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Uralla Scene of Thunderbolt's Last Ride 10th - 11th April 2010 |
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Thunderbolt pursuers sight quarry at Uralla History lesson tied to Art: posse riders enthralled 13 April 2010
Glorious weather saw a score of intrepid riders set off in pursuit of Captain Thunderbolt, believed to have been sighted in the Uralla area on the weekend of April 10th - 11th, 2010. Setting off from Ballina on the morning of 10th April, the pursuing riders were joined by several others at Lismore while others joined up at Casino and rode on to meet with a local group at Armidale, from where they headed for the place of the last known sighting in the Uralla district of the notorious Captain Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt's trail was picked up just south of the township of Armidale and tracked to a hillside about 16 miles north of the Uralla township where, on a search of the area, a cave showing signs of recent occupation was discovered. However, the cave was found to be empty and there was no sign of the dastardly Thunderbolt, who had evidently eluded the posse quite some time earlier. Trackers accompanying the posse indicated that the notorious fugitive was headed in the direction of the township, and the search party set off in hot pursuit.
After arriving at the Top Pub in the Uralla township at day's end, the posse made bivouac for the night and prepared for what was to become one of the greatest incidents in the history of that township. Unconfirmed reports have it that this preparation included a large supply of food, certain liquid substances and input from the local constabulary; preparations which were to play a major weapon in the campaign to capture Thunderbolt.
The next day saw several other groups of riders scouring the area around the Uralla township and, in order to not risk being spotted by and thereby alarming their quarry, the pursuers tried to give the impression of having other business by appearing unconcerned with very slow in preparation of their morning meal and an apparent nonchalance in breaking camp. (Besides, was there a hint of reluctance by our intrepid posse to share in the reward from the capture of Captain Thunderbolt?)
This tactic appeared to have paid off, for but one hour had passed when they received a report that Thunderbolt was sighted on the outskirts of town.
The dastardly Thunderbolt had made his first blunder and his time was nigh!
Leaving their mounts at the bottom of a small hill, the pursuers headed on foot and into woods on the west side of the town. On passing through an opening in the woods they came upon an open area and they saw Thunderbolt in full flight.
Thunderbolt had not broken camp. Clearly disadvantaged, he ran to his mount, but it was not his beloved, albeit stolen, mount. Thunderbolt had made his second blunder, and was at a disadvantage. Sensing this, A Walker ran back through the woods and, leaping on his mount, rode off in hot pursuit and out of sight.
The end had come for Thunderbolt: the notorious and dastardly fugitive was finally run to ground by A Walker and shot dead.
Today, Kent Mayo of the McCrossin's Mill Museum in Uralla is telling the story of the last moment of Frederick Ward, aka Captain Thunderbolt, at the hands of Junior Constable Alexander Walker. Walker rose to the dizzy heights of Acting Inspector General of Police.
PS: the real story is somewhat different from this - a meld of past and present.
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