The bush hut

After the Special Constables were killed, the bounty on the Clarke brothers increased, as did the numbers of police in the Braidwood district. It seems that a combination of diminishing community support after the murders, plus the higher rewards, led to the police being told the Clarkes' hiding place. During the night, five police surrounded the bush hut (the actual hut, now gone, was made of vertical slab timber, as in PiP #1). Early in the morning of 29 April 1867, the Clarkes came out with saddles, intending to ride away, but saw the police. Retreating back inside under a hail of police bullets, John Clarke was hit in the shoulder. As they retreated, Tom managed to get away some shots, hitting an Aboriginal tracker in the arm and slightly wounding a policeman on the leg.

There followed a six hour armed standoff with occasional shooting from both sides. The Clarkes apparently were awaiting darkness to escape, the police for reinforcements. Finally, another seven mounted police arrived and called on the Clarkes to surrender. Tom Clarke recognised the game was up and also knew the leader of the new group of police, so they lay down their arms, came out, surrendered, and shook hands with the police ! (PiP #2).

Interestingly, there must have been a photographic studio in Braidwood, because there are several photos of Tom and John Clarke, after their capture. John has his wounded arm in a sling. I mention a photographic studio because they appear in front of what seems to be a photographic background of the type used in studios of the time. (Pip#3). Time to add an appropriate musical link.