Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954)(about) |
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Wednesday 14 December 1898
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Death of Mrs. Keightley.
THE HEROINE OF ROCKLEY.
There died in Prince Alfred Hospital on Thursday Mrs. Caroline M. Keightley, the heroine of one of the most stirring incidents
of early Australian bushranging. The story of her ride to Bathurst, in order to ob- tain the ransom wherewith to purchase from the bushrangers her husband's life, is well-
known. Not only has it ever been favorite chapter with readers of the history of those troublous times, but Rolf Boldre- wood, one of the most popular of authors of Australian tales, has immortalised her by making her one of the heroines in his book, "Robbery Under Arms." Mrs. Keightley,
who was 57 years of age at the time of her death, had been ill for some time. Having
in her youth attained some success as an amateur actress, she afterwards adopted the
stage as a profession, and played for some
time in a drama called "Bail Up," founded upon the incident related below. She was a daughter of the late Henry Rotton, of Bathurst, a well known and highly respected resident of that district, which he represent-
ed in the first Legislative Assembly of New
South Wales, and widow of the late Henry M'Crummin Keightley, who was one of the oldest and most distinguished officials
under the then N. S. W. Government, and who was instrumental in breaking up a notorious gang of bushrangers, and during which he shot one of the gang named Burke.
In this encounter Mrs. Keightley also bore a brave part, by riding to the Commercial Bank, Bathurst, to procure the money for the ransom of her husband, who was in im- minent danger of being shot by the gang,
who held him in custody under dire threats of vengeance. The particulars were described in a paper of October 28, 1863, and briefly are as follow: On the evening of Saturday, October 24, between 6 and 7 p.m., the bush- rangers Gilbert, O'Meally, Ben Hall, Vane, and Burke made their appearance at the
house of Mr. Keightley, the police magistrate and commissioner at Dunn's Plains, near Rockley. Mr. Keightley was outside the
house, and seeing the men approaching
thought they were police in disguise. They called on him to bail up, but he retired to
the house; the arms and ammunition he had provided for his defence, as he was ex-
pecting an attack, being beyond his reach at the moment through an unfortunate oversight. Snatching up a double-barrelled
gun, only one barrel of which was loaded, and a revolver, Mr. Keightley, with a guest, Dr. Pechey, took up a station at the door,
when a shower of bullets was fired at them by the bushrangers. Burke, approaching the house, was instantly shot in the abdomen, and, leaning against the wall, said, "I'm done for; but I'll not be taken alive," and placing a pistol at his forehead attempted to blow out his brains. The first shot only grazed his forehead, but the second blew away a portion of his skull, and he fell to the ground. Seeing what had occurred the bushrangers kept up a constant fire on the
house. They continued their fire on Mr. Keightley and the doctor, who had by this
time got into a loft above the dwelling. As the bushrangers threatened to fire the house, the two gentlemen came down, fearing that if they did not do so they would carry out their threat, and murder the female inmates. On reaching the ground Vane struck Dr. Pechey a violent blow, knocking him down. Vane was then about to shoot Mr. Keightley,
and called on him to follow him down the paddock. Mrs. Keightley implored them to spare her husband's life, but apparently without avail. Vane said that he and Burke had been brought up as boys together, and had been mates ever since, and that the gun that had deprived him of life should take the life of the man who killed him: Mrs. Keightley ran up to Ben Hall, and clutching him by the collar, said,
"I know you are Ben Hall, and they say you are the most humane, respectable, and best of them all; for God's sake do not let them murder my husband—save his life." She also addressed Gilbert in similar terms, beg-
ging them to interfere (O'Meally was then away looking after the horses). Gilbert and Hall appeared to be moved, and the latter called upon Vane to desist. After a parley,
Gilbert and Hall dictated the terms on which
Mr. Kelghtley's life should be spared. The
Government had placed a reward of £500 on
Burke's head and the amount of the reward was to be handed to them by 2 p.m. the fol-
owing day (Sunday). The doctor was allowed to go to Rockley to fetch his instru- ments to try and cure Burke, but when he
returned Burke was dead. Mrs. Keightley then prevailed upon one of them to fetch O'Meally, fearing he would not accept the
ransom. He at first refused, but was ulti- mately pacified, and the party went into the house, where they were served with spirits and wine, Mrs. Keightley first tasting it to
show that it was not poisoned. It was then arranged that Mr. Keightley should be
taken to a place called the Dog Rock, on a
hill near. Mrs. Keightley, in company with Dr. Pechey, was then sent to Bathurst to fetch the money (£500), the understanding being that if there was any treachery Mr.
Keightley would be shot immediately, and the bushrangers would fight those who ap- proached for the £500. Mrs. Keightley then rode into Bathurst with Dr. Pechey, and sought her father, who instantly went
to the Commercial Bank at 4 o'clock in the morning, procured the amount required, and started for Dunn's Plains. The amount having been handed over to the bushrangers Mr. Keightley was set at liberty, and soon arrived at Bathurst.
From Rockley to Bathurst and back, the ride which Mrs. Keightley undertook in order to get the money, is a distance of nearly sixty miles; and the road was at that time a very rough one.
One of her surviving sons, Mr Cyril Keight- ley, is a well-known actor. He returned to Sydney some days ago to see his mother in her last hours.
Nttvim D ru» i-* i « of hollín nhlu lo «varcmie (lin trouble* of llii* wnrlil, for I hey will ili»A|»pOHr Uko ditw brforo til» mn If wu only look timm ?wiuarely in tilt f>iCO. If rou nrn nlfijoiml willi «tty Ixullty ill«i»"0, air« llollnwny'* l'ilU noil Oiiittiiolit a trial ; limy will nlfuril nt>u>"tv rolM. »nil in timi» allViit * cure. Tlmy ar« Un» li»»»t.
klinwn rontrilii-« for all íiimptaliit». l>iitlttir
aiitmnnr month* niany punpln ar« nlllinlml with. hoHal anil lifer illt-irilcr', iliarrluoa, tlya'-ntnry,
tydlo. low fi'Vnr* Ac, i'lo-mi tptiiMiu- arti un- .t tvniailpil in »lirlt ea'i»», and nlmtild lli»»rrfiiti» ha
til« Vrufi «Venin of all who vain» antun] haalttl. . They may ha |ir»uuroil from alt etiutuiita ami ?
nunliolno venduta.