Patterson told him what had happened. He raced with the news to Mr. Fennell, who sent word to the police at Wagga. Later a shearer dropped in at the pub, and on Mrs. Patterson telling him what had happened, he galloped to Gundagai and informed the police there.

On the Monday morning Moonlite came into the room where we all were, and pointing to me said "You go down the paddock and bring up our horses". As I walked to where the horses were I saw the police behind a tree. One of them beckoned to me, and as I brought the horses back I drove them close to where the police were hiding. I told them I couldn't stop to talk as the bushrangers had me covered with a rifle, but I informed them of the situation, and of there being six bushrangers, all well armed in the place. Moonlite then walked out in the open in the direction of the police. The police fired at him and he returned the fire, but no one was hurt and Moonlite 'cut-off' the police from their horses.

I forgot to mention a man from Eurongilly. He had captured him with a revolver which the man said he was going to use on the Moonlite gang. Moonlite formed a court in the dining room, and the charge preferred against the man was one of "unlawfully carrying firearms". Moonlite was judge and gave himself quite a judicial air. Rogan, another bushranger, and two of the prisoners were chosen as jury. The witnesses were sworn, gave evidence, the judge summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of 'not guilty'. "You are a d----d lucky dog" commented Moonlite, "If you had been found guilty I'd have given you only five minutes to say your prayers". On the Monday afternoon the bushrangers rode away towards McGlede's and on their way met Mr. John Beveridge, whose horse they shot. they took grog from the pub, and were drinking whiskey and milk when the police came on them. I missed the actual fight, but as your readers know, Moonlite was captured and so were all his gang except one. One bushranger was shot dead, and another died a few days later, whilst Constable Bowen only lived a week after being wounded.

I rode up to the scene of the capture on Tuesday morning, and the police and civilians were searching for the missing man, but no trace of him could be found. His name was Thomas Rogan and he was a native of Hay. I was helping the police to put the bushrangers in a buggy to take them to Gundagai, when Constable Barry, having lost his pocket knife, went to search the room where the police had been resting. As he stooped to search the floor, he saw a man under the bed, and next minute he had pulled out Rogan, who had remained planted there all the time, within a few feet of the police. Moonlite never lost his jaunty air, and as he was driven away to Gundagai, he sang out, "Goodbye chaps, hope to see you again". He saw some of them, but I never looked on his face again, for he and Rogan were hanged at Darlinghurst some time later. The two others, Bennett and Williams had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. Some folk talk of Captain Moonlite as "A gallant knight of the roads" but he was far from that. A man who could shoot a beautiful mare like Vanity had none of the finer instincts of a man. (Mr. George Reid, who was made to ride in the buggy from his place to the station, when Moonlite stuck it up, is still living - he is 90 years of age and is residing in Junee.)

SAVED FROM THE FLOOD

I have seen the Murrimbidgee become a maddened torrent on many occasions during my 57 years near its banks, and on its bosom has been borne carcasses of sheep, cattle and horses, haystacks and parts of buildings. In 1870 and 1872 there were two very big floods, and according to chronology they out did even the '52 historic wash, when the old town of Gundagai was wiped out.

But big as these floods were, neither of them hold for me such terror as the one, which in June of 1891 - over 33 years ago - swept down the Murrimbidgee's valley. That flood lasted for a week and did a great deal of damage. Two men were drowned in it up near Gundagai, and hundreds of bullocks were washed from the other side of Gundagai as far as Wagga. I don't exactly remember the day of the month, but I know it was on a Saturday when we were at the station, heard loud cries for help and the discharge of fire-arms coming from the direction where a number of Chinese had a garden, about 3 miles from Wantabadgery station. The call was incessant so Mr. F. Macdonald said he would go to the rescue if he could get two others to help him take the boat.

A 16 year old youngster, Jim Treweek, all excitement and his eyes sparkling, volunteered at once. Jim afterwards proved that he was sand all through, and was one of the boys of our district who fought in the Boer War scrap and the big European War just over. I couldn't swim, but I guessed riding in a boat was easier than sitting on a brumbie's back. So away we went in the boat, pulling on the edge of the stream for about a mile. Then we steered in towards the mainstream. Macdonald and Treweek had the oars and I had the tiller in one hand and a rope tied to the boat in the other. When about half way between the river proper and the hill, the boat struck a log or a submerged dry tree - and over it went.

The two rowers were thrown onto the bottom of the upturned boat, but I failed to do so, and the cross current quickly carried me for a quarter of a mile, and in towards the river proper. Just when I reckoned my time had come a swirl of waters swept me under a big gum tree. I grasped an overhanging branch and pulled myself up into the tree fork. I looked upstream, and about 500 yards distant I saw Mr. Macdonald up a tree much smaller than the one I had found safety on, while further up Jim had perched himself on another tree. Being good swimmers both had managed to battle to safety.

This happenning was in the middle of June, and I think the weather was the coldest I have ever experienced. All night long we hung to our perches and we kept exchanging coo-ees. Jim Treweek afterwards told me that after a few hours his whole desire was to sleep - the cold had numbed his senses - so for fear of danger he took off his belt, and opening it to its full length, he strapped himself to the limb of the tree. Mr. Macdonald afterwards said to me "If a Jew came along with an overcoat and wanted 500 pounds for it, I would willingly have paid the sum". With the coming of daylight our hopes revived, as we knew a rescue party would soon come after us. And such was the case - and when I got to the station homestead a hot rum brought me back to normal.

This experience was the most trying of my 80 years on this earth, and made the deepest impression on my memory of any of the many exciting happenings I have experienced. Mr. Macdonald to commemorate the occasion secured triplet match boxes suitably inscribed, and he gave one each to Jim Treweek and myself. Jim, I suppose has his at home on his farm at Nangus, and mine I still retain. The waters of this flood did not abate for over a week, but when they did we went and marked the trees which saved our lives. You will find the one which sheltered me standing in a depression near the river - it's a huge gum tree now decaying. Mr. Macdonald's tree is also bent and withering, but Jim Treweek's tree is a healthy green gum. All these trees have metal bands around them for identification purposes.

Oh, what happened to the Chinese we went out to rescue? Well, I suppose it was a case of Chinamen's luck - they floated out safely on the top of their house further down stream.

And with the relation of this incident let me close my story. I've seen out most of my old time mates, and today have ten of my children alive, as well as 24 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. My eldest boy fought in the Boer War, and my youngest was three years at the front at the last Great War. I have a child living in every state of the commonwealth, but such life - as the chick grows old enough it flies away to make a nest for itself. All I have told you is drawn from memory - had I kept written records there may be many things I could, perhaps have written about. But what I have told has, I trust, been of interest to your readers. ( Original spelling used in this article has been retained)

Obituary - Wagga Daily Advertiser Monday 16 January 1939

Mr George Seymour.
The death occurred on Saturday in Wagga of one of the best known men who followed station life. Mr George Seymour, of 'Glenara' Wantabadgery, at the age of 94 years after a few days illness caused through the great heat.

Mr Seymour was born at Picton (incorrect - Cox's River) and he was the third son of the late Mr & Mrs George Seymour of that place. He was married at Campbelltown to Miss Elizabeth Agnes McBroome of Ireland, who came to Australia with her late parents and settled at Campbelltown. She predeceased him on February 28 1929 at the age of 76 years. He leaves a family of ten - four sons and six daughters...

Mr Seymour spent more than 70 years of his life in the Wantabadgery District when the station was held by Mr Windeyer and then by Dangar & Macdonald, and later by Messrs. Macdonald Brothers, as he was the head stockman. He was a fearless cross country horseman and in the early days with the station hunting horses, he was mostly always successful in the hunting contests on the old Wagga ground, and later on the present showground as well as the other district shows, and at the Sydney Royal. He was a well known and very familiar figure at the shows and his gentlemanly manner made him a troop of friends.

He was one of those who was held up by the Moonlite Gang of bushrangers. In the
1872 flood he was marooned in a tree for over 24 hours and had to be rescued by boat....

George and Elizabeth had eleven children at Wagga. Their eldest son George Robert Seymour fought at the Boer War in 1898 and was Trooper, no 1516, in the Third NSW Mounted Rifles. The youngest son Percy, was a Gunner, No 28796, in the First World War and part of the Divisional Train Ammunition Brigade.

EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF GEORGE ROBERT SEYMOUR SNR. OVERSEER OF WANTERBADGERY STATION 1879
MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER.
Out at daylight and had breakfast a little after sunrise. Went to see where Boyton is putting up drafting yards in Forrest Paddock. From there to Ten Mile yards to draft the lambs from Sandy Creek ewes. Did not finish them but sent a mob of 1500 lambs to Sandy Creek to be mixed with hoggets, we finish drafting Sandy Creek tomorrow. Finished pressing the wool making 166 bales. Despatched 17 bales to train by carrier Penfold, leaving 16 lambs in the shed to go off tomorrow. Got home with Claude about 7.30.
TUESDAY 11 NOVEMBER
Commenced to rain about 3 o'clock this morning and rained continuously till 6. Showery all day with a very cold wind. Went to Ten Mile and drafted off the remainder of the lambs from the Sandy Creek ewes, and turned the ewes into Washpool paddock as we could do nothing with them in the yards. If tomorrow be fine shall draft them all and put them into their various paddocks. Let the contract for burning of No.70, 140 acres to Chinamen at 2/- per acre. Went round Ram paddock and saw the rams. Looking well, found one of them dead, with his forefeet caught in his horns, which I presume, was the cause of his death.
WEDNESDAY 12 NOVEMBER
Morning looked very threatening and I thought we were in for another wet day. Had all the Sandy Creek ewes in yards, and drafted them into four lots. All lots of the same earmark, so that now we know what numbers we have of the same ages. Put the Coree ewes into 13 Mile and Swallowtail into Hartley's Delight West. They certainly look very well and are a fine lot of ewes, now that the different ages are together. This was the first time we had a chance of rectifying the ages since delivery.
THURSDAY 13 NOVEMBER
Went to Gundagai today with Tom Cunningham who transferred his selection direct to me - 316 acres. Declaration of residence and improvements duly made by him. Roads very heavy and day showery.
Had the Xbred sheep drafted from the old ewes and put with the wethers and culls for fattening. The following is the position of the various ewes for the early lambing.
Thirteen Mile 1366. Coree ewes, 4 yr. old, top off nr.ear, swallow-tail off ear.
Ten Mile 770. Three yr. old double notch nr. ear.
Reef Paddock 803. Four yr old. Front notch nr. Ear.
Tank Paddock 434. Six yr. old. Top off nr. Ear and back notch.
Hartley's Delight 1819. Five yr. old. Swallow tail nr. Ear.
Maidens 1472. Top notch, making a total of 6664.
Claude and Maynes after drafting went round the Forest Paddock. Fence all right and weaners doing
well with the hoggets. Abundance of grass, in fact too much.
FRIDAY 14 NOVEMBER
Mustered the maiden ewes, and drafted out 70 for Squatter, 350 for the other 7 rams and brought them down to paddocks about the Home Station. Put 15 Learmonth rams into maiden ewes and will place the remainder of the rams in the various flocks tomorrow. Ten rams missing from Ram paddock. Will have a general search for them tomorrow. Settled with Jack and Alick up to this day.
SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER
Put all the rams to the ewes today. But the day closed as one of the most eventful of my life. Came
home about 8 o'clock , thinking we should have a pleasant evening after our busy time. When Claude and I got to the gate we were received with revolvers at our heads and hurried into the dining room where we found Baynes and others guarded by men with loaded guns and for the first time understood that the Station had been "stuck up" by a party of bushrangers. Six in number, armed to the teeth.
SUNDAY 16 NOVEMBER
This morning Baynes and I were put into the laundry and the doors thoroughly se cured. We were given in some flour, tea, sugar and beef and commenced to make our own "damper" for breakfast. Claude is out on parole, but the bushrangers have a fearful down upon Baynes. They brought him out and the "Captain" of the gang caught him by the throat, tearing his shirt, and drew a knife about a foot long to kill him with. In the evening he took him out to hang him, but providentially they changed their minds and let him go.
MONDAY 17 NOVEMBER
Yesterday the Bushrangers brought in Patterson and family, besides all they could find in the house,
then went and stuck up old Reid and his wife. During the night the Wagga constables arrived and
exchanged some shots with the robbers, we thought the fray had commenced. When daylight
appeared, Claude, Baynes and I were sent to the housetop to keep a lookout. The constables were
discovered below the gardener's hut, and the "Captain" and his first Lieutenant went after them on
foot, when the constables took to their heels, leaving their horses hung on the fence, and the
bushrangers returned in triumph with the four horses. After breakfast they (the robbers started away with the constables' horses and three of ours. Shortly afterwards the police came in and in a few minutes more the Gundagai force came in and started in pursuit. They overtook them at McGledes where they stood to give fight. Two of the bushrangers were shot dead, three were taken alive - the Captain being the notorious "Captain Moonlight", and one made his escape at the commencement of the fight. One of the constables - Bowen from Gundagai is dangerously wounded in the neck, but little hopes are entertained of his recovery. The greater part of the property that we have been robbed of will be recovered. Three of the wretches were mere boys, a sad sight to see at such an early age.
TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER
Fortunately this morning just before the Police started from McGlede's the sixth man was found
concealed under the bed. He was found armed with a revolver but made no resistance. How fortunate it is that all have been captured. The Police deserve the thanks of the country at large for the grand capture they have made of the bloodthirsty ruffians.
WEDNESDAY 19 NOVEMBER
Morning wet and cold. Claude, Baynes and I had to go to Gundagai to identify the things we were
robbed of, and give our evidence at the trial, but it was prolonged to such a considerable length the
exam. did not come off till late on Friday and Baynes on Saturday met Judge Forbes in Gundagai. He
is a very jolly old fellow and full of amusing stories. Wretched little hole Gundagai. I should think this
little excitement about the Bushrangers is a regular Godsend to them. Constable Bowen nothing better.
THURSDAY 20 NOVEMBER
The trial still proceeding. What a whole host of reporters from Melbourne and Sydney, flying in all
directions and taking sketches of the localities out here. We have had to repeat the story at least a
dozen times until we know it thoroughly by heart. Dr. Roberts arrived from Sydney to see poor
Constable Bowen. He says he may recover but there is very little hope of it. An experienced nurse is
sent from Sydney to attend to him. He deserves to live for he is a courageous fellow.
FRIDAY 21 NOVEMBER
Still in Gundagai, and it is more like a winter's day than the middle of summer - a cold piercing wind
blowing. Claude and I were examined today about the robbery under arms, and all the other indignities heaped upon us by that wretched "Moonlight". By the way, the names of the wretches are Scott ('Moonlight") Rogan, Williams and Bennett and the two dead men are Nesbitt and Wrenekie. Wrenejue was the son of a publican in Melbourne.
THURSDAY 18 DECEMBER
Rode out to Ten Mile to meet sheep. No signs of them. Went back to Woolshed Paddock and found
Baynes there. Sheep all still waiting at Junee. Lunched at Lampe's. Bush fire on Junee coming
towards us, set Lampe, Gill and Alick to put it out. Jack finished fencing in stack. Miles still in
garden. Mark took buggy up to Woolshed to paint. Claude round Home paddocks and rode down to
George's. Alick took McKinnon's spring dray to Junee for the piano and brought it as far as the 10
Mile. Black got wire and took it up.
FRIDAY 19 DECEMBER
Rode out to 10 Mile, then to Junee. No sheep there. On to Hammond's and found them 5 miles the
other side. A very fine lot of wethers. Hammond much pleased with them. Lampe, Tom and Mark
brought them along to 10 Mile. Helped as far as boundary gate. All rams in Webster's pdk. Latter
says he heard dogs among them. Again Jack and man shifted hayshed. Miles mending chairs, etc.
about house. Piano arrived safely. Drawing room now looks fine. Claude and George got in mob of
beasts and killed Red cow, white face 1 off ribs; b off rump, x near rump. Landsdown got out but
George put him back all right. Gill came down to help Jack to put up hayshed. Tried piano and sang
all evening.
SATURDAY 20 DECEMBER
Went to 13 Mile. 3 more rams missing, one killed. Took poison out. Lampe shifted remaining rams
to small paddock at 10 Mile. Claude and George took up 6 beasts to kill. Tom and Mark arrived with
the wethers. Gowlland and two friends arrived and dined. Baynes making up books all day. Evening
rather stupid. Bushrangers sentence confirmed. Alick round Forest, Hartley's Delight and Martin
Ryan. Claude round Woolshed. Borrowed 31 lbs. of salt from Mackinnon.
SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER
Gowlland & Co. drove off about 11. Dixon Rand rode over to lunch. Wethers all out in to Martin
Ryan. Baynes brought them back on to the flat. George brought in Dart and Spec and turned
Patchwork and Eva out. Mackinnon came down and got 3 hay forks. Wrote for home mail; had service in evening and hymns and songs. Paid off Mark Lindon 14 pounds 6 shillings and 8 pence.
MONDAY 22 DECEMBER
Went out to Lampe's. Saw Grainger, his yard is getting on well. Came back through Tank paddock
and Flowerdale. In latter found one of Haye's rams. Chased him out but could not catch him.
Crossbred lambs and ewes looking first rate. Lampe over at Pott's to hang his dog (suspected of being the sheep killer). Claude and Baynes found wethers all scattered, some corner of Martin Ryan W., some by Patterson's. Brought them all together. Baynes rode out to 13 Mile and stayed there. Back pretty tired and to bed early.
TUESDAY 23 DECEMBER
Rode out with Claude and re-assembled the wethers, who had got scattered again. Crowe in garden. George came up and took away 2 milkers with big calves to Sandy Creek. Hereford cow in plain with twins. Went round Martin Ryan and Forest, Claude round Hartley's Delight, came back and took wethers down to lagoon to drink. Baynes back, he went up to Burnt Creek and saw Ah Goon and his men. Sheep there looking fine. Two of the wethers dead. Lampe found three of our rams in
Flowerdale, which with two found before makes 26 dead or missing since shearing.
WEDNESDAY 24 DECEMBER
Went out to 13 Mile, round Hartley's Delight, drove cattle out of the latter. Claude went sugar bagging with George and got about 5 gallons of honey, also a good stinging. However he lost his watch and chain on the road which unless recovered makes the honey dearly got. He rode out to Eurongilly after Robins of Wagga who passed in a buggy but he had gone on. Baynes out at Sandy Creek, saw Ted Seymour. Alick came back and put out salt for wethers on plain and two ridges.

  Research Notes:

Allen Seymour notes:
There is a bit of conjecture over the George Seymour that was at Araluen. He's supposed to have come back from there with with his wife riding a bullock with a baby in her arms, but he was married at The Oaks in 1841, so whether they weren't married when the eldest son (Thomas) was born is unclear. We got married at the same church (St Matthews) on the same day in 2014

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: 2nd Stockman: "Wantabadgery Station", NSW Australia.

• connection. Gary Pollard's (1956) connection to Robert is as follows:
His father is Neville Pollard (1930)
His father was Francis Pollard (1886) who married Florence Kirby (1894)
Her mother was Hannah Seymour (1871)
Her father was George Seymour (1847)
His father was George Seymour (1816) & he married Hannah Roffe (1824)
Her father was Edward Roffe (1799) & he also had Mary Roffe (1826) who married Thomas Southwell (1813)
They had Elizabeth Southwell (1861) who married David Boon (1861)
They had Gladys Boon (1891) who married Arthur Lawry Firkin (1897)
His father was Caleb Firkin (1863) & he also had Caleb Firkin (1892) who married Laura Effie Landeryou Bray (1893)
Her father was Thomas Alfred Inglis Bray (1872)
His father was Thomas Alfred Bray (1848)
His father was Thomas Bray (1821) & he also had Arthur Augustus Bray (1869)
He had Albert Alan Bray (1896)
He had Robert Alfred Bray (1920)
He had Robert Arthur Bray (1947) who married me - Robyn Bray (nee Davies) (1950)

George married Elizabeth Agnes McBroom in 1870 in Campbelltown, Sydney, NSW Australia But Marriage Registered At Wagga Wagga, NSW Australia. (Elizabeth Agnes McBroom was born in 1853 in Kilmore, County Cavan, Ireland UK, died on 28 Feb 1929 in Wagga Wagga, NSW Australia and was buried in "Wantabadgery Station", NSW Australia.)