A Rebel’s Regrets

Here’s another story from my forthcoming book, Spirits of Tasmania, which will soon be going to press. Famous bushranger Martin Cash tells his story.

During a chase through Hobart Town, bushranger Martin Cash mistakenly ran into a dead-end street then shot a policeman near the hotel at the bottom of Brisbane Street. Amazingly, Martin wasn’t hanged and died of old age in his apple orchard in Glenorchy.

I hear you ask about Port Arthur but my memory of that terrible place has dulled, I am pleased to say. You are right, I did escape on a number of occasions and I did swim the dreaded shark-infested waters at Eaglehawk Neck. Only a fool would have believed whole-heartedly the story of the sharks.

Bessie was the love of my life and without her life would have been very empty. I have been with Bessie on the astral planes, but for now she has gone onto a higher learning. I will also reach this point very soon and I strive towards this as I wish to be with my Bessie again.

I was a rebel in my younger days, but I was also blamed for many things that I didn’t do, and I always will feel a sense of injustice. I don’t mind being blamed for things that I did, but I’ll be damned if I’ll take the blame for some other fool’s doings.

What stands out in my memory, what’s left of it, is the one-way road. It really was a bad mistake and one I will always 
regret. I was forced to do what I did without being given the time to rethink.

I did, I feel, try to make good in my later years and I know I did win the respect of a lot of people.

I did enjoy my life out in Glenorchy and it’s a damn shame the orchard is no longer there for it was a fine one in its day. It was for me a haven and I did enjoy walking amongst the fruit trees, especially when they were out in blossom in the spring.

Often I come back for two reasons only. One is to go to the little road and lament my foolish mistake; the other is to find fruit trees in bloom, so I can walk or sit amongst them. It doesn’t have to be the same orchard but any fruit trees will do as they have the same effect.

To lament on my biggest mistake and then to soothe me, I go to the blossom trees and remember what I was at the end of my life—not at the beginning.

—Martin Cash