Captain Thunderbolt
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Frederick Ward – known as Captain Thunderbolt – was the longest active highwayman in Australian history. Active as a bushranger from late 1864 to May 1870, he was the only bushranger to be married and have four children while he was active.
Overview
In the introduction to Stephan William's "A Ghost called Thunderbolt", he quotes "Regarding Captain Thunderbolt only two things are not in dispute: the quality of the horses that he stole and rode, and the fact that he never killed or injured those whom he robbed or went in pursuit of him. Everything else is the subject of controversy". This book is generally regarded as the best book written on the Life of Thunderbolt.
I would like to add some of the family stories, and show some of the most recent research of original police and newspaper articles I have undertaken at the State Records at Kingswood in Western Sydney, the New South Wales State Library in Macquarie St, Sydney, at the Newling Research Centre of the UNE Armidale and at the Police Library in Sydney. I hope to be able to correct some of the myths and provable errors so often written in books and spoken about, in what is known as, "The Legend of Captain Thunderbolt."
Fred Ward's birth was not registered, but it is probable that he was born in 1835 or 1836. Fred's sister was Sarah, who was born in Windsor, New South Wales. After her marriage to Edward Edwards the family moved to the New England area near Ebor (Guy Fawkes) where they lived for a time, before selecting a property in the Bostobrick area near Dorrigo. Their daughter, Esther, met and married William James Sinclair, one of the stockmen on her father's property. Family tradition has it that when Fred was being chased by the police he would go to his sister's property near Ebor, where he was hidden in a hole, covered by a wooden box, in the family kitchen. Family stories told of Sarah serving the policemen tea, while sitting on the woodbox, with Thunderbolt lying underneath.
By "URALLA" folklore he was killed near Uralla in May 1870. However family tradition held that the person killed was his half brother, Harry, who had been previously shot in the back of the knee while escaping from the police on the Moonbies. Will Monkton, a one-time colleague, used this scar to identify the body as Fred Ward. (Harry had spent several months in the Uralla area as "Thunderbolt" which explained how Thunderbolt was often seen in two different areas at approximately the same time). Three days after “he was shot” by the police at Uralla two policemen at a race meeting in Glen Innes saw his horse, watching it waiting for Thunderbolt to appear. Thunderbolt evidently saw the police and mounting his horse left before they could arrest him. The police chased him in a southeasterly direction until he managed to evade them in the deep gullies near Ward's Mistake, which was only a few miles from Guy Fawkes (now known as Ebor) and only a few miles from his sisters home. When the police reported back to Armidale they were told to forget their report, as Thunderbolt was already dead. However the report was filed and has been identified recently in the police files in Sydney, very much agreeing with family tradition.
At "Thunderbolt's" funeral in Uralla, a fairly tall unidentified women covered entirely in black was present. It was noted that she walked with a manly gait. Family tradition claimed that it was Fred Ward attending his half-brothers funeral. Family tradition also claimed that Thunderbolt remained in the area for several weeks, being seen at the local Hernani dances several times, before returning to Sydney.
Fred Ward and Fred Britten had escaped from Cockatoo Island together with the assistance of Mary Ann Bugg(an educated Aboriginal girl Fred had met at Mudgee and married in Stroud). The three "Thunderbolts", Fred Ward, Fred Britten and "Harry" Ward all looked and dressed alike. After Fred Britten left the Uralla area he went to the southern parts of the state, however he returned to Windsor several months before the "death of Thunderbolt" where he died from tuberculosis.
The Legend of Captain Thunderbolt
The Thunderbolt legend lives on most strongly in the New England district of northern New South Wales and especially around Uralla. Of all the bushrangers who engaged in their illegal and often colourful careers in Australia during the first 100 years of white settlement, Thunderbolt, hero or horse thief, was at large for probably the longest period.
For almost six years and six month he was pursued by regular mounted Police, especially commissioned bounty hunters and enlisted Aboriginal trackers.
Bushrangers were regarded as heroes by the battling small landholders that also recognised their common enemy as the Government and the Law. They considered Thuderbolt to be a victim of circumstance and they sympathised and identified with him. The Police force was over governed by Parliamentary and grossly underpaid, undertrained and overworked and supplied with horses of dubious breeding.
Fred Ward finally met his match on the afternoon of May 25, 1870. He 'bailed up' firstly John and Liza Blanch near their Inn, then Coghlan and an Italian hawker, Giovani Cappusotti. Resenting this action, Cappusotto alerted the Uralla PoIice Officers Mulhall and Walker. The Police exchanged shots with Thunderbolt and Constable Walker, gave chase. Thunderbolt was finally cornered in a waterhole in Kentucky Creek some four kilometers distant. A coroner's Inquest was held on the body of Fred Ward at Blanch's Inn and he was buried in the Uralla cemetery.
Defiant Scoundrel? Or Gentleman Bushranger? Thunderbolt began his life as Frederick Ward at Wilberforce near Windsor, N.S.W., in either 1835 or another reference states 16 May 1836. The birth date is not recorded. His father was a convict, Michael Ward, transported to the colony in the "Indefatigable" in May 1815 and his mother Sophia arrived two months later in the "Northampton". About 1846, upon Michael gaining his convict freedom, the whole family moved to the Maitland area.
Fred Ward as a youth, became well known for breaking and training horses. When he was about 20 years of age he fell foul of the law. Helped by James Garbutt, they drove stolen horses from his brother William "Harry" Ward and Michael Blake's farm at Lambs Valley for sale at the Windsor sale yards. Several of the horses were recognised as being Messrs. Zuill and Reynolds' property. Others were marked with the famous Tocal brand. (i).
Fred Ward and James Garbutt were sentenced to ten years each with hard labour to the infamous Cockatoo Island prison in Sydney Harbour. (ii) On 1 July 1860 Fred Ward was released on a ticket-of-leave to work in the Mudgee district. While working near Mudgee, he made acquaintance of Mary Ann Bugg, a well educated Aboriginal girl who had been recently widowed. When she returned to the Hunter Valley to take up work at Dungog, Ward followed her. They married some time in September 1861, possibly at Stroud. (iii) After their marriage he borrowed a horse to report the Mudgee Police for muster, but on arriving late he found his ticket-of-leave revoked for failure to "attend muster". In addition he was charged with stealing the horse and was sent to serve the remainder of his original sentence. Two weeks after Fred Ward's return to prison, Mary Ann Bugg gave birth to their first child, Marina Emily Ward. (iv)
Mary Ann Bugg followed Fred Ward to Sydney and assisted him and another prisoner, Fred Britten, to escape from Cockatoo Island. They swam through shark infested water to the mainland on the night of 11 September 1863. The two men headed for New England and stole a double-barreled gun and some pork from a widow on Gostwyck run, near Uralla. Several days later, Sergeant Grainger came upon the escapees attempting to hold up a mail coach at the "Split Rocks" (soon to become known as "Thunderbolt Rock") south of Uralla. Fred Ward was shot through the knee but managed to escape. (v)
The two men separated and Ward alone robbed the tollbar at Campbell's Hill near Maitland. He proceeded to pound on the wall of the office and demanded the surrender of the toll money. It was this act which earned him the name "Thunderbolt".
Thus began the bushranging legend of Fred Ward, also known as Captain Thunderbolt.
The following list records crimes purported to have been enacted by Thunderbolt and his gang over the following years:
- 25 mail coach robberies - 16 hotels and stores - 16 stations and residence - 6 hawkers - I tollbar gate - 80 thefts of horses - 1 escape from lawful custody
and numerous firing on Police in their line of duty.
Fred Ward relied on his ability to outwit and out distance the mounted Police and he would only resort to gunfire to hasten proceedings or when being fired upon. He was frequently joined by other outaws, but at times they became a liability. This brief account is typical of a bushranger's life, "Fred Ward has again made his appearance in these parts by sticking up the mail man and rifling the mail bags. The mailman, after crossing a creek and on gaining the further bank, heard a horseman ride up behind him and order, 'Bail up'. He was ordered about 80 metres away while Thunderbolt opened and rifled anything of value, including an amount of gold from the pouch of the saddle". William Monkton (a compatriot of Ward), who narrated the book, "Three Years with Thunderbolt" gives many similar accounts. In addition numerous plays, films, books, poems and television mini series have villanised his numerous outrages on Her Majesty's Mail and dramatised spectacular "bail ups" of passengers in mail coaches or wayside inns.
Thunderbolt had endured the worst of the Colony's barbaric convict system being twice imprisoned on Cockatoo Island. Several times he suffered solitary confinement in its dungeons. His escape from this prison fortress embarrassed both the Government and its penal system. Fred Ward now became a bushranger by circumstance and for the following six years be defeated every attempt at recapture. During his freedom Fred Ward displayed great courage and at times compassion and humour. He was a champion horseman and a wonderful judge of a well-bred horse. Using these two characteristics, Ward continually evaded capture.
His attachment to Mary Ann Bugg in his early career and his attempt to settle as a family was greatly admired. The Police continually harassed his endeavours, which kept him on the move, at times leaving Mary Ann and children to fend for themselves. Twice "Mrs Captain Thunderbolt' was arrested and imprisoned and twice the N.S.W. Parliament debated her situation. Both times the N.S.W. Governor, Sir John Young-intervened and ordered her release. (vii) Over a period of time Mary Ann Bugg's health became critical through being constantly compelled to be on the look out for Police patrols. Fred Ward nursed her, but he was forced to seek help. Making her comfortable, he rode to Mrs Bradford's home on the Goulburn River. Ward described her condition and the site of their hideout. Mrs Bradford and Rev White found the shelter and brought back in a cart. Dr Brown and Constable Boon were sent for, arriving a few minutes after Mary Ann Bugg breathed her last. Thunderbolt indicated to Mrs Bradford that he was leaving there and going north. Within several weeks he had visited Goonoo Goonoo station and he now, possessed the thoroughbred racehorse "Combo". Thunderbolt's bushranging escapades have now become history. It was his skill as a horseman his love of horse racing, that the 'selectors" in the bush greatly admired. He acquired famous racehorses and either used them as common mounts to outpace the mediocre Police horses or he traded them for profit. Among his annexations were Beeswing, Combo, The Barb, Eucalyptus, Come-by-Chance, Toy Boy, Talleyrand and Kerosene.
Thunderbolt attended the Tenterfied races on 17 and 18 March 1868. He mixed freely with the patrons and saw Minstrel win the Maiden Plate of 40 sovereigns. He determined to acquire this racehorse as it returned to the Warwick district. Ward established himself at the spectacular Boonoo Boonoo gap to await Minstrel's arrival. To fill time Ward stopped a German Band following their season in Tenterfield. He obtained sixteen pounds, which was all of the band's takings. Considering this amount to be paltry, Ward had them perform their acts and play their musical instruments on the roadside. This delighted Ward and as the Band was leaving he handed Peter Wirth a small amount and asked for a forwarding address. Several weeks later Thunderbolt sent to Wirth's Band in Warwick a letter containing the full amount of purloined money.
134 years since Thunderbolt's death near Uralla have passed, but stories of his exploits still circulate in the Uralla district. How great-grandfather met Thunderbolt one day while mustering cattle in a lonely place and shared a yam and a billy of tea. Similarly, great-grandmother would hang a blanket as a signal on the clothesline if troopers were riding in the area. Other families would leave food in an outhouse or the off chance that the bushranger would pass that way.
The above information on "The Legend of Captain Thunderbolt" is prepared by and printed with permission of Arnold Goode of Uralla, NSW. Australia
References
(i) Maitland Mercury 21 April 1856. (ii) Maitland Mercury 14 August 1856. (iii) “A Ghost called Thunderbolt” by Stephan Williams - page 22 (iv) Maitland Mercury 3 November 1863. (v) Maitland Mercury 22 December 1863 (vi) Armidale Express 12 May 1866 and Maitand Ensign 9 March 1867). (vii) “A Ghost called Thunderbolt” by Stephan Williams - page 118
Family facts sheet on the death of Thunderbolt
A well known fact about Thunderbolt
It is claimed in nearly ever book about Thunderbolt, that, throughout his career, he never shot at any one, including the police. However what is not so well known is the reason for this. One possible reason is that Thunderbolt was influenced by his wife's alledged hatred for gun. Thus, during her time with Thunderbolt she instilled in him this same total hatred of guns and of shooting at people. This is an important factor in the subsequent chasing and death of Thunderbolt.
What caused the beginning of the career of Thunderbolt?
In 1850 Fred's older brother George married Charlotte Nixon in St Paul's Cathedral in Armidale. In the next four years they had two children. George was an employee of Tocal Station near Patterson. In 1854 George was instructed to take a herd of cattle to the Maitland sale despite the knowledge that the Hunter River was in flood. While crossing the river George was drowned. About 18 months later the Ward family, brother William (Harry), owner of nearby Lamb's Valley Station 12 miles west of Tocal, and two nephews, James and John Garbutt, commenced stealing horses from Tocal Station. Fred, also an employee of Tocal was asked to assist in droving the cattle to the Windsor Sale yards where Fred and James Garbutt were arrested. James was charged with stealing horses however Fred was initially charged with stealing horses but this was reduced to being in possession of stolen horses and should have been given a lesser sentence of four years served locally, instead he received the full sentence of ten years, to be served in the hated Cockatoo Island prison. Thus began the career of "Captain Thunderbolt."
Now to the actual death. The Police were warned of the presence of Thunderbolt
On the 25 May 1870 in the late afternoon the Italian hawker, Giovanni Cappissoti, while traveling past Thunderbolt's Rock near Uralla was held up and relieved of $2/13/6 and some jewelery. He was sent on his way to Tamworth. However after travelling a little over a mile, he hid his cart in the bushes near Dorrington's farm and rode back to Uralla, through the bush to the east of Thunderbolt's rock so as not to be detected by Thunderbolt. He advised the police of the presence of Thunderbolt in the area near Blanch's Inn.
The Two policemen chased after Thunderbolt?
Constable Mulhall was on duty, however Constable Walker was also present in plain clothes. Both policemen set after Thunderbolt. By the time Constable Mulhall reached Thunderbolt's Rock, having the faster horse, he was about 500 yards ahead of Walker. He said his gun went off and his horse turned around and bolted back to Uralla. (A police trained horse did this?) On passing Walker it is claimed by Walker, Mulhall said, "There they are. I have exchanged shots with them. Go and get the wretches."(i)
Walker then commenced his chase of Thunderbolt, knowing that he would not be shot at.
Why didn't Thunderbolt have his favorite horse "Combo"?
Thunderbolt used to follow the races and after the race would often take possession of the best of the horses so he always could outrun the police. At this time he had a special horse called "Combo" which he had taken from Goonoo Goonoo Station south of Tamworth. On this particular day he did not have "Combo". His own horse was exhausted.
A young man, James Coghlan, was leading three horses, which his employer had recently purchased at Scone and was taking them to Ebor. He had been leading the horses all day in an attempt to get home as quickly as possible, so the horses were totally exhausted. Not knowing this, Thunderbolt commandeered one of the horses to try it out. At that moment Walker arrived on the scene.
Walker chased "Thunderbolt" for approximately two miles in a South Westerly direction until they reached Kentucky Creek, where Thunderbolt abandoned his exhausted horse and proceeded to cross the Creek. Walker then states that he shot the horse,(ii) to the later upset of James Coghlin.
The killing of Thunderbolt
According to the statement of Constable Walker on the 29 May 1870 "…and immediately plunged his horse into the water and his horse stumbled and went underneath the water when Ward made a rush at the Constable into the water with his Revolver in his hand. The Constable fired and Ward fell forward into the water and went under and when he came up he tried to catch hold of the Constable who then struck him on the top of the head with the Revolver, the Constable rode his horse out of the water and tied him up, he then drew Ward out of the Creek and believed him to be quite dead.... The Constable then took him out to look for the body of Ward but could not find it, returned to Blanches ... found the body at daylight."
Phillip Pomroy, in his paintings of the event in the McCrossin’s Mill Museum Uralla, using the description by Constable Walker shows Walker on his horse above Ward shooting down upon him. If as portrayed, and according to Walkers own statement, the bullet entering the left chest above the heart it would have passed through the body exiting at the rear of the body near the right hip. There is also the following "Walker returned and found the body next morning about nine 0'Clock." There is no direct evidence, but the more reliable secondary sources basically claim "When they returned next day they found that Ward had crawled a little distance into the bush, and was still alive, but he did not survive the trip back to Uralla…. when the police examined the body and clothing they found that Ward's revolver had been empty when Walker shot and clubbed him."(100 Australian Bushrangers, 1789-1901, Allan M Nixon.)(iv)
Two days after the death of Thunderbolt, Walker reenacted the shooting for a photographer, Mr Cunningham of Armidale. "Mr A Cunningham has taken several excellent photographics to illustrate the end of Thunderbolt, and other matters connected with it. Of Ward's dead horse there are two views. There are three different views of the spot on which the final struggle took place, Mr. Walker being shown in the same dress and on the same horse as he had when he came upon the W. side of the creek; the reality of the scene being added to by Mr. Smoker, of Uralla, representing, on the E. side, Ward - each with weapon levelled at his opponent. To secure a good view, Mr Cunningham took the trouble to cut down several trees. Then there are two portraits of Mr Walker, one being full length; while there are three of Thunderbolt when he was lying dead, after the post-mortem examination. One represents him with his hat off, another with his hat on, and the third is his profile."(iv) (A copy of this photo can be viewed in the Uralla Visitors Centre). Unfortunately he turned up in uniform. As a result many of the later drawings of the death of Thunderbolt shows Walker in uniform. The photo shows a different view of the shooting to the one in Walker's original statement. It shows Walker directly across the other side of the creek and several meters from Ward and just slightly above him, this however is more in line with Dr Spasshat's autopsy report, except for the difference in the distance between them, “…..; mark of a gunshot wound below left collar bone towards the armpit; on examination I found the aperture communicated with the lungs, both of which, right and left, had been penetrated; there was an aperture as if the exit of a ball on the right side of the chest, three inches below and two inches anterior to lower point right shoulder blade; there was a large quantity of fluid blood in cavity of pleura; the wound was just such as might have been inflicted by a pistol bullet discharged in immediate proximity to and rather above the body; I am of the opinion that the wound was the cause of death ..."
(In September 2003, I gave copies of all material pertaining to the death of Thunderbolt - Dr Spasshat's autopsy report, Constable Walker’s statement, and the copy of the death photo of Thunderbolt – to Dr Godfrey Oettle, the recently retired Director of the Division of Forensic Medicine in the Department of Health of New South Wales. His finding states that, according to the details of the autopsy, Thunderbolt could only have lived a maximum of three minutes after being shot. This certainly does not agree with Constable Walker’s report.)
What happened to Thunderbolt’s body?
Early on the 26th May the body of Thunderbolt was taken back to Blanche’s Inn and examined by Dr Spasshat from Armidale. It is interesting to note that although there were positive identification marks recorded in police records for the identification of Fred Ward especially the mole and warts (….Ward is a native of Windsor, New South Wales; a laborer, 27 years of age, 5 feet 8 ¼ inches high, hazel grey eyes, mole on right wrist and two warts back of middle finger of left hand.") (vi) they were not used to identify this body as that of Fred Ward. During the next few days over 300 people viewed the body and all agreed that “It's Thunderbolt alright.” Many authors and researchers misused this statement to show “It's Fred, alright” despite the fact, at that time he was known by the general public only as “Captain Thunderbolt“ and the various other names suspected of belonging to the person, such as Fred Britten, Michael Blake, Fred Ward, William (Harry) Ward, Fred Blake etc were only rumors.
It was left for young Will Monckton, who had served one year of a six year gaol sentence in Armidale (viii) for being the companion of Thunderbolt, to identify the body at Uralla on Sunday, May 28th, four days after the shooting(viii). Will had been caught with Thunderbolt in the Tenterfield region 12 months earlier and gaoled. While in gaol he had heard that Thunderbolt had been shot by the police in the right knee at the top of the Moonbi’s but had escaped. At that time he knew he had been with Fred Ward aka as "Thunderbolt" near Torrington, not long before he surrendered to the police, and that Fred Ward was not the “Thunderbolt” shot at Moonbi.
He was brought to Uralla to identify the body and used the scar on the right knee as positive identification that the body was that of Fred Ward. The police immediately accepted his identification and excused him from the remainder of his sentence. The body was buried that Sunday afternoon in the edge of the Uralla Cemetery in unhallowed ground, after a judicial hearing to confirm the death of Fred Ward aka “Captain Thunderbolt”. Present at the funeral was a very tall women, for those days, (5ft 8inches) dressed in a full-length black gown and a heavy black veil. A journalist stated that "after the funeral it was noted that she left without speaking to anyone", however it was also noted "she walked away with a very manly gait." Was this Fred saying goodbye to his brother, Harry? This has always been held by the family as fact.
Where was Fred’s horse Combo?
On the Saturday after the death of Thunderbolt (28th May) two young policemen were at the races in Glen Innes and saw Combo tethered there. Hiding, they watched the horse for some time until they saw a man, who they personally identified as “Thunderbolt”, appear and quickly mount the horse, before they could stop him. He left the area in a south easterly direction in towards Wards Mistake. He went over the steep into the gorge area. Being inexperienced horsemen the young policemen were not able to follow him. On returning to Armidale they submitted their report of the days activities to their commanding officer, only to be told that “Thunderbolt” had been shot three days previously. To justify what they had been doing during the day, they insisted on filing their report. I have been told the report was been seen in the police archives in Sydney as recently as several years ago
What happened to this "Thunderbolt"?
In the Ebor area he was heading, lived his sister Sarah Ann Edwards. It is believed he went to his sister's home. If you go out to Hernani and talk to the families of the oldest residents in the area they will all tell you that "Great Aunty or Great Grandma danced with Thunderbolt at the weekly Saturday night dances for six weeks after "the death of Thunderbolt"". It is believed that during those six weeks Fred used his day times to call on all his caves and hiding places in the area at Lansdowne near Taree, Barrington, Moonbi, Uralla, Black Mountain, Torrington, and Boonoo Boonoo, near Tenterfield and rescue his “earnings”. It has been reported as being as much as 20,000 pounds about $1,000,000 in today's money. Despite people searching the area of his caves for the last 130 years all that has been reported as having been found is one bottle containing about 20 pounds.
I believe that at the end of the six weeks Fred, possibly with a female companion, went to Sydney then by boat to San Francisco. When the gold petered out in California he moved to Alberta, Canada where he stayed until the end of the gold rush there in the late 1800s, then moved to live out his life in Ottawa, Canada - dying in the early 1900’s.
A story told by Mr R S Spencer (quoted from the “Western Stock and Station Journal in the ‘Uralla Times’, 4/9/1969
... the letter was written in Canada, the date January 21 1892. The signature was one word – Fred. After a careful examination of the document, my father remarked, "But, good God, man, it can’t be true?"
"Yes, Mr Spencer" said White. "It’s quite true"
(…) During my visit to Canada in 1937 my enquiries at Ottawa resulted in the production of further evidence to support the claim I have advanced herein. I was informed that in Ottawa Cemetery an Australian named Frederick Ward lies buried
Is it the grave of Thunderbolt?
To me, the irresistible conclusion, drawn from the foregoing evidence, is “Yes”.(x)
References
The best-researched book on Thunderbolt is “ A Ghost Called Thunderbolt” by Stephen Williams (i) Page 1 Constable Walker's handwritten statement dated 29th May, 1870. (ii) Page 2 Constable Walker's handwritten statement dated 29th May, 1870 (iii) Page 3 Constable Walker's handwritten statement dated 29th May, 1870 (iv) "A Ghost Called Thunderbolt" by Stephan Williams page 146 (v) The Armidale Express, Friday June 3, 1921 - "Armidale 51 Years Ago [Reminiscences from the 'Armidale Express' of June 4, 1870]"" (vi) Police Gazette, 14/10/1983, p. 307 (vii) Dr Spasshat's autopsy report - Newling Library UNE (viii) "A Ghost Called Thunderbolt" by Stephan Williams page 135 (ix) "A Ghost Called Thunderbolt" by Stephan Williams page 148 (x) “Western Stock & Station Journal in the ‘Uralla Times’", 4/9/1969 (xi) Helen Duley, history graduate, UNE Nov 18 2003
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Inquest on Captain Thunderbolt
Soon after the body of Thunderbolt was brought to Blanch’s Inn on the 26th May 1870, an inquiry was called to determine the cause of death. As can be seen by the testimony given by Walker at the inquest and the findings of the jury of “Justifiable Homicide”, no name was able to be given to the body. Many authors claim that the Inquest lasted for over 6 hours and quote some of the many people who supposedly appeared as witness. Was it by coincidence all these people from throughout New England happened to be in Uralla at the same time on an ordinary working day? The body was placed on display for 3 days in an attempt to identify the man but despite over 300 people passing the body no one was able to put an actual name to the body. They all said “It’s Thunderbolt alright”. It was left for young Will Monckton, being a companion of Thunderbolt, who had served one year in Armidale of a six year gaol sentence (which was to include five years in a reformatory school), to identify the body at Uralla on Sunday, May 29th, four days after the shooting. Will, as an assistant of Thunderbolt, in the Tenterfield region 12 months earlier surrendered to the police and was gaoled. While in gaol he had heard that the police had shot Thunderbolt in the right knee at the top of the Moonbi’s but had escaped. At that time he knew he had been with Fred Ward aka "Thunderbolt" near Torrington, and that Fred Ward was not the “Thunderbolt” shot at Moonbi. He was brought to Uralla to identify the body and used the scar on the right knee as positive identification that the body was that of Fred Ward. The police immediately accepted his identification and excused him from the remainder of his sentence. “It was after this identification that Constable Walker rewrote his statement in an official report at Uralla Police Station on Sunday 29th, May 1870." Dr. Spassatt, also was unable to complete his autopsy report which was done on the 26th May & it also is dated the 29th May 1870, again after Will Monckton identified the body. One only has to read the difference in the wording of the two reports of Constable Walker to realise that the body had not been identified as that of Fred Ward on the 26th May, despite the assertion by many authors, that it was identified immediately as that of Fred Ward.
EVIDENCE OF CONSTABLE ALEXANDER BINNING WALKER CONCERNING THE DEATH OF THUNDERBOLT
Testimony to the inquest convened at Blanche's inn, 26 May 1870:
I started along with Senior Constable Mulhall yesterday about 4 p.m. from Uralla. Mulhall's horse was faster than mine & he went ahead of me. When I got to the hill ascending to Blanche's I met Mulhall & he said “come I have exchanged shots with the Bushrangers”. When I got half way down the hill I saw two men on grey horses galloping. When they saw me, the oldest (?) man too a turn towards the public house. The young man blocked him (crossed him) & stopped him from coming to the road. Both then rode along the fence, I was behind them and my revolver accidentally went off. The old man then turned and fired at me. This I returned. He then said something to the young man, who at once turned right away. The old man then beckoned to me, calling out " come on". I said “alright”. We both galloped. He turned round and fired again. I returned his fire. We then raced for a good bit across a few creeks and up a bit of a hill. As soon as he got to the top, he wheeled round and faced down to me. I was going up hill. I again fired at him. He then turned again up another hill, and we raced for about a quarter of an hour. My horse was gradually pulling him. He then (rode) over a spur & down to the Creek, whence he jumped off his horse into the water. Whilst he was swimming across I shot his horse. I then had to gallop down a good bit to cross the creek & turn up the other side. When I came to where he had crossed, he was running up the creek. Before I had reached him he had crossed the creek again in a narrow place. He stood on the bank until I came up. I said you had better surrender before you do any harm. He asked my name I told him. He said are you a trooper I said yes. He asked me are you a married man I answered yes. He then stood on the bank with the revolver in is hand & said Walker keep back. You are a married man. Remember your family. I was than about 12 or 14 feet from him. The creek was between us. I said will you surrender. He said no I'll die first. I then said alright you or I for it. I then faced my horse into the water. My horse went head first under - right under. Whilst my horse was under the man made a rush at me with revolver in hand. As soon as I saw that I fired at him. He went under the water. When he rose he made a grapple at me & I struck him over the head with my revolver. He again went down. As soon as he came up I saw blood oozing from his mouth. I then turned my horse & came out of the creek. I then dismounted & went into the creek up to my waist & pulled the man out. I drew him out onto the bank. I fancied he was dead. I then mounted and came back to Blanche's where I borrowed a horse and cart & went to look for the body, but could not find it in the dark. About 3 O'clock this morning I started again & found the body where the encounter took place. I have seen the body now lying in the room, it is that of the man of whom I have given evidence. The man with whom I had the encounter last night and shot. It was the last shot, when he was closing with me, that killed him. Never saw the deceased before that I am aware of. I was entirely alone. I never saw any person from the time his companion left him until I pulled him out of the creek, where the encounter took place. The revolver the deceased used against me, he dropped in the water at the final encounter. He had it in his hand when he rushed at me & it was not in his hand when I drew him out.
THE VERDICT Given by the jury was Justifiable Homicide.(Added:Written by J. D. Leece, J.P.)
(Personal note:-There was no name given at this time as they were unable to identify the body despite the fact that police records showed “….Ward is a native of Windsor, New South Wales; a laborer, 27 years of age, 5 feet 8 ¼ inches high, hazel grey eyes, mole on right wrist and two warts back of middlle finger of left hand”. It appears these markings were not on the body shot by Walker as they were not used to identify the body. The details of the inquest containing the name of Fred Ward as the listing was not sent to Sydney until the following week & it arrived so late that it was not added in the official listing under the correct day but showed up after the listings for the 31st May 1870. The details of the inquest were not sent to Sydney until after the body was identified on the Sunday, so that a name could be added to the report.
(There is no listing for a second hearing on the Sunday )
Walker's official report:
Uralla Police Station. 29th May 1870.
Given to his Superior Officer Senior Constable Brown on Sunday 29th May 1870
Constable Walker respectfully begs to report for Mr Super't. Brown's information that on the 25th instant, a Hawker brought information into Uralla about 4 o'clock pm that he was stuck up at Blanche's Public house and robbed. Senior Constable Mulhall and Constable Walker immediately started for Blanche's Public house, but the Senior Constables horse being a good deal faster than the Constables, he Mulhall arrived at Blanche's about three quarters of a mile in advance of the Constable, the Constable when he was within half a mile of Blanche heard the report of firearms, he then pushed on and met Senior Constable Mulhall just coming over the top of Blanche's hill the Senior Constable said the Bushrangers are down there, I have exchanged shots with them, the Constable galloped on and saw two men on horseback, the Bushranger Ward made for the road and the other man crossed him just before he got to the road. Ward then turned to the right and the other man with him, the two raced along Blanche's fence for a short distance and the Constables horse began to bog he took a pull on him and the Constable accidentally let his pistol off, when Ward turned round in his saddle and fired at the Constable, who immediately fired at him, Ward then said something to the other man, who turned to the right and went out of sight, Ward then beckoned to the Constable and said come on, and the Constable answered all right and raced after Ward for about half a mile when he again fired at the Constable, who returned the -fire, the chase still continued for a good while when Ward galloped up a ridge and when he came to the top, he turned his horse around and faced the Constable, and came right at him, the Constable fired but Ward did not but went on past, the Constable turned round and followed Ward until he chased him to Kentucky Creek, when he came to the Creek he jumped off his horse and into the Water, the Constable being very close at the time he immediately caught Wards horse and led him up the bank and shot him, the Constable had to go about one hundred yards down the Creek from the place where Ward swam across to get on the same side as Ward, and when the Constable came up to the place where he saw the man swim across he saw Ward about one hundred yards up the Creek on the opposite side again, the Constable galloped up and came face to face with Ward with the Creek between, about fifteen feet wide, the Constable then asked him to surrender and he said he would not he then asked the Constable what his name was he told him it was Walker, Ward then asked him if he was a Trooper, and the answer was yes, he then asked the Constable if he was a married man and the answer was yes, Ward then shook his Revolver at the Constable and said remember Walker you are a married man, the Constable then said will you surrender and Ward said I will die first, the Constable then said it's you and I for it, and immediately plunged his horse into the Water and the horse stumbled and went underneath the water when Ward made a rush at the Constable into the Water with his Revolver in his hand, the Constable fired and Ward fell forward into the Water and went under and when he came up he tried to catch hold of the Constable who then struck him on the top of the head with the Revolver, the Constable rode his horse out of the Water and tied him up, he then drew Ward out of the Creek and believed him to be quite dead, the Constable thinking the other man was Wards mate he started back to Blanches for assistance and when he came up to the house, the man that was with Ward came out, the Constable told him to keep back and give an account of himself when he said he had been stuck up by Ward who took his horse and he was after him for the horse, the Constable then took him to look for the body of Ward but could not find it, returned to Blanches and again started accompanied by Senr. Constable Mulhall and a man named Dwyer, found the body at day light and sent word for a horse and Cart, Senr. Constable Scott came with the Cart and he searched the body and found a number of articles since identified by the Hawker as his property the body was taken to Blanches and a magisterial enquiry held, the body was afterwards taken to Uralla.
(Signed) Alex B. Walker S. D. Brown, Esq. Supert. of Police Senr. Constable, Armidale.
Note:- Court records definitely show that there was only the one inquiry held on Thursday the 26th May 1870 with none on the 29th May.)
Report of Dr Oettle, Former Director of the Division of Forensic Medicine in the Department of Health of New South Wales - dated December 4th, 2003
As stated to you previously, Dr.Spasshat has defined injuries clearly and refers to only two bullet wounds, the one on the front of the chest being the entry wound and that on the right side of the chest, being the exit. He mentions that both lungs were penetrated by the bullet, that the mouth contained blood which was consistent with blood rising from the lungs into the pharynx during the terminal attempts to breath. The blood flow to the rest of the body was diverted by that lost by the lungs injuries, to the chest cavities and the air passages. I would expect him to loose both motor and cognative function within about ten seconds because of the blood being lost through the lung injuries and both lungs collapsing. This figure is bourne out both by my experience of similar circumstance and by others documented in the USA. On occasion life as evidenced by occasional deep breaths can extend for about 3 minutes depending on the severity of the injuries received, but, in any case, no motor function can be expected after about the shorter figure given above and this might be very much less depending on whether the great vessels at the base of the heart were involved in the injuries, let alone the heart. However, Dr. Spasshat mentions only the lung injuries. Lung collapse together with the injuries would be more than enough to cause sudden death and rapid lack of motor function compounded by breathing in water if the account of the incident is correct. He also makes no mention of any head injury or any other gun shot injury.
I hope this answers your questions and I would be happy to hear from you should you wish to discuss it further.
Godfrey Oettle
Aboriginal confirmation
Recently talking to a local Aboriginal elder from Gunnedah I was told that it was "their knowledge that it was not Fred Ward buried here in Uralla in unhallowed ground." As he was married "to one of them", Mary Ann (an Aboriginal girl) and had lived with them in the bush for several years, they regarded him as "family". If it had been Fred buried in unhallowed ground they would have dug him up & buried him in their local secret burial ground. She was very emphatic that it was not Fred Ward buried in Uralla. They normally don't talk about such things to non-Indigenous people, however she was in total agreement with what I had said especially regarding who was in the grave.
As a further confirmation of this story I received this information in the last week of October, 2003. "But one last thing - the local Aboriginal community claim Captain Thunderbolt as one of their own, a fellow Aboriginal person.
Who then is buried in Uralla cemetery?
It has always been the belief of the family that the person buried at Uralla is Fred's brother William (aka Harry). By the late 1860s things started to get "too hot" for Harry in the Maitland area and he came to join Fred, mainly operating in the southern area around Uralla. I believe he was the "Thunderbolt" shot by the police at Moonbi in early 1869. On the death of their mother Sophia in 1874, her death certificate shows both Fred and William ("Harry") as being deceased. Fred is naturally shown because of his death certificate, however there is no death certificate in Australia for William (aka Harry) Ward despite a thorough search of all states BDM registers by myself and other direct family members. I believe the death certificate for Fred is in fact the death certificate for Harry.
External links
- [1] (http://www4.tpg.com.au/users/barrymor/thunderbolt.html)