Monument Erected at Muswellbrook to the Memory of the Late Peter Clarke who was Shot by Bushrangers.

Rare engraving of the monument commemorating Peter Clarke who was shot by Henry Wilson the bushranger in 1865 at Muswellbrook.

In 1863 Peter Clarke, his brother, another man and a boy were riding towards Warland’s Range. The boy, who was first in the group, was shot at by a bushranger but proceeded unharmed. Clark was bailed up by the bushranger, who wore a piece of black crepe over his face and a false beard. Clark refused to give up his money without a struggle and was shot dead. Clark’s companions apprehended the robber and delivered him to a police constable. It later transpired that the bushranger intended to rob all in the locality. He gave his name as Henry Wilson and was later convicted of wilful murder and executed in the gaol yard at East Maitland. Before his death Wilson attempted to escape on a rope made of blanket strips, which broke, went on a hunger strike which he abandoned and also tried to cut his throat with a piece of crinoline steel but was discovered in time. The government’s reward of 50 pounds for the capture of a bushranger was paid to James Clark and to John Conroy. The people of Murrurundi started a subscription to erect a monument on the spot of Clark`’ death and subscriptions came in from all parts of the colony.

From the original edition of The Illustrated Sydney News.

References:
Gibbs & Shallard. Illustrated Sydney News. ISSN 2203-5397.

Collections:
State Library New South Wales: F8/39-40
State Library Victoria: PCINF SLVIC=1853-1872
National Library Australia: Bib ID 440095