Streets of Forbes

JOHN MCGUIRE

The Ben Hall gang attracted public sympathy in a land where cattle and horse duffing seemed to be a national pastime. The young Hall and his gang went on to notch up the second most ‘Bail Ups’ in the western world and way after his early death the public still sympathised with him, believing he was badly done by. The cowardly circumstances of his death by police ambush supported his mythical status.

’Come all you Lachlan men, and a sorrowful tale I’ll tell,
Concerning of a hero bold who through misfortune fell.
His name it was Ben Hall, a man of good renown,
Who was hunted from his station, and like a dog shot down.

Three years he roamed the roads, and he showed the traps some fun,
A thousand pounds was on his head, with Gilbert and John Dunn.
Ben parted from his comrades, the outlaws did agree
To give away bushranging and to cross the briny sea.

Ben went to Goobang Creek, and that was his downfall,
For riddled like a sieve was valiant Ben Hall.
‘Twas early in the morning upon the fifth of May,
When seven police surrounded him as fast asleep he lay.

Bill Dargin he was chosen to shoot the outlaw dead,
The troopers then fired madly, and filled him full of lead.
They rolled him in a blanket and strapped him to his prad,
And led him through the streets of Forbes to show the prize they had.

IN THIS SECTION:

• Introduction
• Index
• Bail Up
• Hard Yakka
• The Demon Drink
• Bush Life Bush Strife
• Freedom on the Wallaby
• Horses, Dogs and Dags
• Australian Dreaming
• Land of Forests, Fleas and Flies
• The Language of the Bush
• Jack Moses
• Wilf Carter

BAIL UP:

• Introduction
• Bold Jack Donohue
• Streets of Forbes
• Brave Ben Hall
• The Ballad Of The Kelly Gang
• Stringybark Creek
• Ye Sons Of Australia