A kangaroo drive [3 August 1891]

[Editor: This article was published in The National Advocate, 3 August 1891.]

A kangaroo drive.

Phenomenal tally.

815 animals killed.

Two native dogs.

Some exciting scenes.

The largest and most successful drive which has ever taken place in the district was held last week at “Broombin,” the property of Messrs. Anderson Bros., about 28 miles from Bathurst. A start was made on Wednesday, and the party, which numbered 26 shooters and 10 drivers, did not return home till Saturday evening. Delightful weather prevailed during the greater portion of the time, and the drive proved as successful as it was enjoyable.

The first two days were devoted to wild dogs, known as dingos, two of them being captured. On the remaining two days kangaroo shooting was the sport, and, incredulous as the statement may appear, it is nevertheless true that the total tally numbered 815 kangaroos of all sizes.

The most successful individual scores for one day were — Broady 33, Turner 31, and Green 25. When it is considered that many of the skins will bring as much as 15s., and each of the scalps 2d. each it will be seen that the drive has proved highly remunerative to those who took part in it. Every man obtained whatever he shot, all that the Messrs. Anderson asked being the destruction of the nuisance, which is becoming a cause of serious loss to them.

During the drive some exciting scenes occurred. One of the native dogs was chased a long distance by Mr. H. Anderson, who ultimately secured the animal and took him home alive. Many of the shooters, after rousing the anger of the kangaroos by sundry charges of shot, had to take to trees out of harm’s way, for so numerous were the animals that it was difficult, at times, to keep from stumbling over them.

One of the party, Billy Green, had a stand-up fight with an old man kangaroo. Sparring round for a time and evading the attack of the veteran, he eventually landed him on the chest with a knock-out blow. Severing a joint of the tail, and applying a keen-edged knife to the kangaroo’s throat it wasn’t long before he stretched him out in death — a truly magnificent specimen of the marsupial tribe.

Source:
The National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW), 3 August 1891, p. 2

[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]