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Braidwood celebrates bushranger past with replay of Clarke gang's capture Braidwood celebrates bushranger past with replay of Clarke gang's capture
(2 days later)
On a rainy autumn morning in 1867, a mounted messenger rode into the town of Braidwood (today an hour’s drive from Canberra) “in hot haste” and with big news. John and Thomas Clarke – bushrangers, highwaymen and outlaws on whose heads handsome rewards had been placed – had been captured after a shootout lasting six hours.On a rainy autumn morning in 1867, a mounted messenger rode into the town of Braidwood (today an hour’s drive from Canberra) “in hot haste” and with big news. John and Thomas Clarke – bushrangers, highwaymen and outlaws on whose heads handsome rewards had been placed – had been captured after a shootout lasting six hours.
At the weekend, 150 years later in better weather, 3,000 people gathered in Braidwood to watch the re-enactment of the Clarke brothers’ capture, condensed into an efficient half hour by a local, Peter C Smith, who has been obsessed with the story for more than 50 years and in 2015 published a book about the brothers: The Clarke Gang: Outlawed, Outcast and Forgotten.At the weekend, 150 years later in better weather, 3,000 people gathered in Braidwood to watch the re-enactment of the Clarke brothers’ capture, condensed into an efficient half hour by a local, Peter C Smith, who has been obsessed with the story for more than 50 years and in 2015 published a book about the brothers: The Clarke Gang: Outlawed, Outcast and Forgotten.
Smith’s fascination with the Clarkes started on a trip with his father to Nerrigundah when he was a small boy. In the centre of town Smith’s father showed him a monument to a Constable O’Grady, who was shot by the Clarke gang. The Clarkes killed a total of seven men, five of them police officers, during their reign of terror. Smith’s fascination with the Clarkes started on a trip with his father to Nerrigundah when he was a small boy. In the centre of town Smith’s father showed him a monument to a Constable O’Grady, who was shot by the Clarke gang. The Clarkes were alleged to have killed a total of seven men, five of them police officers, during a reign of terror.
“He told me that there was a battle in the main street and Constable O’Grady was shot and one of the bushrangers was shot. This was in a period of my life when we used to spend Saturday afternoons going to the pictures and watching cowboy shows, and I didn’t think any of that really happened in Australia – it was like the wild west.”“He told me that there was a battle in the main street and Constable O’Grady was shot and one of the bushrangers was shot. This was in a period of my life when we used to spend Saturday afternoons going to the pictures and watching cowboy shows, and I didn’t think any of that really happened in Australia – it was like the wild west.”
On Saturday the audience might have believed they were in the wild west, too. But as the performance started, small flock of cockatoos flew past, startling white against the bright blue autumn sky, and for the next 30 minutes two drones whirred overhead. It was Australia in 2017, and the crowd wanted action. Thorough safety precautions had been taken.On Saturday the audience might have believed they were in the wild west, too. But as the performance started, small flock of cockatoos flew past, startling white against the bright blue autumn sky, and for the next 30 minutes two drones whirred overhead. It was Australia in 2017, and the crowd wanted action. Thorough safety precautions had been taken.
The roles of Tom and John Clarke were played by Tom and Luke Clarke, descendants of the third Clarke brother, James, who was in jail at the time of the shootout for stealing a pig. As men dressed in high boots, breeches and waistcoats crouched behind a haystack, smoke began to rise from the chimney of the wooden hut in which the Clarkes were hiding. John Clarke emerged from the hut and was immediately shot. Guns were fired at and from the hut, men bolted from behind haystack to behind a log, reinforcements arrived on horseback and, after a good effort on both sides, the Clarke brothers surrendered. True to the events of 1867, the outlaws and their captors shook hands.The roles of Tom and John Clarke were played by Tom and Luke Clarke, descendants of the third Clarke brother, James, who was in jail at the time of the shootout for stealing a pig. As men dressed in high boots, breeches and waistcoats crouched behind a haystack, smoke began to rise from the chimney of the wooden hut in which the Clarkes were hiding. John Clarke emerged from the hut and was immediately shot. Guns were fired at and from the hut, men bolted from behind haystack to behind a log, reinforcements arrived on horseback and, after a good effort on both sides, the Clarke brothers surrendered. True to the events of 1867, the outlaws and their captors shook hands.
Two months after their capture, Tom and John Clarke were hanged.Two months after their capture, Tom and John Clarke were hanged.
Fifty years ago, says Smith, the town refused to have anything to do with a re-enactment of the Clarke brothers’ capture. “The Wild Colonial Days Society approached Braidwood to hold the centenary re-enactment and they were told, ‘We don’t want to know about it. We don’t want to have anything like that near Braidwood.’”Fifty years ago, says Smith, the town refused to have anything to do with a re-enactment of the Clarke brothers’ capture. “The Wild Colonial Days Society approached Braidwood to hold the centenary re-enactment and they were told, ‘We don’t want to know about it. We don’t want to have anything like that near Braidwood.’”
The re-enactment took place anyway, in Goulburn. Smith, 19 at the time, played a butcher.The re-enactment took place anyway, in Goulburn. Smith, 19 at the time, played a butcher.
Descendants of both the Clarkes and the police who captured them still live in Braidwood. But today, says Smith, “Just as many Australian people who’ve got convict ancestors didn’t want to talk about it 50 years ago – now they’re proud of it.”Descendants of both the Clarkes and the police who captured them still live in Braidwood. But today, says Smith, “Just as many Australian people who’ve got convict ancestors didn’t want to talk about it 50 years ago – now they’re proud of it.”
The Clarke brothers were captured a decade before Ned Kelly formed his gang, and the men had similar backgrounds. They were the children of Irish parents, their fathers were convicts and their mothers free immigrants. “They were part of the small landholder groups living on the edge of a society, or a district where there were big landowners, people that had previously had convict labour given to them and had land grabs given to them,” Smith says.The Clarke brothers were captured a decade before Ned Kelly formed his gang, and the men had similar backgrounds. They were the children of Irish parents, their fathers were convicts and their mothers free immigrants. “They were part of the small landholder groups living on the edge of a society, or a district where there were big landowners, people that had previously had convict labour given to them and had land grabs given to them,” Smith says.
After the performance, children scrambled on to the field, with adults hot on their heels, to meet the actors. It was the Clarke brothers, not the police – mounted and crisply uniformed – who were most in demand. “Australia’s very good at making heroes out of crooks,” a woman in the crowd had said before the performance started.After the performance, children scrambled on to the field, with adults hot on their heels, to meet the actors. It was the Clarke brothers, not the police – mounted and crisply uniformed – who were most in demand. “Australia’s very good at making heroes out of crooks,” a woman in the crowd had said before the performance started.
Things were similar in 1867, when the Sydney Morning Herald reported the story of the Clarkes’ capture. “Harbourers and abbetters swarmed everywhere,” the report says. “Doubtless many were present at the entry of the Clarkes into Braidwood; but the police and the respectable portion of the community then mustered too strong for them openly to manifest much of their felonious sympathies.”Things were similar in 1867, when the Sydney Morning Herald reported the story of the Clarkes’ capture. “Harbourers and abbetters swarmed everywhere,” the report says. “Doubtless many were present at the entry of the Clarkes into Braidwood; but the police and the respectable portion of the community then mustered too strong for them openly to manifest much of their felonious sympathies.”
Smith, who is the head of the Braidwood Historical Society, hopes that interest in the Clarke gang will pave the way for Braidwood to capitalise on its heritage.Smith, who is the head of the Braidwood Historical Society, hopes that interest in the Clarke gang will pave the way for Braidwood to capitalise on its heritage.
“I think it’s only just the start of it, to be honest,” Luke Clarke says. “I’m proud to be a Clarke. You’ve got to be proud of who you are.”“I think it’s only just the start of it, to be honest,” Luke Clarke says. “I’m proud to be a Clarke. You’ve got to be proud of who you are.”
• This article was amended on 4 May 2017 to make clear that the Clarke brothers were not prosecuted for, but were alleged to have committed, the killings.