Shootout At Crackett's Hut - Van Diemen's Land 1844.

 

Henry Davey and his band of bushrangers have taken over old man Crackett's hut in Reilby forest near Liffey, the police at Launceston have been notified and several constables under Inspector Smith were despatched with local man John Blake as guide.

Meeting up at a nearby hut, the police reckoned this would just be a case of surrounding the hut and they would all come quietly, the bushrangers had other plans.

In an extended line the constables and Mr Blake moved off through the scrub, the Davey gang, although having a couple of men on the lookout, were none the wiser.

The blaise attitude of the constables soon alerted the bushranger on lookout, he fired of a "coowee" and the rest of the gang were warned. When the constables showed themselves in the open and almost at point blank range, a volley exploded into them felling two instantly.

As the forces of law and order retreated another constable was shot, Mr Blake made it to safety and reported in a very loud voice what had happened to Inspector Smith at the other hut.

At this moment Mr Greene turned up with his militia, who are just local farmers that had suffered attacks from the Davey gang and wanted revenge. They were soon briefed by the Inspector and moved forward to join Mr Blake in the scrub, unfortunately George Grebell showed too much of himself and got shot, so he left.

Creeping forward inch by inch the posse crept closer to the bushrangers, musketry whistled all around, Mr Blake managed to get a lucky shot in and a bushranger went down, taking advantage the right flank ran in, Crackett's hut was almost within reach.

With both the bushrangers outside the hut now out of action, the rest of the gang were sitting ducks, but they still wouldn't surrender. Gaining access to the rear of the hut one of the farmers fired into the gloom through a window, the shot killed Henry Davey instantly.

The last remaining bushranger standing then surrendered, with his wounded comrade they were led away, the rope at Launceston will be busy soon.

A Criminal's Revenge - A Victorian Tabletop Game In 28mm

It's been quiet down Hobbs End way recently, just the odd break in and a punch up or two on a Friday night. It was last Saturday when DI Bolton got the nod that something wasn't right on the manor.

Hobbs End High Street on a Saturday Evening.

With his trusty Sergeant Theakston, Bolton went around the usual snouts asking awkward questions, most were cagey, nothing new there, but one was very helpful, that should have been a warning. Bill was where he always was, selling "snake oil potions" in the market, he told the detectives a man was asking about Bolton, also, he could be found behind Wells Street in Hobbs Lane, "it would be worff ya while, honest Guv."

Bill the snake oil salesman.

The quickest way to Hobbs Lane was up the alleyway off the High Street, no sooner had they turned into the cramped and claustrophobic Hobbs Lane than the trap was sprung. Four nasty looking bruisers blocked all the exits, they were cornered. Theakston managed to get out three sharp blasts on his whistle before pandemonium broke out.

 

Although the detectives gave a good account of themselves, it wasn't enough. They were soon getting a bloody good hiding. What seemed like ages passed before whistles were heard and three constables, truncheons out, came running up Hobbs Lane. The thugs scattered, tearing up Hobbs Lane with coppers in pursuit, Bolton and Theakstone lay on the ground.

The attackers managed to escape, the police were far more interested in getting the detectives to the infirmary, requisitioning a passing cart the two men were transported to the Thrift Infirmary, and into the tender mercies of Dr Marsham and Nurse Carr.

A few days later, battered, bruised and bloody annoyed, our two detectives were out again trying to find out what the hell was going on. A good tip off from a frightened looking shopkeeper in the High Street had them heading over to the church, this time a little more cautiously.

Sure enough, it was a trap. Although, only two of the thugs appeared this time, due to the injuries the policemen had sustained, they probably thought that two was enough, they were wrong.

This time the fight was short and to the point, both villains were soon dropped and as there was no one around, a bit of on the spot questioning was put to them both. One wouldn't squeal, but the other one did, then he told the detectives who they were working for.

"It's Monk.....Merry Monk", said the bloke pinned to the wall between persuasive blows from Bolton, "Who the bloody hell is Merry Monk, and why does he want me hurt?" said Bolton. 

Theakston then spoke up while sitting on the other miscreant, "Sounds like Monkton, Zephaniah Monkton, we sent him down for a few years, he was breaking rocks in Portland Gaol last I heard."

'Where is he?" Bolton was not playing, and an address was forthcoming. "Get these buggers out of my sight," said Bolton as three constables arrived. "Let's get Merry bloody Monk!"

The thugs are escorted to Drovers Yard Police Station

With a couple of coppers out front, just in case, the rest batter down the back door and haul Mr Monkton into a black mariah, "Back to the quarry with you Mister not-so Merry Monkton" laughed Theakston, who then regretted it as his ribs still hurt.

I use a system of cards to make the scenario play out, they give you a base, the dodgy dice do the rest. It's fun and I enjoy the story as it emerges.

The Siege Of Hobbs Street - A Tabletop Game In 28mm.

         ANARCHY IN HOBBS END!!

We all knew when the Skeleton Army declared a day of protest that Saturday was going to be rather trying, but, there was no way anyone could predict the tragic events to come. The police under the command of DI Bolton were there in force to maintain order and all seemed to be in hand.

Using the protest in the High Street as a distraction three Anarchists robbed the wages clerk at the factory gates in Drovers Road and made off with the wages down Drovers Road pursued by several locals. Meanwhile the police were still trying to diffuse tensions with the Skeleton Army.

Whilst being chased down Drovers Road one of the Anarchists open fire scattering the locals, the shot was heard by the police in the High Street and it wasn't long before they and the Skeleton Army forgot their differences and joined in the chase.

Seeing the pursuing crowd gaining in size and bravery despite shooting at them one of the Anarchists turned and fired another two times, unfortunately one of the shots severely wounded Mr Wicker the travel agent.

The chase continued for a while, but no one was injured, soon the Anarchists were run to ground at number 10 Hobbs Street, having been chased up Wells Street they gained entrance through the back door. The police quickly evacuated both Hobbs and Wells Streets and surrounded the building whilst under fire from the upstairs windows.

After many outrages in London recently it seemed the Anarchists were finally cornered, the enormity of this situation was soon made apparent when the Home Secretary himself, Mr Birchill, came down and ordered soldiers to be brought to the scene. 

Shots were being exchanged at an alarming rate, a soldier in Wells Street was wounded and both the police and military were saying they had shot an Anarchist, but by the sounds of it they were far from dead!

The house was being peppered with bullets and yet pistol shots were still being fired from the upstairs windows. It soon became apparent that this siege could not go on much longer as smoke started billowing out of the ground floor windows, the house was on fire!

With the flames licking higher the pistol shots from upstairs died away, a terrible end indeed, the soldiers were stood down and the fire brigade was called. So ended the siege of Hobbs Street.