Bushrangers: Michael Howe and his gang were all villains!

Michael Howe, who was said to be a past-master in every class of bushranger law, has a habit of leading police up the wrong path. And he adopted the same characteristics to dodge any police throughout the colony. 

In Thomas Well’s biography, Michael Howe: The last and worst of the bushrangers of Van Diemen’s Land, recounts the life of the “most evil” outlaw and his gang.

Well’s study is the first work of general literature published in Australia.
It was printed by Andrew Bent in Hobart Town, in 1818, the year Howe was killed in a fierce shoot-out with soldiers.

Born in England, Howe was a thief, forger and highwayman. He was transported to Van Diemen’s Land for robbery in 1812. Howe was a past-master at his game, and because he was so well acquainted with the bush, he was able to dodge the police and soldiers at will.

Howe was a member of a gang led by convict John Whitehead. When Whitehead was shot dead, Howe, in his typical bullying style, became gang leader. In no time, under Howe’s persuasion, the gang’s “influence was strong and widespread".

Bent went to Sydney to publish a newspaper. Not any paper. It was a paper that gave something to its readers: first Catholic newspaper in antipodes – the Australasian Chronicle

He was “a stubborn, arrogant and aggressive” individual, writes bushranger aficionado, Roy Mendam. He surrendered after being guaranteed a free pardon, but, unfortunately, the official who transacted the deal had no such authority to do so.

So, Howe, “fearful” of being incarcerated, broke his parole and went bush. He managed to elude soldiers on several occasions, but his last encounter was “fierce and brutal”. 

At 31, Howe had his head cut off. The severed head was taken to Hobart and his body was left “to bleach” in the woods.

Meanwhile, Bent eventually came to Sydney. In 1839, Bent’s flagship was not any paper. It was a paper that gave something to its readers: the first Catholic newspaper published in the antipodes – the Australasian Chronicle.

Bushrangers: History in the making!

Norfolk Island: From 1824 until 1855, this was a convict settlement for the worst of the lads and noted for its brutality and degradation and the harshness of its punishments.

Robbery and with murder: There are numerous examples of bushrangers killing a man without warning because he did not readily give up his valuables.

“Bush telegraph”: The newly invented telegraph was introduced into Australia between Sydney and Brisbane in 1861, and it was subject to bush humour. Information that travelled with mysterious speed was called “bush telegraph”.

On a police-bushranger hunt, police were able to shoot Ben Hall dead – “You’ll not take me alive”.

“Holding the road”: Lying in wait for travellers and robbing them. Sometimes, after they had been robbed, they were held prisoner so that they could not spread the news.

Never harmed a woman: Bushrangers were violent men, but many were proud of not robbing the poor and harming women. This boast no doubt ensured the support of many people who helped them avoid police.

“Bail up!”: This was the demand used by many bushrangers. But it wasn’t original. It was`used nearly two centuries earlier by English highwaymen. The expressionmeans “surrender”, identify yourself”. Comes from old French “Baillie” to handover’s.

Policemen, old and feckless: The Kelly Gang had this opinion of the police. They were despised for their incompetence and lack of bushcraft. Often, when bushrangers were captured, police no doubt had surrounded them. On a police-bushranger’s hunting exploration, Ben Hall was shot dead, but others – the Clarkes, the Kelly Gang, for example – were taken alive.

Bushrangers’ alive: In five years, 20 police were killed while attempting to arrest bushrangers. 

>> Bent’s newspaper, circa 1830s.

Top: Bushrangers maze. Below: Howe has a quiet moment.