Thunderbolt Traditional Cache
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“Captain Thunderbolt”
Frederick Ward was born about 1836 the son of a former convict. He grew up to become one of Australia’s notorious ‘Bushrangers’ and Highway men.
Ward was about 20 he was sent to prison for stealing cattle and horses, after 4 years he was out ‘on parole’ but unfortunately didn’t keep up his reporting to police. He was then taken back to Sydneys 'Cockatoo Island' prison for the remainder of his original term + 3 years. He believed he was hard done by and had numerous altercations with the gaolers and spent a lot of time in solitary. 2 years later in 1863 he escaped the island, becoming a Highwayman and along with his gang had many run-ins with the police.
‘Thunderbolt’ and his wife worked their way Northwards to the New England region of northern new south whales and the Queensland boarder. He kept ahead of the police with magnificent horsemanship skills and was said to say ‘ A racehorse is a better weapon than a revolver.’ Over the next 4 years he committed numerous robberies, Mail hold-ups and bailing up of travellers along with many more run-ins with the police over a wide area from Warwick to Tenterfield and further south.
In 1867 his wife died after being wounded by the police and from that time he then worked alone. It was said he was a kind and courteous kind of rouge only taking what he needed and treating his victims with respect.
On the 25th May 1870, Thunderbolt finally met his dramatic end in Uralla. After Thunderbolt had let two of his victims go they rushed to the local police station sending police galloping off in search of the bushranger.
He was found near a swampy creek with shots and a chase ensueing. A police horse was shot, then Thunderbolt's horse was shot dead. Thunderbolt raced up the creek for about 100 yards, crossed the creek and exhausted stood his ground. The police trooper called on him to surrender... but Thunderbold replied; "No; I'll die first". Police constable Walker cried out; "You or I for it", and with that spurred his horse into the creek. But the trooper's horse stumbled, allowing Thunderbolt to make a dive at him and try and drag him from his horse. In the struggle that ensued, trooper Walker placed his revolver at Ward's chest and pulled the trigger. The bullet passed through his lungs and with a cry of pain Thunderbolt collapsed into the water. He quickly rose again and tried to pull the constable off his horse once more. With all barrels emptied, the trooper now used his gun like a club and struck Thunderbolt over the head. The bushranger sank beneath the surface of the water.
Walker dragged him from the creek and believing all signs of life had expired, went to get a horse and cart to retrieve the body. On his return Walker could not find Thunderbolts body. The following morning the police returned and found Ward had crawled a little distance into the bush, and was still alive, but he did not survive the trip into Uralla and the dreaded bushranger, "Captain Thunderbolt", was dead.
Frederick Ward's body was buried in the Uralla cemetery where his grave can still be seen today.
This cache can be found above a small cave that was once reported to have been used by Thunderbolt evading police. His camp remnants were found after he had moved on.... But this may all be fanciful, as his normal ranging was further east towards Maryvale-Liston, along the Mt Lindsay highway, WWII tank traps, Bonshaw down to Tenterfield and Armidale.
Follow Caves road along... to a gate and parking on the public laneway. The gate now has a solar powered lock with push button. Do not push on the gate otherwise the lock might break, there is a switch to open it. The gate is also shared by cattle (ensure it closes again so the cows don’t get out). The gate is at 28 37.769S 151 56.251E.
Go through the gate at the parking area. And find a trail leading up, hopefully marked with tape. It runs between a fence either side, about a 'Chain' length apart (this is the access way to the Public reserve with private land on either side).
28o37.731S 151o56.224E is on this trail.
Follow the trail up a bit of a slope to a 'gap' at the reserve 28o37.708S 151o56.172E.
At 28o37.674S 151o56.165E There is a rock scree and a view over towards the cache, but to get to the cache you need to head west around the big boulders first, then climbing up and then on top of a rock above the actual cave itself to 28 37.672S 151 56.176E.
Keep an attentive eye out for kids as there are some big falls possible off of the rocks. There is a nice relaxing rock pool 100m further westwards from the cache if you have time.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Penpx naq ohfu
Treasures
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