Page 239 - Mit dem Wohnwagen durch Australien

Several outback poets wrote their stories and poems in and about Bourke and its inhabitants. When the railways
came to Bourke and took over from the paddle steamers, Ore, from Cobar, meat, cotton and wool was carted to
Sidney or Adelaide. With the increasing wealth bushrangers and other larrikins were drawn to Bourke like moths to
the light. One of them, HenryArthur Harry Readford or Capt. Starlight as he called himself, son of a well to do family,
and onetime student, robbed about everything which came into his sight. Once he came to the Pub, ordered a cask
of their best brandy and ha this distributed to the men present.

Then he robbed the Pub, the Bank and a couple of other businesses. Capt. Starlight worked on large cattle station
where he and two colleagues gradually took away 1000 heads of cattle including a white bull. Knowing that they
would be easily recognised if he tried to sell them in Queensland, he decided to sell them in South Australia. He took
a route smack through the middle of the hot and dry centre of Australia through the Strelezki Desert. A route taken
about ten years earlier by the ill fated Burke and Wills expedition who perished there. After over 1200 km he arrived
down South and sold the herd for a huge profit. It needed men like Senior Sergeant Cleary who represented the
Police in Bourke to catch the likes of Starlight. He brought the Sullivan Gang and Thunderbolt to justice. Following
the robbing of the Pub, Cleary went relentlessly after Captn. Starlight. After a lengthy chase Cleary caught up with
Starlight in the Gundabooka Mountains. Starlight was hiding in a cave and was nearly dying of thirst. All he wanted
was water and he would go docilely with Cleary. On the way back to Bourke Cleary and Starlight were in amiable
conversation. Starlight was brought to justice in Roma. After lengthy deliberations the jurors found that a man who
was able to pull such a cattle drive through was a hero and acquitted him. The judge said: “Thank god this is your
decision and not mine.” The government closed the court in Roma for 8 months after the verdict. After some more
horse and cattle rustling Starlight settled as a manager of a large cattle Ranch. On an outing towards the South,
Starlight at 60 years of age, drowned while trying to swim across a heavily flooded river.

Another story pertains to Capt. Harry “Breaker” Morant, whose name was already familiar with me at home from a
ballad. Harry Morant was the illegitimate son of an admiral who never acknowledged him. Harry tried to redeem
himself in various areas. He was a bush poet and accomplished horseman and horse trainer. These talents enabled
him to join the light horse brigade. He had many friends and drinking mates in Bourke, among others, the fellow
poet Will Ogilvie. Harry served in South Africa with the Anzac during the Boer war. He and a fellow office were
accused of killing Boers. Both admitted to it but claimed, that they got their orders from high above (Lord Kitchener).
As the world goes, the low get shot and the high and mighty get free. So it happened that Harry “Breaker” Morant got
executed in SouthAfrica. Presently some descendants of Breaker try to get the trial re-opened and get him vindicated.
Breakers life has inspired many poets and filmmakers.

Abdula Wade, or Wahid as he was called in his native Afghanistan, came to Australia with some camels in the 19th
century. He established himself as a transporter of all goods to all places and prospered quickly. He was one of the
biggest employers of fellow Afghans in Bourke, albeit a very stingy one. Society ignored this conveniently since
Abdula Wade had become quite prosperous and influential in politics. One day he accepted a wager, that he could
ride 180 km to Wanaaring in 24 hours with his camel and be faster than a rider on a thoroughbred. Both started full
force and arrived more or less at the same time in the prescribed time frame. But the horse died the same evening
of exhaustion, while Abdul conveniently was able to ride his camel home the next day. Thus he proved his point.
Abdul was always dressed in the latest London fashion. As he became older he yearned to go home to his native
Afghanistan. He did so and left behind his Irish wife and nine children to fend for themselves.

There were also positive heroes like Fred Hollows. He noticed early that a lot of the children in the bush were blind.
He took it as his call to help these children in Australia, Asia and Afrika. He died a couple of years ago and is buried
in Bourke. His wife continues the campaign.

Our campground is a former orchard a beautiful setting on the Darling River. It has two saltwater pools, flowers and
green grass, not always granted in the red dusty Outback. But also this paradise has its serpent. Here it takes the
form of Myriads of large black aggressive Mosquitoes. This is also a consequence of the recent floods. The Mozzies
multiply exponentially and no icy winter stops them. I virtually hear them buzzing to each other: “Hey there is Swiss
quality meat available, come to the feast!” Despite long sleeves, long trousers, tropical strength repellent it is no
pleasure to sit outside of an evening.