• Title
  Cadaver of Frederick Ward, the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt, ca. May-June 1870 / photographer A. Cunningham, Armidale
• Creator
  Andrew Cunningham
• Call number
  P1/1900
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  ca. May-June 1870
• Type of material
  Graphic Materials, Photographs
• Reference code
  901193
• Issue Copy
  Digitised
• Physical Description
  1 photographic print - carte de visite - 10.3 x 6.3 cm
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  EVIDENCE OF CONSTABLE ALEXANDER BINNING WALKER CONCERNING THE DEATH OF THUNDERBOLT
  Testimony to the inquest convened at Blanche's Inn, 26 May 1870:
  I started along with Senior Constable Mulhall yesterday about 4 p.m. from Uralla. Mulhall's horse was faster than mine & he went ahead of me. When I got to the hill ascending to Blanche's I met Mulhall & he said “come I have exchanged shots with the Bushrangers”. When I got half way down the hill I saw two men on grey horses galloping. When they saw me, the oldest (?) man took a turn towards the public house. The young man blocked him (crossed him) & stopped him from coming to the road. Both then rode along the fence, I was behind them and my revolver accidentally went off. The old man then turned and fired at me. This I returned. He then said something to the young man, who at once turned right away. The old man then beckoned to me, calling out ""Come on"". I said “alright”. We both galloped. He turned round and fired again. I returned his fire. We then raced for a good bit across a few creeks and up a bit of a hill. As soon as he got to the top, he wheeled round and faced down to me. I was going up hill. I again fired at him. He then turned again up another hill, and we raced for about a quarter of an hour. My horse was gradually pulling him. He then (rode) over a spur & down to the Creek, whence he jumped off his horse into the water. Whilst he was swimming across I shot his horse. I then had to gallop down a good bit to cross the creek & turn up the other side. When I came to where he had crossed, he was running up the creek. Before I had reached him he had crossed the creek again in a narrow place. He stood on the bank until I came up. I said you had better surrender before you do any harm. He asked my name I told him. He said are you a trooper I said yes. He asked me are you a married man I answered yes. He then stood on the bank with the revolver in is hand & said Walker keep back. You are a married man. Remember your family. I was than about 12 or 14 feet from him. The creek was between us. I said will you surrender. He said no I'll die first. I then said alright you or I for it. I then faced my horse into the water. My horse went head first under - right under. Whilst my horse was under the man made a rush at me with revolver in hand. As soon as I saw that I fired at him. He went under the water. When he rose he made a grapple at me & I struck him over the head with my revolver. He again went down. As soon as he came up I saw blood oozing from his mouth. I then turned my horse & came out of the creek. I then dismounted & went into the creek up to my waist & pulled the man out. I drew him out onto the bank. I fancied he was dead. I then mounted and came back to Blanche's where I borrowed a horse and cart & went to look for the body, but could not find it in the dark. About 3 O'clock this morning I started again & found the body where the encounter took place. I have seen the body now lying in the room, it is that of the man of whom I have given evidence. The man with whom I had the encounter last night and shot. It was the last shot, when he was closing with me, that killed him. Never saw the deceased before that I am aware of. I was entirely alone. I never saw any person from the time his companion left him until I pulled him out of the creek, where the encounter took place. The revolver the deceased used against me, he dropped in the water at the final encounter. He had it in his hand when he rushed at me & it was not in his hand when I drew him out.
  
  Reference:
  Inquest on ""Thunderbolt"" 26 th May, 1870. http://users.tpg.com.au/users/barrymor/Thunderbolt%20Inquest.html. (accessed July 22. 2010)
• Scope and Content
  Ward's body photographed with shirt open to show the autopsy scar. In this photograph he is wearing a hat.
  For a similar photograph, hatless, see: PXA 362 volume 6 number 109
• Copying Conditions
  Out of copyright: Created before 1955
• General note
  
  Transferred from P1/Ward, Frederick (BM), July 2010
  Digital order no:a4365100
• Signatures / Inscriptions
  
  Photographer's stamp
  
  ""Thunderbolt bushranger"" -- in pencil on the reverse
• Subject
  Thunderbolt, 1835-1870
  Bushrangers--New South Wales.
  

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